Holiday Basketball Tournament Brings Back Hoop Memories from Over a Generation Ago

The Fairfield Prep Holiday Basketball Tournament is scheduled tonight and tomorrow. The tournament brings back a flood of memories for AWHS alumni Tony Procaccini, Joe O'Brien, and Joe Murtha. Here are some memories they share with us from local high school basketball in the 1970s.

AWHS Class of 1976 30-year reunion committee president Tony Procaccini wrote the following:

When we were juniors, a Warde-Danbury basketball game one Friday night was canceled due to snow (a little blizzard, actually). Bob Henry, Joe O'Brien and I drove, maybe walked, to Central HS to see Central against Harding, two of the state's top teams. EVERY OTHER GAME WAS CANCELED THAT NIGHT, MBIAC and FCIAC, but they still played to a PACKED house. What we saw in the warm-ups (the better jumping, supreme athleticism, et al) astounded us, being FCIAC boys. Then, the game started, and our jaws dropped.

That night we saw Wes Matthews, Cedric Cannon, Aldo Samuel (a 5-year student for Harding) and others we had only read about before that night. I was hooked on the MBIAC from that night.It's hard to forget a night like that, when one's eyes are opened forever. And, of course, I went to see those teams on other occasions, too. Bassick was also great to watch, with Kevin Bohannon, Bagley and Garriss. And I continued to read about them, especially Harding, as they won more many state titles under then-coach Kish (Ed or Jim?) and then under Charlie Bentley. Bridgeport can justifiably take pride in their exploits.

It was a great era in high school basketball, and right in our backyard.

Wilbur Cross (of New Haven), then the state's strongest team for many years, played Warde in a non-league game when we were freshmen. Bengie was able to get them on our schedule somehow, he remembers it well. They beat us, I think it was, 109-56, a totally lopsided score. And I remember Soup Campbell walking by me after the players had showered, when the game was over. I looked up at him vertically. Me? 5'6", maybe. Him? 6'9", I think. He wore a long coat, looked cool, and made an impression on me, obviously.

Tony Procaccini

Classmate Joe O'Brien adds the following postscript:

Just to briefly fill in some additional details: I believe we walked to the Central-Harding game. I remember because one of us nailed a car with a snowball on Park Avenue on our walk home in the blizzard.

Also, at that time it was my understanding that slam-dunking was not allowed in a high school game. Regardless, Wes Matthews on a one-on-three fast break crammed one against Central. It was negated but the crowd went wild, "Hit 'em side the head".

Also, junior year, I recollect playing JV roundball against Kolbe at the Shehan Center. It was hard for me to understand how that place with the rickety old baskets could be their home court. You know that 5" square of metal that normally holds the rim to the backboard? Well, it didn't exist. Instead the rim was held on with metal tubing coming up from the bottom of the backboard, sort of suspending the rim out there in space. It had a lot of give to it. I'm sure some of the CYO folks remember the same.

Joe O'Brien

Here are some more memories from Joe Murtha:

I remember well those high school state championship tourneys we used to go to all the time. It was always the extraordinary altheticism of the inner city Bridgeport and Hartford teams against those staid but sure shooters from suburban South Catholic and the like. What a contrast of styles.

I remember being jaw dropped by the Harding team with their "little" guy, Williams (no more than 5' 10" if memory serves) dunking with ease during warm-ups. In fact EVERYONE on both the Harding and Bassick teams could dunk. It was staggering.

I also remember those rubberized Sheehan Center hoops Joe was talking about. You could NEVER get a true bounce on those damn things. I remember a particulalry humbling CYO game where I decided it was a good idea to attempt a little 10 footer from the baseline against Walt Luckett's younger and far less famous brother - and the guy just freaking pummelled the ball into the seats for my effort. Damn was that an eye opener for me.

My young nephew, Pat Murtha, now plays on the Jockey Hollow team from Monroe and they've recently played in tournaments down at the Sheehan Center. Yet another generation of players starting out at that now historic local facility. Pretty cool. Does anybody remember a game we attended at some tiny gymnasium somewhere - we were there austensibly to see this reported "phenom" from upper NY State somewhere? Highly touted prospect, McDonald's All American - I'm pretty sure his name was Charlie Brown? (believe it or not).

And one of the best games ever at Warde was the Soup Campbell game - Hartford freaking Public playing against Andrew Warde of Fairfield - in Fairfield. Geez. And somebody (as per normal) threw the requisite can of Campbell's soup out onto the court at some point during the game...I also remember driving out to Providence RI with Bob and others one Saturday afternoon to see some excellent college tournament games featuring the Friars as well as URI - both of which had pretty good teams in those days...Man, did we see some great basketball back then. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Joe Murtha

Please sign the AWHS Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film".

"A Different and Exciting Era" in Local High School Basketball in the 1970s

This essay, written by AWHS Class of 1976 30-year committee president Tony Procaccini, is a follow-up to the entry about the annual Fairfield Prep Holiday Basketball Tournament involving Fairfield's four high schools.

In my opinion, the two Fairfield MBIAC teams Paul mentions, Notre Dame and Fairfield Prep, were very strong because they played in a more competitive league, the MBIAC, with "city schools," like Central, Harding and Bassick. MBIAC teams sent many players to college and to the pros: names from our era like Wes Matthews, John Bagley and John Garriss come to mind quickly.

Dave Liptak was an all-MBIAC star who played for Prep back then (class of 1976), and his brother Paul attended Warde. Paul was Warde class of 1975, and played baseball alongside many of us. Dave later went on to play at Harvard, and also became a success story in the world of finance. He donated a significant sum to the Shehan Center (Bridgeport) some years later, in appreciation of his formative years there.

Dave was and still is close friends with Warde 1976 classmates Paul Rossitto, Dante Gallucci, Mike Jann and others. Before I forget, here are a few other names I remember from those holiday tournament games, and from that era in general: (Ludlowe) Brian Lee and Henry "Skip" Skibba; (Notre Dame) Kelly Lombard.

OK, getting back to the MBIAC...Warde 1976 classmates Bob Henry, Joe O'Brien, Joe Murtha and I started attending MBIAC games in our junior year, and we were hooked. As a result, we started following state tournament games, often going to the afternoon semi-final doubleheaders in Hartford or New Haven. We saw the likes of South Catholic of Hartford and their stellar shooting guard John Basile play against Bassick (two years in a row they met), followed by another great match-up on the same afternoon. The New Haven and Hartford public schools fielded excellent teams then, too. Schools like Wilbur Cross, Lee and Hillhouse, with players like Bruce "Soup" Campbell and John "Jiggy" Williamson. Again, these were "city schools."

