Thirteen Inducted Into South Windsor High Hall of Fame [Video]

On a night full of memories and nostalgia, 13 men and women, as well as an entire basketball team were inducted into the South Windsor High School Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Maneeley’s Banquet Center on Saturday evening.

The inductees are members of the Hall of Fame’s inaugural class. The Hall of Fame was established as part of the high school’s 50th anniversary, which it is celebrating this year.

Saturday’s ceremony, which was attended by over 360 people, was a fitting tribute to some of the best and brightest that the high school has produced over the last 50 years in the areas of sports, academics and the arts.

Indeed, all of the honorees could be the subject of a separate article unto themselves.

Consider the inductees for the Class of 2013:

• Tom Roy - When he graduated from South Windsor High in 1971, Roy had the set the New England scoring record in boys basketball with 2,501 points. He was a member of two state title teams (Class M in 1969-70 and Class L in 1970-71). Roy went on to play basketball at the University of Maryland, where he received conference recognition for two years.

• Charlie Sharos - All athletic roads in South Windsor lead to the legendary Sharos. He served as a physical education teacher, coach and athletic director at South Windsor High for 35 years. Sharos coached two state champion basketball teams and one state champion soccer team. In addition, he has been awarded nearly every accolade a high school coach can receive. During his acceptance speech, Sharos thanked the players, coaches and administrators who helped make his teams so successful.

• Kathleen Woods - A 1997 South Windsor High graduate, Woods is the current head coach of the University of Connecticut women’s lacrosse team. In high school, Woods played soccer for four years and softball and lacrosse for two. After giving up softball for her first love, lacrosse, Woods went on to play at Drew University, where she received all-conference and all-region recognition. After graduating from college, Drew coached women’s lacrosse at American University, where she was named Patriot League Coach of the Year before moving on to UConn.

• Craig Zimmerman - A member of the South Windsor High School Class of 1977, Zimmerman has been the backbone of youth basketball and baseball in town for 36 years. “He lives and breathes South Windsor,” as one presenter said. “Craig does not look for any recognition or thanks. He just puts in the time.”

• Ron Riordan - A 1966 graduate of South Windsor High, Riordan was a three-sport star in basketball, baseball and soccer. He averaged a junior college record 47.6 points per game and received the Bob Cousy Award for best junior college player under 6 feet tall. He went on to the University of New Haven, where he was an All American for two years, averaging 29 points in 1969 and 35 points in 1970. “I’m proud of my roots,” Riordan said. “I’ll never forget my roots. This is a very big honor for me. I thank the people who got me here.”

• Robert LaBreche - A former physical education teacher at South Windsor High, he served as head coach of the track team for 35 years, indoor track for 11 years and cross country team for 32 years. His teams won state titles in 1972, 1992 and 1995. He also has received nearly every accolade a high school coach can receive.

• Steve Stoklosa - A language arts teacher at South Windsor High for 34 years and a cross country and track coach for 31 years, Stoklosa’s teams won state titles in 1984 and 1985. He had 2,017 career victories and a winning percentage of 86 percent. He has received numerous coaching accolades. “I’ve been fortunate,” Stoklosa said. “I’ve had the metaphorical ‘good run.’”

• Sal Randazzo - A member of the South Windsor High Class of 1963, Randazzo scored over 1,000 points for the boys basketball team and starred on the baseball team as well. Randazzo also shined in the classroom as well, making the honor roll four years and serving as the class president for three years. After graduation, Randazzo returned to South Windsor High as a history teacher, department chair, assistant principal and principal. He was the Connecticut Assistant Principal of the Year in 1994-95 and the South Windsor High School Teacher of the Year in 1981. “South Windsor allowed me to be everything I could be,” Randazzo said on Saturday.

• Cliff Lange - A 1975 graduate of South Windsor High, Lange was a National Honor Society member who served as captain of the Math Team. After graduating from UConn, Lange became an actuary who held several executive positions at GE Financial Assurance, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Price Waterhouse and CT Mutual Life Insurance Company. He is presently vice president/chief financial officer/chief actuary/chief risk officer at Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company.

• Ann Duffy - An Ellsworth High graduate (South Windsor High’s predecessor) and valedictorian, Duffy became a longtime and beloved math teacher at South Windsor High for 35 years. She chaired the math department and introduced computers into the classrooms. She was also a member of numerous Connecticut Department of Education committees.

• Kathy Rusch - South Windsor High physical education teacher for 30 years who amassed a 234-119 record as the varsity girls basketball coach. She also coached girls volleyball and softball. She won the state Class L softball title in 1978. She was inducted into the CT Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame.

• Billy Morrissette - A member of the South Windsor High Class of 1980, Morissette was in various plays and school clubs. He went to Hofstra University, where he acted in several productions before moving to New York City and Los Angeles. Morissette was cast in a number of movies, television shows and commercials. Morrissette, who wore the shirt he wore at prom, joked that he was thrilled to be honored “with all these jocks.” Morrissette said that he was “awful” at sports and that his shining athletic achievement was passing gym in high school. But he found his niche in the drama department and received the support of the South Windsor High community that “it was OK doing what I was doing.”

• Hugh Greer - The man to whom the South Windsor High gymnasium is dedicated. A former physical education teacher, coach and athletic director at Ellsworth Memorial High, Greer went on to coach at the University of Connecticut, where his overall record was 286-112. He is considered the “Father of Connecticut Basketball.”

The undefeated 1970-71 state Class L champion boys basketball team was also honored.

John “Duke” Mason, a guard on that team, hung a basketball net around his neck and spoke about that team’s achievements.

“My wife thinks I have a problem with living in the past,” he joked. “She said to choose between her and the net. She couldn’t make it here tonight.”

Mason went on to say that the 1970-71 team was the first in Connecticut to ever win a second state title while moving up a class. The 1969-70 team won the state Class M title.

The team included the 6-11 Roy, Phil Levesque, Al Jankowski and Dave Lacy and was coached by Sharos.

Mason quipped that Sharos had an intricate strategy to “feed the big man [Roy].”

“I want to thank Tommy Roy’s parents,” Mason said. “Because without them, I wouldn’t be here tonight.”

Among the numerous other highlights included South Windsor High Athletic Director Chris Wanner leading the crowd in a raucous chant of “Go Bobcats!”

Roy, for his part, said that it was a special evening.

“It’s a great honor to be selected, especially in the inaugural year,” he said. “It brings back a lot of fond memories.”