Congratulations to the
Derby Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2017
Bob Ahearn '63
Mark Angeletti '89
Ray McGhee '88
Dennis O'Connell '75
Dawn Sengstacken '86
Bill Thompson '79
Rick Uluski '73
Dom Pisconeri was given the Bill Pucci
Service Award for 2017
The Class
of 2017 was announced by a Facebook livestream on August 28, 2017 and
The
official induction ceremony was held at a banquet on
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Bob Ahearn '63
By the early 60's, Derby football had
become a middle-of-the-pack program, a far cry from the
glory days under Coach Nuggy Ryan. The Red Raiders often had
trouble with Valley rivals Ansonia and Shelton. Beating both
in the same season was unheard of.
When rookie head coach Ron Carbone took
over in 1962, nobody knew what to expect. Like most of his
teammates, returning star Bob Ahearn looked to help his new
coach make his mark. Unfortunately, an 0-5 start put a
damper on their hopes of resurrecting the tradition. Or, did
it?
A surprising Week 6 victory over powerhouse
Ansonia got the ball rolling. The '62 version of Big Red
rolled through the remainder of its schedule without
dropping a game, including a rousing win at Shelton, the
first time in several years that Derby got the better of
both the Chargers and the Gaels in the same year.
Carrying the load for Derby that year was
Ahearn, an All-State running back, who galloped past the
1000-yard mark, and won the Albarella Trophy as the team's
most outstanding player. Bob went on to accept a scholarship
to play for UConn, where he played for two years.
Bob Ahearn was an excellent ball player on
the diamond, as well, starting for three years, and was also
a star on the basketball court. His all-around athleticism
earned praise from all who saw him play. All these years
later, Coach Carbone still calls Bob one of the best
athletes he's ever coached. Many fans and opponents would
agree. |
Mark Angeletti '89
When it comes to nicknames, being called
"Mule" is about as good as it gets, once you consider the
reasoning behind it. As early as Pop Warner, coaches took
notice of Mark's incredible work ethic and stubborn drive to
excel. Mule, like his namesake, was a true beast of burden
the first day he put on shoulder pads.
A leader on and off the football field,
Angeletti earned varsity playing time as a sophomore, and
started both ways each of the following two seasons. As a
captain during his senior campaign, Mule earned All-State
honors on offense, and was even more dominant as a
linebacker on D, often leading the team in tackles. His
prowess on the gridiron won him the Albarella Award for the
'88 season, one of the few non-skill position players to do
so.
On the merits of his football career alone,
Mark would be a solid choice for Hall of Fame honors.
His exploits in wrestling are even more
impressive. During his stellar 4-year career on the mat,
Mule lived up to his nickname even more, dominating the
189-pound weight class and, as captain, set an example for
others with his undying work ethic and relentless pursuit of
perfection. In addition to his 107-12 record (90%), he was a
2-time Class S champion, a State Open Champion and New
England runner-up.
In a 1988 newspaper article, it was
mentioned how kids in Pop Warner went from asking for jersey
#56 (for Lawrence Taylor) to requesting Mule's #54. They all
wanted to be Mark Angeletti when they grew up. Truth be
told, there's only one Mule. Few were as good in football;
even less were as good in wrestling. None were a better
combination of the two.
|
Ray McGhee '88
When Ray McGhee medaled in the 1985 Class S
track meet as a freshman, he put the rest of the state on
notice. He was on his way, a rising star with unlimited
potential. He had always been fast, but now he had a chance
to prove it.
The next three years saw a total of 12 more
medals come his way. Ray's most dominant event was the 300m
hurdles. In addition to his rookie success in that event, he
finished in the Top 3 five more times, including a clean
sweep in 1988, when he won the Class S, State Open and New
England titles, setting an Open record in the process. He
also won two Class S titles in the 110m hurdles ('86 and
'88), and was runner-up twice ('87 Class S and '88 Open).
McGhee was a key performer in relays, too, winning a silver
in the 4x400 ('86) and two bronze medals in the 4x100 ('86
and '87).
Ray was one of the captains of the '87
football team. As part of a potent backfield attack, his
breakaway ability left would-be tacklers dazed and confused.
On defense, he was part of a secondary that made opposing
quarterbacks think twice before attempting to throw
downfield. He was an integral part of two Housy championship
teams, and was
Class S champ ('85) and runner-up
('86).
