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Connecticut |
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Chris Webster – High School Coach The Lady T-Birds advanced to the Class "M" State Championship but lost to Kolbe-Cathedral in 1977. Chris took a leave of absence the following year to complete her doctoral residency requirement at Springfield College. She later served as an assistant coach at Wesleyan University for two years before the opportunity arose in 1983 to return as the head coach of the North Branford girls. The Thunderbirds won a second State championship in 1986 and played through a perfect 26-0 season in 1986-87, culminating in another State championship. The fourth state Championship banner was earned in 1989. The class of '89 had an exceptional record of 95 wins and 6 losses and was part of a 53-game winning streak that lasted from March 7, 1986 until March 5, 1988. The Lady T-Birds dominated the Shoreline Conference during these years, winning the league titles in 1987 – 1989. They were a league power from 2000 – 2002 when they garnered a perfect 30 – 0 record, again winning the league titles in 2001 and 2002. Chris has received numerous Coach of the Year Awards -- including the CHSCA Award in 1989. She was named the District 1 Regional winner of the National Coaches' Association in both 1994 and 2003. Chris has also been recognized by the New Haven Register and the New Haven Tap-Off Club. Many of her players have received First Team All-Conference and All-State Awards and one, Holly Oslander, was named an All-American. Several have continued playing basketball at the collegiate level. Chris has garnered more than 440 career wins during her 30 years as NBHS basketball coach. She has been able to teach and coach while also serving as the Athletic Director at North Branford for the last 16 years. Chris was inducted into the Northeast Agenda Hall of Fame in 1988. SCSC coach Louise O'Neal had a great influence on Chris when she began her coaching career. Taking O'Neal's undergraduate coaching classes, watching her great Southern teams, and working at basketball camps provided the impetus to pursue coaching a sport Webster had always loved. Webster enjoys the intricacies of basketball – the need to master many skills, to be able to think quickly and adapt to the competition. Chris is extremely thankful for the many opportunities that she has had to teach and coach the North Branford athletes as well as being able to get to know so many great parents of these athletes. On the state level, Chris has been the long-time chairperson for the Connecticut High School Coaches' Association Girls' All-Star Festival which features a double-header showcasing the top senior players in the state. She has also served for many years on the C.I.A.C Girls' Basketball Committee. Kim Penwell – College Player According to Bentley Coach Stevens, "Kim was so smart and creative - she knew how to get her shot off against any defender trying to guard her. The other thing that separates her from the rest is her
basketball IQ -- she was so aware of what we were trying to do, she understood our system so well, that she could have played all five positions -- and be totally comfortable doing so. There actually was a time
during Kim's junior season when we lost our starting point guard to injury at mid year and we asked Kim to play a number of positions -- including point guard -- until we could work out a rotation with which we were
comfortable. She was unfazed with the change in position and her confidence helped her teammates get through a difficult transition." Kim was a two-time Division II Kodak/ WBCA All-American (her
sophomore and junior years) and most probably would have had a third honor bestowed during her senior year if she had not missed 16 games with a back injury. Despite that injury, the senior co-captain returned
to the court to finish out her career and helped Bentley reach the Division II NCAA Final Four for the fourth time in her career. The 1993 Final Four was held at Bentley College, the last time a Final Four was held
on a campus site in Division II. It was a fitting way for a tremendous player to end her career -- on her home floor in front of a standing room only crowd, in the Final Four. In addition to her All-American
honors, Kim won NE-10 Player of the Year, ECAC Div. II North Player of the Year, and New England Div. II Female Athlete of the Year accolades. She was named to the GTE Academic All-American Team (3 yrs.); won
the Falcon Club Scholar-Athlete Award (4 yrs.); received Bentley's prestigious Edward J. Powers Scholar Athlete Award as a senior; and graduated summa cum laude with a 3.8 GPA and a Finance degree. She was a
finalist for a Disney Postgraduate Scholarship and was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Kim has already been enshrined in the Bentley College Hall of Fame in 1998; the Platt High School Hall of Fame
Inaugural class of 1999; the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003; and the Northeast 10 Conference Hall of Fame Inaugural class of 2006. She was also honored in April as the first woman inductee into
the Meriden Boys' Club Hall of Fame. Kim and her husband, Ken, have two children: Madison, age 7, and Colby, age 5.