For the state tournament games, schools were grouped by four sizes then, LL being the largest, and going from that designation to L, M and S (smallest). "S" school Saint Joseph's of Trumbull (also MBIAC) frequently defeated the other S schools from all over the state, and would win S class crowns handily, again (I believe) because they played against city schools during the regular season. Does the name Dick Shea ring a bell? He was their star in the mid-1970s.

A brief story might explain the seriousness to which MBIAC teams took their basketball. As an employee of the Suburban Parochial League (scorekeeper a few years, then director one year,) I saw Vito Montelli, then the St. Joseph's coach, scouting grammar school players. Yes, from the city's Catholic grammar schools. I saw these well-trained kids with names like Noccioli, Creatura and Crespo while in grammar school. The same kids who went on to play at the high school level.

Yes, it was a different and very exciting era in local basketball. One I'll never forget.

Tony Procaccini

Please sign the AWHS Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film".

Fairfield's Four High School Boys' Basketball Teams Battle on the Court Again

One of the post-Christmas sports traditions in Fairfield has been the annual Fairfield Prep Holiday Boys' Basketball Tournament featuring the town's four secondary schools. The first two games are scheduled tonight, including a matchup between Fairfield Warde and host Fairfield Prep. The game is scheduled for 7:30 at Alumni Hall on the campus of Fairfield University.

The evening's lidlifter pits Fairfield Ludlowe High School against Notre Dame High School of Fairfield at 6:00 p.m. The winners meet in the championship game tomorrow evening at 7:30. The consolation game at 6:00 p.m. precedes the title contest.

During our senior year at Warde (1975-76), though, the tournament was a round-robin event with each public school playing a different private school each night. The first night, Andrew Warde dropped a 70-57 decision to Notre Dame, and the following night, the Crimson Eagles fell to Fairfield Prep, 67-58.

That Warde team of over a generation ago won only five of 20 games. The Eagles eventually lost a lopsided 80-47 game to Ludlowe later in the year. According to the Flame yearbook, "Coach (Ed) Bengermino's team was forced to field inexperienced players and concentrate on next year."

The four-team tournament was originally crafted to afford an opportunity for the public and private schools to play each other in a local setting at a Division I college facility. Over a generation ago, Warde and Ludlowe, the town's public high schools, played in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference, while Fairfield Prep and Notre Dame were members of the Metropolitan Bridgeport Interscholastic Athletic Conference.

Prep and Notre Dame arguably always had the stronger teams since each private school was able to draw the best students and athletes from across southwestern Connecticut. Warde and Ludlowe, on the other hand, were limited by geography, and could only fashion teams comprised of players from their own "backyards," so-to-speak. That made for a somewhat uneven playing field (or basketball court).

The success of both Prep and Notre Dame is evident when glancing at the record books. The Lancers captured the MBIAC boys' basketball championship in 1963, '64, '65, '66, and 1972. Later, as members of the Connecticut Coastal Interscholastic Athletic Conference, the squad won titles in 1980, '81, '89, '91, '93, and '94. Prep was always among the region's and state's elite basketball programs, too.

Andrew Warde High School's shining moment came in 1973 when the boys' basketball team captured the FCIAC Eastern Division crown. The early 70s featured outstanding players such as Mike Abraham, Dave Schulz, and Glenn Mackno, and the trio led Warde to its division title in the 1972-'73 campaign.

For the most part, the holiday tournament has allowed Prep and Notre Dame to shine. The opening night's card once again matches the public schools against their private school counterparts. I wouldn't be surprised to see Warde and Ludlowe play each other tomorrow night in the consolation game.

It's still a great opportunity to watch four high school boys' basketball games involving Fairfield's four high schools in a college setting. There is tremendous history to this tournament and Alumni Hall, which was home to the Division I Fairfield University Stags for many years before they moved to the new arena in Bridgeport.

Good luck to the Warde Mustangs tonight against Fairfield Prep and tomorrow night, too.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."

Happy 60th Anniversary to Mr. & Mrs. Guerra

I noticed Ben Guerra and his wife, Margaret, sitting in the front pew at church this afternoon. Mr. Guerra is an usher each Sunday afternoon at St. Pius X Parish in Fairfield. His wife had been ill, so I was pleased to see both of them together for the first time in quite some time.

Midway through the service, our pastor, Father Larry, informed the congregation after his homily that Mr. and Mrs. Guerra were happily celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary today.

Mr. Guerra taught at Andrew Warde High School from 1958 until 1979, deciding to retire before Warde consolidated with Roger Ludlowe High School to form Fairfield High School at the Melville Avenue campus. "Oh, they were the best years of my life," he recently told me. "I loved it. I always liked to work with kids and teenagers."

Mr. Guerra, who was born in New York but moved with his Mother to Cuba at the age of two, returned to the United States when he was 27. Originally, he was a teacher in the Bridgeport school system, working with special education students at Longfellow School. He later moved to Harding High School before arriving at Warde

He began teaching at Andrew Warde shortly after the school opened in 1956, and it quickly became a second home for him for the next 21 years.

Mr. Guerra met his wife while they both taught on Staten Island in New York. Later, they taught together in Madison, Connecticut. Margaret became a teacher at Oldfield School in Fairfield while Ben taught at Andrew Warde.

Ben Guerra is one of the most well-respected, dignified, and honorable gentleman this typist has ever met. We exchange handshakes and good wishes each Sunday at church. I continue to admire Ben Guerra for the outstanding educator he was and the wonderful gentleman he is.

Happy 60th anniversary to Ben and Margaret Guerra.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film".

Holiday Greetings from 30-Year Reunion President

Dear Friends of AWHS 1976,

On behalf of our 30-Year Reunion Committee, I extend Season's Greetings to you and yours!The year 2007, though not a reunion year, was again a busy one for us. We constantly updated our Class Web, Paul Piorek added numerous articles to his Class Blog, and we found approximately 12 previously "lost" students.

Classmate Darlene DeSiena and her Marine son Christopher are currently highlighted on the Web home page, plus a photo album. Classmates wishing to send in similar updates and photos are encouraged to do so. Future installments will focus on Jerry Vigorito, Andy Horton and Russell Nagy.

The same information is also gladly accepted by Paul Piorek for his blog. I encourage you to help him by providing text and photos, which can be sent to him and/or to me. Our class owes a HUGE debt of gratitude to Paul for his efforts. If you still need gift ideas, they can be found there, too. Proceeds help various charities.

Anyone wishing to meet with classmates on Saturday evening, Jan. 5, 2008, at Testo's in Bridgeport should advise me. The committee is meeting at 6:00 PM, while others may join us at 7:00 PM. That's also classmate Billy DiStasi's 50th birthday.The committee has two projects: a 50th class Birthday Party in 2008, and the creation of a scholarship.

