They would win New England championships, set school records—and national ones—and go on to play at Yale, Columbia, Boston College, or Williams College. They would be given such titles as best small college halfback in the East, Massachusetts Player of the Year, or Eastern Seaboard Champions and would compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials, with the Harlem Globetrotters, and with the New England Mutiny.
On Saturday, June 6, these five outstanding athletes, two amazing teams, and one beloved coach will garner one more honor: as inductees to the Williston Northampton School Athletic Hall of Fame.
The fourth class of athletic superstars will include pro basketball player Anthony “Tony” Lavelli ’45; the 1986 girls basketball team; the 1992 boys golf team; pro soccer player Katie Coffey ’04; All-American swimmer and football player Harlow “Chip” Ide Jr. ’55; All-American basketball player Roger Walaszek ’65; record-setting swimmer Jim Edwards ’65; and Coach Sue Curry Barnett.
Even while they were students, the athletes earned praise from their peers. That admiration can perhaps best be summed up by a description the 1945 student yearbook of “the greatest team in Williston’s basketball history” and the special player who made that possible.
“Tony’s marvelous team play and sparkling leadership helped the Lashmen tremendously,”The Log noted, “as Williston produced its first undefeated basketball team in thirty-five years.”
The inductees were nominated by their friends, families, classmates, and teammates and then chosen by a Selection Committee.
Nominations are now being accepted for next year’s Athletic Hall of Fame here. Eligible nominees who were not chosen this year will be automatically added to the list of candidates for next year.