Warde Hoopsters Blasted Ludlowe at Mill Plain Gym 50 Years Ago Today

Coach Don Feeley's Andrew Warde High School boys' basketball team humbled winless arch-rival Roger Ludlowe, 71-48, before a standing-room only crowd at the Mill Plain Gym 50 years ago today, Friday, January 4, 1963.

The Crimson Eagles improved to 4-3 on the season, including three wins in five FCIAC contests, while Ludlowe lost its sixth, five of which were in league play.

Warde led throughout the contest, doubling the Tigers' first quarter production by taking a 20-10 lead at the break as Wayne Gower and Bob Ryan scored six points each. George Martin, Ludlowe's high scorer, tallied seven points for his team.

The Tigers gave their best account in the second stanza, but Warde still managed to increase its lead, assuming a 35-22 cushion at the intermission. Joel Blaskey and Marty Melson each scored six points to lead their respective clubs.

Gower found the range for 17 points in the second half as the Crimson Eagles had things pretty much their own way. Martin and Blaskey again topped Ludlowe in scoring after the intermission.

Ludlowe, which had an edge in rebounding, was able to convert only 14 of 32 foul shots, but Warde sank 21 of 33 free throw attempts.

Ludlowe used a zone defense throughout the game, but Warde came out of its zone in the second quarter and went the rest of the way with a man-to-man defense.

The Crimson Eagles also won the junior varsity contest, 56-47, as Jim Bodnar led all scorers with 18 points. Greg Madden netted 16 points for the Tigers.

Paul

School Role Models Formed Warde's First-Ever Boys' Cheerleading Squad 45 Years Ago

The Andrew Warde High School athletic department pioneered and championed girls' sports programs in the early-to-mid 1970s. The school was one of the first in the area to field girls' soccer, volleyball, and track-and-field teams.

However, several years earlier, nine spirited students formed the very first Crimson Eagles boys' cheerleading squad. With their unique routines and rousing cheers, the group became a tremedous hit with players and fans alike during the 1967-68 school year. The students were role models to their fellow classmates.

The idea was the brainchild of Pat Tomlinson, the girls' cheerleading captain, Tom Nardozzi, the boys' co-captain, and Miss Diana Alvarez, the cheerleading adviser. The members included Nardozzi, co-captain John Waite, Arthur Baron, Peter Guarnaccia, Howie Klein, Paul Kaplan, Dean Morvay, Vinnie D'Elia, and Bob Nagy.

Nardozzi, who was a Smedley House junior in January of 1968, was an active member of the AWHS band and played in the percussion section. He was also a member of the school service commission and played intramural sports. He was a member of the Big Brothers program and participated with the Troubadors, a Drum and Bugle corps.

Waite, a Barlow house senior 41 years ago, participated in cross-country and track. He had a part-time job at the Rocket Drive-In. He enjoyed gymnastics and eventually hoped to become a physical education teacher.

Baron, a Smedley House senior, was an avid music enthusiast who played trombone in the Warde band for four years. He achieved the honor of playing trombone in the All-State orchestra. He was also a member of the National Thespian Society and Modern Music Masters. He participated in the productions of West Side Story, You Can't Take it With You, and My Fair Lady.

"The school's spirit has been in need of a real boosting for a long time, and I felt that cheerleading was a good way for me to help the cause," Baron said. He was also a member of the Rooster River Boys, a unique jug band, and he served as vice president of the Folk Music Society. He also played with several local jazz bands, was an avid George Burns fan, and enjoyed Math and Music. He hoped to attend NYU.

Guarnaccia, a Wolcott senior, was a member of the School Council and served as treasurer. He was also a member of the Inter-School Council, which was comprised of students from Warde and Ludlowe. He played clarinet in the Warde band and played junior varsity soccer and tennis. He was elected to the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society.

In addition, Guarnaccia was awarded the Harvard Book Prize for outstanding boy in the junior class, and he was a member of Modern Music Masters. He received a National Merit Letter of Commendation and participated in the World Youth Forum.

The nine cheerleaders wore maroon sweaters over white shirts along with white pants, white socks, and white sneakers. The cheerleader's class number --- '68, '69, or '70 --- was sewn on the left shoulder of the sweater. One of their formations was a pyramid which was constructed during a fight cheer. They also teamed up with the girls' squad in a cheer which culminated with each boy cheerleader lifting one of the girls while she was performing a spread jump.

The boys' cheerleading squad was a tremendous success in 1967-68. The boys became a vital part of the school's scene at football games, pep rallies, and basketball games. The squad became an important force in arousing school spirit at Andrew Warde High School.

Paul

Capacity Crowd Watches Warde Beat Notre Dame, 72-65, at Holiday Festival on This Date in 1973

Phil Ness and the Andrew Warde High School boys' basketball team stifled a Notre Dame comeback bid in the closing minutes and held on for a 72-65 victory in the opening round of the Fairfield Festival basketball tournament before a capacity crowd of 3,100 fans at Fairfield University's Alumni Hall, Thursday, December 27, 1973.

Trailing 52-44 entering the final eight minutes, the Lancers went to work. Dave Lehn, a six-foot-two senior forward, scored 17 of his 30 points in the final chapter on an assortment of long-range bombs as Notre Dame managed to grab a short-lived 59-58 lead at the 4:21 mark. Lehn's three-point play at that point put the Lancers ahead.

The lead see-sawed back and forth until Bob Neilson tallied a pair of free throws with 1:37 remaining to give the Crimson Eagles a 66-65 advantage they never relinquished. Ness blocked three shots during the final minute of play and made a pair of steals to ice the verdict. The six-foot-seven center finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds, 10 blocked shots, and 10 steals.