Classmates interested in helping with either endeavor should advise me.

Again, Season's Greetings to all, and we hope to see you soon.

Tony Procaccini

Please sign the AWHS Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film".

Candlelight Concert Remembered

The holiday season is here, and so are many of the annual traditions which make this time of the year so festive and special. Fairfield Warde High School held its annual holiday concert last night, and I'm sure the performance was enjoyed by all.

Do you remember the Candelight Concert during our sophomore year at Andrew Warde High School? The event was staged on December 12, 1973, in the AWHS auditorium, and it included the members of the choirs and band.

Some of the band members included Cheryl Sladicki (oboe), Debbie Elstein, JoAnne Kassay, and Kerry Washburn (flute), Vicky Marx and Donna Provolo (clarinet), Lisa Feroleto and Jeff Thornton (bass clarinet), Marc Joseph and Russell Pander (alto sax), and Michael Petraglia (baritone sax).

Other members included Daniel Barnoski, Edward Kish, Mark Madwed, Russell Nagy, Brian Pander, Robert Quintiliani, and Robert Ventresca (trumpet), Doug Coventry (baritone horn), Bruce Asanoff, Jill Niedermeier, and Scott Thornton (trombone), Andrew Wartenberg (sousaphone), Stephan Lang and Tony Procaccini (string bass), and Stephen Baxter and Mark Rasmussen (percussion).

Also featured was The Treble Clef, a new girls' glee club at Warde in 1973, and it emphasized theatre, folk, and popular music. It was an extra-curricular activity with a weekly rehearsal schedule.

Acknowledgements included Mr, Guerra (director of activities), Lynn Bobowick (program cover), Mr. Olah (stage crew), and Mr. Trifone (graphic arts). Sponsors were Mrs. Triolo (choir and treble clef) and Mr. German (band).

The administrators at the time included Mr. Petersen (headmaster), Mr. Strout (assistant headmaster), and Mr. Dunbar (music coordinator).

Do you remember the Candlelight Concert? Do you have any other memories of any of the holiday concerts during our years at Andrew Warde High School? I'd love to hear from you. Please feel free to contact me with any stories or photos you'd like to share.

Happy Holidays.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film".

Holiday Shopping at the AWHS Gift Shop

How about giving a unique gift this holiday season? Just visit the Andrew Warde High School gift shop and take a look at all the clothing, novelties, and souvenirs available with our high school name and logo.

Shopping has never been easier, safer, or more enjoyable. Just relax in the comfort of your own home and browse the wide variety of gifts from the online shop. Your personalized order will be delivered in a matter of days.

Choose from sweatshirts, baseball shirts, 2008 wall calendars, clocks, book bags, and much, more more.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School gift shop today!

Paul

Warde History 101

Roger Ludlowe's brother. Utah's state bird. "Something Warde." Those were just a few of the answers from the current students at Warde High School as to whom our school is named after.

When the Fairfield Board of Education decided to reopen arch-rival Ludlowe High School in 2004, it was decided that our school, known as Fairfield High School from 1988 to 2003, would be renamed Fairfield Warde High School, dropping its original first name.

As a result, I wanted to know if the current students had any idea as to the origin of the school's name. For over three decades, from 1956, when the school originally opened, to 1987, Andrew Warde High School was one of two public high schools in town. Over a generation of Crimson Eagles graduated from our Melville Avenue campus.

My good friend Natalie, a senior at Warde, polled a fairly representative number of students at my request. Thirteen of the 23 students (56 percent) who were polled correctly answered Andrew Warde. The remaining 10 students (44 percent) had a wide variety of answers, including "Something Warde," "That guy," and "Fairfield."

I'm guessing that very few of the students have any idea as to the original mascot of the school. When I attended the Warde homecoming football game a few months ago, I wore my "Andrew Warde Crimson Eagles" sweatshirt to the contest. Everyone who noticed the shirt didn't have any idea the original mascot was the Crimson Eagle.

Special thanks to Natalie for helping me with the survey. I wish her well during her senior year at Warde High School.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film".

Warde 30-Year Reunion Chair Announces Christmas Sing-Along Event in Bridgeport

Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976 30-year reunion president Tony Procaccini (seen in both photos) is involved with the upcoming Christmas Carol Community Sing in Bridgeport, which promises to be an enjoyable event for the entire family.

B.A.C.I.O., Inc., a local Italian cultural organization headed by Bridgeport ex-Mayor Leonard Paoletta, announces a first-time Christmas Carol Community Sing on Sunday, December 9, at 3 PM.

The event will take place on the grounds of Saint Margaret’s Shrine, 2539 Park Avenue, Bridgeport. If weather alters the plans, the venue becomes the Circolo Sportivo building, directly across the street from the shrine. Light refreshments will follow there in any case. The music program is expected to last about an hour.

A volunteer combined choir, accompanied by a brass quartet, will be conducted by Fairfield native Tony Procaccini, Music Director of Saint Patrick Church, Bridgeport.

Selections will include seasonal carols such as “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and well-known secular songs such as “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town.”

Most importantly, singers of all four voice ranges with at least basic music-reading ability are still needed as of this writing. An optional general rehearsal is set for Tuesday, Dec. 4, in Bridgeport. If interested, please contact Procaccini immediately at 718.873.7421 or by e-mail to aprocaccini@juno.com.

Please sign the AWHS Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."

The Warde Library ... Then and Now

It seems just about everybody has access to the Internet these days, whether it be at home, at the library, or even at work. Most of our research, communication, and even shopping can be done rather easily with the click of a mouse. Take a look at the Warde library today!

We grew up in an entirely different world, though. I'm sure you recall spending a lot of time in the Andrew Warde High School library when we attended the school in the 1970s. As we tell our children today, we didn't have the luxury of computers, the Internet, or email when we were youngsters. We did all our research by looking through card catalogues, the Readers Guide to Periodical Literature, or by making telephone calls on our rotary phones.

Consider the following entry from the 1976 Flame yearbook: "The library at Warde can be described as a learning and research center. In addition to the books and the massive periodical section, the library provides a wide selection of maps, filmstrips, records, and tapes. These materials have always proved invaluable aids to students involved in independent or group research."

Can you imagine? Maps, filmstrips, records, and tapes. In today's world, maps are outdated almost instantly. As for directions, forget copying everything from a map. Just log on to mapquest and print the directions. Don't you remember trying to loop one of those archaic filmstrips around one of the reels before we played it? It always seemed as though we had a problem with a filmstrip, too. As for records, how many of you still have any 45s or LPs in your home? Better yet, do you still own a record player? I do, and I'm quite proud of it.

