HAMILTON-WENHAM ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
Honoring the past, inspiring the future
THE ATHLETES
1960 - 1969
William Poehler
Class of 1965 - 2018 Inductee
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Co-captain of 1965 undefeated Basketball team at HW.
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Cape Ann League Most Valuable Player and leading scorer. Averaged 25 points per game and scored 47 points in one game against Rockport
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Four-year starter at Boston State College (UMASS Boston) under Coach Jim Loscutoff. Set record for most points in a game by a sophomore (34); three-time ECAC player of the week; earned All NESCAS honors senior year.
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Inducted into UMASS Boston Athletic Hall of Fame
Michael Harris
Class of 1968 - 2023 Inductee
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Played football, basketball, and outdoor track
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Outstanding running back for the undefeated, CAL champion 1967 football team
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Played point guard for the 17-1, CAL champion basketball team
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Record holder for the 100 yard dash for the outdoor track program
Philip "Rocky" Burnham
Class of 1968 - 2023 Inductee
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Played fullback for the undefeated, CAL champion 1967 football team
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Played power forward for the 17-1, CAL champion basketball team, competing under the boards against players several inches taller
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An intimidating presence on the mound to CAL batters, was a fireballing southpaw pitcher for the baseball team
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Known for his team-first mentality, played a huge part in the success of all three programs
1970 - 1979
Bill Whelan
Class of 1973 - 2016 Inductee
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Standout athlete on Football, Basketball and Baseball teams at H-W
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1973 Carney Award Winner
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Went on to play Football, Basketball and Tennis at Williams College
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Won the prestigious Belvidere Brooks Football Award for being, “The Greatest Credit to the College.”
Paul Ricker
Class of 1975 - 2016 Inductee
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Played Football, Basketball, Hockey and Baseball for H-W
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Went on to play Football at Norwich University
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Inducted into the Norwich University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994
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Played football professionally for two seasons in the United States Football League – for the Arizona Wranglers and the Chicago Blitz
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Earned a tryout with the New England Patriots
Ralph "Mickey" Vitale
Class of 1972 - 2023 Inductee
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Played varsity football, basketball, and baseball for 10 of 12 possible seasons while at the Regional
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During senior year, served as captain for all three sports
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Earned Cape Ann League All-Star status all four years in baseball
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In 1971, played basketball in the Tech Tourney finals in the Boston Garden
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Played with great intensity and led with his effervescent personality
Mark Silva
Class of 1977 - 2023 Inductee
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Leading scorer for the Generals soccer team junior and senior year; team captain and CAL All-League senior year
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Leading scorer for the basketball team senior year; team captain and CAL All-League senior year; CAL All-Star junior year
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Played #2 Singles for the tennis team sophomore and junior year
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Played soccer for 2-time NCAA Division III National Champion Babson College; leading goal scorer junior and senior year
1980 - 1989
1980 - 1989
Chris Schrock
Class of 1988 - 2016 Inductee
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Standout athlete on Football, Basketball and Baseball teams
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Starting quarterback and punter for the Football team
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Pitcher on the 1988 State Championship Baseball team
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Went on to punt for the football team at Boston University – named to the Atlantic All-League team in 1992
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Earned NFL tryouts with the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos
Jennifer Winslow Flynn
Class of 1989 - 2018 Inductee
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Played Varsity Volleyball, Basketball, and Softball at HW, earning ten varsity letters; three-time Cape Ann League All Star for Volleyball.
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In 1988, as captain and most valuable player, led HW Volleyball team to North Sectional Championship.
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Played elite club volleyball, traveling to national championships junior and senior year of high school.
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Successful coach for the Generals Volleyball team advancing to the Elite Eight two straight years.
Gelean Campbell
Class of 1982 - 2021 Inductee
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As a senior, named to the Cape Ann League All-League Defensive Football team as a safety. As a quarterback, recognized by the CAL during his junior season, breaking school records for completions in a game and a season.
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As a senior, earned Cape Ann League All-Star honors for Basketball.
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As a junior, named to the Cape Ann League All-League Baseball team as a shortstop.
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Went on to play Varsity Football and Baseball at Tufts University. Beginning in his sophomore year, he was a two-way starter and punt returner for the football team.
Joel Nies
Class of 1988 - 2021 Inductee
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Posted an 8-3 record, 2.04 ERA, and .314 batting average as a senior pitcher and 3rd baseman.
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Earned Cape Ann League All-League Pitcher, Salem News All-Star, and team co-MVP honors.
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Out-dueled Stoneham’s Joe Vitiello 2-1 in the state tournament. Vitiello would later become a first round pick in the MLB draft.
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As the #1 pitcher for Cornell University, earned 2nd team All-Ivy League honors and Most Valuable Pitcher award.
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Signed with the Boston Red Sox, named Florida State League Pitcher of the Week.