John Molina -- Honorary He tried to learn more about the history of women's basketball via the Internet but could find very little. He started researching on
his own. He held his first exhibition of the history in 1999…in his house. Feedback was so positive that he created some websites on the history of women's basketball -- based on artifacts he had been
able to collect online and from women who supported his endeavors. Molina's next exhibit was to assist a scholarship fund in memory of a high school girl who had passed away from a brain tumor. Several
local papers wrote about his work. He began to receive emails from students and teachers inquiring about the history of the game for projects they were doing. Women would write and relate how they
were talking to their daughters and other family members about the days when they played basketball. The web sites and Molina's work were serving as catalysts for conversations about the history of the
game. More and more long-forgotten stories began to surface many from mothers whose daughters probably had no idea that their Moms played the game! More and more women who had played basketball contacted
Molina as word of his historical collection grew. His websites continued to grow and attract publicity from Doris Burke, the Hartford Courant,
and other magazines. In 2002, a documentary was filmed on women's basketball by All American and WNBA All-Star, Michelle Edwards.
Diane Smith highlighted Molina's work for 2002 segment of her television show, Positively Connecticut…
that episode was nominated for an Emmy. He displayed his work on the history of the game at the 2003 CT Women's Basketball Hall of Fame dedication at the Brenda Reilly Gallery at CCSU. Shortly thereafter, his work was exhibited for five weeks at the Newington Historical Society and appeared on a segment of WVIT 30
CT Discoveries
with Brad Drazen. Back in 1999, Molina's research resulted in acquaintances with many of the players from the All American Red Heads Team, that played as far back as the 1930s and the team owner and coach, Orwell Moore. He was inducted as an honorary team member in 2004 at a reunion in Oklahoma City for his work in helping to promote the history and legacy of the Red Heads. Molina had assisted many of the players in writing their autobiographies, which were posted on the Internet and became part of his exhibitions.
Molina served as Historian of National Women's Basketball League (NWBL) from 2002-2005 and, in 2004, was given his own column for a women's professional basketball magazine called OnPoint. His
columns featured articles on various teams and historical topics. In 2005, his exhibit was used to help raise money for Kara Wolter's charity, Kara Kares. That year he authored an article written about
the All American Red Heads for the Women's Sports Foundation website. Much of 2005 and early 2006 was spent preparing an exhibit for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) National Convention at the
Division I Final Four in Boston. That exhibit was sponsored by the CT Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. He also did an exhibit at the Regional Finals in Bridgeport. Molina continues his efforts to
preserve and promote the history of women's basketball and is constantly searching for other venues and sponsors to help promote the game. His passion for the many aspects that makes up today's game has
provided a wonderful legacy for past and future female basketball players. He hopes to someday have a museum dedicated to the history of women's basketball. Crystal L. Brown – High School Player Crystal was a three-sport athlete at Westhill. She was a four-year starter in field hockey, basketball, and softball, and excelled in all three sports. She
was the first freshman to earn a starting position on the Westhill varsity basketball team. Coach Ryan recalls Crystal as "one of the finest, most natural athletes to come out of Stamford. She was an
outstanding leader – a super person – who had the physical attributes, tenacity, and work ethic to succeed in everything she did." Crystal was part of a "special group at Westhill who helped make coaching a
very meaningful and rewarding experience." Brown was named to the All-State Team during her junior year and earned All-County honors as a junior and senior. She was named 1977 Player of the Year and selected
to the First All-City Girls' Basketball Squad. She averaged 13 points per game during her senior year in 1977 and was part of the first FCIAC Championship for Westhill. Field hockey and softball coach
Marilyn Rowe supports Ryan's comments. Rowe recalls that Crystal played in every Westhill softball game for four years and had an outstanding game in the State Championship game versus Hamden. She was
selected to the 1977 FCIAC First Team with a batting average of .400 – including 16 RBIs and scoring 22 runs. Crystal's athletic endeavors resulted in her being selected as a Women's Sports Magazine
High School All-Star (1976) and acknowledgement of that honor by Billie Jean King. In her senior year, Crystal was also voted "'Best All-Around Student." Crystal continued her education at Eastern Connecticut State University where she was a starting guard for two seasons before suffering a severed Achilles tendon. After rehabilitation, she transferred to Southern Connecticut State College where she played center field for Softball Coach Louise Albrecht for two seasons.