Today's students at Warde are equipped with do-it-all cell phones, digital cameras, ipods, and just about any piece of high-tech equipment imaginable. Not so in our days at Warde. What did we have? Read on:

"The Media Center provides Warde students with an outlet for diverse methods of self-expression. The facilities, which have grown considerably over the years, can be used by students and faculty to complete work on projects, which can be either classroom assignments or individual undertakings.

"Slides, transparencies, videotape machines, periodicals, cameras, and movie equipment are all available. Students can also use the Media Center's audio visual equipment to improve their operating skills."

Slides. Transparencies. Videotape machines. Has it really been over 30 years since those were luxuries in our high school library and media center? I wonder what the Warde library will look like 30 years from now. Hmmmm.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."

Warde's First Thanksgiving Day Football Rivalry

I'm somewhat surprised that there wasn't even one response to last week's trivia question. I wanted to know which school was the first football rival of Andrew Warde High School on Thanksgiving Day.

Believe it or not, Roger Ludlowe High School had a well-established rivalry with Bassick High School of Bridgeport, dating back to the days before the opening of Warde. That tradition continued even after the Melville Avenue high school opened in 1956.

The Crimson Eagles' first Thanksgiving Day rival was Kolbe High School of Bridgeport. Warde never lost a game against Kolbe, which played its home games at Hedges Stadium at Harding High School.

I distinctly remember watching games from both Hedges Stadium and Andrew Warde High School in the late 1960s. In fact, the following is taken from a blog entry from October 26, 2006:

"Thanksgiving Day was always a football day," mentioned Tom Davis. "It was an enjoyable day. We were thankful that we won every Thanksgiving we played." He pointed out that during his playing days, Warde took on Kolbe in the annual Turkey Day rivalry. Davis said the Eagles never lost a Thanksgiving Day contest against Kolbe when he attended Andrew Warde.

So, the next time anyone asks you about Warde's Thanksgiving Day football rivalry against Ludlowe, tell them that Kolbe was actually the first rival the Eagles played back in the 1960s.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."

Warde Blasts Ludlowe, 28-0, in Thanksgiving Day Shutout; Eagles/Mustangs Lead Series, 8-4

The following article is reprinted from today's Connecticut Post. The Warde Mustangs won their second straight Thanksgiving Day game over Ludlowe and improved to 9-4 overall in the series, dating back to the days of the Andrew Warde High School Crimson Eagles.

Senior Chike Madu rushed for 237 yards and three touchdowns to propel Fairfield Warde past Fairfield Ludlowe 28-0 before 2,500 fans at Taft Field Thursday. Madu, who broke loose for touchdown runs of 25, 67 and 83 yards, was named Most Valuable Player in the game for Warde.

"I knew going in today I was going to have a big game. I've had over 100 yards (rushing) the last five games," said Madu, a 6-foot-3, 190-pounder. "The team played great. Hopefully, we've been able to establish something for the underclassmen here at Warde."

Junior Phil Tsopanides took the same honor for Ludlowe with 62 hard-earned yards rushing and 15 yards on pass receptions.

The Mustangs finished 4-6, which is two more wins than the previous season. "We really could have had six wins. We're moving toward being competitive," coach Tony Catapano said. "It's never going to be a numbers thing here. It will always be about getting whatever we can from what we have."

Warde's defense intercepted three Ludlowe passes and recovered a fumble. The Falcons (1-9) trailed 13-0 at the half. Warde's Arthur Preston picked off Ludlowe quarterback Rob Ferrara on the opening possession of the game and returned the ball 23 yards to the Ludlowe 29, setting up Kyle Walsh's 3-yard plunge that gave the Mustangs an early 7-0 lead.

On their next possession, the Mustangs faced a fourth-and-three at the Ludlowe 25. Madu burst through the line off right tackle and raced in untouched. Madu really showed off his sprinter's speed in the second half, scoring on dashes of 67 and 83 yards. Catapano says his star runner has managed to get his 40 time down to 4.6 seconds through hard work.

"He's an example of what we can do here if the kids commit to the program. When you invest yourself to 18 months or 24 months of training and conditioning, you will improve," Catapano said.

Madu piled up 172 of his 237 yards, which came on 18 carries, in the second half. That took the offensive burden off quarterback Ralph Fidaleo, who completed 4-of-8 passes for 33 yards with two interceptions.

Ludlowe's Mike Deliberti had both picks off Fidaleo, but the Falcons were never able to capitalize. Ludlowe had two scoring threats in the fourth quarter, but one ended in a fumble at the Warde 17-yard line and the other on downs at the Warde 13.

The Falcons managed eight first downs in the second half, although they never scored. Zach Kraus intercepted a halfback option pass for the Mustangs early in the fourth quarter. Mike Jacob came up with another pick off Ludlowe quarterback Ferrara, who was 13-for-22 for 122 yards in the air.

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."

Thanksgiving Trivia Time

The Thanksgiving Day football rivalry between Warde and Ludlowe high schools dates back to our years at Andrew Warde High School. However, yesteryear's Crimson Eagles and Flying Tigers have been replaced by today's Mustangs and Falcons.

We'll never forget Warde's two gridiron victories over the rival Flying Tigers during our senior year in 1975. That marked the only time either high school won both games against its town rival in the same season.

Although the current series is squared at one game apiece, the Warde Eagles/Mustangs lead the overall Thanksgiving Day series against the Ludlowe Tigers/Falcons, 8-4.

However, Andrew Warde High School didn't always play Roger Ludlowe High School on Thanksgiving Day. In fact, Ludlowe developed a long and storied traditional rivalry with Bassick High School in Bridgeport long before Warde opened. That rivalry continued even after Ludlowe Coach Fern Tetreau moved cross-town to develop the fledgling Crimson Eagles' program when the Melville Avenue school opened in 1956.

While Ludlowe continued to play Bassick each Thanksgiving morning, Andrew Warde High School started a rivalry with another neighboring school which began in 1968 and ended in 1974. Which school was Warde's first Thanksgiving Day rival?

The first person to email the correct answer to me will receive an Andrew Warde High School hooded sweatshirt from our gift shop. Please note that 30-year reunion committee members are exempt from this contest. My email address is pppiorek@news12.com.

Good luck, and Happy Thanksgiving! Go, Crimson Eagles --- er --- Mustangs!

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."

Third Renewal of the Warde vs. Ludlowe Football Rivalry Set for Thanksgiving Morning

The Fairfield Warde Mustangs tackle their arch-rivals, the Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons, on the gridiron this Thursday morning, Thanksgiving Day, at the Falcons home field on Unquowa Road. Game time is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.

The Mustangs enter the contest with a 3-6 record, while the Falcons have only won one of nine games thus far. Warde is the favorite to win its second "Battle of Fairfield" since the rivalry was resurrected two years ago.

