Warde Posted Third Straight Shutout 61 Years Ago Today During Undefeated Gridiron Campaign

Andrew Warde High School's defense-minded Crimson Eagles ran their unbeaten, unscored upon victory streak to three games 61 years ago today --- Saturday, October 3, 1959 --- by downing previously-unbeaten Norwalk, 12-0, before an estimated 2,500 spectators at the Warde field.

Coach Fern Tetreau's charges scored early in both the first and fourth quarters, while stopping Norwalk inches short of the goal line and later at the Eagles' 13 yard marker. The Green Wave was only able to move inside the Warde 30-yard line just four times during the contest.

Norwalk received the opening kickoff and, after advancing to its 27, was forced to punt to the Warde 47. On the Eagles' first play from scrimmage, halfback Larry Gill dashed 29 yards around his right end to the visitors' 24 yard line. Al Bennett ran to the 19 yard line, before Gill scampered around the left end for five more yards to the Norwalk 14.

Jack Flanagan burst through center for a one-yard gain and a Warde first down. Quarterback Howie Ratner handed off to Gill once again, and he ran to the four yard line on a delay. Flanagan added two more yards for a first down at the Green Wave two yard line before Ratner plunged oacross the goal line for the first score of the game.

Norwalk's Lee Johnson, however, stopped Gill shy of the goal line on the attempted two-point conversion, holding Warde to a 6-0 advantage.

A few minutes later, Norwalk tackle Jim Ciminello recovered a quick kick by Warde's Gill that was blocked on the Warde 25. Norwalk reeled off two first downs and had the ball on the Eagles' three yard line with first down and goal-to-go as the first quarter came to a close.

Jerry Fishman opened the second stanza with a one yard gain to the two yard line. However, halfback Everett Jess fumbled as he went through the line, and the loose football rolled to the goal line where Warde's right end Walter Ruby recovered it. Norwalk never again advanced inside the hosts 10 yard line.

The winners threatened again with four minutes left in the first half, but an offside penalty nullified a 14-yard touchdown dash by Flanagan. After the stellar Warde defense limited Norwalk to just seven yards rushing in the second quarter and only four yards in the third quarter, the Eagles' Walter Beck recovered another Green Wave fumble at the Norwalk 18-yard line. Flanagan scampered six yards to the Norwalk 12 as the third quarter ended.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Larry Gill sidestepped three would-be tacklers and followed good blocking by Ratner and Beck to dash 13 yards to paydirt for Warde's second touchdown. Norwalk stopped Flanagan's rush for the attempted two points as Warde assumed a 12-0 cushion.

Norwalk's Fishman played an outstanding game as he carried the ball 14 times for 64 yards and kicked a booming 60-yard punt.

Paul

Senior Hat From 1967 Displayed "Spirit Pins"

How many of you are old enough to remember 'Senior Hats?' This writer is a 1976 graduate of Andrew Warde High School, so I'm not familiar with them. However, one of the regular contributors to the Guest Book wrote, "Anyone remember collecting the different spirit pins, buttons, and badges each week during football season in the late 60s and 70s?"

The writer continued, "Warde students and faculty (collected pins) with the name of the opponent for the upcoming Saturday football game. There used to be 'Senior Hats' for sale, usually before the first football pep rally. Seniors would decorate their hats with the buttons and pins collected during their years at Warde.

"On the day of the first pep rally, seniors were allowed to wear the 'Senior Hats' to classes throughout the day. The school-wide pep rallies usually took place during the last period of the day. If the weather was clear, then the rally took place on the patio in front of the cafeteria. Otherwise, the rally moved into the gym. After the football team and coaches were introduced, each class would compete in a cheer contest with the loudest class being declared the winner."

Believe it or not, I found a 'Senior Hat' from 1967 at a Fairfield Warde High School flea market. The crimson hat has the embroidered letters AW and numbers 67 along with the spirit pins. This is quite a find, and it's one of my favorite Andrew Warde High School collectibles. Take a look. 

Paul

Andrew Warde Nine Clinched FCIAC East by Defeating Brien McMahon 57 Years Ago Today

Andrew Warde High School's baseball team virtually locked up first place and the FCIAC Eastern Division championship for the second straight year by defeating Brien McMahon High School, 11-9, in eight innings, Thursday, May 23, 1963.

First baseman Gary DuBoys assured the Warde triumph when he smashed a two-run home run with none out in the first extra inning, following a leadoff single by hard-hitting Al Englander, to break open a high-scoring battle which was played under protest by the Senators after a second-inning rhubarb at the Eagles' diamond. The Senators charged that the umpire changed his ruling from a foul to fair ball on a pop up which was turned into an inning-ending double play by Warde catcher Doug Goodfellow.

Coach Bob Jackson used four pitchers for the Eagles. The hosts blew an early 6-0 lead, but they staged a three-run comeback rally in the sixth inning to deadlock the game at 9-9 after McMahon surged ahead by scoring nine runs in the fifth and sixth frames at the expense of Bill Binkiwitz and Pat McDonough. Barry Turlish ended a four-run splurge by the Senators in the sixth, and southpaw Larry Mischik pitched two scoreless innings to gain credit for the hard-fought win.

