The Madison Athletic Hall of Fame congratulates the Class of 2024. The induction ceremony will take place Thursday, September 12th at the Madison Beach Hotel. Inductees will also be honored the following night at the halftime of the home football game at Strong Field.
The induction ceremony will be held Thursday, September 12th 6 p.m. at the Madison Beach Hotel.
Susan Ashton Cosgriff, Class of 1987, Tennis, Softball
Terrance Cassell, Class of 1976, Basketball
Ken Conlon, Exemplary Contributor, 1980-Present, Softball, Basketball, Football
Stephen Cottrell, Class of 1985, Tennis
Jim Eckenrode, Class of 2005, Football, Basketball, Track & Field
Brendon Fish, Class of 2011, Track & Field, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer
Tucker Hackett, Class of 2012, Soccer
Annie Peck, Class of 2000, Basketball
Rick Sweitzer, Class of 1977, Football, Baseball
Madison Public TV Football Crew:
Kent Sprague
Frank Tordorff
Steve Fuest
John Woods
Anthony Mancini
Anthony Mancini
Exemplary Contributor - (Commenced 1989) Soccer
There are four things that nearly everyone in Madison would use to best describe our honored inductee, Anthony Mancini.
Most certainly the first word that comes to mind is "character." As a devoted husband and father, teacher and coach, Anthony has both the moral and mental qualities distinctive to an honorable person.
The second distinctive word one hears is "integrity." Around Madison and other surrounding shoreline towns, his moral principles lead the way with his value of honesty!
Anthony's "moral code of ethics" is the third characteristic and can best be described as his calling card. He has always held true-blue to standards and morals on which he makes decisions. It guided his decisions on what's right and wrong as well as what is "just."
If he's wrong about something, he will be the first to admit his mistake and have it rectified immediately. However, when he is right on a particular point, his humble nature will have him fade from view. It's never about himself and taking the limelight.
He is affectionately known as "Mr. Man" by his students and appreciative athletes. Mr. Man is the true definition of unconditional love when it comes to his family, students and athletes.
The Latin expression, "inlocoparentis" best sums up why Mr. Man's love is so present. It means in lieu of a child's parents the teacher/coach or supervising adult take on the role as parent. Mr. Man takes you under his protective wing and lets those students know they are of paramount importance to him as well as the community! His love and commitment to women's soccer in Madison has thrived over the past three decades.
As the expression goes, "It all has to start somewhere." In Anthony's case, it all began in 1987 in Madison. It was a humble beginning but committed dedication to Madison Youth Soccer with his first daughter and a few years later with his son. At the high school level, Anthony was a volunteer assistant coach for almost ten years under Dave Scott and then again under Bob Faulkner till 2010. He was then moved to assistant boys' coach under Stan Latkowski in 2015. They were a perfect coaching combination for six seasons winning a State Championship in 2016. Mancini was assigned the Interim Head Coach in 2017 when the Tigers made it back-to-back championships.
As much as he loved coaching at the boys' high school level, his true love was coaching the girls as HS JV Coach. In 2019, under the gifted eyes of Head Coach Rob McConville, he became assistant varsity coach where he remains.
Anthony and another parent approached the Board of Education with a proposal to start an all-girls' soccer team at the middle school in 1994.There was only a boys' team at the time and they would only take one or two girls on the team.
During his tenure as President of Madison Youth Soccer Club, the girls' program grew from 50 players to a staggering 500 in just a few years. The girls outnumbered the boys and still no middle school team. There was some restraint from certain members of the BOE but a calm but fiery mention of Title IX before leaving the room clearly had an impact. Middle school girls' soccer began the next day.
Mancini has had a successful and illustrious career coaching both girls and boys soccer in Madison and if anyone deserves the honor of being called the Godfather of Girls' Soccer in Madison, it's Mancini. He's left his signature of excellence on the youth of Madison for over thirty five years.
Anthony and his wife of 45 years, Carol, local realtor, live in Madison. Daughter Kristin Mancini is a World Language Administrator (K5-12) for the Town of Branford. Son Anthony Jr. is a business teacher at Guilford High School where he is also the assistant varsity wrestling coach.