The host Mustangs captured last year's contest in a driving rainstorm, 21-12, to claim the Gallagher/Baryas trophy for the first time since the rivalry was re-established. Nearly two inches of rain and strong, gusty winds affected the players. That game featured the Warde field dedication ceremony and the observance of the 50th anniversary of the opening of Andrew Warde High School.

Two years ago, Ludlowe won the Thanksgiving Day affair, 20-14, after jumping out to a 20-0 lead at the intermission. It was the first time the two schools met since Thanksgiving Day, 1984, when the Eagles played the Flying Tigers for the last time.

The rivalry between Fairfield's two public high schools has always been intense. This corner researched the sports battles between Warde and Ludlowe during our senior year of high school in 1975-76. Here's a look at how Warde fared in each of the sports:

Football: Coach Bill Davis' Crimson Eagles defeated Ludlowe twice on the gridiron. Warde won the regular season meeting, 27-13, and the Thanksgiving Day affair, 28-6.

The victory on Turkey Day, November 27, 1975, came on a wet and mild day with nearly a half-inch of rain and temperatures in the upper 50s. It marked the only time in the long and storied history of the rivalry that one school "swept" the other in football in the same season.

Soccer: Although Warde tied Ludlowe twice by identical 1-1 scores, the Tigers won the coveted Swedish Cup over Constantine "Dino" Vanghele's squad by virtue of their better overall record.

Baseball: The Crimson Eagles, coached by Bob Jackson, posted a dramatic 4-2 come-from-behind victory at Ludlowe by scoring all their runs in the final inning.

Volleyball: Coach Ed Bengermino's FCIAC runner-up Eagles beat Ludlowe two games to one.

Field Hockey: Coach Pat Jennings squad lost a heartbreaking 1-0 decision to the Lady Tigers.

Basketball: Bengermino's cagers dropped a one-sided affair to the Tigers, 80-47.

Ice Hockey: The skaters tied Ludlowe, but the highlight of the season was defeating Wilbur Cross at the New Haven Coliseum.

Wrestling: Although Coach Frank Bent's grapplers finished with a winless record in 13 matches, they lost a narrow decision to Ludlowe, 32-24.

Boys' Track: The team defeated Ludlowe, 84-61, and placed seventh out of 16 teams at the FCIAC championships.

So, will today's rivalry between Warde and Ludlowe be as intense or as exciting as it was during our years at Andrew Warde High School? Please take part in our latest online poll by accessing the drop-down menu below. I'd like to know what you think.

Will today's rivalry between Warde and Ludlowe be as intense as when we attended high school?

Yes, it will be intense.No, we had the most heated rivalry.I'm not sure.It doesn't matter.

Free polls from Pollhost.com

Editor's Note: The information provided on this Web site is courtesy of the Flame yearbook. Unfortunately, some sports summaries didn't include complete information, so I wasn't able to list a few of the sports results.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."

Girls' Soccer Now Big-Time at Warde

Editor's Note: The Fairfield Warde High School girls' soccer team won the class L state championship Saturday afternoon, November 17, by shutting out Farmington, 1-0. The photo shows the Mustangs celebrating after their victory.

Congratulations to the Fairfield Warde High School girls' soccer team. The Mustangs shut out Berlin High School, 2-0, last night to advance to the Class L state championship this Saturday at Municipal Stadium against Farmington High School.

The winners posted yet another impressive victory before a huge crowd under the lights at Shelton High School. Emily Bengermino scored both goals for the 14-5-1 Mustangs, including one 4:34 into the first half that set the tone for the game.

Yes, girls' high school sports have come a long way since our days at Andrew Warde High School. In fact, are you aware that Warde didn't even field a girls' soccer team during our days at the school?

According to our 1976 Flame yearbook, "Two years ago, girls at Warde had but one athletic alternative in the Autumn --- field hockey. Today, in an effort to provide a more diversified sports program for girls, the school also offers volleyball and cross country in the Fall." The photo below shows the 1975 Warde girls' field hockey squad.

As hard as it may seem to believe, the yearbook states, "Fall sports (in 1976) saw the inaugural season of girls' cross country at Warde, currently one of only two FCIAC schools fielding teams in this sport." The Crimson Eagles posted a 2-1 record against rival Roger Ludlowe High School, the only other team in the league.

"Next season, with several more schools fielding teams in the FCIAC, our squad looks forward to an expanded schedule," according to the yearbook.

A generation ago, most girls' athletic contests received little if any press coverage, and the events took place immediately after school. Usually, just a handful of spectators were in attendance. The boys' games, on the other hand, were scheduled during the prime-time evening hours.

This corner finds it difficult to believe that girls' athletics were extremely limited and didn't receive the notoriety or recognition of their male counterparts just over a generation ago. Now, both the boys and girls are competing on an "even playing field," and that's the way it always should have been.

Good luck to the Lady Mustangs as they attempt to capture a state championship for Warde High School. I'll look forward to seeing the highlights on News 12 Connecticut and reading all about it in the newspapers.

Did you play girls' sports at Andrew Warde High School? How do you feel about the discrepancy between the sports offered for boys and girls when we attended high school? I'd like to know what you think in the "comments" section below.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."

Class of 1976 30-Year Reunion Chair to Perform at Benny Rae Day Celebration in Bridgeport

Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976 30-year reunion committee president Tony Procaccini will perform during the Benny Rae Day celebration this Monday in Bridgeport.

Procaccini (at left) was one of dozens of musicians influenced by Rae (right) and worked with him from 1973 to 1985.

"Benny Rae Day" will be celebrated at Bridgeport City Hall Annex on Monday, November 5, at 2 p.m. Mayor John Fabrizi has proclaimed the day to honor the legendary bandleader-singer.

Since his early years as a child prodigy singer, trumpeter and composer, Benny Rae has been known in area music circles. While still young, he performed and toured with his mentor, international star Louis Prima, and Prima's wife, Keely Smith. He later settled in Bridgeport for a long and stellar career at local venues.

Benny Rae is steeped in the American Songbook, following the path of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Mel Torme’. In later years, he added contemporary music to his mix, expanding his repertoire and attracting more fans.

He influenced dozens of musicians who worked with him, including Tony Procaccini, music director of St. Patrick's Church in Bridgeport. The driving force behind the proclamation, Procaccini notes, "I felt it was only right to thank and honor Benny for his great work over many years. The city's music life has been greatly enriched because of him."

Many individuals have contributed to the event. In addition to Procaccini, the principal organizer and initiator of the proclamation, they include former Bridgeport Mayor Leonard Paoletta, Warde 1976 classmate Tommy DeLaurentis (owner of Daybreak Doughnuts), Robert Lisi, and guitarist and college music professor Bruce Bednarsky. Bednarsky performed and recorded with Benny Rae for 10 years, and attributes much of his current success to the singer.

