Inductees

Class of 2023 Inductees

      Honoree
   Jennifer Parsell created the Unified Sports Program at Masuk in 2013.  Being a former track and field athlete and record holder in the 300M hurdles, Jen learned the value of dedication and being a member of a team.  Unified Sports is a national program,  sponsored by the Special Olympics, which partners students with and without disabilities to participate in sports. The team was incredibly popular as 20 students participated that first year in soccer, basketball, and volleyball over the school year, both in town and in neighboring towns. Students from grades 9-12 came together to create a team in which all players supported one another.The program has grown and now our elementary and middle schools have their own programs, which include hosting events and participating in regional tournaments. In 2014,  Masuk High School  achieved the honor of School of Distinction for their dedication to the ongoing support that the entire school community brought to their Unified Sports Team. In addition to starting the program, Jennifer continues to serve as a consultant and enthusiastic spectator.
   
   Athlete
   

Annie Duffy Arnett is in a very special group as a member of the 1200 point club, earning varsity letters in swimming, indoor track and outdoor track for all 4 years at Masuk.  She was All State 6 times, 4 times in indoor track and 2 times in outdoor track. Annie and her twin sister, Katie, were among the first Masuk girls to excel at pole vaulting often going 1,2 in competitions. She attended Sacred Heart University and participated in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track again earning 12 varsity letters. She and Katie are probably the only Masuk athletes to earn 24 varsity letters between high school and college. 
  Danielle Robinson Briand is another member of the 1200 point club at Masuk earning varsity letters all 4 years in 3 sports; soccer, indoor track and outdoor track. She was All State 6 times, 3 times in indoor track and 3 times in outdoor track. At one time she held several Masuk records and finished 4th in the New England High School meet in the long jump in 1996. Danielle continued her track career at Yale her freshman year and then moved to rugby for 3 seasons with the Yale Women’s Rugby Club.
  Maria Magoulas Collins was a 3 sport athlete at Masuk, playing basketball for 4 years, softball for 3 years, and tennis for 1 year. She earned 7 varsity letters in the 3 sports and was Masuk’s first female All State athlete in 1977. In basketball she was All League 3 times and was also the first female 1000 point scorer in basketball and the 3rd overall in school history. She led the girls basketball team to its first 20 win season, a league championship, and the state tournament. After Masuk, she played 4 years of basketball in college, 2 years at Sacred Heart University and 2 years at the University of New Haven. She also scored 1000 points in college and was recognized as a member of the small college All Star team at Sacred Heart and was the Division 2 Defensive Player of the Year while at the University of New Haven.
   
   Michelle Florin Custis was a 3 sport athlete at Masuk, earning a varsity letter in softball, 4 in soccer, and 4 in basketball. She was a 4 year starter in soccer and All State twice in basketball. In 1995 she was an Honorable Mention All American in basketball  and the Ct. Post Player of the year. During her career at Masuk, she was on basketball  teams that won 3 league championships and were undefeated state champions in 1995. She is the 2nd leading all time scorer in Masuk girls basketball with 1814 points, and in 2021 was inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.  She continued her basketball career at the University of Richmond, receiving 4 varsity letters. Michelle  was MVP of several in season tournaments, was on several All Tourney teams, and was recognized as a Colonial Athletic Michelle Association scholar athlete.
   
   Paul R. Fenaroli was a 3 sport athlete earning All State honors in both football and wrestling , All League honors in baseball, football, and wrestling and a total of 9 varsity letters in the 3 sports. In wrestling he was a league champion and a State Open Champion in his senior year while earning All New England honors. He was a captain of the football team and  led them to a league championship. After Masuk he attended Stony Brook University where he was a captain of the football team, a 4 year starter and was recognized twice as an All League performer. Paul was also an All American and his teams were Big South Champions twice.  Paul had an AFL/NFL career where he played for the Green Bay Packers. Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, and New Orleans Saints.
   
