Branford Sports Hall of Fame To Welcome In 11 New Members

BRANFORD, CT - The 31st Annual Branford Sports Hall of Fame dinner will be held on Friday November 16th at WoodWinds Restaurant, 29 Schoolground Road.

Eleven outstanding individuals will be honored for bringing honor and distinction to the Town of Branford. Tickets are $55 and are available at the Branford Parks and Recreation Department at 203-315-2355.

Information on the athletes' accomplishments was compiled by William O'Brien.

Frank Barron: He came to Branford in 2000 to help start a boy's varsity lacrosse program. Later he also became one of the founders of the youth lacrosse program. Before coming to Branford he had a 33 year career at Daniel Hand High School in Madison where he taught and coached football and lacrosse. In his career he was part of 375 victories. He helped in guiding the Hornets to the 2003 state title.

Caitlin Cahow: Growing up in Short Beach her interest in ice hockey started at an early age. Her desire to excel at the game she loved, led her to play in prep school and later at Harvard for four years. She became a member of the US Olympic Hockey team where she earned a Silver Medal in 2006 and a Bronze Medal in 2010. She is now a practicing attorney living in Chicago.

Tahari James Castill: One of the finest track stars in Branford history, she broke the state record in the long jump with a leap of 19' 9". By the time she graduated in 2004 she owned school records in the 400, the long jump and the triple jump. She later excelled at Boston University earning D-I All American honors three times. She now lives in Atlanta.

Rachel Chamberlain: A 2006 graduate Rachel started in goal for three straight years for the Hornets field hockey team achieving a record of 50-6-2-1 recording 36 shutouts and winning two state championships. She earned All State honors for field hockey as well as in track and field in both the discus and shot put. She later played field hockey at Providence College.

Philip Delise: He was an advocate for education and athletics in the town he loved. As principal of Branford High School, Phil was often seen at sporting events to support his athletic teams and players. He was also instrumental in securing financial support for the town's American Legion baseball team and the Branford Junior Football team. He passed away in 2016.

Frank Forgione: He grew up in Branford playing many youth sports. He later attended Hopkins graduating in 1975. He was awarded 12 varsity letters in hockey, baseball and football and was named a Scholar Athlete by the National Football Foundation. He later attended Amherst College where he played baseball for four years. He has been the Judge of Probate for Branford and North Branford since 2011.

Gary Gravina: A native of Walpole, Massachusetts where he was an All State tackle in 1979 and 1980. He later attended UCONN where he lettered in football for two years. He served at various times as an assistant coach at Notre Dame of Fairfield, Amity and Branford from 1988 to 2001 becoming head coach at Branford in 2002 and leading them to the Class MM title in 2005.

Craig Kenney: One of the most intense players' to ever play at Branford. Craig earned eleven letters in football, basketball, baseball and track and field and by the time he graduated in 2005 he was one of the most decorated athletes in school history. He later went on to excel in football at Northeastern and in 2013 became the proprietor of Branford CrossFit.

Paul Rowan: A graduate of CCSU where he earned a BS Degree and later a Masters Degree at Indiana University. He then began a thirty-four year teaching career at Branford. He recognized the need for another fall sport along with football and organized boys soccer in 1968 coaching them until retiring in 1985. Paul led his team to the former Housatonic League Championship in 1976.

Brian Sager: A 1998 graduate of Branford his stellar pitching earned Brian All State honors in his junior and senior years. He was named 1998 pre-season Prep All American by Collegiate Baseball and named the 1998 Gatorade Connecticut High School Player of the Year leading the Hornets to the Class L State Championship. He later attended Stanford and Georgia Tech.

Scott Torello: A 1991 graduate of Branford he is in the top 10 in all time scoring for the boy's basketball team with 991 career points. In his three years as a starter for the Hornets he led the team in points scored, assists, rebounds and blocked shots. He intended to play basketball at Fairfield University but a torn patella tendon led to his decision to forgo playing in college.