SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION ORDER OF PROGRAM RECEPTION OPENING REMARKS TED KOSKORES ’70, P ’10, ’13 HEADMASTER MASTER OF CEREMONIES RICK FORESTEIRE P ’19,’21 ATHLETIC DIRECTOR HONORING DONAVAN BROWN ’01 RICHMOND PITTMAN ’01 1996 GIRLS’ VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT: KAREN GEROMINI SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1st, 2016 DONAVAN BROWN ’01 FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, TRACK & FIELD Donavan Brown was an outstanding three-sport athlete at Thayer. He was captain of the football team where he excelled as a running back and defensive back. An all-ISL player as a senior, Donavan led the Tigers in rushing in 2000. In one game at St. Paul’s, he scored touchdowns four different ways – rushing, receiving, punt return and interception return- all in the first half! On defense, he was a “shut-down” cornerback and a devastating hitter. Donavan went on to become a star of the Tufts University football team and was elected captain of the Jumbos for his senior season. In basketball, Coach Rob Dixon’79 P ’03, ’16, recalled Donavan as “an impact contributor, especially defensively. We were able to introduce a lot of defensive traps and pressure with Donavan on the floor.” Dixon continued, “Donavan was a great teammate, and was able to accept and thrive in his role as a ‘tempo changer’ or ‘defensive nightmare’ for opposing teams point guards.” Dixon cited Donavan’s strong character and leadership as key assets to that team. In track, Donavan was a four-year letterman. Coach Jeff Browne shared, “Donavan was a do- it- all guy - 4x100, 100, 200, 400, 4x400, pole vault - you name it, he was good at it. Belmont Hill had a great 400 meter runner who was New England Champ. At our meet with Belmont Hill in Donavan’s senior year, he asked if he could run the 400 because he really wanted to beat him. I told him he could, but our training had been on shorter speed and Donavan had been doing a lot of work trying to break the school record in the pole vault. Donavan said ‘yeah, but I would really love to beat him,’ so we entered him in the 400. Donavan ran a gutsy race - his best time ever- and sure enough won.” A versatile athlete, he was named Most Improved Athlete as a sophomore and team MVP as a junior. Donavan excelled most notably in the pole vault; he was the ISL champion as a senior and third overall in New England. His school record stood for nine years. In addition, Donavan was part of the ISL champion 4x100 meter relay team, a squad that held the school record for seven years. RICHMOND PITTMAN ’01 FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, TRACK & FIELD Rich Pittman was an exceptional athlete at Thayer. He was the recipient of the Varsity Club Award for the Outstanding Male Athlete of his class. At 6’-7”, Rich was an imposing presence on the football field and basketball court. In football, he was an electric player, setting records as a wide receiver and directing the defense and special teams. In one memorable performance, Rich led the Tigers to a dramatic comeback victory at Rivers. Down 26-12 at halftime, Rich scored all 24 of Thayer’s second half points and led the team to a heart-stopping 36-32 victory. He caught three touchdown passes and scored three two-point conversions in that half of the game. Rich amassed over 500 yards in receiving yards that season, setting a single-game yardage record (152) that stood for seven years. In addition, he is second in all-time single-season receptions with 30 in 2000. Rich’s 8 receiving touchdowns are good for second place all-time in school history, and he shares the single-game TD reception record (3) with a number of former players. After his senior season, Rich received both the Stadfeld Award and the Donald B. Badger, Jr. Coaches Award. In basketball, Rich led the Tigers in scoring (17.6 ppg) and rebounding (12.5 rpg) during his junior and senior seasons. He was an integral part of the team that lost only one game over a three-year span. Rich was an intimidating presence on the floor, and according to coach Rob Dixon ’79, P ’03, ’16, “Rich was our ‘enforcer’ at both ends of the floor…a fierce competitor who wanted to defend the opponents best or tallest players. He played his best games against some of our Class A opponents and set a strong example for his teammates to follow through his play and verbal leadership. Of all the players I’ve coached, Richie would be among the top players on the list because he was a complete player and did so many things to help the team win games.” Rich went on to play basketball at Central Connecticut State. The Blue Devils earned an NCAA tournament berth in Rich’s