Davis. Mackno. Bengermino. The names are synonymous with athletic success at Andrew Warde High School.Tom Davis was an outstanding football player for the Crimson Eagles in the early 1970s. He was coached by his late brother, Bill, who also started the wrestling program at Warde. Glenn Mackno starred on the Warde's 1972-73 FCIAC Eastern Division basketball championship team and later coached volleyball and basketball at his alma mater. Ed Bengermino coached the 1981 AWHS baseball team to the state championship and perennially guided his volleyball and baseball teams to post-season success.
Today, however, their daughters are making names for themselves as outstanding high school athletes in Fairfield. Seniors Allie Davis and Emily Bengermino are teammates on the defending state champion Mustangs' girls soccer team, while Brooke Mackno is a sophomore three-sport athlete at Ludlowe. All three were on center stage last week when the Warde and Ludlowe girls' soccer teams battled to a dramatic scoreless tie before a capacity crowd at the Falcons' field.
"I am very proud of Allie playing at Warde and being a Mustang," said Tom Davis about his daughter. "By putting on that jersey, she represents her school and the Davis family. Playing Ludlowe is always special as there are great memories from my playing days and the games Allie played over the last four years. When Allie graduates in June 2009, there will no longer be a direct connection between me and Warde athletics."
Davis, who created a scholarship award in his brother's honor, has enjoyed watching his daughter play at his alma mater. "Tradition is really what it is," he told me. "Allie and Emily Bengermino have been playing soccer together before they even got to high school. They are also really good friends. Brooke Mackno is younger and has played against Allie and Emily only in high school. There is a friendly rivalry between the fathers, for and against each other. "
Allie Davis will be one of nine seniors honored next Monday, October 20, before the team's final home game against Westhill. She is thrilled to have played her home games on the field which was dedicated in honor of her uncle during the school's 50th anniversary celebration two years ago. "When I play on our home field named after my Uncle Bill and Coach Tetreau, I feel honored and special," she told me.
"I am honored because Uncle Bill was such an influential person to Fairfield and Andrew Warde High School, and he was greatly recognized. I feel special because I am making him proud. I know he is watching me when I play," admitted Allie, who is considering Siena, UMass, Stonehill, Merrimack, and Eastern Connecticut as possible college destinations next year.
Glenn Mackno, the principal of Roger Ludlowe Middle School, is extremely proud of his daughter, Brooke, who lettered in three sports --- soccer, skiing, and tennis --- last year. "I really enjoy watching my daughter play for Ludlowe," he admitted. "I do so with a sense of pride, especially knowing that she is playing out her career in the great Fairfield traditions that I was fortunate to have experienced as an athlete."
Brooke Mackno, ironically, was a member of the Warde ski team as a freshman and helped lead the squad to a second place finish in the state championships. She earned All-State honors and won the state championship in the slalom. She was the #2 skier representing the ten-member Team Connecticut at the New England High School ski championships in New Hampshire.
The younger Mackno was also a starter on the soccer team for half the games a year ago and scored the winning goal against Westhill. In addition, in tennis, she finished with an impressive 7-2 record at the #3 singles position and 1-0 at the #2 singles position for Ludlowe, which advanced to the state semi-finals.
As for rooting for the school which was his arch-rival back in the day, Glenn Mackno isn't bothered in the least. "Initially, I thought it would be difficult to root for Ludlowe. But, to be honest with you, if you have been a team player during your life, your loyalties carry over to the current team you or your children represent. Plus it makes it fun to add to these rivalries by watching your daughter compete against former teammates' children on the athletic fields."
His elder daughter, Kelly, attended Fairfield High School at the Warde site. She was a four-year all-state skier and was captain for her junior and senior years. The ski team won the state skiing championship her senior year. She also was on the volleyball and cross-country squads.
Glenn Mackno said his daughters are aware of his athletic accomplishments at Warde. "My daughters are very familiar with the 1972-1973 (FCIAC) Eastern Divison basketball championship and the banner that used to hang in the Warde gymnasium, as well as the trophy and team picture in the showcase," he admitted. "Both of them informed me they were also going to win banners and get their names on banners and win trophies for their schools, which they have both already accomplished.
"I guess it served as a motivation for them to succeed," he continued. "Last winter, I went to Warde to pick up my daughter, and when I walked in she was at the trophy case showing some of her teammates my picture when I was in high school," he said.
Later, Glenn Mackno started the freshman girls' volleyball program at Warde and coached all three levels of girls' volleyball --- freshman, junior varsity, and varsity. He also coached boys' junior varsity basketball and freshman girls' basketball for the Crimson Eagles.
Ed Bengermino, a coaching legend at Andrew Warde High School who was inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame, is proud of his daughter's accomplishments. Emily played a big part in helping the Warde girls' soccer team to the class L state crown last year in a 1-0 shutout victory over Farmington. She scored both goals in the Mustangs' 2-0 victory over Berlin in the semi-finals, including one 4:34 into the first half.
"The only word is pride," Bengermino answered when asked about his daughter's involvement in soccer, basketball, and track at the school he called home for so many years. "It's a connection to contributing to Warde's success. She's a big part of all of those three programs. Her Mom and I are very proud of all her athletics. She gives everything in all three sports."
He said Emily is looking forward to Senior Night next Monday, and then it's time to focus on the next sport. "She's a tenacious defender (on the basketball court)," he pointed out. "She plays great defense in basketball. She's also a top-notch runner. She broke 60 seconds in the 400 meters."
Ed Bengermino, who came within one win of coaching back-to-back baseball state championships at Warde in the early 1980s, said Emily is still undecided as to where she'll be next year. "She's got a list of schools," he said. "It'll be her call all the way, and she's doing all the work right now. She's looking at the size of the school and the location of the school."
The elder Bengermino watched the scoreless game against Ludlowe last Friday night and admitted he was on edge throughout the entire match. "I get just as nervous watching her play against Ludlowe as when I was coaching against Ludlowe," he laughed. Then, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, he added, "I would rather be sitting in the gym watching her play volleyball."
Tom Davis, who was part of the illustrious AWHS Class of 1973 which includes Mackno, former Warde boys' basketball coach Mike Abraham, and Fairfield Ludlowe High School athletic director Dave Schulz, says he'll miss the direct connection between the Davis family name and Warde athletics next year after his daughter graduates.
"On the funny side, one of (the Mom's of) Allie's teammates wanted to know if I would adopt her daughter so that I would stay involved with the program," he joked. "But as you know my heart will always be with the 'Crimson Eagles' and the 'Mustangs.' Old athletes and coaches never die, they just fade into the sunset."
"My Dad has always been proud to have graduated from Warde, and being an athlete there along with his three brothers," stated Allie. "I am proud of carrying on the Davis athletic name at Warde, playing soccer and lacrosse. I know my accomplishments have made my Dad proud to have another Davis attend his school."
Davis. Mackno. Bengermino. From the Andrew Warde Crimson Eagles to the Fairfield Warde Mustangs and Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons. The tradition continues.
Paul
Join the Andrew Warde Class of 1976 Facebook page.
Please sign the AWHS Guest Book.
Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.
Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film".
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