Beth Woodford Metcalfe
Beth Woodford Metcalfe
Athlete - Class of 1978 Track & Field
Records are meant to be broken and it's rare for a high school record to last more than a few years.
For Beth Woodford Metcalf, that was not the case...
Beth earned her varsity letter all four years and still holds the Daniel Hand High School high jump record of 5'3" forty-five years later.
She attended Hand from 1974-'78 where she excelled in the high jump and 100 meter hurdles and was very competitive in both Shoreline and State meets.
After Hand, she went on to Plymouth State University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology.
Beth was an active skier, runner and worked at the local mountain during her college years.
She worked for Sonoma, Oclassen/Actlvis Pharmaceuticals for over 15 years before moving her family back to the area in 2004 settling in Westbrook. She and husband Chris have three children, Erin 23 (working in Boston), twins - daughter Riley-20 is at The University of Delaware and Brett is at the University of Tampa.
She loves watching her children excel in soccer, basketball and track & field.
Brendan VanDevanter
Brendan VanDeventer
Athlete - Class of 1975 Basketball/Track & Field
Brendan VanDeventer is considered to be one of the top ten basketball players to ever play for DHHS (arguably in the top 5) according to Coach Bill Barker (MAHOF – 2013) and others who watched him play.
A key player his junior year, Brendan was part of the team that lost in the state finals in overtime to St Paul's HS. "That result was primarily due to Brendan fouling out late in the fourth quarter," commented Barker. Barker continued, "In our semi-final game that year against Masuk HS, starring 6'10", Mike Gminski, who went on to star at Duke for four years and played in the NBA for 14 seasons, Brendan scored 21 points with 11 coming in the decisive fourth quarter in the 79-70 victory. One of the finest victories in DHHS basketball history."
Other teams would double team him his senior year, which limited his scoring. However, he still averaged over 18 points per game. Against Middletown High School, starring Corny Thompson, Brendan had 20 points and 20 rebounds. In a game at East Lyme, Brendan had 19 points and 26 rebounds. That rebound total is still a record at DHHS.
"Brendan was known for a style of play that was beautiful, with fluid movement and his athleticism." said Barker. "He was team captain and received the following honors: second team All-State (If our team had more wins, he would have been first team), All-Shoreline, New Haven Tap-Off Club, New Haven County All-Star Team, and he was selected to the first annual, CHHSCA, Class B, Coaches’ All Star Game his senior year."
He went out for track for the first time his senior year. He finished the season with the third most points on the team. His events were: the long jump, the high jump and the triple jump.
Brendan was a starter his sophomore, junior, and senior years at the University of New Hampshire. He was Co-Captain his senior year and averaged 16.1 points per game and seven rebounds per game. While he averaged 55.6% Field Goal Average (which was a top ten percentage in Division I in the country), he also averaged 81% in free throws which, at the time, was the top free throw percentage ever at the University of New Hampshire. His career high of 36 points came against Colgate (where his two brothers, Richard and Peter, had played). Brendan had 16 points and seven blocked shots at Boston College’s Robert’s Center. At the time, it was the most blocked shots ever at that venue. Several years later, Patrick Ewing would tie that record. Brendan scored 16 points and had eight rebounds against the eventual National Championship team, Michigan State, where he matched up directly against future Hall of Fame legend Magic Johnson.
After Brandan played point guard for a U.S. team that toured Italy and played several professional teams including the Russian and Yugoslavian National Teams, he played professionally in France.
In 1980, Brendan married the love of his life, Monica Roche VanDeventer. They have two beautiful daughters, Jacqui and Meghan, and a handsome son, Brendan. Currently, the VanDeventers split their time between Naples FL and Bristol RI.
In 1993, Brendan founded Riparian Partners, a leading boutique Merger and Acquisition Investment Bank located in Providence, RI where his team has completed hundreds of M & A transactions for several billion dollars in transaction value.
