Crimson Eagles' Cagers Scored Stunning Upset Victory Over Norwalk on This Date in 1967

An inspired Andrew Warde High School boys' basketball team scored a stunning 63-55 upset victory over Norwalk in an FCIAC game at the winners' court on this date, Thursday, January 12, 1967.

The victory boosted Warde into a tie for second place in the Eastern Division of the FCIAC with idle New Canaan. Both teams have 5-3 records. Norwalk still leads the division with a 6-3 mark.

A late fourth-quarter rally, sparked by Dan Haines, carried the Crimson Eagles to victory. Haines, who was held to just seven points in the first three quarters, poured in nine markers in the final eight-minute session.

Norwalk held a 45-44 edge entering the fourth quarter. The Green Wave extended its lead to five points at 52-47 behind the shooting of Jim Burey. Then, Warde went to work as Mike Corbett stole a pass and converted the theft into a basket to open the Eagles' closing drive.

Minutes later, Jim Howard put coach Wes Aldrich's cagers ahead for keeps, 53-52, as he was credited with a basket on a goaltending call against Norwalk.

Once they gained the lead, the Crimson Eagles didn't let up. Haines, Howard, Corbett, Tom DeLuca, and Rich Fekete operated al amost perfect "freeze" offense as the Eagles worked the ball around until they had a good shot. The strategy worked so well that Warde engineered an impressive eight-point margin of victory.

The Eagles' pressing man-to-man defense kept the usually high-scoring Norwalk offense off balance throughout the game. The Green Wave averaged 70.2 points-per-game entering the contest.

Corbett and DeLuca were the top ball hawks as Warde made 16 steals, including six in the crucial fourth period. Fekete turned in a sensational defensive job on Willie Miller --- the visitors' top scorer with a 15.8 average --- holding him scoreless.

The first three quarters were closely contested. Warde led after the first frame, 16-14, and the score was tied at 31 apiece at the intermission. Norwalk assumed a one point lead, 45-44, after three quarters.

Howard took game scoring honors with 21 points, and he grabbed 14 rebounds. Haines followed with 16 points, while Fekete (12)and Corbett (10) also scored in double figures for the Crimson Eagles. Fekete added nine rebounds.

Burey was the most consistent Norwalk shooter, finishing with a team-high 15 points, followed by Gary O'Malley with 12 points.

Paul

Charity Tosses Helped Eagles Bury Wreckers, 71-50, on This Date in 1967

The Andrew Warde High School boys' basketball team converted 33 foul shots to hand Staples a 71-50 FCIAC setback at the Wreckers' court 46 years ago today, Tuesday, January 11, 1967.

The Crimson Eagles led at all the quarter breaks to build a commanding lead. Warde improved to 4-3 in conference play while the Wreckers fell to 0-7.

Jim Howard, who connected on 18 foul shots, made six in the opening period as Warde assumed a 13-11 advantage. Jeff Hand scored six points for the hosts.

Hand and Bob Rummel were forced to the bench in the second quarter because of foul trouble. Howard and Rich Fekete combined for 17 points as the guests pulled out to a 34-20 halftime advantage.

With Hand and Rummel back on the court in the third quarter, Staples sliced its deficit to six points, but both Wrecker stars eventually fouled out before the end of the stanza. Warde increased its lead to 49-34 after three quarters.

Dan Haines, Tom DeLuca, Mike Howard, and Jim Howard combined for 18 points in the final chapter to keep the Crimson Eagles comfortably ahead. John Hand netted six points for Staples.

Warde converted 33 of 42 free throws for 79% accuracy compared to 14 of 20 and 70% accuracy for Staples.

The Eagles also triumphed in the junior varsity game, 54-41.

Paul

Crimson Eagles Survived Cold Shooting to Defeat Danbury, 68-60, 50 Years Ago Today

The Andrew Warde High School boys' varsity basketball team survived cold shooting and the 19-point effort of Charles Bogusis to hand Danbury a 68-60 loss in the Hat City, Tuesday, January 8, 1963.

The win was the fifth in eight starts for the Crimson Eagles. Coach Don Feeley's cagers improved to 4-2 in conference play.

The teams were tied at 12-12 after the first quarter, but Bogusis, a six-foot-seven inch, 208-pounder, nicknamed 'Baby Huey,' tossed in 10 points in the second quarter to pace the Hatters to a 30-26 lead at the half. Bob Ryan and Marty Melson combined for 10 Warde points in the second period.

Warde began to roll in the third period, though. Pete Jankovsky found his scoring touch for 10 points, and the visitors assumed a 44-40 cushion heading into the final period.

The scoring tempo increased for both sides in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles had the better of it as Wayne Gower, Jankovsky, and Ryan accounted for 22 points. Bill Coffey, Elmer Harrison, and 'Baby Huey' combined for 18 Danbury points.

The Crimson Eagles ultimately won the game at the foul line by sinking 12-of-21 free throws, compared to four-of-12 for the Hatters. Bogusis had 10 of the Danbury charity tosses, but he converted only three as he was continually fouled by the smaller Eagles.

Warde won the junior varsity game as Rusty Helgren scored 19 points and George Amarant added 10 for the Crimson Eagles.

Paul

Original District Lines First Proposed for New Andrew Warde High School 57 Years Ago This Evening

District lines for the new Andrew Warde High School, which opened in September of 1956, and for Roger Ludlowe High School were recommended by Dr. Carlyle G. Hoyt, superintendent of Fairfield schools, 57 years ago this evening, at a Board of Education meeting in the administration building. That's according to a story which appeared in The Bridgeport Telegram, Saturday, January 7, 1956.

Under Dr. Hoyt's high school district line proposal, which was not acted on at the meeting, all Roger Ludlowe pupils, with the exception of those from the Pequot and Mill Hill school areas who receive bus transportation, will be transferred to the Andrew Warde High School.

This would leave Roger Ludlowe High School with all pupils who walk to school plus those who are now transported from the Pequot and Mill Hill school sections, Dr. Hoyt explained.

Transportation was provided to students living at least one-and-a-half miles from school.

Andrew Warde High School, under the plan, would open with an enrollment with 1,174 students, while Roger Ludlowe High School, now on double session with an enrollment of more than 1,500 students, would have 874 students.

Dr. Hoyt said that it was impossible to divide the town into east and west sections for the district lines without continuing double sessions at Ludlowe.

He warned that by 1958, unless steps are taken to expand Roger Ludlowe's facilities, double sessions will again be required.

The enrollment in the 1,500-student Andrew Warde High School in the 1957-58 school year was estimated at 1,404 and at 744 at Roger Ludlowe High School. In the 1958-59 school year, Dr. Hoyt estimated the Andrew Warde enrollment at 1,625 and at 805 at Roger Ludlowe, with a total of 1,776 expected at Andrew Warde by the 1960-61 school year and 906 at Ludlowe.

Paul

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