Crystal considers basketball very special because it helped her to develop confidence, courage, and positive self-esteem. The hard work, the dedication to a "practice makes perfect" philosophy, the
teamwork, and the constructive criticism, enabled her to become a successful businesswoman. She believes that her participation in athletics taught her life skills – learning how to prioritize, to develop time
management skills, and to work toward maintaining a consistent effort. She credits Coach Ryan and her other coaches as having had a profound influence on her life. Crystal lives in Stamford and has been a very
successful, self-employed, licensed massage therapist for 19 years. She recently became a certified personal trainer. Crystal credits her beloved mother, Allie F. Brown, with have the most influence on
her professional career. Laurie St. Jean Sevigny Laurie averaged 17.4 points per game at Putnam and set three scoring records which still stand today. She holds the
single game scoring record of 51 points and the single season scoring record of 539 points. Her 1,428 career points (without benefit of a 3-point shot) are still the benchmark for Putnam players. Coach Pam
Childs recalls Laurie as a "smart, caring, unselfish team player and leader." She was quick, had a good "sense of the game," and was not concerned with her own individual stats as much as for the team's
success. Laurie was "a super kid…who stayed true to herself." Laurie was well-recognized for her academic and athletic talents. She was named a State of Connecticut Scholar and the 1980 Putnam
High School Scholar-Athlete. She was selected three times to the New Haven Register
All State Basketball First Team and named to the QVC All Star Team for three years. She was a member of the QVC All Tournament Team for four years, including being chosen the QVC All-tourney MVP in 1980. In 1979 and 1980, Laurie was named to the Eastern CT Girls' Team, and, in 1980, named Best Athlete by the Putnam Lions' Club. The Putnam High School Alumni Athletic Association and Girls' Athletic Association both named her outstanding basketball player in 1978, 1979, 1980; most outstanding softball player in 1979 and 1980; and Athlete of the Year in 1980. She was also a 1980 First Team All State Softball Player.
Laurie received an academic and athletic scholarship to Providence College. She scored 1,005 career points and averaged 9.8 points per game at PC. She was named to the 1983 Big East All-Tournament
Team and received the 1984 Paul Connolly Memorial Academic/Athletic Award before graduating magna cum laude with a degree in finance. Laurie was the Asst. Women's Basketball Coach at Salve Regina from 1986-1990.
Laurie continues to coach youth basketball and softball and shares her love of the game with her daughters. Laurie hopes that they are blessed with the great teammates, caring coaches, and lasting friendships
that she was fortunate to have. Laurie and Michael Sevigny have been married for 17 years and have two beautiful daughters – Jillian and Krista. Both are involved in basketball, softball, soccer, and dance.
Charlotte Gallagher -- Referee Charlotte graduated from Harding High School in Bridgeport in 1960. Varsity sports were not offered because of double sessions. She did, however, participate in intramurals with Staples and Ludlowe
High Schools and played for the North End Girls' Club Team. In 1959, Charlotte was recognized as Bridgeport's "Girl of the Year" by the North End Girls' Club. She was also selected as the
"Most Athletic Girl" in her senior class at Harding. Charlotte encountered Dr. David Field, Director of Arnold College (University of Bridgeport) during her high school years – while she was teaching rope skipping
and other activities at the Girls' Club. Dr. Field eventually nominated her for the Arnold Alumni Scholarship, which enabled her to attend college. The fleet-footed Gallagher participated in field hockey,
softball, gymnastics, badminton and basketball at Arnold College. She recalls scoring 28 points in one game of her freshman year. She was a Dean's List student and in 1964, received the Dr. E.H. Arnold
Award for Outstanding Graduating Senior Female. She was inducted into the University of Bridgeport Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989. Charlotte's officiating career began after she decided to leave teaching in
1965. Joan Gauthey, from Shepaug High School in Washington Depot, offered her an opportunity to begin refereeing basketball. For the next 15 years (1966-1981), she officiated girls' high school
basketball games. Charlotte was the first Coordinator of Basketball Officials for the western part of the state. She was responsible for scheduling and assigning officials for games – no easy task because of
the scarcity of qualified female officials. She officiated many regular season and several State Tournament Games. She also umpired field hockey games from 1966-86. Officiating colleagues remember
Charlotte as a conscientious, assertive, dedicated referee who always gave her best effort. They are quick to recall Charlotte's zest and enthusiasm for the job, and her constant efforts to improve the quality
of her officiating so that she could provide the best refereeing for the players. They remember, with fondness, officiating in kilts and tunics at the time when the game was changing from the 6 on 6 game to
the 5 on 5 game. That transition required changes in officiating techniques -- from calling every little touch foul to calling fouls only where there was an advantage gained. Another part of Charlotte's
basketball life was being the #1 fan for Coach Owen Gallagher's Newtown High School girls' basketball team. She felt fortunate that her husband was able to balance family life with his own passion to coach,
while supporting her officiating efforts. Basketball is very special to Charlotte because of Owen. She loved being "Mrs. Coach." She returned to coaching in the late '90's as Owen's assistant in
field hockey and basketball. Owen has been Charlotte's best friend for 45 years. Together they raised two daughters, Edith and Kirsten, who both played high school basketball. Their sons, Owen and Eric,
also played sports. The Gallaghers have nine grandchildren and currently reside in Aberdeen, North Carolina. |