Dawn Robinson Stearns
Dawn Robinson Stearns
Athlete - Class of 1979 Field Hockey/Basketball/Softball
Dawn Robinson Stearns, graduating class of 1979, played softball, basketball, and field hockey while a student at Daniel Hand. Her level of participation helped to lay the groundwork for future athletes in women's sports at Hand.
With a strong and accurate arm, Dawn was the starting left fielder for the softball team in 1978 and was named as an All-Shoreline Conference player that same year. Willie Roze, Dawn's softball coach (MAHOF 2013), said, "She was a team leader and was willing to do anything for the team." Dawn volunteered to be catcher when needed and made herself into a good one.
Her senior year, she served as a co-captain of the softball team and was a power-hitting catcher. That year the softball team had a 17-3 record and made it all the way to the state championship game.
Dawn was a starting player for the basketball team and also served as a co-captain for her senior year, the1978-1979 season. In addition, she was a key player in the strong defensive line for field hockey, earning three letters in the sport.
Dawn played on the Shoreline League Championship Field Hockey Team during her senior year (1978 season). In addition to playing three sports, she was the Co-Chair of the Girls' Athletic Association in 1978-1979 and a member of the National Honor Society.
Dawn went on to Gettysburg College where she majored in business. She was the starting catcher and made All Conference three of her four years playing on the team. Dawn was the Co-Captain in 1982-1983, had a .269 batting average, and also earned the distinction of never making an error while at Gettysburg!
Dawn has been the head Softball Coach for the University of Bridgeport for the last 15 years and holds the best softball coaching record in the University's history. Her softball coaching career began in Madison where she coached Little League, middle school and high school teams, and travel ball.
Dawn, who lives locally, is the daughter of the late Dolly and Elliot Robinson and has an adult daughter, Samantha.
Jason Fernstrom
Jason Fernstrom
Athlete - Class of 1991 Football/Wrestling
Jason Fernstrom is a 1991 graduate of Daniel Hand High School where he earned four varsity letters in wrestling and three letters in football. He was captain of Hand's wrestling and football teams and won State Championships in both sports.
As a wrestler, Jason was a four time Class L State place winner and a three time State Open place winner. He was a three time conference champion and defeated multiple State Open and New England Champions during his outstanding career.
He was a two time State runner up, a Class L State Champion and the recipient of the Outstanding Wrestler Award at the 1991 State Championship Tournament. He qualified for the High School Wrestling National Championships and was selected as both the New Haven Register and Hartford Courant athlete of the week. He took third place in the 1991 New England Championships finishing as the #1 wrestler in his weight class from CT. Jason had over 120 high school career wins including a regular season record of 54-2 as an upper classmen, with both losses being avenged later in the season.
Jason was selected as a First Team All-Conference player in both his junior and senior years in football. As a starting linebacker and flanker, he was a key member of the 1989 Football State Championship team that defeated Darien and was also selected as the Defensive MVP.
During the 1989 State Championship season, he had over 90 solo tackles and over 150 group tackles while breaking Daniel Hand's football program records for both, most tackles in an individual game (61 tacking points, Xavier 1989), and most tackles in a season (352 tackling points). The season tackling record had previously stood for 16 years since the 1973 State Championship, and through multiple other State Championship seasons.
Jason is a graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy where he played football and earned his Master's in Business Administration from George Washington University. He was commissioned as a U.S. Coast Guard Officer upon graduation and was eventually promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He served for five years conducting maritime law enforcement operations and working at U.S. Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C. He has been an Account Executive at Oracle Corporation for the past 20 years working with the U.S. Department of Defense on enterprise information technology initiatives. Jason and his wife Kacy reside in Aldie, Virginia with their children Brady, Holden,
Kate McWain
Kate Heritage McWain
Athlete - Class of 1996 Field Hockey/Basketball/Lacrosse
The Daniel Hand HS Class of 1996 had something special in Kate Heritage McWain. She was a three-sport, award winning Iron Athlete and was captain of the field hockey, basketball and lacrosse teams her senior year. In addition to her athletic achievements, she was an honor student every semester for her four years at Hand, a class officer and member of the marching band.
