AWHS Opened Sparkling New Gymnasium 68 Years Ago Today

The Andrew Warde High School boys' basketball team played for the very first time in its new gymnasium 68 years ago today. Although the Crimson Eagles made a very good showing against Stratford's unbeaten and heavily-favored basketball team on Friday evening, January 25, 1957, the North Paraders gained their 12th straight victory by a 55-40 margin and swept the two-game series.

The visiting North Paraders pulled away to a six-point lead in the closing minutes of the first period and remained ahead by a fairly comfortable margin thereafter. However, the Eagles made it an interesting battle compared to Stratford's 71-42 runaway triumph in their previous contest.

Stratford scored only one more field goal than Warde, 17 to 16, but the North Paraders turned in an excellent performance on the foul line as they made 21 out of 28 free throw chances. The Eagles sank only eight free throws in 23 chances.

The North Paraders jumped out to a 15-9 lead after the first quarter as Dick Ross sank four free throws in the closing minutes, and they widened the gap to 30-17 at halftime. Warde made its best showing in the third period and cut its deficit to 43-32. However, the Fairfield team never got any closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Rich Marinaccio was a standout performer both offensively and defensively for Stratford, and he led all scorers with 16 points, including eight free throws. Captain Lou Horner, who started strong by scoring seven points in the first period, was closely guarded thereafter, but finished with a 13-point total. Ross contributed 10 points, while rangy Ted Robinson and Pete Greenwood tallied eight apiece for the North Paraders.

Lou Kochis was Warde's top scorer with 15 points, while six-foot-three Dick Dakai and Chris Costello registered seven points each for the hosts.

The Warde jayvees defeated the Stratford junior varsity team, 53-41, in the preliminary game. Laurie Taylor was high scorer for the winners with 11 points, while Dewey Amos led the guests with 16 points.

Paul

Crimson Eagles' Cagers Survived Cold Shooting Night to Defeat Danbury 62 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

Crimson Eagles' Cagers Humbled Ludlowe at Mill Plain Gym 62 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 62 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

Warde Cagers Defeated Notre Dame of Fairfield at Fairfield Festival 51 Years Ago Today

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

Crimson Eagles Topped Golden Eagles in Come-From-Behind Fashion 55 Years Ago Today

A big second half both offensively and defensively carried the Andrew Warde High School football team to a come-from-behind 25-7 victory over visiting Trumbull High School 55 years ago today, Saturday, November 15, 1969.

Chico Rodriguez threw three touchdown passes to run his season total to 17 and scored another on a two-yard sneak. In addition, Warde's defensive line continuously contained the Trumbull eleven and improved its overall record to 4-5. The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, dropped their sixth in a row to fall to 2-7.

Trumbull opened the scoring in the first quarter as Tom St. Onge fell on a loose lateral at the Warde three yard line. Quarterback Tim St. Onge carried two yards to the one from where Jay Wright ran in for the score. Dick Weinberg booted the extra point.

Warde managed to move into Trumbull territory three times in the first half, but drives were twice stopped on interceptions by Gary Haines and Paul Conner.

The second half, however, was another story. The Crimson Eagles took the opening kickoff and marched 67 yards for their first touchdown. The final 25 yards came on a nifty catch by Dave Abraham in the end zone.

Warde drove to the Trumbull 11 on its next possession but lost the ball on downs. Again, Trumbull punted, and this time the winners were not to be denied. On the final play of the third quarter, Rodriguez threw a 38-yarder to Steve Duboys at the Trumbull six yard line. The Golden Eagles' defense pushed Warde back to the 11 where, on fourth down, Rodriguez' screen pass to Robbie Orciuch produced the go-ahead score.

Later in the fourth quarter, Warde drove 57 yards on the ground with Rodriguez scoring from the two yard line. Co-captain Doug Forstrom, a strong runner all afternoon, carried seven times for 34 yards during the drive.

In the last minute of action, Warde's Jack Rozgonyi intercepted a Trumbull pass and raced 44 yards to the visitors' nine yard line. Rodriguez again found his big target, Abraham, in the end zone to complete the scoring.

Warde's offense gained 385 total yards compared to just 85 for Trumbull. Forstrom picked up 98 yards on 21 carries to top the rushers, while Rodriguez completed 16 of 28 aerials for 195 yards.

Paul Piorek

AWHS Class of 1974 to Hold 50-Year Reunion Saturday, October 5, 2024, at Tashua Knolls in Trumbull

The Andrew Warde High School Class of 1974 will hold its 50-year reunion Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 5:30 until 10:30 p.m. at Tashua Knolls Country Club in Trumbull.

The event will begin with a social hour at 5:30, followed by a buffet dinner and cash bar, which will include beer, wine, and soda. Smart casual dress is suggested.

Individual tickets are $78 if purchased prior to August 30 and $93 thereafter. Ticket sales end September 20, 2024.

Please click here to purchase tickets or visit the class reunion homepage.

Paul