The event is free and open to the public. City Hall Annex is located at 999 Broad Street in Bridgeport.

Procaccini wrote, "He (Rae) worked with Prima and Keely Smith for years. Benny did impersonations like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Frank, Ella, Dick Haymes, Al Hibler, Anthony Newley, Tony Bennett, Bing, Satchmo, a dead-ringer on Prima (who once almost tried to have him arrested for doing his shtick!!!), and many, many others.

"I worked with Benny from 1973 until 1985, plus a couple small spurts with some others. Two summers the band wasn't hired, so we played duo.

"A kid like me could never learn a tune like "Nina Never Knew" or "Stars Fell on Alabama" unless working with him. I have many lyrics in my head from those years. I helped Benny at some points, too. He called tunes by opening lyrics, not titles."

"He lent me a Sinatra album in 1979, and I was hooked on Frank. I learned tunes I didn't know from other LP's I went out and bought, imitating the Riddle arrangements, etc."

Benny Rae, born Benedetto Mechello Rea, was a local child-prodigy singer, trumpeter and composer before emerging on the national scene with Louis Prima and Keely Smith in the 1940s and 1950s. He reestablished his presence in the Bridgeport area soon after, and became a local legend. He led a “little big band” called Benny Rae Plus Three, influencing fellow musicians as well as audiences. His repertoire included music from Al Jolson to Barry White, and he helped keep Bridgeport’s nightclubs hopping for decades, until the era of live music ended.

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."

This Year's Warde Mustangs Homecoming Football Game Needed the 1976 Crimson Eagles Band

Fairfield Warde High School held its annual homecoming football game last Saturday, and my son and I enjoyed the festivities at the school. Naturally, we saw many neighbors, and I had the good fortune of running into Warde alums and former athletes Mike Abraham and Tom Davis, the brother of the late football coach, Bill.

The Mustangs played well before falling to St. Joseph High School, 35-18. However, what struck me most was the absence of the band. Back in the day, the high school marching band was a staple at our weekly football games, and listening to their music was just as entertaining as watching the Crimson Eagles play football. On second thought, it was much better considering our gridders didn't do too well.

That got me reminiscing about the school band during our senior year. The Andrew Warde High School band, under the direction of Mr. Michael German, had a tough but very rewarding year in the completion of its two-year goal, a concert tour in England. It was a very exciting trip, which included a number of concerts, a variety of sightseeing tours, and a visit to the birthplace of Andrew Warde, in Colchester.

To raise money for the trip, the band held a large number of fundraising activities throughout our junior and senior years. These endeavors were successful largely as a result of the efforts of the Andrew Warde High School Band Parents Club.

Although the trip to England was the highlight of the year, the band took on a demanding schedule, which included a Christmas concert, a Spring concert, several bicentennial performances, and an exchange program with Roger Ludlowe High School.

In addition, the band represented Warde in the Santa Claus Parade and the Bicentennial Memorial Day Parade. The band gave continuous support to the school by playing at all home football games, pep rallies, during Senior Class Day, and at graduation.

The Andrew Warde chorus had a very successful year, too. The group's membership grew consistently, and, under the leadership of Mrs. Walia Triolo, its performances acquired a professional quality. The chorus performed on several occasions, including the Bicentennial Concert.

I was proud of the Warde football team's effort last Saturday. The new artificial turf and grandstands look great, and the school has never looked better. However, I missed hearing the band during the homecoming football game. It made me realize just how good the band was during our years at Andrew Warde High School. Please feel free to share your memories of the band in the "comments" link below.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."

Classmate Shares Pride & Son's Patriotism

Darlene DeSiena, a member of the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976, shared her pride for her son, Christopher, a United States Marine and graduate of Fairfield Warde High School. The accompanying article and photos are courtesy of Darlene. Congratulations, Christopher. We are proud of you.

My son, Christopher, left for boot camp at Parris Island, SC, on May 28, 2007, Memorial Day, to become a United States Marine. It took 13 weeks of training. He went in at 146 pounds and now weighs 134 pounds with zero body fat. He is thin but muscular. He got a 100 on his test there.

At times it felt like 120 degrees with the heat index as it was when we were down there. Because of the heat, the graduation took place in the same center where Family Day Ceremony was held. I would have liked to see them march as did Christopher. On August 23, 2007, we got to see him for the first time. The graduating ceremony was held August 24.

He is a Machine Gunner. While he was in boot camp, one of the drill instructors could not pronounce his last name. They saw that he has a tattoo of the American Flag on his left upper arm so they nicknamed him Stars & Stripes.

On September 4, 2007, he left for Camp Geiger, NC, for the School of Infantry. He has been home since October 4 and returns November 2.

To become a U.S. Marine was his dream for the past six years to keep our country safe from the terrorists. He did finish the 12th grade at Fairfield Warde High School at the end of January, 2007. Back in October, 2007, he told us that he was joining the Marines.

He trained for six months and got into shape, thanks to his recruiter who told him what he needed to do. Those six months of training at home got him through the toughest boot camp ever. He never complained. We are all so proud of him!

If you'd like to share your good news, provide an update on what you and your family have been doing, or send us your personal story, send me an email at pppiorek@news12.com.

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."

Teammates After All These Years (Part II)

This is the second of a two-part series which chronicles the illustrious careers of three former Andrew Warde High School basketball players and their coach from the successful Crimson Eagles squad in the early 1970s.

The following article is reprinted from the the Fairfield Minuteman newspaper. Former Andrew Warde High School Crimson Eagles' basketball players Mike Abraham (#32), Dave Schulz (with the basketball), and Glenn Mackno (#14), played together in the 70s, coached with and against each other in the 80s, and now work together in the Fairfield public school system.

With the start of a second public high school sports program in Fairfield, the rivalry between Warde and Ludlowe high schools has been renewed. Three former players on Andrew Warde High School's 1973 FCIAC division championship basketball team feel the rivalry will be somewhat different this time around.

"Our games were very intense," Glenn Mackno said. "I do look forward to the rivalry. I hope (it's) a different type of rivalry. I don't think I want it to go back to the days where they were fierce."

"It was pretty hot and heated," added Dave Schulz, the athletic director at Fairfield Ludlowe High School.

The youth feeder programs of today bring athletes from both sides of town together, something that did not exist in their playing days. Today's high school athletes likely will have been teammates in the past, which should create a friendly rivalry, they expect. Because players on opposite sides of town did not grow up playing in youth leagues together in the 70s, those on Ludlowe's basketball team were as unfamiliar as those from an out-of-town team to Warde's players, Mackno recalled.

"We went on the court not knowing each other. They were just an opponent," said Mackno, now the principal at Roger Ludlowe Middle School.

