North Branford Coach To Be Honored At Annual Recognition Dinner

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The Connecticut High School Coaches Association will honor 23 coaches as Outstanding Coaches of the Year, an Athletic Director of the Year and announce three special awards at the 53rd annual Recognition Dinner on May 11 at 7 p.m. in Kay's Pier at the Aqua Turf in Southington.

Among the honorees will be North Branford hockey coach Ralph Shaw.

Tickets for the event are $46 and may be purchased in advance only by contacting John Fontana at 860-628-4122.

To be honored are Athletic Director of the Year David E. Schulz of Fairfield Ludlowe; Sal Follo will receive the Thomas Monahan CHSCA Honor Award; Dr. Martin Semmel will be awarded the Joseph J. Fontana Distinguished Service Award; and Jim Curtis and Robert Fritz of Diamond Sports will receive the Joseph Calvanese Sponsorship Award.

The coaches to be honored:

• Phil Orbe, baseball, Montville
• Bob Healy, boys basketball, Manchester
• Tim O'Donnell, boys cross country, Canton
• Mike Kohs, boys golf, Xavier
• Mark Landers, boys soccer, Glastonbury
• Ralph DiSaia, boys tennis, Waterford
• Tim Egan, boys track, Montville
• Laurie LaRusso, boys volleyball, Darien
• Sherry Cosmos, cheerleading, Watertown
• Eileen Wildermann, field hockey, Cheshire
• Jim Buonocore, football, Ledyard
• Jackie DiNardo, girls basketball, Danbury
• Phil Schneider, girls lacrosse, East Lyme
• Tom Cunningham, girls soccer, Fairfield Warde
• John McClure, girls swimming, Hall
• Chris Marra, girls tennis, Guilford
• William Vanderrest, girls track, Coventry
• Tom Czaplinski, girls volleyball, Newtown
• Gary Chadwick, gymnastics, Wilton
• Ralph Shaw, ice hockey, North Branford
• Peter Capezzone, indoor track, Old Saybrook
• Tom Verrengia, softball, Conard
• Joe Prignano, unified sports, Rockville

Image via Shutterstock

— By TIM JENSEN (Patch Staff)