While she enjoyed every sport, her standout sport was lacrosse. She was the first to score 100 goals and became the all-time leading scorer for Hand with over 130 goals. Her junior year was highlighted by her school record 67 goals with an additional 22 assists. Kate also tied the school record with seven goals in a game against Wilton that season.
She was named "Outstanding Player" and MVP of the '96 season. An attacker, she was All Southern Connecticut Conference and a US Women's Lacrosse Association Honorable Mention All American under 2013 MAHOF Coach Pat McCahill.
She continued her lacrosse career at Johns Hopkins University where she played in the '97 Division III National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Lacrosse Championship her freshman year. JHU transitioned from Division III to Division I her sophomore year. She didn't miss a beat in the move to a more challenging DI schedule.
Lacrosse was a family affair in the Heritage household with big brothers Dave and Adam laying the groundwork for little sister Kate. There were some major lacrosse battles in that backyard along the way.
It started at the top with her father, Dave, being one of the originators of the Madison Youth Lacrosse Program before lacrosse programs were popular in the area. Dave did everything in those early days like repairing equipment and lining the fields and even became a lacrosse official to cut costs for the youth program.
One adjustment Kate had to make from those family battles was changing from the men's game to the women's game. It was apparently an easy transition when you consider she did it for her freshman year and became the leading scorer and JV MVP.
In the winter months, it was point guard on the basketball court that kept her busy. People think about running the offense and distributing the ball and racking up the assists when they think about the point guard position. But for Kate, the proof of her value was showcased by being named the best defensive player her senior year.
Kate was part of Hand basketball Coach Jim Bombaci's (MAHOF 2015) 1994 Shoreline Conference Champion and CIAC Class L semifinalist basketball team.
A two year captain and sweeper on the field hockey team, she was a Second Team All-SCC selection for Coach Gina Wygonik.
Her positive attitude, integrity and unselfishness were key attributes throughout her four years at Hand. She now fosters those same qualities mentoring Madison youth for the past three years as a coach and member of the Madison Youth Lacrosse Board.
Kate lives in Madison with her two children, Elizabeth and Sam. She works in global marketing for Sciex.
Maureen Bransfield
Maureen "Mo" Bransfield
Athlete - Class of 1982 Field Hockey/Basketball/Softball
Maureen "Mo" Bransfield graduated from Daniel Hand in 1982 and was an outstanding athlete who competed in three sports: softball, basketball, and field hockey. She earned eight varsity letters, two from field hockey, two from basketball, and four from softball. Her level of participation and commitment helped to pave the way for future DHHS women athletes.
Mo was an integral part of the field hockey and basketball teams but softball was where she really excelled. She was a starter at third base for her first three years and then started at shortstop as a senior.
She was selected to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-State Team in 1982 and was named to the All-Shoreline team in '81 and '82.
Her softball coach, Willie Roze (MAHOF 2013), remembered Mo as, "A talented, key clutch player who was a dependable all-around athlete." She was co-captain of the softball team in 1981 and 1982 batting .296 as a junior and .317 with 17 RBI as a senior.
Mo led the Tigers to three Shoreline Championships (1979, 1980, 1981).The '81 team advanced to the State Championship game and had a 20-5 final team record.
During the summers, Mo attended basketball camp at Mitchell College in New London and played pick-up basketball games at the Surf Club. She truly was a full-time athlete!
Mo went to U-Conn where she majored in communications. She was recruited for the softball team and received a full ride. After playing softball for one year, Mo discovered a new passion: ice hockey. She played on the Division I Ice Hockey Club Team for three years and was co-captain for her junior and senior years. After graduation, Mo attended graduate school and earned a Master of Education degree in Counseling.
Mo started her professional career in the Red Lion School District in Pennsylvania as an elementary school counselor. She followed that by becoming a school counselor and subsequently the Director of School Counseling for the Hamden and North Haven public school systems. She went on to become principal at ACES for the Alternative Magnet School and then revamped the New Haven Alternative High School while serving as its principal.