Lessons learned on the track and on the
field have helped Ray along the way. He played both sports
in college, and is now a fitness director, inspiring others
to clear life's hurdles and chase their dreams, full speed
ahead. |
Dennis O'Connell '75
Dennis O'Connell (a.k.a. Demo) has been
involved in Derby athletics most of his life. As an active
participant, he achieved excellence at every level, and in
multiple sports. A major portion of his adult life has been
dedicated to the town's parks and rec department, where he
eventually ascended to the role of director.
While at DHS, Demo was a force to be
reckoned with. He never saw a fastball he didn't like, and
his prowess at the plate was a big reason why he was a
three-year starter in baseball.
He enjoyed even greater success in
football. Demo played two years at linebacker for the Red
Raiders, earned All-Housy twice as a guard, and was a first
team All-State selection his senior year.
He went on to achieve All-Conference
honors at UConn twice, and was named team captain in 1978 -
one of three Derby
High graduates who earned that distinction.
His years of service with the Parks and Rec
Department, and his dedication to youth sports and
development at the Boys and Girls Club earned O'Connell
induction into the Club's Hall of Fame in 2009, an honor
befitting a man who's done so much for so many.
|
Dawn Sengstacken '86
As one of the first girls to play Little
League in Derby, Dawn Sengstacken caught the eye of
legendary coach Red Clynch, who encouraged her to play
softball at DHS.
In three years as the starting center
fielder, Dawn hit over .500 each year, and displayed a gun
of an arm, keeping opposing runners from taking the extra
base. She earned back-to-back All-Housy and All-State
honors, and helped lead the charge toward a first-ever Class
S championship in 1985.
Sengstacken also stood out on the
basketball court. Although the team's success didn't reach
the same level as softball, Derby enjoyed a winning record
all three years that Dawn played. As captain, she was
regularly among the team leaders in scoring, rebounding and
blocked shots. Despite missing several games due to injury,
Dawn still made All-Housy 2nd team, fighting through the
pain to finish strong.
In their yearbook, the Class of '86 voted
Dawn Sengstacken Most Athletic. Coach Clynch called it 4
years before they did. He knew talent when he saw it, and he
made sure Dawn took hers to the next level - and beyond. Her
legendary career on the diamond earned Dawn a full ride to
UB, where she started right from the get-go. Good thing she
listened to the old coach. He certainly knew what he was
talking about. |
Bill Thompson '79
Like the man who set them, Bill Thompson's
records were meant to go the distance. Upon graduation in
1979, Thompson finished his cross country career with more
course records than most guys have wins, and most still
stand to this day.
As captain of the '78 squad, Bill earned
All-State honors with a Top 5 finish in the Open. Along the
way, he finished #1 in the Class S, and repeated as Housy
and Valley meet champ as well.
His undefeated dual meet record as a
junior and senior set a standard of excellence that few have
even approached. The only matter in question wasn't whether
he would win, but whether he would break the course record
in the process. All told, Thompson finished his career as a
3-time All Housy, 3-time All-Valley and All-New Haven County
selection, making him the most decorated cross country
performer in school history.
Championships and records followed Bill to
the track, as well. As a miler, he was the '79 Class S champ
and a two-time Housy champ, while finishing Top 5 in the
Open. His personal best of 4:22 is still the standard at DHS
to this day. He was also the first in school history to run
880 yards (now 800m) in under two minutes, a mark that stood
for almost 40 years.
Whether it was the 880, the mile or the 5K,
Bill Thompson always went the distance, usually in record
time.
|
Rick Uluski '73
Even on teams that were loaded with stars,
Rick Uluski routinely stood out among his peers. After all,
when you're a three-year starter in multiple sports,
whatever you do is hardly routine at all.
Rick excelled on the diamond, running down
line drives in centerfield. His closing speed on fly balls
frustrated many an opposing batter. On offense, he led the
Red Raiders in batting his junior and senior seasons,
demonstrating the type of two-way talent that also made him
great on the football field.
Speaking of football, Uluski earned the
starting job as a sophomore, a feat that was not common in
the DeFilippo Era, and never looked back. Just as he did in
baseball, Rick utilized his superior speed to excel on both
sides of the ball. On offense, he ran by defenders as a star
receiver. On D, he achieved All-State status as a shut-down
defensive back. His overall dominance also helped him bring
home the Silver Turkey Award in a hard-fought win versus
Shelton.
Winning the Albarella Trophy that year was
the perfect ending to a perfect 10-0 season. There's nothing
routine about that.
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Story posted on August 28, 2017
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