Bill Agostinucci – Bill Agostinucci is welcomed to the New Britain Sports Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as an athlete at New Britain High School. Agostinucci participated in football and baseball for three years but his true passion for sports began as a youth playing baseball for the Walicki, Mangan, American Legion baseball teams in town.
When Bill entered NBHS as a sophomore in 1972, he began a three-year career playing football for Coach Tony Apisso as a tackle. In the spring Agostinucci joined Coach Ken Kezer on the baseball field and was a member of New Britain’s state championship team in 1974. Agostinucci’s leadership and play during his junior year was rewarded by naming him a tri-captain for the 1975 season. Agostinucci continued with his outstanding play as a senior at third base and at the plate batting .407 and leading the Hurricanes to an undefeated season. Agostinucci was named All C.D.C. and was selected to the Connecticut All-State Baseball Team. At graduation, he received the Fleischer award.
Agostinucci continued to share his passion for baseball by coaching the Falcons in New Britain’s Mangan League and later coaching Berlin Little League.
Agostinucci graduated from the UConn School of Pharmacy and received his Master’s Degree from Rensselaer. He currently is vice president of Corporate Services at Connecticut Children’s Hospital.
Bob Donlin – Bob is a proud graduate of New Britain High School class of 1968 were he began to distinguish himself his freshmen year as a two way starter on the football team at tackle. Bob’s football accomplishments at the end of his junior year earned him 1ST TEAM ALL C.D.C. at defensive end and second-team ALL C.D.C. at offensive tackle. Bob’s leadership on the field resulted in him being named a tri-captain for the 1967 football season. As a senior, he was awarded several conference and state accolades. He was voted 15T Team ALL C.D.C. at offensive and defensive tackle. The New Haven Register honored Bob as a first-team ALL-State tackle. He also was the winner of the Conley Award at N.B.H.S. as the most valuable player.
Bob’s passion for music during his high school years earned him the honor of being named to the Connecticut All-State Band as a clarinet player.
Bob was recruited by several colleges to play football and choose to attend the University of Massachusetts. He was the starting tackle on the undefeated freshmen team and moved up to the starting tackle position his second year on the Yankee Conference Champion Team. His sophomore year ended with him being named Yankee Conference player of the week against the University of Buffalo and 1ST Team All Yankee Conference at offensive tackle.
Bob repeated his football success in his junior year, 1 ST Team All Yankee Conference, three times UMASS offensive player of the week, First Team Associated Press All-New England, and 1 ST Team ALL E.C.A.C. at offensive tackle.
An early-season knee injury in a game against Dartmouth in 1970 ended Bob’s career at UMASS. Bob graduated that spring with B.S. Degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Travel Management.
Bob worked for 38 years in the wine and spirits industry as a sales representative for Allan Goodman before his passing in January 2021.
Andrew O. Madigan – Andrew was born, raised and attended K-12 schools in New Britain, CT. Being the youngest of three [3] boys, all of which were stand-out athletes, Andrew started out his passion for sports in the NB Parks and Recreation little leagues playing baseball, basketball, soccer, and track and field.
While at New Britain High School Andrew played under coaches Jack Cochran and legendary Ken Kezer. He was Captain of the Hurricanes football and baseball teams (03′) and collected All-Conference and All-State honors, in all three (3) CT State polls, as a stand-out linebacker. He is considered as part of the 1st team All Hurricanes Defense, having been an integral part of the 2001 CT State Championship team. Madigan also received the prestigious Coaches Choice Award presented by the U.S. Army at the annual Governors Cup All-Star Game between CT and RI where he captained the CT team in their 41-16 victory.
As a three (3) year starter under Ken Kezer, Andrew played the outfield, third base, and catcher while batting a .357 average and earned All-Conference Honors during his senior year.
Andrew attended Springfield College (06′) where he earned a degree in Sports Management. His leadership continued from NBHS to Springfield where he captained the Pride as a Junior and Senior. Andrew’s accolades at Springfield included ECAC New England Division 3 All-Star team (05′ & 06′), Empire 8 All-Conference Team (05′ & 06′), pre-season DIII All-American, and was named Defensive MVP (05′ & 06′). He ranks 6th in total tackles and tied for 1st in forced fumbles amongst the Pride’s career records.