first year. A three-year starter at Central, Rich scored 880 points and grabbed 573 rebounds during his stellar four-year career. After college, Rich played basketball professionally overseas. KAREN GEROMINI SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD ATHLETIC DIRECTOR 1992-2001 LACROSSE / FIELD HOCKEY COACH Karen Geromini was Thayer’s Athletic Director from 1992 to 2001. Under Karen’s leadership, Thayer’s varsity teams enjoyed 26 ISL Championships and 25 New England Championships! Karen was also the head varsity coach of the girls’ lacrosse team from 1992 to 1996 and field hockey team from 1992 to 2000. Both these coaching stints proved very successful – in 1993 Karen coached the girls’ lacrosse team to a 1993 ISL Championship, and in 2000 Karen helped bring home the school’s first field hockey New England Championship. In addition to her successes as the school’s Athletic Director and coach, her vision, passion and energy brought Thayer’s athletic programs and facilities to new heights forever leaving her lasting legacy. Karen is particularly proud of the success that she had in representing and giving so many female athletes an opportunity to play in college. Previous to Karen’s years as Athletic Director at Thayer, she was the assistant field hockey and girls’ lacrosse coach at her alma mater, the University of New Hampshire, from 1988 to 1991 amassing multiple NCAA and ECAC appearances. Even more impressive were Karen’s accolades as an athlete at UNH. In field hockey she still holds the record for most career goals (71), most career points (162), and most goals in a single season (27). This dominance earned her First Team All-American honors in 1984, 1985, and 1986. Equally as impressive was Karen’s continued dominance on the girls’ lacrosse field, and she is in the top five all-time for most assists in a single season (35), most career assists (101), most points in a single season (71), most career points (235), and career goals (134). Karen’s leadership on the field also led the team to three ECAC championships and a Division 1 National Championship in 1986. It is no surprise that Karen was inducted into the UNH Hall of Fame in 1996. Due to Karen’s unparalleled success at UNH, she also played for the USA National Field Hockey team from 1983 to 1990 and for the USA Lacrosse team from 1987 to 1990. From 2001 to 2015 Karen oversaw 33 Eastern Independent League Championships, 3 New England Championships, and 2 National Championships amongst other accolades at Winsor School. Karen was recently named the Director of Operations and Auxiliary Programs at the Winsor School after serving as Winsor’s Athletic Director. 1996 GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM The 1996 Girls Varsity Basketball Team was a ISL All-League selection, played a critical role at the historic one; never before had a girls team gone point guard position. For a sophomore, she was a undefeated. The 20-0 season culminated not only very smart and poised leader on the court. Even with with an ISL Championship, but also with a New these tremendous athletes, the team would not have England Prep School Class B Championship. At any enjoyed the success they did without the incredible level, an undefeated season is the mark of incredible work and diligence of the supporting cast: Nancy consistency, focus, and determination. Perhaps the Smyth ’97, Robin Shone ’98, Katie Marshall ’98, most important part of the success was the team Katie Lambert ‘99, Andrea Sorgi ’99, Deb Morris chemistry. Better, more experienced teams had not ’99, and Catherine Giordano ’99. done as well because of divisions between individuals. The genuine affection and respect for each other was Kathryn Lambert Conover, who was a sophomore on readily apparent to even the most novice observer. the team at the time and was inducted into Thayer’s Each player dedicated herself to winning and made Hall of Fame in 2015, shared, “The reason this team the paramount goal over any individual statistics. had success was because we all simply loved basketball, Senior Captain Meghan Mullin Harney reiterated and we loved playing together. The majority of this point by stating, “We cared about each individual us went on to play a sport other than basketball in person, had tremendous family support, and a great college, so for us we played hard for the fun of it. We support system from the rest of the student body. It were all competitors and athletes who happened to was a time of life that I will never forget.” have a blast playing basketball together. I believe this team is an excellent example of what happens when Talented seniors Meg Mullin ’96 and Becky Smith kids play multiple sports in high school.