Tami Chapman grew up in Bristol in the 60s and 70s in a neighborhood that was predominately males, playing pick-up games of any sport on evenings and weekends . She also loved shooting hoops, having a catch and a round or two of golf with her Dad.

The basketball career of Robin Massari-Steele began in the sixth grade when her physical education teacher recommended that she try out for the team after watching her run the 50 yard dash. Robin told her dad what the PE teacher had said. Thus began a string of countless weekends of learning the game of basketball from her dad.

Meghan Pattyson Culmo learned basketball from her brothers. She played both basketball and soccer at Central Bucks East High School where she became the all-time scoring leader [1260 points] by averaging 15 points while pulling down 10 rebounds per game.

Jessica Gelman is an over-achiever! Her basketball career began when she tried out for her sixth grade basketball team and fell in love with the sport. Years later, during a three year career at Staples High School (Westport, CT), she compiled an “All-American” resume.

Steve Nemergut was a shy, quiet skinny boy, who loved basketball. However, because of health problems, he was not able to play the game.

Sports opportunities for girls were limited when Candy Perez was growing up in Torrington, CT. She played softball in the Park and Rec Pigtail League and in intramural “six on six” basketball games. Eventually, girls’ teams in softball, volleyball, and basketball were added to Torrington athletic program and Candy was a three-sport athlete by her senior year.

Sandy Serra’s earliest memories of basketball include tagging along with her father, who coached and officiated boys’ basketball in the town recreational leagues. He taught her self-discipline and how to focus on the fundamentals. At an early age, she learned to enjoy the challenge of improving her skills as well as the competition.

Joe Frager began his coaching career as an assistant baseball coach at Shelton [CT] High School. He eventually landed the girls’ basketball coaching position at Seymour High School where he taught history. Frager’s love for the game, drive to get better, intensity, and ability to develop talent enabled him to turn around a program that had won only three games the year before his arrival in 1987.