Date: Fri 08-Sep-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: TOMW

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Girls-Track-History

Full Text:

Girls' Track History

When the Newtown High girls' track and field team was formed in 1969, the

sport had not yet become a part of the WCC. But a good sized team was put

together at NHS and coach DeAnn LeBeau scheduled what schools she could for

her young squad.

Underclassmen like Barb Messinger, Janice Berls, and Janet Hensel starred for

that first team and helped form the nucleus for what would become some of the

best girls' track teams in NHS history.

In 1970, in only its second year of existance, the NHS girls strung together a

perfect 8-0 season. Behind Hensel, Berls, Lisa Hubbell, Diane Willis, Marilyn

McCarthy, Liza Fairfield, Chris Ruffier, and a promising freshman named Diane

Lawrence, Newtown defeated Darien, Weston, Wilton, Weston again, Bethel, New

Canaan, Roger Ludlowe, and Danbury.

l  Returning the majority of its athletes from the unbeaten 70 team, the 1971

girls didn't miss a step. In an expanded schedule the Lady Indians beat 15

opponents while losing only twice. Lawrence, now a sophomore, became the state

champion in the 100-yard dash (11.6), and the 220-yard dash where her time of

25.8 became a new state record. Larence also teamed up with Janice Berls,

Paulette Pimpenello, and Nancy Nunes to win the state title in the 440-yard

relay in a state-record time of 51.6.

The entire Newtown team finished second in the state that spring as Marilyn

McCarthy and Lisa Hubbell turned in fine performances as well.

l  Pam Northrup became the new coach in 1972 and, in two seasons as coach,

guided the Lady Indians to records of 12-0 and 11-1. Stars in the 72 and 73

season included Lawrence, Berls, Linda Kovacs, Darcy McEneany, Nunes, Hubbell,

Pimpinello, Lorraine Sheldon, Laura Ruffles, Lynn Berquist, and Debbie

Streeter. Several girls from the early years graduated with the first NHS

track and field records while those set by Lawrence, Berls, Pimpinello, and

Nunes' standards have yet to be matched.

Lawrence currenly holds NHS records in the long jump (17-9 1/2) and 220 yards

(25.2). Lawrence, Berls, Pimpinello, and Nunes' 440 yard relay time of 51.2

remains a record as well as does the 440 yard time of 60.4 by Berls.

l  Coach LeBeau returned for the 1974 season and behind the efforts of Pat

Berls and Joan DeSilva turned in a fine season. But the 1975 campaign was

something extra special.

WCC & State Champs!

The Lady Indians of 75 copped the first-ever WCC Championship and sprinted all

the way to the Class M State Championship as well.

Newtown was led by the Dickerson sisters Wendy and Pam, tracy Kreizinger, Gill

Rowe, Margi Pitrone, Lee Rhinehart, Cindy Rogers, and Patty Schaedler as they

also claimed the championship of the Class M Sectional meet at Nonnewaug High

School. Newtown placed runner up in the WCC in 1976, but would start an

amazing streak beginning by regaining the WCC crown in 77 and defending it

twice with perfect 12-0 records in both 1978 and 79.

The Dickinson Sisters

The 77 girls team got individual WCC titles from Pam Dickerson (100, long

jump, and both relays) and Wendy Dickerson (220, both relays).

Wendy, who had broken Lawrence's 100-yard dash record in 1976 with an 11.3,

went on to win the state title in the 220 yards while teaming with sister Pam,

Jean Varvaynis, and Charlotte Hogeman to win the state championship in the 880

relay as well.

Wendy won WCC titles in both the 100 and 220 in 1978 as Newtown rolled up the

first of two 12-0 seasons, Pam won the WCC hurdling and long jump crowns, and

Candy Johr broke the school record in the 880 with a 2:30.7. Patty Whelan was

also a standout.

The following year, Newtown won all twelve meets again behind the efforts of

Vavaynis, Sue Judge, Margaret Carroll, Robyn Caroselli, Whelan, and freshman

throwing star Ruth Ann O'Connell. Carroll knocked off Johr's 880 record

running it in 2:29.7.

Having won 24 straight and graduated several stars, coach LeBeau handed the

reigns and the rebuilding duties to new coach Linda Dirga.

Dirga saw O'Connell win WCC titles in the discus and javelin that season but

the team finished the year 5-3 and relinquished its WCC crown.

It didn't take Dirga long to get the program back on its feet though, as the

1981 team ran up an 11-1 record and shared the WCC title with New Milford.

Dirga's stars included Kris Salnitis, OConnell, and Judge among others.

O'Connell continued her excellence in the throwing events in 1982, copping WCC

titles in the discus and javelin. The senior set school records in both events

that season and still holds the current discus record of 123-feet-7-inches.

That 82 team posted the only losing season in school history and the 83 girls

did the same before the return of coach Pam Northrup, now Pam Lupo, for the

1984 season in which the team went 10-4 behind WCC discus champion Chris

Hanson, Allison Borelli, Kristin Burke, and Erin O'Connor.

Yet another new coach, Gary Vanasse, took over the job in 1987 and the team

went 6-2.

It was 1988 when the Newtown girls' track team regained its coninuity in the

coaching department when long-time Ridgefield High track coaching standout

Rick Medve came aboard.

Medve, simultaneously guided the boys' team to the WCC title that season, and

helped the girls to a 7-3 record and a strong showing in the WCC's. Amy

Nowacki won the WCC discus crown, Amy Young won the long jump title, and Katie

McGovern the championship in the two-mile.

Bridesmaids

Newtown would field outstanding track teams beginning in 1989 and running

through the nineties, but no matter how good they were the first several teams

had trouble obtaining that elusive WCC title. What followed, was a

disappointing stretch of second-place finishes.

Katie McGovern led the 1989 girls team to a 9-2 record during the season and a

WCC runner-up as she again won the conference title in the two-mile while

adding the 1600 to her list of medals as well. McGovern went on to win the

state championship in the two-mile that season giving NHS its first state

champ in over ten years.

In 90, Newtown was perfect, going 11-0 behind the efforts of McGovern, Julie

Logan, and Amy Smith, among others. But the Lady Indians were upset by

Pomperaug and superstar Anne Pare at the WCC meet, and again placed second.

McGovern was Newtown's only titlist, winning the 3200 meters for the third

time, this time setting a WCC record of 11:21.94.

In 1991 and 92, Newtown and coach Medve finished WCC runners up twice more.

The 91 squad crowned WCC champs in Amy Beer (hurdles) and Becky Young (shot),

and got other big efforts from Liz Reil and Maureen McGovern, but was edged b

Weston in the meet's final event.

In 92, Beer won titles in both hurdling events, Young defended her shot title

and added the javelin, and Newtown placed second four the fourth

year-in-a-row. The Last WCC Crown

After the four second-place finishes and third-place efforts in 93 and 94,

Newtown High School finally rose to the top of the conference's elite in its

final year, 1995.

One of the finest teams in NHS history compiled a 12-0 record, knocking off

opponents by wide margins, and rolled up the WCC Championship with relative

ease, scoring 104 points to beat second-place Weston's 87. The 95 Indians

crowned only one WCC champion (Liz Robilotti in the shot put) but saw 12

different athletes score points.

Those NHS stars putting points on the board were Marnie Larabee, Heather

Martins, Jill Privalsky, Kara Mullholland, Becky Crane, Michelle Shanahan,

Rachel Gottmeier, Kate Osborne, Erin Archer, Katie McClure, and Stephanie

Hays. The 95 team will be remembered as one of the all-around deepest girls'

track teams in WCC history.