Sports
Former Bethel Athletes, Coaches To Be Inducted into Hall of Fame
Seven former athletes and coaches and one full team will be added to the Bethel Athletic Hall of Fame.
The Bethel High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee has announced its third annual inductee class.
The seven inductees and 1989 Cross Country team will be honored during half time of the varsity football game on Nov. 15 and again at an induction ceremony on Nov. 16 at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Those wishing to attend the ceremony should contact Denise Musser at 203-794-8600 ext. 428 or at Musserd@bethel.k12.ct.us.
The Inductees
John DeMille (1965) Coach
- Boys Track Coach 1964-1974
- Class M Co-Champions 1968
- Boys Cross-Country Coach 1968-1981
- WCC Champions 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978
- Went undefeated for over 5 years with a record of 55-0 in dual meets
- Class M State Champions 1976 and 1977
- State Open runner up in 1977
- CT State Coach of the Year in 1976
- In 1966 he started Bethel’s annual July 4th race, which is now named the John DeMille Firecracker
William Hunt (1968) Coach
- Coached BHS Baseball for 43 years
- Over 500 baseball wins
- Two WCC baseball titles (1984 and 1991)
- Three SWC baseball titles (2000, 2001 and 2005)
- Made the state playoffs 42 out of 43 years
- Made two state finals (1984 and 1991)
- In 2001 the Bethel High School baseball field was dedicated Hunt Field
- Assistant football coach for 33 years (assumed head coach responsibilities for 1 year)
- Freshman Basketball coach for 17 years
- Officiated numerous sports including basketball and football
Lia Maniscalco Evaristo (1993) Softball
- Named All State Class L for three years (1991, 1992 and 1993)
- Named WCC First All-Star team for four years (1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993)
- WCC Champions 1990, 1992, 1993
- Named Coca Cola High School Player of the Week (1990)
- Overall school record of 49-9 with 524 Strike Outs and a 0.62 ERA
- School Record: 19 strike outs in 7-inning game
Janice Clarkson Pacific (1965) Basketball, Field Hockey, Coach
- Varsity Basketball for 4 years, Captain
- Currently holds basketball scoring record of 31 points per game
- Led the basketball team to an undefeated season during her senior year
- Played on Inaugural Field Hockey Team
- Played Golf on the boys team
- Coached Basketball and Softball at Bethel High School and Westconn
- Inducted into Danbury Old Timers Athletic Hall of Fame (2003)
- Inducted into Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame as a referee (2008)
- Inducted into Connecticut Basketball Hall of Fame as a referee (2008)
John Geier (1985) Cross Country, Track
- Cross Country
- Cross Country State Open Champion (1983)
- Cross Country State Open Runner Up (1984)
- Two-Time Class L State Champion
- Three-Time Class L Sectional Champion
- State Class 5,000 meter record holder (14:54)
- Eight Varsity letters in XC and Track
- Ran XC at University of Oregon, member of a team that won Boston Marathon Track
- State Open Runner Up 3,00 meters Indoor Track (1985)
- Four-Time Conference Champion 3,000 and 5,000 meters Outdoor Track
- Two-Time Conference Champion, Indoor Track
Steven DeMoura (1997) Soccer
- Four Year varsity starter
- All time leading scorer at BHS
- All New England honors as a Junior
- Named CT All State (1995 and 1996)
- Named All SWC (1994, 1995 and 1996)
- Two State Championships (1995 and 1996)
- Three Conference Championships (1994, 1995 and 1996)
- During his senior year, the team went undefeated
- Received varsity letters in both track and basketball
- Played Division I Soccer at URI (started all 4 years)
Craig Hanson (1991) Track and Field
- Scored 246 points during his senior year
- Went undefeated in all 13 meets during his senior year
- State Open Champion in High Jump & Bronze in Triple Jump
- 1991 WCC Championships: Four Gold Medals
- Class M Championship: Gold in High Jump and Triple Jump, Silver in 400m
- Still holds four school records
The 1989 Girls Cross Country Team
Sarah Atkinson Powell, Katie Karracker Hodge, Val Gemsleben Koproski, Erin St John, Joy Tomasko, AllisonKrill McEnaney, Syd Tedrick, Janet Merling, Erin Lyons, Christine Barney, Maureen Smith, Janet Roth, Carrie Simmons, Cheryl Graves Wagner, Tracey Nagel, Amy Everhardt, Eva Alvarez Turenchalk, Karen Bojarski, Allie Finer Scully, Coach Mark Goodwin
- 7-0 in WCC Dual Meets
- WCC Champions
- Won Class MM Championship
- State Open Championship
- Finished Second in New England
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