Largest class ever to be inducted to NHS Wall of Fame

The Newburyport High School Wall of Fame came to fruition in 1982 as a means to honor the legends of the high school's athletic program. However, the induction process failed to gain much momentum in the early years.

The first induction ceremony included a former Newburyport coach (Del Borah) and School Committee member (Deron Gulazian). The next class included an athlete who graduated 44 years earlier (Fred Nametz, Class of 1939) and an official (Don Page).

Those inductions didn't appear to spark much enthusiasm, as the next five years (1984-1988) passed without a single Wall of Fame induction.

The Wall of Fame induction process appears to be hitting its stride nearly three decades since its inception as the selection committee recently granted admission to the largest induction class in school history. Seven new members will be inducted at the Elks Club in Newburyport on Oct. 21.

The most familiar name is likely Mark Rowe (Class of 1979), who has been in the news recently as the most successful coach in the history of the Georgetown baseball program. His induction classmates include William Foley ('49), Dick Canepa ('54), Rebecca Jaques Vigneault ('71), Mike Twomey ('76), Kurt Laakso ('88) and Jeffrey LaFrance ('88).

This year's induction class continues a trend that includes marked increases in the Wall's membership since 2004, the last year in which no new member was granted admission. In the first 22 years of induction ceremonies (1982-2004), a total of 59 former Clippers were granted admission. Since 2005, 35 more members have been selected.

Breaking down this year's class, Foley is the elder statesman, having served as the captain of the 1948 football team and the 1948-1949 basketball team. He also played baseball and ran track. He received The Daily News Sportsmanship Award in 1947.

Canepa, a three-sport varsity athlete and two-sport captain, remains one of the top 20 scorers in the history of the basketball program. As a senior, he made the All-Tech Tourney Team Class B. He was also the recipient of the Howard "Flash" Zabriskie Trophy, awarded to a senior who excelled in athletics, character, scholarship and citizenship.

Vigneault was a member of a Newburyport basketball team that never lost a single game during a four-year stretch from 1968-1971. As a co-captain in 1971, she led the Clippers to the Northeastern Conference championship.

Twomey, a defensive end and offensive lineman on the football team, captained the 1976 squad that went undefeated and won a Super Bowl title over Wayland. He was also a member of the basketball and track teams.

Rowe, a two-time Cape Ann League coach of the year at Georgetown, excelled in hockey and baseball during his playing days. He was the hockey team's MVP in 1979 and a four-year starter. He played three years of varsity baseball as a pitcher and once received the WCVB High Five Recognition Award. Rowe served as a freshman baseball coach and varsity assistant at Newburyport for nearly 10 years before accepting the head coaching position at Georgetown.

Laakso dominated in three sports at Newburyport, playing the most important positions in hockey, baseball and football. On the ice, he was a two-year captain and all-league selection. In baseball, he was a three-year starter at shortstop. On the football field, he was a two-year starting quarterback. Following his senior campaign, Laakso was named Daily News Athlete of the Year and Boston Globe Scholar Athlete.

LaFrance, a three-year starter in basketball and baseball, earned CAL Player of the Year honors in basketball and baseball in 1988. He scored 1,003 career points in basketball. His final baseball team posted a 24-1 record. He was a two-time all-league selection in baseball, and in 1988, he was named team MVP and Boston Globe All-Scholastic.

The induction ceremony will be open to the public, and tickets can be purchased for $35 per person and The Park Lunch in Newburyport or by contacting Frank Serwon at 978-462-4247. A student can not be inducted into the Wall of Fame until a 20-year grace period passes following his or her graduation.

NHS WALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

(by year of induction)

The Wall began in 1982, and at least two members have been added a year almost every year since 1989. Honorees, by year of induction, are:

1982 — Del Borah (coach), Deron Gulazian (School Committee)

1983 — Fred Naumetz (SSRq39), Don Page (official)

1984-88 — no inductees

1989 — Bob McAniff (SSRq54), Paul Reilly (SSRq54), Walt Sheridan (coach), Jim Stehlin (coach)

1990 — Dr. Edward Dervan, Ed Kelly (SSRq24), Howard Reed (SSRq35), Larry Russell (SSRq67)

1991 — Margaret (Bean) Gould (SSRq34), Louis Canepa (SSRq32), Walt Jackson (SSRq33)

1992 — Ken Ladd (SSRq70), Spud Pollard (SSRq31)

1993 — Francis Bresnahan (Superintendent), Norman Doyle (SSRq38, School Committee), Buddy Knox (SSRq41), Mary (Woodsom) DuGrenier (coach)

1994 — Junior Dagres (SSRq53), Mike Foley (SSRq74), Gail (Pettengill) Kelleher (SSRq64), Frank Serwon (SSRq55)

1995 — Eddie O'Bara (SSRq68), George Bradbury (SSRq48), Al Marshall (SSRq54), Vic Woron (SSRq42)

1996 — Jack Foley (SSRq57), Paul Shepard (SSRq65), Kevin Sullivan (SSRq76), Don Zabriskie (SSRq42)

1997 — Mike Bresnahan (SSRq76), Judy (Curley) Burke (SSRq77), Mickey Whitney (SSRq76)

1998 — George Chaisson (SSRq67), Tom Flaherty (SSRq56), Kathy (Ladd) Holmes (SSRq78), Luther Reed (SSRq57)

1999 — Rosario Garfi (SSRq43), Carol (Wade) Lago (SSRq56), Bill Hale (SSRq70), Susie Rice (SSRq78), Billy Johnson (SSRq63)

2000 — Billy Cashman (SSRq67), Dave "Buddy" Bostick (SSRq74), Maura Doyle (SSRq75), Mary Beth Ryan (SSRq78)

2001 — Bill Brown (SSRq45), Jim Markos (SSRq66), Dan Sullivan (SSRq67)

2002 — Melinda "Mim" Ryan (SSRq78), Beth Rice (SSRq81), James Zafris (SSRq45)

2003 — Eileen Brennan-Pramberg (SSRq82), Vic Walsh (SSRq45), Bob Welch (coach), Bobby O'Brien (SSRq76)

2004 — no inductees

2005 — Robert Crellin (NHS, SSRq63), Denis Stevens (SSRq77), Nancy (Powers) Evans (SSRq79), Christa Champion (SSRq82), Travis Landreth (SSRq94)

2006 — Kevin Lucy (SSRq67), Rick Williams (SSRq66), Paul Kolman (coach), Robert Serwon (SSRq77), George Gagalis (SSRq67)

2007 — Neil Reardon (SSRq69), Bobby Jean (SSRq84), Todd Davis (SSRq77), Tom Reilly (SSRq76), Robert Chouinard (SSRq42), Bret Twombly (SSRq77)

2008 — George E. Murphy (SSRq37), Harold "Skip" Short (SSRq79), Diana McKinney Komusin (SSRq82), Lauren Cameron (SSRq82), Cathleen Rose Lawler (SSRq84), Jerry Jayne (SSRq87)

2009 — John Kamieneski (SSRq48), Toni Talas (SSRq71), David McBurnie (SSRq77), Jeff MacBurnie (SSRq81), Sue Coffey (coach), Paul Finn (coach)

2010 — William Foley (SSRq49), Dick Canepa (SSRq54), Rebecca Jaques Vigneault (SSRq71), Mike Twomey (SSRq76), Mark Rowe (SSRq79), Kurt Laakso (SSRq88), Jeffrey LaFrance (SSRq88)

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