It was the ninth conference victory in 13 contests for the Eagles, moving them two-and-a-half games ahead of Stamford Catholic (6-6) in the Eastern division standings, with only three games remaining on the regular-season schedule. The defeat dropped Brien McMahon to third place in the division with a 6-7 record.

A walk to Mischik, John Nemeth's single, a two-run triple by Englander, and Pete Jankovsky's sacrifice fly produced the three sixth-inning runs which pulled Warde into a 9-9 tie and sent the twilight game into extra innings.

Paul

Larry Mischik's Pitching Lifted Warde Over New Canaan 58 Years Ago Today

Larry Mischik pitched Andrew Warde High School's baseball team to a 4-2 victory over New Canaan at the Rams' diamond on this date, Wednesday, April 25, 1962. The win was the first in three games for the Crimson Eagles.

Warde scored single runs in the first two innings. Singles by Mike Longo and Mischik and walks to Andy Bowman and Jim Lippman brought in the first Eagle run, and a walk, an error, and a fielder's choice by Mischik accounted for the second run.

The Eagles final two runs were scored in the third inning as Bowman doubled, Pete Jankowsky walked, and Les Bufferd tripled. The Eagles outhit the host Rams, six-to-three, in the FCIAC contest.

Paul

Warde Boys Clinched FCIAC East Division Hoops Crown 55 Years Ago Today

The Andrew Warde High School boys basketball team clinched the FCIAC East Division championship 55 years ago this evening, February 22, 1965. Please click the story below from The Bridgeport Post the following day.

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Paul

Crimson Eagles Defeated Local Rival Bassick in State Playoffs 56 Years Ago Today

The Andrew Warde High School boys' basketball team defeated neighboring Bassick High School in the state playoffs on this date in 1964. Please click the image below and enlarge to read the story as it appeared in The Bridgeport Telegram the following day.

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Paul

Lady Eagles' Cagers Copped FCIAC Crown 44 Years Ago Today

Andrew Warde High School's girls' basketball team captured the FCIAC championship 44 years ago today by defeating Westhill High School, 62-49, in Norwalk. Kathy Anderson, tournament MVP, led the Crimson Eagles to their 15th victory in 17 games by scoring 20 points, while Diane Dionis and Debbie Mendell had 12 points apiece to aid the Warde attack.

The Crimson Eagles led the entire way against the Western Division champions, marching to a 32-25 halftime lead. The Lady Vikings lost for only the third time in 17 outings. Warde advanced to the title game by defeating Western Division runner-up Stamford, courtesy of Anderson's 19 markers. Westhill moved into the finals by defeating Eastern Division runner-up Ludlowe.

The champions bolted out to a 12-9 lead after the first quarter before taking the seven point cushion into the intermission break. Warde outscored Westhill, 14-10, in the third quarter to increase its lead to 46-35 heading into the final frame. Warde won the final quarter, 16-14, to post the comfortable 13-point margin of victory.

With a new head coach, Miss Mary Beth McGirr, the girls got off to a slow start early in the season, but they staged a remarkable comeback to end up winning the league title. One of the reasons for the team's mid-season surge was the play of Anderson, a sophomore sensation. Her phenomenal improvement from the beginning of the season paralleled the improved play of the team as a whole.

By the end of the campaign, Anderson was habitually leading the team in points and rebounds every game. She earned All-FCIAC first-team honors, and she was named the MVP of the league tournament. But, Anderson wasn't the only reason the team won the coveted FCIAC championship.

The many other players who contributed much to the team's achievements included seniors Dionis, Mendell, who earned All-FCIAC second-team recognition, Gayle Johnson, and Marti Causey. The juniors included Kris Ness and Betsy Niesyn. The FCIAC championship game was played Friday evening, February 13, 1976, at Norwalk High School.

Paul

Warde Product Rob Trifone Steps Down as Darien High School Football Coach

Rob Trifone, who has led the Darien football program for the past 13 years, informed his team Friday he is stepping down as head coach.

Since he took over as head coach in 2007, Trifone’s Blue Wave has compiled a 129-26 record with four FCIAC and three state championships. Darien earned the state’s final No. 1 ranking for three straight seasons from 2015 to 2017.

Trifone has a 252-86-2 career record between Brien McMahon and Darien, and ranks sixth in all-time wins in the state.

“I have had the privilege of teaching amazing young men and women in the classroom, and coaching tremendously talented and dedicated young men on the football field,” he said in his resignation letter sent to Hearst Connecticut Media. “The pride I feel as I look back on my time at DHS is impossible to put into words and would be even harder to say without fighting back tears.”

Trifone, who will also be stepping down from his teaching position at DHS at the end of the school year, has had four sons go through the football program: Stepson Kevin Joy of the Class of 2007, twins Bobby and Christian of the Class of 2016, and Mark, a senior who will graduate in the spring.

“He is retiring from teaching and coaching,” Darien athletic director Chris Manfredonia said. “I have been here seven years and for seven years I have been to the state football championship luncheon six times.