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Also played Varisty Soccer under Hall of Fame Coach Cliff Mello
Jules Gourdeau Whelan
Class of 1989 - 2023 Inductee
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A determined competitor, her strong work ethic factored into the school’s decision to play a varsity schedule in the program’s second season
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As the first goalkeeper for the Generals girls soccer program, the team was built around her as a foundation and qualified for the state tournament in just its fourth year in existence
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Earned CAL All-Star soccer honors
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Played catcher for the varsity softball team
1990 - 1999
Michael McGowan
Class of 1992 - 2016 Inductee
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Four-year starter and multiple record holder for H-W Football team
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A key member of the Hockey and Baseball programs and played an important role for the 1991 Baseball EMASS Champions
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MVP of the 1992 Agganis game, playing on both sides of the ball – the first player to do so since Harry Agganis.
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Played linebacker for the College of William & Mary Football team eventually being named Team Captain
Darin Shearer
Class of 1992 - 2016 Inductee
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Four-time Cape Ann League Open Cross Country champion
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In 1990 and 1991, Massachusetts All-State Division II Runner of the Year
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In 1996, earned All-America honors in the steeplechase – currently holds the record in the steeplechase at Harvard University
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In 2011, inducted into the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame
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Qualified for the Olympic Trials in the steeplechase in 2000 and 2004
Chris Grancio
Class of 1993 - 2016 Inductee
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A four-year starter for the Varsity Basketball team and Team Captain
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All-time leading scorer at Hamilton-Wenham.
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Starting goalie for the Varsity Soccer team where he led the team to the North Finals
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A four-year starter for the Harvard University Basketball team and had a two-year stint playing professional basketball in Switzerland
Jennifer White Richardson
Class of 1994 - 2016 Inductee
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Standout athlete on Field Hockey, Basketball and Softball teams at H-W; a four-year starter in all three sports.
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Three-sport Captain in Field Hockey, Basketball, and Softball
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Went on to play Field Hockey at Northeastern University, where she started for four years, also earning 1st Team Division 1 All-America honors
Susan Herrick Lizzotte
Class of 1995 - 2018 Inductee
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Four-year member of Varsity Swimming Team; set multiple HW team, Cape Ann League, and Eastern Massachusetts Sectionals meet records.
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At State Championship Meets, 200 Individual Medley (1992, 1993, 1994), 100 Backstroke (1992, 1995), and 100 Freestyle (1993, 1994) Champion.
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Four-year starter and three-year Cape Ann League All Star for HW Soccer.
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1996-1999, Most Valuable Swimmer at the University of Maine. Has served as Head Swimming Coach at UMAINE since 2010.
Sofia Pena Sidmore
Class of 1994 - 2021 Inductee
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Earned Cape Ann League all-league honors in Field Hockey, Basketball, and Softball.
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For the basketball team, was a four-year starter, 3-time All-Star, and 2-time All-League selection.
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As a senior, named Cape Ann League Player of the Year while leading the basketball team to a CAL Championship. Team also advanced to the MIAA Division III North Semi-Finals for the second consecutive year.
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For the College of the Holy Cross, played in three NCAA Division I basketball tournaments. Also led the Patriot League in field goal percentage her senior year.
2000 - 2009
Katie Chen
Class of 2000 - 2018 Inductee
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Standout athlete on Soccer and Track teams at HW.
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Went on to play Soccer and throw the javelin for the Track team at Boston University.
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Accolades for Soccer for the 1999 season include: Cape Anne League Player of the Year; Boston Globe All Scholastic Team; Boston Herald All Scholastic Team; Eastern Massachusetts Girls Soccer Association First Team All Star; Massachusetts Soccer Coaches Association All State Team.
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Accolades for Track include: All-American, 2000; HW record holder, javelin, 1997-present; Boston University record holder, javelin, 2003-2014.
Carrie Plitt
Class of 2004 - 2016 Inductee
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Four-year varsity member of Soccer, Indoor Track and Track & Field programs
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Broke eleven records at HW between Indoor Track and Track & Field
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As a Sophomore in 2002, was All-State, 100 meter champion
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As a Junior in 2003, was the All-State and New England 200 meter champion and placed 3rd All-State in the long jump
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As a Senior in 2004, won three events in the Track & Field Cape Ann League Open
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Had distinguished career in Indoor Track and Track & Field at Williams College.
Dianna Chavakos
Class of 2001 - 2023 Inductee
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Member of HW cross country teams that won Division 2 All-State Championships in 1999 and 2000
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Cross country team compiled a 37-3 CAL record during her 4-year varsity career
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Earned Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic honors in 2000
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Currently holds records at Stonehill College in the 3000-meter and 5000-meter races, and in 2012, was inducted into the Stonehill College Hall of Fame
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NCAA Division 2 All-American in cross country in 2004
Mia Swenson
Class of 2003 - 2023 Inductee
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Competed in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track for 4 years at HW followed by 4 years at Princeton University
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Named CAL indoor track Athlete of the Year in 2002
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Earned Boston Globe Cross Country Runner of the Year and All-Scholastic honors in 2001 and 2002
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Set HW school records in indoor track (1000 meters) and outdoor track (Distance Medley Relay Team)
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Earned Academic All-Ivy distinction in 2007