   Katie Duffy is another member of the 1200 point club, as she earned 4 varsity letters in each of 3 sports during her time at Masuk. Her sports were swimming, indoor track and outdoor track. In swimming she once swam a relay with 3 other sisters, a very special and unusual event. She was All State 7 times, 4 in indoor track and 3 times in outdoor track. In indoor track she was also All New England and won the 3200  meters at the state meet. In outdoor track she was also all New England, and won the first ever girl’s steeplechase race that the CIAC sponsored. She continued her career at Sacred Heart University, again winning 12 varsity letters by participating in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track for all 4 years.  She and her twin sister, Annie, are probably the only  Masuk athletes with 24 varsity letters between high school and college. Her success in college included All Conference in cross country, being the 3000 meter league race champion in indoor track, and winning the league steeplechase championship in outdoor track while setting a new record time.
   
   Tony Gardner was the 2nd ever All State athlete at Masuk when he was recognized in 1974. He was also recognized that year as an All New York Daily News athlete and was the # 1 scorer in the state. Tony was captain of the Masuk boys basketball team as a junior and as a senior. Upon graduation he attended Southern Ct State University where he had an excellent 4 year career. He was captain of the team his senior year and won the award for Sportsman of the Year in New Haven in 1978. Tony played professionally with the Bridgeport Travelers for 3 years. He is an ordained minister and chaplain for the Truth Revealed Institution Ministries in Florida.
   
   Jeff Hourigan was a 3 sport athlete at Masuk playing soccer for 2 years, basketball for 4 years and baseball for 4 years. He was All League in soccer his senior year and was on the varsity basketball team for all 4 years. It was in baseball where he excelled, being named All State 3 times, Gatorade Player of the Year in Ct, Ct Post Player of the Year, New Haven Register Player of the Year and 3rd team All American, all in 2001. He continued his baseball career at the University of Connecticut where he was an NECBL All Star in 2003 and 2004 and team MVP in 2005, excelling as a hitter and as a pitcher, and played in the College World Series. Upon graduation, Jeff went directly into college baseball coaching, spending 5 years at the University of New Haven and the last 13 years at the University of Connecticut, where the team has had tremendous success in recent years.
   
   Mike Gminski was a 3 sport athlete at Masuk playing football 1 year, baseball 2 years, and basketball 3 years,  earning varsity letters in each of those 6 seasons before graduating after his junior year, and starting  his career at Duke a year early. In basketball he was All State twice and holds the CT record for the  highest scoring average in a season with an average over 40 points a game his junior year. He was recently named to the Top 25 Boys High School Basketball  Players List in the State of Connecticut for the 20th century and the Sports Illustrated Top 50 Connecticut High School Athletes List of the 20 century. In his 4 years at Duke he scored over 2000 points, was a 2 time ACC champion and played for a national title against Kentucky. Mike was drafted into the NBA by the New Jersey Nets in the first round and had an excellent 14 year pro career playing for the Nets, 76ers, Hornets and Bucks,  playing against Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Julius Erving, Larry Bird, and Robert Parrish while being a teammate of Charles Barkley-just to name a few.
   
   Tyler John was a 3 sport athlete earning 9 varsity letters in 12 seasons of participation. He earned 2 in soccer, 3 in indoor track and 4 in outdoor track. His specialty was the pole vault in which he won the Class L meet twice and the State Open Championship  in indoor and won the Class L State Championship twice in outdoor track.  Tyler was outstanding in other events as well as he qualified for the State Open in 9 events his junior year. He was All State twice in indoor track and All State 3 times in outdoor track. In addition he was a captain of the team 7 times in his track career between indoor and outdoor. Tyler continued his track career at Lehigh University where he earned an additional 8 varsity letters participating in indoor track and outdoor track.
   
   Jill Addesa Lane was All State 3 times in swimming and was the first Masuk freshman to earn All State honors. She earned 4 varsity letters in swimming and held many Masuk records. After her career at Masuk, she attended Holy Cross College on an athletic scholarship and swam for 4 years there. She was the Most Valuable Swimmer at Holy Cross for four straight years and earned All-Patriot League Honors in 1991 and 1992. She graduated from Holy Cross with 9 school records and  was a member of 5 relay teams that set school records. As a senior, she was named the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year and received the Cooney Award from the varsity club. Upon graduation, she attended Georgetown Medical School and is currently a successful doctor in California.
   
