By Kim J. Harmon
By Kim J. Harmon
It has become apparent, over the last five years, that selecting and honoring the legendary athletes, coaches, and founders for inclusion in the Newtown Sports Hall of Fame is just part of the fun â the rest comes in reliving some of the great memories and moments in the sports history of this town.
Itâs talking to Lindell Hertberg about some of the grammar school kids he coached in youth basketball and softball over the last 25 years â kids who later went on to become some of the finest athletes Newtown High School has ever known.
Itâs talking to Linda Dirga about coaching a Pomperaug High School field hockey team that invited amazement, defied explanation, and simply redefined the word dynasty.
Itâs talking to Emmy Farrell about schoolboy basketball back in the 1940s and one of the great unbeaten streaks in the history of Newtown High School.
Itâs talking to Laura Oberstadt about that epic basketball win over Masuk in 1988 . . . a win that was not repeated for 10 years.
Thatâs the fun of it all.
In this, the fifth year of the Newtown Sports Hall of Fame, the hallowed hall become even more filled with the memories and accomplishments of our four new inductees â Lindell Hertberg, Linda Dirga, Laura Oberstadt and Emmy Farrell.
They will join the 32 other members of the Hall inducted since 1996.
The five cornerstone members were Sandy Hook Social/Athletic Club (SAC) founder Wilton Lackaye, long-time coaches Ann Anderson and Harold DeGroat, track superstar Bruce Jenner, and 1994 BASS Masters fishing champion Bryan Kerchal.
From there, the committee went on to induct former Newtown High School football coach Pete Kohut, former Parks and Recreation Director M. Lee Davenson, standout baseball and basketball player Steve Kordish, and girlsâ soccer superstar Melanie Huss in 1997. In 1998, longtime softball coach Tony DeCarlo, former Newtown High basketball star (and first-ever woman president of the Newtown Country Club) Joan Crick, Newtown youth soccer founder Al Taubert, and former standout athlete Jim Glover were inducted.
Last year, wrestling phemon James Monroe, longtime coaches Owen Gallagher and Kevin OâSullivan, and Newtown High girlsâ basketball all-time leading scorer Lynn Lattanzio were honored with induction into the Hall.
The Bee also sponsors the annual Bee Sportsman Award and those selected each year receive an automatic induction into the Hall. Since the Sportsman Awardâs inception in 1986, those so honored include Jack McAuliffe (1986), Rich Pesce (1987), Ray Craven (1988), Jack Shpunt (1989), Patty Murren (1990), Bob Sveda (1991), Bob Zito (1992), Bob Stampp (1993), Larry Ashmore (1994), John Ball (1995), Bill Girard (1996), Dr Henry Gellert (1997), Jaime Ryan (1998), and Mike Kelley and Rich Barillari (1999).
All are deserving candidates, of course, but it still leaves many more athletes, coaches, founders and supporters who have made a sizable impact on the sports community and, in the years to come, many of them will be honored.