Ness was aided by Ron DelBianco, who chipped in with 18 points, and Bob Cleveland with 11 markers. Lehn received support from sophomore Tommy Burbank, who scored 12, and Kelly Lombard with 10. Warde managed quarter leads of 19-16, 42-27, and 52-44 before the frantic final minutes of play.

John Lademan's steal of an errant pass with seven seconds remaining lifted Fairfield Prep to a narrow 64-60 victory over a scrappy Ludlowe outfit in the nightcap.

Paul

Warde Cagers Improved to 5-1 in FCIAC by Defeating Danbury, 80-56, 48 Years Ago Today

Andrew Warde High School's high-scoring duo of Rusty Helgren and Bruce Bernhard powered the Crimson Eagles to a relatively easy 80-56 victory over Danbury in FCIAC basketball action 48 years ago today, Tuesday, December 22, 1964. It was Warde's fifth victory in six league contests.

Helgren tallied 21 points and Bernhard added 20 to lead head coach Don Feeley's charges. Feeley, you may remember, would later coach at the collegiate level at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.

The winners jumped out to a 21-8 cushion after the first quarter and held a commanding 32-20 lead at the halftime intermission. The Crimson Eagles featured a balanced attack with eight players reaching the scoring column.

Danbury's attempt to put on a press in the third and fourth quarters failed as Helgren moved inside and clicked for 13 points during the stretch. Bernhard chipped in with nine more as the Eagles coasted to the victory in Danbury on December 22, 1964.

Paul

Annual Sing-Along Honors Newtown Tragedy Victims

To honor and remember those lost in Newtown on December 14, the singers, musicians and audience gathered for the Sixth Annual Community Christmas Carol Sing-Along in Bridgeport on Sunday, December 16, took time to reflect on the tragedy in song and silent meditation.

At the very outset of the program, soprano Lucia Palmieri, pictured below, performed Schubert’s “Ave Maria” and all gathered in a moment of silence immediately after her solo. Tony Procaccini, the day’s music director and a fellow Andrew Warde 1976 classmate, accompanied her on piano. The sing-along then began in earnest.

Due to inclement weather, the event, which grows in strength and numbers each year, took place indoors at the former Knights of Columbus Hall on Park Avenue, directly across from Saint Margaret Shrine, the usual outdoor venue.

The volunteer chorus, which numbered around 30, was the largest ever, and included citizens from Bridgeport, Fairfield, Stratford, Trumbull, Stamford and other local communities. Notwithstanding the uncooperative weather, audience attendance was very high, too.

Songs included Christmas carols such as “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and “Silent Night” and popular songs like “Frosty the Snowman” and “Jingle Bells.” Santa Claus appeared for the children, and a free reception followed the singing.

Reverend Alfonso Picone, of Saint Margaret Parish, gave a stirring tribute to the Newtown victims, and gave thanks to all the participants who made the event a success.

Leonard Paoletta, a former Bridgeport mayor and the founder of the sing-along's sponsor, B.A.C.I.O., Inc., reminded all of the upcoming celebration of the birth of Christ and wished all a joyful Christmas.

The chorus was supported by a professional brass quartet led my trumpeter Mike Pontecorvo, his brother Louis (also on trumpet) and trombonist Leroy Loomer and tubist Dave Rapposo.

A great time was had by all, but more importantly, the sad events of Newtown, which occurred so shortly before the sing-along, were kept in perspective, and given time for reflection.

Ron DelBianco Eclipsed 1,000 Point Career Mark in Victory Over Stamford 39 Years Ago This Week

Senior Ron DelBianco scored seven points in the last three minutes to eclipse the 1,000 point career mark, and teammate Phil Ness converted two three-point plays during that same span to lead the Andrew Warde High School varsity basketball team to a 77-64 FCIAC victory over Stamford at the winners' court 39 years ago this week, Friday evening, December 21, 1973.

DelBianco, who needed 14 points heading into the game to crack the prestigious plateau, suffered through some jittery moments in pursuit of the mark, but finished with 20 points, giving him 1,006 for his career. His two clutch free throws with 3:15 left in the game gave the winners a ten-point lead, 62-52, and also vaulted him into the Warde record book.

Stamford, which fell to 1-2, had narrowed a 20-point second half deficit to eight points on a free throw by Forrest Andrews at the 3:30 mark. DelBianco subsequently canned his foul shots, and then came back moments later to complete a three-point play, stretching the lead to 11 at 65-54. Ness, who finished with a team-high 23 points and 25 rebounds, sandwiched his six points around a Stamford bucket to put the Crimson Eagles safely in front, 71-58, with two minutes left.

Warde had to contest with Stamford's Ernie Cobb all night as the Black Knights' rubber-armed guard fired in 37 points. He converted 17 of 42 shots. Cobb's 10 points enabled the visitors to hold a 17-15 first quarter lead, but he cooled down in the second stanza when Warde outscored the guests, 16-1, in the last three-and-a-half-minutes for a 38-29 lead at the intermission.

Reserve guard Bob Sherman keyed Warde's second period surge by scoring ten points in the last four minutes of the quarter. The junior also helped solve Stamford's full-court zone press, which riddled the winners in the early stages of the contest. He finished with 16 points and also turned in a fine defensive effort, helping to harrass Cobb on his jump shots from long range.

Both teams were cold in the third period, but Warde managed to add three points to its nine point halftime advantage for a 53-41 lead entering the final stanza. Cobb tallied 10 of his team's 12 points in the period.

Brad Gold helped out Ness with 11 caroms. The winners outshot the Black Knights, 48 percent to 35 percent.

Warde captured the jayvee contest, 54-53, behind Tom Curry's 15 point performance.

Paul