   Thomas Milone was a 2 sport athlete at Masuk,  with 4 varsity letters in baseball and 4 varsity letters in football. He was All State in baseball twice, and Rawlings All American and Gatorade Player of the Year in his senior year of baseball.  In football he was All State twice, a state champion once, and New Haven Register MVP his senior year. He was a captain of the team in both sports and had over 100 career hits in baseball and had over 1000 yards rushing and receiving in football. Upon graduation, he was drafted  by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 3rd round, and  has been pursuing his career in baseball for the last 10 years with several teams, including playing successfully in Australia while rising to the AAA level in the United States.
   
   Jennifer Magoulas was All State in Cheerleading 3 times and All State once in outdoor track. She was captain of the cheerleading team her senior year, and helped lead the team to 3 league and 3 state championships. She won numerous awards in her 4 year track career and scored points in all the important meets. She was a pole vaulter and runner earning a 4th place finish in the 4x100 meter relay at the New England championships. She attended the University of Central Florida and earned 4 varsity letters cheerleading there. Her cheerleading team earned 2nd place at the Nationals in 2014 and were the 2016 World Champions.
   
   Ann Odoy was a 4 sport athlete earning 12 varsity letters In field hockey, basketball, softball and tennis and is a member of the 1200 point club.  In softball she once pitched a no-hitter with 9 walks which is still a Masuk record for most walks in a no-hitter. In field hockey she was All State 3 times and All League 4 times. In basketball she was All State 3 times, All League 4 times, scored 2138 points with no 3 point line and playing with the bigger basketball, was a New York Daily News All Star and a Converse Academic All American. She continued her career at Boston College where she was a 1000 point scorer, All Big East First Team, a Kodak All American, and upon graduation was the Boston College Women’s Basketball career leader in points, assists and steals. Ann was inducted into the Connecticut Women's’ Basketball Hall of Fame, the Boston College Hall of Fame, the New England Basketball Hall of Fame and played professionally in Sweden. She coached basketball at the college level, and upon her return to Masuk as a guidance counselor, was an assistant coach for the girls basketball team for 13 years and the head coach for 3 years.
   
   Debra Olson was a 3 sport athlete at Masuk playing field hockey, basketball and softball. She earned 9 varsity letters and was All State in field hockey and softball. In basketball she was the starting point guard on the first Masuk girls basketball team to reach the State Finals in 1980. In field hockey she was All League 3 times and in softball she was All League once.  In college at Southern Ct. State University, Debra played field hockey for 4 years, basketball for 2 years, and softball for 4 years earning 7 varsity letters and being recognized as All New England in softball. After Southern, she had an outstanding career as a field hockey umpire refereeing at the Div. 1,2, and 3 levels, becoming a US National Team Field Hockey Umpire, and achieving International Umpire status. She also was the head field hockey coach at Southern Ct. State University for 3 years and the head Softball Coach there for one year. She has been inducted into the Ct. Field Hockey Hall of Fame and the Ct. Scholastic and College Softball Hall of Fame.
   
   Gail Strumpf Cheney earned 8 varsity letters at Masuk, 4 in basketball and 4 in softball. In softball she was All State once and All League 3 times. In basketball she was All State once and All League twice, led her team to a 99-3 record during her high school career, played In 2 All Star games and is still the Masuk Girls Basketball career leader in rebounds and blocks. Gail continued her career at Fairfield University and helped her team to participate in the Women's National Invitation Tournament and the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. Gail is the all time career leading  scorer at Fairfield and is 2nd in rebounds. She was All League 1st team 3 times at Fairfield and Player of the Year in the Conference her senior year. She played professionally in the US and in the top league in Germany where she led the league in scoring. She was a successful head girls basketball coach at 3 different high schools in Connecticut and made the state tournament several times.
   
   Bob Terry was a 4 sport athlete at Masuk earning a total of 9 varsity letters in football, basketball, indoor track and outdoor track. In football he helped his team to the League Championship his senior year and was All League on both offense and defense and Honorable Mention All State. In indoor and outdoor track he was All League 7 times, All State 8 times, and All American once. He had many specialties in the events and his greatest success was in the Decathalon where he was All State 3 times, State Champion his senior year,  and All American by finishing 3rd at the Junior Nationals. He continued his track career at Dartmouth where he earned 7 varsity letters and was All New England twice in the decathlon and All Ivy in the pole vault. He coached track at Masuk and at Newtown after graduation from Dartmouth and is an Advisory Board Member for Dartmouth Track and Field. Bob has been active in Masters Age Group competition and achieved All American status in the high jump, pole vault, long jump, javelin, and 110 meter high hurdles while being a 12 times Nutmeg State Games Champion. At one time he was ranked 14th in the world in the pole vault for men 40-44.
   
