Mike Abraham Recalls Magical Season for Andrew Warde High School's FCIAC Eastern Division Championship Boys' Basketball Team 35 Years Ago

Even though 35 years have passed since the Andrew Warde High School boys' basketball team won the 1972-73 FCIAC Eastern Division championship, the memories haven't faded for Mike Abraham, a key member of the team.

Abraham was one of several illustrious alumni from the AWHS Class of 1973 who played on that unforgettable team. What does he remember most about that magical season? "Playing in front of a full house," he told me earlier this week. "I remember seven out of the 10 home games were sold out. The fire marshall had to shut the doors. The sound was so loud and fantastic. There were times we could not hear in the timeouts."

Abraham, currently the the coordinator of Adapted Physical Education in the special education program for the Fairfield public schools, still has fond memories about the camaraderie of the 1972-73 squad. The team, which was coached by Ed Bengermino, included Abraham, Fairfield Ludlowe High School athletic director Dave Schulz, and Roger Ludlowe Middle School principal Glenn Mackno (left-to-right in the photo below).

"After the games on Friday nights we all had lots of fun hanging out at McDonald's (and) the beach," he admitted. "We had a lot of pride with Ludlowe, Prep, and Notre Dame players and fans around."

The game which Abraham recalls vividly was the dramatic victory over Staples, Friday evening, February 2, 1973. The win improved Warde's division record to a perfect 11-0 and 13-3 overall. According to the Bridgeport Telegram, "The perfect passing of Ron DelBianco and Dave Schulz enabled the Eagles of Warde to defeat Staples High School, 78-72, in a key FCIAC Eastern Division basketball game last night."

"The game was on radio," Abraham recalled. "(We were) playing in front of a full house. It was so loud we couldn't even hear ourselves on the court. The game was back and forth all night, then they (Staples) pulled away at the end of the third quarter. We fought back and with just a minute or so left we tied the game. After a timeout called by Staples, Coach Bengermino took off our press.

"When we went back on the court, Glenn Mackno and I looked at each other and still trapped their guard coming up the floor," he continued. "I was able to tap the ball away, and Glenn scooped it up and went in for the leading layup. It was the first lead we had in the second half. The sound was so deafening. I will always have that image of Glenn dropping the ball over the rim and the sound that accompanied it."

According to the Bridgeport Telegram, "Mackno finished the game with 16 points and 14 assists, while DelBianco and Phil Ness benefited from the senior's wizardry by scoring 24 and 15 points, respectively. The Warde defense shut off (Staples) early in the fourth period and ran off 12 straight points to put the game away."

That team will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who attended Andrew Warde High School in the early 1970s. Schulz, Mackno, Bengermino, and Abraham (seen above left-to-right) are still very much involved in the Fairfield public school system. Bengermino also coached the Warde baseball team to the state championship in 1981 and the state finals the following year. He also coached the successful volleyball team for many years.

Abraham later went on to coach the Andrew Warde boys' basketball team from 1981 through 1986 and created even more memories. What does he especially remember? "Just being with the guys and coaching on the same floor I played on," he said. "We did make the state and FCIAC tournament each year. I cannot begin to tell you how many funny stories and experiences (we had).

"My players and mangers will always be special to me. We had great teams with the talent we had. Records of 16-5 and 20-5 are a tribute to the hard work these teams put in. The 20-5 team made to the semi finals and with (one more win) we would have been playing Harding for the state championship."

For the last 31 years, Abraham has been enjoying his unique position with the Fairfield public school system. "I work very closely with special education children, their teachers, therapists, and all staff," he said. "I work very closely with occupational and physical therapists assisting children with fine and gross motor problems as well as sensory integration dysfunction that may impact their classroom participation within the curriculum." His office is located at Fairfield Warde High School.

Abraham, who has two sons currently attending college, is involved in other activities, too, such as directing the swimming program, the early childhood testing program, and training teachers how to manage physical and psychological episodes children may have. "I love this job, mainly because I love children, especially those with special needs," he emphasized. "Hopefully, I have been a 'voice' for these children all these years."

Paul

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Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film".