2018 WAAHOF Inductees
The WAAHOF Executive Board announces with pride the 2018 class of student/athletes, team members, coach and contributors voted for induction into the Westford Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. They will be inducted on Saturday 10/20/18 at the banquet/induction ceremony to be held at the Franco-American Club located at 55 West Prescott Street, Westford, MA 01886 at 6:00 PM. Tickets are $40 each, $300 for a table of eight individuals and ordered by sending a check or money order to WAAHOF, PO Box 926, Westford, MA 01886. Tickets will be held at the door the night of the induction. If you want confirmation that your ticket order was received please email: kevinregan0623@gmail.com
2005-2006 WA Cheerleading Team: Ariana Chao, Taylor Lacerte, Stephanie Mongan, Lauren (O’Keefe) Ross, Amy Baranauskas, Jess Hulings, Colleen Kelly, Lauren Miccile, Mimi (Roper) Kell, Erin (Burton) Reilly, Lindsay D’Angelo, Heather (Gagnon) Engholm, Chantele Martin, Erin Shea, Danielle Arena, Nicole Dee, Amy Hulimngs, Kyley Murphy, Micaela (Repucci) Swenson, Stephanie VanDam, Tiffany (Welch) O'Keefe, Jenn (Cusworth) Rothstein, Lindsey (Deschenes) Belknap, Monica Martel, Alessander Forcucci; Head Coach Josh Vadala, Assistant Coach Jamie (Morey) Holmes
The 2005-2006 WA Cheerleading Team garnered a combined perfect record of 8-0 during their fall and winter seasons. Fall 2005 triumphs included a first-place finish in the Marlboro Invitational, Dual County Champions, North Sectional Champions, and Massachusetts State Champions. Winter 2006 accomplishments involved: Dual County Champions, North Regional Champions, Massachusetts State Champions and New England Champions. They were the first Westford Academy Cheerleading Team to secure a Massachusetts State Championship. If that wasn’t enough the magic generated by this remarkable team commenced a streak of four consecutive Massachusetts State Championships. Their tremendous achievements culminated in the first time a WA Cheerleading Team attained the unthinkable designation of New England Champions.
Bill Bombaci: Westford Academy Athletic Trainer
Bill has served as athletic trainer at Westford Academy for twenty three years. His contributions to the athletes, coaches and overall athletic program have been invaluable and multi-faceted. Bill was instrumental in initiating concussion screenings for WA athletes, one of the first high schools in the region to do so. He developed the Turfburners Speed & Conditioning program; working with athletes to enhance their strength and conditioning, while preventing injuries and improving performance. Bill’s skills at caring for injuries and working athletes through rehabilitation are exceptional. He has taught Sports Medicine classes at Westford Academy and mentored many college level and high school interns. His professionalism, expertise and overall compassion and concern for WA athletes has been irreplaceable.
Jeff Haight: WA Girls Soccer Coach
Jeff served as girls Varsity Soccer Coach from 1984 to 1999. Since then Jeff has volunteered assisting current Head Coach Tracy Capone. During the sixteen years as Head Coach his teams amassed a 182-76-46 record. His teams were league championships in the Wachusett League or Dual County Leagues in 1986, 1998, and 1999. In 1999 he coached the North district championship team. His varsity teams qualified for the state tournament fifteen of sixteen years. Other indicators of Jeff’s uncommon impact on the girl’s soccer program was his selection as Lowell Sun Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1998. In 1999 he was named Division II Boston Globe Coach of the Year.
James P. Antonelli: WA Class of 1986 Football, Wrestling & Outdoor Track
A two-sport captain and undeniable force on the 1984-1985 Division II Massachusetts wrestling champions and 1985 Division II football Super Bowl champions. The talented two-way football linemen earned Wachusett League All-Star and team Most Valuable Lineman honors. While wrestling, sported an individual career record of 70-26-2. Wrestling accolades included Central MA Division II Sectional runner-up, and fourth place finish at the Central MA Division II state level as a junior. Jim garnered third place at the Central MA Division II State meet, and Central MA Division II sectional champion as a senior. His final season concluded with a 30-5 wrestling record, with a highlight being the defeat and upset of the Division I state champion at the New England Wrestling Tournament.
Tyler Bloom: WA Class of 1999 Cross-Country, Indoor Track & Outdoor Track
From 1996 to 1999 Tyler ran all three seasons. His sophomore year, he won the DCL All-League meet, setting a course record. That same school year, indoor he triumphed in the two-mile with a time of 10:06. Tyler won the DCL League Meet in the two-mile, placed second at the Spring Class C meet and set a personal record in the two-mile at the All-State Meet, finishing sixth with a time of 9:45. His junior year he dominated each season, with superior performances in the DCL Championship and State Championship races. During his senior year he won the indoor DCL championship in the two-mile and finished third in the MIAA indoor Class C Championship in the mile.
