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Date: 8/31/2022
WEST SPRINGFIELD – Terrier boosters are looking for another slate of sports greats to honor this year, while they also mull how best to display the West Springfield Hall of Fame and the three classes already inducted.
Spearheaded by Town Councilor Brian Griffin, the project hopes to honor the many accomplished athletes from the town with both a physical and online memorial. The specifics of how this will be realized are still being hashed out, but the goal is to honor individuals who have either played a vital role in the success of West Springfield High School athletics, or alumni who have had a notable athletic career after graduation, according to interim School Superintendent Vito Perrone.
“Glenn Doulette, the director of athletics for West Springfield schools, has sought input from his peers in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association who have implemented similar programs, before hashing out the specifics of the West Springfield Hall of Fame,” said Perrone. West Side “is trying to be proactive in our approach ... so that we don’t take missteps. We learn from others and we’re able to really create a robust Hall of Fame that meets the needs of everybody.”
Griffin says he is proud of the initiative, and the storied athletes from the town.
“There are so many years of history that we have. So we decided that we would celebrate it all and then we started the Hall of Fame,” said Griffin.
“What Brian Griffin did with the Hall of Fame is incredible. It’s great to see it,” said Mayor William Reichelt, adding that he thinks “it’s great to see what they’ve done and remember the past of what we’ve accomplished and also look forward to the future as well.”
“We’ve got a regular ‘Who’s Who’ here in West Springfield to get recognized, we just got to get to the point where we do this in the right fashion,” said Griffin.
Athlete nominees must be at least five years past graduation to be considered. Nominations close Sept. 6, and inductees are slated to be announced on the eve of Thanksgiving. Nominations can be made on a form at bit.ly/rp09qd. Teams, coaches and individuals who have made special contributions to athletics in West Springfield are also eligible for nomination.
Athletes who have been honored already are Kristen Barkman, Amo “Betts” Bessone, Joseph Bregoli, Tim Daggett, Joseph “Skip” Demerski, Nicholas Dombkowski, Gene Grazia, Michael Hall, Bruce Hildreth, Robert Hubbard, Leslie “Porky” Plumb, Sharon Polastri, William Delaney, Walter Fiala, Gordon “Deke” Pillsbury Sr., Kristen Raverta, Eric Scott and Ann Marie Simons.
Teams inducted as a group so far are the 1952 high school hockey team, 1952 Peanut Bowl football team, 1974 boys soccer team, 2005 baseball team, 2013 boys soccer team and 2014 girls soccer team.
Coaches in the Hall of Fame are Donna Combs, Bob Delisle, Bill Jones, Gordon “Deke” Pillsbury Jr., Ted Smith and George Thompson.
Inductees honored as special contributors to West Springfield sports are Stan Brzoska, Ted Dukiewicz, Robert Ledoux, Sam Pompei, Ed Shore and Dr. George C. Steele.