The Bethel High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee has announced its third annual inductee class.
The seven inductees and 1989 Cross Country team will be honored during half time of the varsity football game on November 15 and again at an induction ceremony on November 16 at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
John DeMille (1965) Coach
Boys Track Coach 1964-1974 Class M Co-Champions 1968Boys Cross-Country Coach 1968-1981WCC Champions 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978Went undefeated for over 5 years with a record of 55-0 in dual meetsClass M State Champions 1976 and 1977State Open runner up in 1977CT State Coach of the Year in 1976In 1966 he started Bethel's annual July 4th race, which is now named the John DeMille Firecracker
William Hunt (1968) Coach
Coached BHS Baseball for 43 yearsOver 500 baseball winsTwo WCC baseball titles (1984 and 1991)Three SWC baseball titles (2000, 2001 and 2005)Made the state playoffs 42 out of 43 yearsMade two state finals (1984 and 1991)In 2001 the Bethel High School baseball field was dedicated Hunt FieldAssistant football coach for 33 years (assumed head coach responsibilities for 1 year)Freshman Basketball coach for 17 yearsOfficiated numerous sports including basketball and football
Lia Maniscalco Evaristo (1993) Softball
Named All State Class L for three years (1991, 1992 and 1993)Named WCC First All-Star team for four years (1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993)WCC Champions 1990, 1992, 1993Named Coca Cola High School Player of the Week (1990)Overall school record of 49-9 with 524 Strike Outs and a 0.62 ERASchool Record: 19 strike outs in 7-inning game
Janice Clarkson Pacific (1965) Basketball, Field Hockey, Coach
Varsity Basketball for 4 years, CaptainCurrently holds basketball scoring record of 31 points per gameLed the basketball team to an undefeated season during her senior yearPlayed on Inaugural Field Hockey TeamPlayed Golf on the boys teamCoached Basketball and Softball at Bethel High School and WestconnInducted into Danbury Old Timers Athletic Hall of Fame (2003)Inducted into Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame as a referee (2008)Inducted into Connecticut Basketball Hall of Fame as a referee (2008)
Cross CountryCross Country State Open Champion (1983)Cross Country State Open Runner Up (1984)Two-Time Class L State ChampionThree-Time Class L Sectional ChampionState Class 5,000 meter record holder (14:54)Eight Varsity letters in XC and TrackRan XC at University of Oregon, member of a team that won Boston Marathon TrackState Open Runner Up 3,00 meters Indoor Track (1985)Four-Time Conference Champion 3,000 and 5,000 meters Outdoor TrackTwo-Time Conference Champion, Indoor Track
Steven DeMoura (1997) Soccer
Four Year varsity starterAll time leading scorer at BHSAll New England honors as a JuniorNamed CT All State (1995 and 1996)Named All SWC (1994, 1995 and 1996)Two State Championships (1995 and 1996)Three Conference Championships (1994, 1995 and 1996)During his senior year, the team went undefeatedReceived varsity letters in both track and basketballPlayed Division I Soccer at URI (started all 4 years)
Craig Hanson (1991) Track and Field
Scored 246 points during his senior yearWent undefeated in all 13 meets during his senior yearState Open Champion in High Jump & Bronze in Triple Jump1991 WCC Championships: Four Gold MedalsClass M Championship: Gold in High Jump and Triple Jump, Silver in 400mStill holds four school records
The 1989 Girls Cross Country Team
Sarah Atkinson Powell, Katie Karracker Hodge, Val Gemsleben Koproski, Erin St John, Joy Tomasko, AllisonKrill McEnaney, Syd Tedrick, Janet Merling, Erin Lyons, Christine Barney, Maureen Smith, Janet Roth, Carrie Simmons, Cheryl Graves Wagner, Tracey Nagel, Amy Everhardt, Eva Alvarez Turenchalk, Karen Bojarski, Allison Finer Scully, Coach Mark Goodwin
7-0 in WCC Dual MeetsWCC ChampionsWon Class MM ChampionshipState Open ChampionshipFinished Second in New England
Those wishing to attend the ceremony should contact Denise Musser at 203-794-8600 ext. 428 or at Musserd@bethel.k12.ct.us.
photo credit: Anne's Imagery