While in New London as Director of K-12 Culture, Climate and of School Counseling, Mo ended her 32 year career in education by retiring in December, 2022. She is working for Madison Youth and Family Services as a counselor for children and, as a new chapter in life, Mo has started a private therapy practice.
Mo has a daughter Clare who goes to St. Michael's College in Vermont. She has had a house in Guilford for the last 24 years. Her father is the late Jim Bransfield, her mother is Mary Lou (Bransfield) Jenkins, her stepdad is Buddy Jenkins, and her two sisters are Paula and Carol.
Ryan Fodor
Ryan Fodor
Athlete - Class of 2005 Football/Basketball
Growing up in the Madison community is a special experience for a child, particularly a young athlete. For Ryan Fodor it was the DHHS football program that stirred that pride in the young QB. Ryan says, "As a Madison Youth Football player, you're taught from the day that you start, how important the Tiger Paw is and how special an experience it is to play under the lights on a Friday night at the Surf Club".
The opportunity to play in front of a packed crowd at Strong Field was a powerful motivator for the future hall of famer. Ryan remembers going to see the 1997 Tigers win a championship over Darien with his Dad and thinking that one day he might lead the team to a title and a #1 ranking. He grew up fast and by the time he hit middle school he and his boys were already making waves on the Madison football scene.
In his own words Ryan describes what it felt like to play for Hand. "The memories of being able to finally run out onto the field with your childhood friends to try to accomplish something greater than yourself, representing your community, while the band played, and having all of your family and friends cheering in the stands is something I don't think any Hand Football player ever forgets." He recalls the winter workouts with the team working on routes and timing with the receivers in February when no one was watching. He realized all of the hard work and sacrifice of a long off-season culminated in getting off the bus and feeling the energy that first Friday night game in September was a special experience.
Ryan was not Hand's starter right away. He waited patiently for his turn which is not unusual for Tiger QB's. However, when he took the reins in his senior year, he was nothing short of spectacular.
He led his team to a perfect 13-0 season setting a number of records along the way. He was named to the all-SCC team, the CHSCA and New Haven Register All State teams, and was the unanimous choice for Connecticut football player of the year. On top of all that, his childhood premonition of being #1 came true. For the second time in program history, he got to hoist the Kelly Award at the Walter Camp Dinner.
Ryan said, "Walking off the field after winning a State Championship and being named #1 in the state as a senior, knowing that you and your best friends did something special that not many other teams have accomplished was a once in a lifetime achievement. I was fortunate enough to have an exceptional coaching staff and teammates that helped lift me up the entire season and doing it together is an unforgettable experience."
Fortunately for Ryan, he had an advocate in Hall of Fame coach Larry Ciotti (MAHOF 2013), who recruited Connecticut for the Yale bulldogs. Being recruited by one of the best academic institutions in the world so close to home made his decision easy. Ryan remembers as a child walking with his dad to the bowl to watch the bulldogs play but never believed it would be him on the field someday leading the team.
His career at Yale followed a similar path to that in high school although, a series of injuries kept him from putting his name in their record books. Although his class at Yale compiled a 23-7 record it was their victory over Harvard in Cambridge in 2006 to seal an Ivy League Championship that stands out as the high point. In 2008 Ryan started the first 5 games for Yale completing 62% of his passes for 808 yards and 6 touchdowns with only one interception. He completed a whopping 74% of his passes vs. Holy Cross that year and threw for two TD's in the overtime victory.
He gives credit to his coaches and teammates but has a special place for his family. "My parents have always been my biggest supporters and no more so than during my athletic journey. My Dad coached my youth teams, came to practices, and they never missed a game. I'll never forget my dad being one of 500 people in the Yale Bowl during a monsoon my freshman year when I was a third string quarterback. I'm so fortunate to have such loving, caring, supportive parents in my life to this day."
Ryan also gives credit to Yale for the magnificent education he received and the networking and support that he and his teammates enjoy as a bi- product of their time together.