Carrie (Hellstedt) Bonacci: Class of 1998 Soccer, Basketball, Tennis
Carrie, a 1998 Westford Academy graduate, excelled in soccer, basketball and tennis. She was a soccer team MVP, DCL all-star, Lowell Sun all-star and Boston Globe All-Scholastic in both her junior and senior years. At the sweeper position she dominated defensively, but also scored numerous goals. A tennis DCL all-star her junior and senior years, Carrie also garnered the Coaches’ Awards in basketball and tennis. A four-year honor roll student and senior captain of her soccer and tennis teams, Carrie was instrumental in providing leadership and setting a superb example in sportsmanship. Her tremendous skills, strength and overall athleticism were pivotal in helping her teams achieve success.
Chris Carpenter: WA Class of 2004 Ice Hockey
Chris was a four-year varsity ice hockey letterman at Westford Academy graduating in 2004. An excellent leader, he was selected a team captain for both junior and senior years. His 103 career points is a spectacular feat, considering he played defenseman. In the history of Westford Academy ice hockey he’s the only defenseman to produce over 100 points in their career. His lengthy list of accomplishments includes two-year team Most Valuable Player, three years all-conference player (honors top ten players in DCL/MVC), two-year Lowell Sun first team all-star, and one of top five players in league scoring for three consecutive years (only defenseman in top five, each of the three years).
Mark Cornelius: WA Class of 2011Football, Basketball & Baseball
Mark Cornelius, Class of 2011, was an outstanding three-sport student athlete, achieving success in football, basketball, and baseball. Mark played eleven seasons during his high school career, nine at the varsity level, which illustrated Mark’s versatility, determination, and athletic ability. His team and individual success is well documented and well deserved, including numerous all-scholastic and Most Valuable Player recognitions. Mark was selected captain in two sports (basketball and baseball), and went on to be named the Westford Academy’s Senior Male Athlete of the Year and an ESPN-Boston All-Star in basketball.
Tim Donohoe: WA Class of 1985 Football, Wrestling & Outdoor Track
A gifted athlete, Tim also displayed exceptional leadership. He served as captain for the football, wrestling, and outdoor track teams during his culminating year at Westford Academy. Tim excelled as a two-year varsity starter at quarterback and defensive end. In 1984 his sixteen touchdown passes, and 1,500 plus passing yards, led all Wachusett League quarterbacks. That same gridiron season he was distinguished as Wachusett League All-Star, Wachusett League co-MVP, Lowell Sun All-Star and Boston Globe All-Star recognition. As a senior wrestler he achieved Central MA Division II sectional champion, third place Central MA Division II state tournament, Lowell Sun All-Star, Massachusetts All-Star, and Boston Globe All-Star. His 1984-85 wrestling team earned the Central MA Division II state championship.
William (Bill) Hall: WA Class of 1963 Wrestling
Bill Hall was a Westford Academy wrestling pioneer. While only an eighth grader, Billy became a member of Westford’s first wrestling team. He would proceed to win sectional championships in his junior and senior seasons, and a state championship as a senior. In fact, the Grey Ghosts only lost two dual meets during Hall’s wrestling career at WA. Not only did he leave a lasting mark on Westford and Massachusetts high school wrestling, he was also an inspiration to his younger brothers, Roger and Jimmy. Between the Hall brothers, the trio hoisted six State championships, two New England titles, and eight Sectional titles. Each are now enshrined in the Westford Academy Athletic Hall of Fame.
Stephanie Pancoast: WA Class of 2006 Cross-Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track & Gymnastics
Stephanie was an All-Star at Westford Academy all four years. Her freshman year in gymnastics, she earned co-MVP. She demonstrated her relentless talents achieving school records in the indoor two-mile, indoor one mile, indoor 4x800 relay team, outdoor two-mile and pole vault. She was a Lowell Sun Athlete of the Year in cross- country (2003, 2004, and 2005), all-star in indoor (2005 and 2006, as well as 2006 Athlete of the Year) and all-star in outdoor 2006. She was a Boston Globe All-Star in cross country from 2003 to 2005 and indoor track in 2006. At the conclusion of her senior year, she was selected Westford Academy Athlete of the Year.
Brendan Sullivan: WA Class of 2013 Indoor Track and Outdoor Track
Brendan was a seven-time DCL champion in the hurdles, between indoor and outdoor seasons, plus a Division One indoor state champion. He decimated all competition as a pole vaulter, achieving three-time DCL champion, eight-time individual invitational champion, two-time state Division One champion, and two-time All-State Champion and New England Champion. As a senior he was undefeated in both the 110meter hurdles and pole vault. During a meet at Weston High School Brendan cleared 16'0" to establish a state record and achieve the second best all-time high school pole vault in New England schoolboy history. His leadership was superb, selected as a captain for the indoor and outdoor teams in his final season at Westford Academy.