   Keith Webster excelled in 2 sports at Masuk, football and basketball. His resume is similar in each sport. In football he was All League twice, All State twice, a captain of the team, and led his team to the league championship in his senior year.  In basketball Keith was All League twice, All State twice, a captain of the team, and led his team to the league championship in his senior year while scoring 1,376 points in his career.   After Masuk he attended Harvard and concentrated on basketball. At Harvard he was team MVP twice, 2nd team All Ivy his senior year, a captain of the team, scored 1,093 points, held several Harvard and Ivy League records at the time, and was a finalist for the NCAA Bob Cousy  Award. Keith was drafted by the Utah Jazz,  the 2nd Masuk athlete to be drafted into the NBA. His favorite pro memory is almost blocking Michael Jordan’s dunk attempt in a preseason game.
 
 

Coach 
   Edmund Butler’s coaching career started at Bunnell High School in 1972. While there, he coached cross country, boys track and started the girls track team. In 1978 he came to Masuk as an art teacher and was at various times the head coach of cross country for 6 years, football for 3 years, boys and girls indoor track for 40 years, girls outdoor track for 38 years and boys outdoor track for 1 year, winning the League Championship, for an amazing total of 88 seasons as a head coach at Masuk.  His football teams were 30-8 and won the League Championship in 1979 and 1982. Track was his specialty and his teams won 13 League Championships in indoor and outdoor combined while compiling a 453-241-1 overall record. Ed’s track athletes were All State 91 times and many went on to have outstanding college careers. In 2017 the Masuk track was named the Ed Butler Track and in 2019 he was inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, having previously been Coach of the Year in both indoor and outdoor track. He retired from coaching that year at the age of 86. His greatest attribute was making each athlete that participated on his teams feel special, while they learned the substantial lessons that team membership has to offer.
   
   John F. Giampaolo was a teacher, Athletic Director for 18 years, and coached for 31 years from 1964 to 1995. He coached cross country, girls volleyball, was an assistant in boys basketball, started the boys soccer program and coached it for 22 years, making the state tournament 4 times, and was the varsity baseball coach for 31 years. His baseball teams were League Champions 9 times, League Runners-up 5 times, qualified for the state tournament 28 times, and were State Runners-up and had 2 Semi-Final appearances. His baseball career record was 433-189. In 1995 when John retired, the baseball field was named the John Giampaolo Field in his honor. John was recognized with the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Baseball Coach of the Year Award in 1985 and was inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2001. His teams earned 6 Sportsmanship Awards from the Western Connecticut Baseball Umpires Association. John was voted the Greater Bridgeport Old Timers Association Outstanding Sportsmanship Award and was their Man of the Year in 2003. The 2022 CIAC Baseball Tournament was dedicated to him. One of John’s many strengths was relating to all athletes at Masuk and successfully mentoring the many coaches that worked for him during his 18 years as the Athletic Director.
   
 Coach Dave Strong  Dave Strong taught math, was the Athletic Director for 10 years, and coached various sports for 41 years at Masuk from 1969-2011.  He coached golf, softball, cross country, boys tennis, girls soccer for 9 years, was a boys assistant basketball coach for 6 years and girls varsity basketball head coach for 35 years. His girls basketball teams were Division Champions 22 times, League Champions 19 times, State Champions 3 times and State Runners-up 4 times. The girls basketball team amassed 704 wins in those 35 years which for many years was the state record and is now tied for first. Included in those 35 years were 7 undefeated regular seasons, 2 totally undefeated seasons, a # 1 ranking at season end in New England, qualifying for the state tournament 35 years in a row, and a 93 game regular season winning streak . Dave has received a Gold Key, been inducted into the National High School Coaches Hall of Fame, the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, the Connecticut Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and the Connecticut Women's’ Basketball Hall of Fame. He is proudest of 3 things: the 11 Sportsmanship Awards the program has won, the fact that 56 former players played at the college level and the fact that 33 former players have coached basketball at one level or another.