In the 1973 Warde yearbook, the basketball team listed its goals for the season, and the first was to "beat Ludlowe twice." For the record, Warde won both meetings en route to a 15-5 season in 1972-73.

"I believe the rivalry will be equal to what it was in my heyday coaching in the 70s and 80s," said Coach Ed Bengermino, acknowledging that the youth programs of today might make things a little different.

"I think that will soften it a little bit because they know each other, but when they throw that ball up, they're not going to be friendly," Bengermino said. "They're going to want to beat each other."

No matter who wins the next matchup between Warde and Ludlowe, you can bet there will be some good memories in the stands in the old gymnasium.

Do you think today's rivalry between Warde and Ludlowe will be as intense as it was back in the 60s, 70s, and 80s? Please take part in our latest online poll below. Just click on the drop-down menu to vote.

Will today's rivalry between Warde and Ludlowe be as intense as when we attended high school?

Yes, it will be intense.No, we had the most heated rivalry.I'm not sure.It doesn't matter.

Free polls from Pollhost.com

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."

Teammates After All These Years (Part I)

This is the first of a two-part series which chronicles the illustrious careers of three former Andrew Warde High School basketball players and their coach from the successful Crimson Eagles squad in the early 1970s.

The following article is reprinted from the the Fairfield Minuteman newspaper. Former Andrew Warde High School Crimson Eagles' basketball players Dave Schulz (left) and Glenn Mackno, shown holding the 1973 FCIAC division championship trophy, are now educators on the other side of town. Mackno is the principal at Roger Ludlowe Middle School, while Schulz is the athletic director at Fairfield Ludlowe High School.

A lot can change in a school system over the course of three decades. Then again, a lot can end up being the same. Just ask four members of the early 1970s Andrew Warde High School boys' basketball teams --- players Glenn Mackno, Dave Schulz, and Mike Abraham, and coach Ed Bengermino. All four of these men, who once worked together on the same court at Warde, became teammates of a different variety --- educators in the same school system.

Mackno is the principal of Roger Ludlowe Middle School, Schulz is the athletic director of Fairfield Ludlowe High School, Abraham is the adaptive physical education coordinator for Fairfield's special education department, and Bengermino, although officially retired, coached the freshman boys' basketball team at Warde last year.

Dave Schulz, Glenn Mackno, Ed Bengermino, and Mike Abraham (left-to-right) are four names synonymous with the glory days of basketball at Andrew Warde High School. They led the Crimson Eagles to the 1973 FCIAC division championship.

"The common thread between (each of) us is we have a desire to work with children and give back to the school system we went to," Abraham said. "Ironically, we are all working together in the same school system."

And that same school system has come full circle, much like the lives of the former athletes. Fifteen years after Mackno, Schulz, and Abraham graduated from Warde in 1973, their high school and cross-town rival Roger Ludlowe High School combined to form Fairfield High School at the Warde site. Three years ago, though, both schools were reopened, igniting the rivalry once again.

The former teammates say the friendships they formed in high school set a foundation for their interaction today. They still get together for a round of golf from time-to-time, Mackno said.

"We were friends first and teammates second, and that is something that has carried on throughout our lives," said Mackno. "Dave and I went on to be roommates in college." After the two graduated from Southern Connecticut State College, they returned to their roots on the Fairfield basketball courts, although under much different circumstances. The former teammates found themslelves coaching against each other this time.

Schulz coached basketball at Ludlowe beginning in 1978, and Mackno and Abraham coached basketball together at their alma mater, Warde. Abraham was an assistant under Mackno during the final five years of the first two-high school scenario before Warde and Ludlowe combined to form Fairfield High in 1987. At that point, Schulz continued as the head coach.

In the 1980s, Mackno also worked as a volleyball assistant under Bengermino at Warde. Bengermino coached basketball for eight years, baseball for 20, and volleyball for 22 years at Warde/Fairfield High. He says the competitiveness Mackno, Schulz, and Abraham brought to the basketball courts led to their careers as coaches.

"Those three guys exemplified leadership, right from the beginning," said Bengermino, who became Warde's basketball coach in 1970. It was the camaraderie these players had that Schulz said helped the team earn a division crown before their playing days were over.

The next installment will feature the roles all four have today in the new rivalry between Warde and Ludlowe high schools.

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Prestigious Award Commissioned for Member of Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976

Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976 graduate Michael Fetcho recently earned a prestigious award. He received Kentucky's highest civilian honor for his work with non-profit agencies for over a decade. The following letter from Mr. Fetcho details his outstanding achievement:

I am presently employed by the Boston Rescue Mission as the Director of Community Outreach, overseeing fundraising and public relations efforts. This social service organization has been helping the poor, homeless and addicted of the greater Boston area since 1899. I have been working in similar capacities with non-profit agencies since 1995.

On August 2, 2007, I was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Ernie Fletcher. As defined by Wikipedia, 'A Kentucky Colonel is an honorary title bestowed upon individuals by approval of the governor of Kentucky. The award is presented to those who make exceptional efforts to enrich the lives of Kentuckians and the world at large.'

It is that Commonwealth's highest civilian honor. Naturally, I was very proud to receive it and be recognized nationally for my efforts on behalf of those in need.

Famous Kentucky Colonels include Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan, Sir Winston Churchill, John Glenn, Muhammad Ali, Bob Hope, Carl Sandberg, Johnny Depp and Walt Disney.

Kentucky State Representative Tom Riner was in Boston in early August for the National Conference of State Legislators and presented me with the award on behalf of the Governor.

Congratulations, Michael, on a well-deserved and outstanding honor.

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."

The New Rivalry Between Warde and Ludlowe Stirs Emotions of a Generation Ago

For over a generation, public high school students in Fairfield were identified as either Crimson Eagles or Flying Tigers. However, when the Board of Education decided to consolidate Andrew Warde and Roger Ludlowe high schools into Fairfield High School at the Warde site in the mid 80s, the rivalry was dead --- for the time being.

Two decades later, Warde and Ludlowe are at it again. This time, it's the Mustangs and the Falcons battling each other for bragging rights. Will today's rivalry between Warde and Ludlowe be as heated as it was during our days at Andrew Warde High School? That's the question in our latest online poll. Please cast your vote in the poll below with the drop-down menu feature. It is also located in the index along the right-hand margin of the page.

Will today's rivalry between Warde and Ludlowe be as intense as when we attended high school?

Yes, it will be intense.No, we had the most heated rivalry.I'm not sure.It doesn't matter.