Finally, in his own words, "I've been very lucky to be both a Daniel Hand and Yale Football player with an incredible support system of parents, coaches and friends along the way. No one can do it alone and I am indebted to everyone in my life who helped me enjoy some of the most special experiences any young kid picking up a football could ever dream of."
Ryan is currently head of sales at Paragon Intel. He lives in Darien with his wife Samantha, and three children Jack, Grace, and Elliott.
Tom Hopkins
Tom Hopkins
Athlete - Class of 1995 Football/Track & Field/Basketball
Tom was a three sport athlete at Hand (football, basketball, track & field) earning All-Conference, All Area, State and New England honors in Track and Field. He attended Clemson University where he was consistently an ACC scorer in the javelin, ranking in the top ten in the school's history.
Tom was one of the few freshmen to play varsity football at Hand. He led the team with four interceptions in 1993.
He won the shot put and javelin in the Class MM Track & Field Championship in 1995.
Tom displayed his versatility by winning the javelin, 110 High Hurdles and the 4X400 relay at the Shoreline Championships in 1994.
In basketball he was an All-SCC performer and team captain in 1995.Tom won the best defender award in 1993 and 1994.
As a young man in fifth and sixth grades Tom ran to victory at the Hershey State and New England Championships in the 200 meters which earned him a trip to the National's in 1987 and 1988.
Tom works for Isolved, a software company, for the last six years. He has a 13 year old daughter, Bailey, who is an eighth grader at Adams Middle School in Guilford and plays soccer and track.
Tracey Potter
Tracey Potter
Athlete - Class of 1981 Track & Field/Field Hockey
Quoting Lindy Remigino, a two time Olympic Gold medalist and legendary track coach at Hartford Public HS, "There's no substitute for speed."
"Tracey Potter had it spades," said her Hand Track coach Larry Halley.
That speed was first noticed on the field hockey field in middle school. The coaches approached her father Ken and said, "You have to get that girl on the track team next year. She's the fastest girl we have." That's how it started.
Tracey arrived at Hand the next year and joined an already exceptional track team that, among others, included fellow MAHOF inductee Beth Woodford.
The Hand girls' track team was Shoreline Champion in both 1978 and 1979 and Tracey was an intricate part. She participated in the 100, 220 440 and 4X100 relay. In 1979, she was the Shoreline Champion in the 100, 220, 440 (school record) and also anchored the winning 4x440 relay team. The 440 and the 4x440 were meet records.
At the 1979 State Class M Championships, Tracey was a medal winner in the 220, 440 and the 4x440 relays. She was also the recipient of the Harstan's Athlete of the Week Award that year.
Unfortunately, a stress fracture sidelined Tracey for the 1980 track season. She was named co-captain along with Anne Martinelli in 1981 and continued to be Hand's best sprinter. She placed first in the 100m and was a metal winner in the 220m and the 400m at the Shoreline meet.
There were two big CT invitational tracks meets in In the 70's and 80's. The "Big B" and the Hartford Invitational. These meets were open to the best track athletes in the state and Tracey participated in both of these meets during her time at Hand. She was successful and won numerous medals against the best competition in the state.
Tracey was a two sport athlete at Hand. She played field hockey in the fall. As a freshman, she was on the JV team until her coach (Pat Shonk- MAHOF 2014) approached her and told her to hand in her uniform. In a moment of panic, she thought "Oh no! What did I do now?" In the next breath, Coach Shonk told her to stop by her office and pick up a varsity uniform. For the next four years she played varsity right wing.
Tracey went on to participate in track at SCSU where she was a mainstay on the women's track team. Her accomplishments included being a member of the school record setting 4x400 relay team. After college she became one of the very few women in the medical device arena with numerous sales and corporate awards. She currently resides in Tennessee and has a daughter and a grandson who live in Los Angeles, CA.
Anthony Mancini
Beth Woodford Metcalfe
Brendan VanDeventer
Dawn Robinson Stearns
Jason Fernstrom
Kate Heritage McWain
Maureen "Mo" Bransfield
Ryan Fodor
Tom Hopkins
Tracey Potter