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 Hall Of Fame

CENTER COURT

Newsletter of the

Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

DATE:  3/8/04

 

Ann Fariss, Executive Director/Founder                                 Tony Candido, Fund Raising Chairperson/Founder
Louise Albrecht, Treasurer/Founder/Membership                Lynn Spagnesi, Computer Consultant
Linda Wooster, Secretary/Founder                                          Jean Hunt, Historian/Archivist
Lee Franzman, Nominating Chairperson                                  Marge Dolan, Board Member
Brenda Reilly, Founder (Posthumus)                                       Pat Nicol, Editor, Center Court
Laura Degennaro Raftery, Board Member/Scribner

DRIBBLE….The Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame will be celebrating its 17th year and fifth of the new millennium on Thursday, April 22, 2004 at 500 Blake Street Café in New Haven.  Our 16th annual celebration "taps off" at  6:00 p.m. with a cash bar, followed by dinner and our induction ceremony.  As you remember, this event is a wonderful opportunity to reminisce and renew old friendships, meet some new friends and recognize those individuals who have laid the foundation and continue to promote and support athletic opportunities that presently exist for so many Connecticut women.  The evening will also serve to honor seven outstanding new individuals who have assisted tremendously in bringing acclaim, honor and distinction to the sport of women's basketball in our state.  As always, we welcome your input and support throughout the year, and especially your attendance at out banquet to acknowledge those special people who have contributed so much.  We hope to see you on the 22 nd

----------------------------Please be advised that your tickets will not be mailed to you.  You may pick up your tickets at the door upon arrival an April 22.

                                                                                  2004 Inductees… .  
 
                                                            Mr. Dave Strong---------------High School Coach
                                                            Ms. Patricia Dufficy-----------High School Player
                                                            Ms. Tina Gonyea--------------High School Player
                                                             Ms. Jessica Mudry----------- High School Player
                                                             Ms. Joan Van Ness----------- College Player 
                                                            Ms. Rebecca Lobo------------ College Player
                                                            Mr. Tony Candido------------ Referee

                         

For information and reservations concerning this year's celebration, please contact Ann Fariss at 76 W. Hillside Ave., Stratford, CT 06615  (Tel:  203-378-6581).

Picking Your Brain :  The Hall of Fame Committee welcomes your suggestions of the names of those individuals, past and present, who have been trend setters or pioneers in the promotion/support of CT women's basketball. We realize there are many unsung heroes out there and we wish to recognize their efforts.

In Memory…. To keep her passion for excellence alive, the Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame will once again proudly announce the recipient of the Brenda Reilly Memorial High School Award .  This award is given annually to the outstanding high school girls' basketball team in the State of Connecticut.  A selection committee comprised of members of the Executive Board of the Hall of Fame selects the high school using specific criteria.  The coach of the selected team, as well as a team representative, will be the guests of the Hall of Fame during our annual banquet. This award is in honor of  Dr. Brenda Reilly, Associate Athletic Director of Central Connecticut State University and one of the founders of the Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.  The recipient of this year's Brenda Reilly Memorial High school award will be announced at the Hall of Fame Banquet.

In Addition:  The Brenda Reilly Youth Camp Scholarship will be awarded to a young girl to attend a summer basketball camp in Connecticut.  The camp selected will rotate throughout the State of Connecticut and the recipient and her parents or guardian will be the guests of the CWBBHF at our annual banquet.  The basketball camp of Coach Amy Backus of Yale University has been selected for the 2004 scholarship recipient.

Home for the Hall: As you may know, the Hall of Fame/Brenda Reilly Gallery has found a home.  The Hall is permanently housed in the lobby of Kaiser Gymnasium on the campus of Central Connecticut State University.  The designated area is ideal as it will be visible to all who come through the doors.  Visitors will be treated to the history of the great events, athletic achievements and individuals who have contributed to the unprecedented success of Connecticut women's basketball.. A very special thanks to Ann Fariss, Louise Albrecht and the Central Connecticut Administration for their efforts in turning a dream into reality. We encourage you to visit this outstanding tribute to the sport we love so dearly. (Images From "THE HALL")

Reminder: Tune in to the CWBHOF website……..   Through the outstanding efforts of Lynn Spagnesi, our website continues to provide the "history" of the organization, pictures and biographies of all Hall of Fame Inductees, the CWBHF constitution, a page on the banquet's ceremony, the committee members, newsletters, upcoming events and much, much more.  This informative site is a great resource for those wishing to learn about the history and development of Women's Basketball in the state of Connecticut.

Volunteers Anyone?...  As any successful endeavor is dependent upon its help, we are asking for volunteers to assist in the Brenda Reilly Golf Tournament, to be held tentatively on August 7th .  It promises to be a day filled with laughs and the proceeds go to a wonderful cause. If interested, please contact Lou Albrecht by email -Thank you.

A Friend Passes:  Bo Kolinsky, the assistant sports editor for the Hartford Courant, died suddenly on December 14, 2003.  Bo was an icon in the Connecticut sports world, from club & community sports, to the high school and collegiate level. Throughout his tenure, he was instrumental in the wide array of exposure and recognition our young athletes received. Because of his genuine interest and support of Connecticut athletics, Bo was actively involved in all facets of  Connecticut sports. To name only a few areas where he touched so many, he was president of the CT Sports Writes' Alliance in 1978-80 and had been treasurer since 1981.  He was one of the principal organizers of the annual Gold Key Dinner and in 1989 received the Art McGinley Award for meritorious service from The CT Sports Writers' Alliance.  In 1996, at the National HS Athletic Coaches Assoc. awards banquet, he received the District 1 Distinguished Service Award.  The CT HS Coaches Assoc. had given him its Distinguished Service in 1984.  In 1987, he received the Distinguished Service Award for work outside the field of athletics from the CT Assoc. of Athletic Directors.  Bo was instrumental in starting the All-State sections in 1984 in conjunction with the CT HS Coaches Association.  In 2001, he was inducted into the CT Soccer Hall of Fame and is a member of 6 other halls of fame.  These accomplishments are not all inclusive, yet demonstrate a man who was committed to the ideals of sport and to the values is offers to those who participate.  Bo, you will be missed and we thank you!

Contribution to the Cause…. The CWBHOF Committee is determined to provide maximum service to/for Connecticut Women's Basketball.  To give you the best we have to give and to stay abreast with the increasing demands of operating our initiatives, we would welcome any financial contributions to defray our operating costs.  If interested, please contact Louise Albrecht at 203-256-0930.  Thank you.