Free polls from Pollhost.com

Back in the day, a favorite chant of Warde students and graduates was "Eagles Eat Tiger Meat." Today, the slogan is more along the lines of "Splat Goes the Falcon." The following article appeared in the Fairfield Warde High School Focus magazine in September of 2005 prior to the first-ever athletic meeting between the two schools since the mid 1980s. Here is the text of the article:

The town of Fairfield has recently joined the list of towns in southwestern Connecticut with two or more public high schools. After 18 years with one high school, Fairfield has taken a blast to the past by re-opening a second high school. Fairfield Warde High School and Fairfield Ludlowe High School, names quite reminiscent of the previous two high schools (Andrew Warde High School and Roger Ludlowe High School) that were here before the combined Fairfield High School opened in 1987, officially became two separate schools in the fall of 2004.

Last year, the two teams were not able to compete against each other. This year they can. Let the rivalry begin. On Friday, September 30th at five o’clock in the afternoon, the first athletic event between two high schools in Fairfield in a little under two decades kicked off between the two male varsity soccer teams. This would be the first of seven match-ups between the Fairfield schools for the fall season, not including potential post-season match-ups in conference and state tournaments.

A sea of blue and white filled one side of the bleachers, while red, black, and white inundated the other side. While the former cheered for the Falcons, the latter voiced their support for the Mustangs. Despite a few negative chants, the rivalry appeared quite friendly. At two different times, boys from each high school ran across the bleachers in front of the opposing school’s crowd, waving their shirts and cheering on their own school, but all was harmless fun.

Old classmates from each school hugged and laughed together, but ultimately Warde fans were disappointed as our boys’ soccer team was shut out by the home team by a score of 4-0. At the end of the game, Warde fans chanted “Wait ‘till Wednesday!” in hopes of avenging this loss at another Warde and Ludlowe sporting event.

Five days later, the Warde and Ludlowe girls’ varsity soccer teams faced off. This time the game was played at Warde under the lights. Warde lost again, but by a smaller deficit than that of the boys’ game. The score was 2-1. Warde’s lone goal was off the foot of freshman Sabrina Siciliano.

The next week, both the girls’ and boys’ cross country teams defeated Ludlowe’s cross country teams. Warde’s field hockey team defeated Ludlowe by a score of 1-0, while the swimming and diving team lost to Ludlowe. Although the newspapers and administration are certainly not keeping score of this Warde and Ludlowe series, the students are definitely tallying the wins and losses. Right now, the series is tied at 3-3.

Between the two soccer games, during the weekend, a few juveniles from Ludlowe High School came to Warde and vandalized some of Warde’s athletic property with blue spray paint. The athletic shed that proudly displays “Home of the Mustangs” was crossed out and replaced by “Home of the Falcons.” The pavement was filled with “Warde Sucks” and the fields reiterated the score of the boys’ soccer game that Warde had lost.

Although nothing worse than vandalism has occurred, the rivalry appears to be intense and growing by the minute. Healthy rivalry? Only time will tell.

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."

Class of '76 Favors a "Happy 50th Birthday" Celebration Next Year

Everybody loves a good party. And, if the results of our latest online poll are any indication, our classmates would like nothing more than to get together for another celebration next year.

Inspired by the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1975 and its planned "Happy 50th Birthday" celebration, nearly 60 percent of the respondents to our latest poll indicated that they would like to commemorate the milestone with another get-together.

Twenty-two of the 37 participants (59%) indicated they would be interested in celebrating our 50th birthdays with a party, but not nearly on the scale of our 30-year reunion. A quarter of those responding (nine votes) favored a reunion similar to the highly-successful bash which was held last year.

Eight percent preferred to wait for our 40th reunion, while two people (5%) weren't sure, and one person didn't think a party was necessary. Here are the results of the survey:

We grew up during a very special time in Fairfield. The town was experiencing tremendous growth in the mid-to-late 1950s, and several neighborhoods, schools, and commercial establishments were being built. My neighborhood in Lake Hills was one of several neighborhoods developed a half-century ago.

Andrew Warde High School celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, and I'll be the emcee at Osborn Hill School's 50th anniversary observance in November. Holland Hill School acknowledged its 50th anniversary earlier this year, too. Heck, even Leave It to Beaver is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a marathon weekend on TV Land in October.

Based on the number of informal get-togethers we've had since our 30-year reunion, it's safe to say another party should be in the works next year.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the AWHS Class of 1976 Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."

Mr. Raslavsky's Lasting Legacy at Andrew Warde High School

This is the latest installment in a feature series on former teachers, administrators, coaches, and students at Andrew Warde High School. If you have a suggestion for a feature story or would like to contribute an article, please send me an email at pppiorek@news12.com.

Mr. Tom Raslavsky spent over a quarter of a century at Andrew Warde and Fairfield high schools teaching English composition and grading student essays. However, his fondest memory of his time at the Melville Avenue campus had little to do with Language Arts.

The greatest lessons he ever taught had nothing to do with expository or creative writing and everything to do with teaching high school students about the importance of volunteering, giving back, and being charitable. Those lessons last a lifetime.

"I started a volunteer group to help the American Cancer Society," Mr. Raslavsky told me this morning on the telephone from his home in Shelton where he lives with his wife. "(It was called) Youth for the American Cancer Society.

"It was a volunteer group, and I was the advisor to the group. We accomplished a lot of things as far as fundraising goes. We had a walk every year for 'Camp for Kids in the Sun,'" he added.

The camp, according to Mr. Raslavsky, was located in Hebron, Connecticut. He told me that knowing someone who was suffering from cancer was the inspiration for his involvement with the American Cancer Society.

Mr. Raslavsky, one of the many outstanding faculty members of Wolcott House, initially became involved with the American Cancer Society as a volunteer, and he decided to get the high school students involved in a good cause. He said the youth group was active for a good "six to ten years."

Mr. Raslavsky began his teaching career at Andrew Warde High School in 1970, a year after a one-year teaching position at Rippowam High School in Stamford. He attended college at the University of Bridgeport and Southern Connecticut State College in New Haven before student teaching at nearby Trumbull High School.

Obviously, the classroom has changed a lot over the last 10 to 15 years. Does he often wonder what teaching English and Language Arts would have been like if he and the students had any of the modern technology we take for granted today?

"For teaching English, we'd be using the computers," he laughed. "I'd be instructing on a monitor instead of a blackboard."

Mr. Raslavsky eventually retired from the classroom at Fairfield High School in 1996 after spending 27 years at Warde and Fairfield high schools. This typist had Mr. Raslavsky for English class over 30 years ago. I'm sure Mr. Raslavsky's dedication to his career and students and his passion for writing, to some degree, influenced me to become a ten-year teacher of English at the middle school level and author of this blog.

Mr. Raslavsky also taught his high school students the importance of volunteering and helping with a charitable cause. That, my friends, is a true educator.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the AWHS Class of 1976 Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."