Chuck Africano

Enfield High School 1978 graduate. State Class L wrestling champion, and state high school freestyle & Greco-Roman champion.  Attended Western New England College from 1978-1982. Scored a 28-0 record in his senior year, ranked 2^nd in NCAA.  Champion of New England College Conference and Great Dane Classic NCAA Invitational.  New England College NCAA All-Star team.  In the U.S. Army since 1982, and won numerous championships including 1984 Central European, 1985 and 1986 USA Europe Greco-Roman, and 1985-1989 All-Army Freestyle & Greco Roman.  Member of the USA National team in 1987-1988, USA Olympic qualifier finalist in 1988, and captain of the Army wrestling team in 1989 (ranked 2^nd in the nation).  Selected as an official for the US Open National Championships in 1999.

Bill Ball

Outstanding swimmer for the Enfield Tankers from 1972-1983, and 1983 Enrico Fermi High School graduate.  Was FHS swim team captain in 1982 and 1983. Three-time CCIL champion in 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke, while setting many longstanding school records.  Southern Connecticut State University New England champion in 1986 and 1987.  Connecticut Senior champion in 1989, placed sixth in 100- yard breaststroke at 1987 NCAA Division II Championship, earning All American honors.  Assistant swim team coach at UCONN since 1993. Age Group champion of the CT Triathlon Series in 1997 and 1998.

Howie Bromage

Played baseball the first year that Enfield had Little League (1950) and Senior League (1953 state tournament champions), 1957 Enfield High School graduate, while earning four letters in baseball, three in basketball, and three in football.  Named EHS ‘Athlete of the Year’ in 1957.  Played at Brown University as the varsity center fielder for three years, including the 1959 championship season.  Hit the first home run at Brown’s new stadium in 1961.  Spent many years as a Little League manager and CYO basketball coach.  As a local businessman, he sponsored teams in many sports for Enfield’s youth for many years.  Qualified for the 1999 National Senior Olympics in basketball.

Susan M. Guay

Standout goaltender in Enfield Hockey Association, receiving many awards.  19878 Enrico Fermi High School graduate, and was the first female to play varsity boy’s ice hockey in Connecticut.  She was named to the CT North All-Star team, and honored as Fermi High’s softball MVP in her senior year.  Played at Northeastern University and records a career 1.71 goals against average, while playing on the 1988 and 1989 women’s national championship teams.  Beanpot (Boston) Tournament MVP in 1991, and her team was tournament champions for all 4 of her college years.  Won the bronze medal in White Nights tournament in St. Petersburg, Russia.  Appeared on CBS and ESPN television, as well as being featured in the USA Today newspaper.

Wally Ligenza

Scholar-athlete and 1934 EHS graduate. Was coach/manager from 1934-41 for St. Adalbert’s, and also Bigelow-Sanford in Triple A Industrial League, including 1941 league champions.  Was a catcher for Troy’s Garage, called by Casey Stengel “the best semi-pro team I have ever seen”.  Established and operated outstanding Club Silhouette semi-pro baseball team, and later coached many baseball and basketball teams in Thompsonville.  A local pioneer in devising unique methods and techniques for improving athletic skills.  He and his brother, Ray (Class of1997) are just the second set of brothers to be enshrined in the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame (Ken and Auggie Gwozdz are the others).

Jerry Marquis

Has compiled over 200 victories in various auto racing divisions since 1973.  Has won 20 track championships at 4 different speedways: Riverside Park, Monadnock, Stafford, and New Hampshire International.  He clinched the title, SK Modified, at Stafford in 1999.  Holds the record for most wins in a season at Riverside, and was only the second driver to win 3 consecutive Riverside modified championships.  Northeast Regional Winston Racing Series champion in 1991, and was voted Most Popular Driver in 1991 and 1992.  He drove in the 2000 Busch South series, and has been very active in supporting many Enfield-area youth programs and charities.  These organizations included, but not limited to, are The Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby race, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Bill Rasmussen

Enfield resident who founded the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) in 1978, following a successful 20-year broadcasting career in both radio and television.  Was Communications Director and play by play announcer for the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association from 1974-1978.  In 1994, USA Today called him “The Father of Cable Sports”. In that same year, he was ranked 29^th on Sports Illustrated’s list of the 40 most influential individuals of the past four decades, surpassing Bobby Orr, Pele, and Nolan Ryan.  He was inducted into the Connecticut Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 1997.

Michael Whalen

1978 Enrico Fermi High School graduate.  State Class LL heavyweight wrestling champion as a senior, with a 28-1 record.  Named All-CCIL football on both offense and defense, with Honorable Mention All-State team.  Loomis Chaffee CT Prep champion, third in national prep wrestling championships, First team All-Prep and All-State in football.  Attended Wesleyan University and was the first person to win Division III New England wrestling championship four straight years, with an overall record of 66-2 (including one less by injury default).  ECAC Division III All-New England football first team from 1980 – 1982, with Honorable Mention AP All-American.  Held several Assistant coaching positions at various colleges since 1986, and currently Head Wrestling Coach and Assistant Football Coach at Williams College.

George Daly, Jr. Award Winner – Edward Lapponese

Owned Eddie’s Sporting Goods, and sponsored many youth and adult teams in baseball, basketball, softball, and football for many years.  Coached and officiated in numerous town leagues, including Enfield Parks & Recreation, and the Enfield Parents Sports Association (EPSA).  Co-founder of the Enfield Flag football league, and served six years as commissioner.  Organizer and Chairman of the annual Brian Fisher softball tournament, which raised scholarship money for high school students.