Connecticut Field Hockey Hall Of Fame Welcomes Eight New Members

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Eight deserving individuals were inducted Sunday as the 24th class of the Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame at a dinner ceremony at the Aqua Turf Club.

Nancy (Shepard) Gatta, Leah Helm and Caroline Schaeffer were honored as high school players, while Courtney (Watts) Russo and Kirsten Kilburn were inducted as college players. The other three honorees were Kyle Seaburg (high school coach), Deb Stolle (umpire) and Dawn O'Neil (honorary).

Nearly two dozen previous Hall of Famers were on hand to welcome the new group of honorees into their select fraternity.

NANCY (SHEPARD) GATTA

• Old Saybrook High School, Class of 1989. Two-time Class S champion, two-time All-State selection. All-American at Southern Connecticut State University. Current head coach at Old Saybrook.

LEAH HELM

• Haddam-Killingworth High School, Class of 1995. One state championship, one runner-up finish. Two-time All-State goalkeeper. Former assistant coach at her alma mater. Lives in Middletown.

CAROLINE SCHAEFFER

• Avon High School, Class of 2014. Two-time All-State and All-Conference player, won three league championships. Played field hockey at Colgate University, was three-time NFHCA National Academic Squad selection and four-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.

COURTNEY (WATTS) RUSSO

• Cheshire High School, Class of 1995. One state championship and a state runner-up finish. Four-year starter and two-year captain at University of Rhode Island, two-time All-Atlantic 10 Conference and an Academic All-American. Current head coach at Swampscott (MA) High School.

KIRSTEN KILBURN

• North Branford High School, Class of 2011. Four-time first team All-State, went on to play field hockey and lacrosse at Mount Holyoke College, where she was three-time All-Conference and two-time second team Div. III All-American. Resides in Winthrop, Mass.

KYLE SEABURG

• Head coach at Norwalk High School since 1994,with career record of 240-173-58-10. State tournament qualifier in 28 of his 30 seasons, Class L finalist in 2011.MultipleColach of the Year honors, FCIAC field hockey committee chair. Resides in Stratford.

DEB STOLLE

• Lyman Hall High School, Class of 1973. Officiated high school, state tournament and NCAA games for nearly 20 years. Taught and worked as a school counselor at Lyman Hall from 1979 to 2014. Lives in Meriden.

DAWN O'NEIL

• Stafford High School, Class of 1976. Three-sport standout with the Bulldogs, then played field hockey at Southern Connecticut State College. Coached 15 years at Somers High School. CIAC field hockey tournament director since 1996. Resident of Willington.