“That’s unheard of. That is a testament to Rob and the program he has built here. He is going to be missed. The next guy has big shoes to fill, for sure. I don’t think people understand how hard it is to build a program up to that level. Rob did that and he sustained that. I have great respect and admiration for Rob.”

In a letter addressed to “Friends and colleagues of the Darien community, Trifone wrote, “As coach, I had the honor of working with an incredible group of coaches and parents, and talented and dedicated student-athletes to achieve amazing success.

“Together, we went to seven state championships, won three, and steadily progressed into one of the most competitive football programs in the State of Connecticut. And while the wins and success were wonderful by-products of our collective hard work and dedication, they pale in comparison to the experience of being a part of the development of young boys into young men who have, and will continue, to go on to become great parents, professionals, neighbors, and friends.”

His final Blue Wave team went 11-2 this season, reaching the state championship game for the sixth time in seven years. They defeated Greenwich, 26-16, and Southington, 21-12, in the first two rounds of the CIAC Class LL tournament before losing the final to Newtown 13-7 on a touchdown pass as time expired.

This year’s senior class was a special one for Trifone, who coached many of the players since they joined the Darien Junior Football League’s third-grade teams.

“It’s as good as it gets, and I mean that,” Trifone said of this year’s group. “They’re like sons to me, and they literally treat me like a dad. Like my own son, I’ve been able to see them go from being 8-year-olds to middle school, kind of awkward, to being freshmen and the low men on the totem pole, and now to young men. When you can see that kind of evolution in the young men that you’ve coached, it’s a wonderful thing.”

Trifone has been with the Darien football program for 15 years, joining as an assistant coach in 2005 and then taking over as head coach in 2007.

Trifone was inducted into the FCIAC Hall of Fame in 2014, and has also been named Coach of the Year 16 times, including two times by the National Football Foundation, one by the CT High School Coaches Association and four times by the FCIAC.

He was inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Longtime Andrew Warde High School Coaching Legend Ed Bengermino Passes Away

Ed Bengermino, arguably the greatest coach in the history of Andrew Warde High School, passed away last night after a long illness. A memorial service will be held to honor and celebrate his life Saturday, January 25, at Penfield Pavilion in Fairfield.

Bengermino led the Crimson Eagles to the CIAC Class LL state baseball championship in 1981 and guided his squad to the state title game the following year as well.

Bengermino was among several inductees into the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference Hall of Fame June 11, 2013, at Chatham Manor in Norwalk.

"I was obviously honored to be even considered," Bengermino told me after receiving word of his selection. "It is the greatest honor as far as coaching is concerned." The former coach, athletic director, and teacher was inducted along with longtime New Canaan High School football coach Lou Marinelli and Trinity Catholic High School basketball coach Mike Walsh.

Bengermino, who was an integral part of the fabric of Andrew Warde, Fairfield, and Fairfield Warde high schools from 1970 through 2005, said his most memorable game was the Crimson Eagles' 1981 state baseball championship. "That night was probably the biggest memory I have," he admitted to me. "That particular night was the best."

Andrew Warde edged Rockville, 9-8, in 13 innings for its first state baseball championship that year. The game, which was played at Quigley Stadium in West Haven, took four hours and 50 minutes to play. What made the game memorable was the dramatic finish for Warde, which entered the ninth inning trailing, 8-5.

However, Greg Cantwell's two-run triple closed the gap to one run, and Cantwell stole home with two outs and two strikes to tie the game and send it into extra innings. Take a look at this vintage sports report from channel 8 in New Haven.

The Eagles ultimately won the game in the 13th inning at 12:20 the following morning at Quigley Stadium in West Haven. Cantwell stole third base and scored when the errant throw sailed into left field. The ballpark was home to the Double-A West Haven Yankees at the time, adding luster to the scholastic championship. 

One year later, the Eagles advanced to the state championship game again, only to fall to North Haven at Penders Field in Stratford. Warde came within one victory of claiming back-to-back state baseball championships.

Bengermino said the 1972-73 Warde basketball team was special for a number of reasons. "That particular year we opened up the new gym," he said. "We had some tremendous games in that gym that year against Staples, Ludlowe, and McMahon."

The team included Dave Schulz, Glenn Mackno, and Mike Abraham (pictured left-to-right below along with Bengermino, second from right). The team also featured stars Ron DelBianco and Phil Ness.

Bengermino stayed in touch will many of the players on that team regularly. "All those guys are a part of Fairfield," he said. Abraham (below left) is the coordinator of Adapted Physical Education in the special education program for the Fairfield public schools, Schulz (with the basketball) was the athletic director at Fairfield Ludlowe High School, and Mackno (below right) was the principal of Roger Ludlowe Middle School.

Bengermino was also a successful volletball coach at Warde and perenially led his Crimson Eagles to the league title and state championship game. His favorite squad featured senior Kathy Anderson, who led the team to an undefeated season and berth in the state championship match which the Eagles lost to Maloney. He is a member of the Connecticut Women's Volleyball Hall of Fame.

Please share your memories of Ed Bengermino in the Guest Book. More information about the memorial service and tributes to the coaching legend will be forthcoming.

Paul