Post Springfield he moved to Colorado Springs, CO, and accepted a job with USA Boxing. He worked under the Team USA flag for the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympic Games. Having also worked in Lausanne, Switzerland for two (2) years Andrew has worked throughout all levels of combative sport. Currently, Andrew is a partner at Kings Highway Media where they specialize in distributing prominent sports media rights.
Andrew resides in Farmington, CT with his wife, Lauren (Glowiak) Madigan, and two-year-old daughter Avery Monroe Madigan.
Charles L. Munford, Jr. – Chuck had a fiery passionate personality. Whether it was at work or play, he had a strong passion for travel, jazz, and his Fraternity. Chuck applied the same energy and enthusiasm to his social and family life. His friends and loved ones would be the first to admit that they would gladly follow his leadership skills any day.
Chuck embraced life with zest, he graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Communications and was a Sports Cameraman for WVIT Television. While in college, he was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Chuck’s commitment to his family and his community played a key role in his success.
Chuck had a way in which he could influence everyone around him. His energy was twice as strong than most people, which explains why he had the courage and vigor to be a mentor/leader. Chuck was a unique father, brother, and son to his family. He was a fun-loving individual who saw it as his mission in life to test boundaries and live his best life. Overall, Chuck was a vibrant, excited individual who can draw people to him on the strength of his personality alone!
While at NBHS, Chuck achieved 8 varsity letters in a three-year academic program. Football earned him a varsity letter in each of his three years. He was a two-way standout both his junior and senior years. As a running back on offense, Chuck was the Hurricane’s leading scorer in both his junior and senior years. As a defensive back, Chuck was always assigned the opposition’s top receiver. He also led the team in interceptions in both his junior and senior years. As a senior, Chuck was chosen as a tri-captain and would lead New Britain to a conference championship in the ten-team Capital District Conference. In his senior year, he was named All CDC First Team at defensive back.
On the basketball court, Chuck earned a varsity letter his junior and senior years as a starter on a state quarterfinal team. He was a defensive stopper and was the consummate team player.
A truly gifted athlete, Chuck lettered in track his junior and senior years. His speed made him a contender in the 100 and 220-yard dash. Chuck ran the first leg of a dominant 4 x 110 relay team that was one of the best in the state.
Jon Plefka – Jon was a three-sport student-athlete at New Britain High School graduating in 2002. During his high school tenure, Jon played both basketball and baseball. However, in his senior year, he decided to play football. At 6’6″ Jon was an imposing figure at tight end catching 8 touchdowns and totaling 700 yards in total offense helping New Britain win a LL State Championship. Jon was voted All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-State, and All-State Academic. He was offered several football scholarships but his desire was to focus on basketball and baseball.
Jon led the Hurricanes to the state LL Finals in basketball in 2001/2002 resulting in him being named All-Conference and All-State. He averaged a school-record 10.8 rebounds per game along with a 20-point scoring average while shooting an impressive 81% from the foul line. Jon was offered a scholarship to James Madison University.
Jon was a pitcher and infielder in baseball. He played three seasons pitching in 29 games as a starter and reliever. His state tournament record was 5-3 making it to the state LL semi-final his senior year. He was an All-Conference pitcher. Jon’s career batting average was .290 and his ERA was 2.71. He was offered a scholarship to Hofstra.
After graduation, Jon attended James Madison, University of Vermont, and Santa FE Community College playing baseball and basketball. It was at Santa Fe when major college basketball coaches took notice of him. Jon accepted a scholarship to play for legendary Coach Bob Knight at Texas Tech. He was named Big 12 First Team All-Academic and graduated cum laude in 2007. Plefka was drafted in his junior year by the Los Angles Angels to play baseball but choose to stay in school and signed after graduating.
Jon played rookie baseball for the Angels for one season and continued his career playing independent ball in the US, Canada, and South America.
Jon entered full-time baseball coaching and was the head coach for Middletown High School for one season.
Jon joined Post University in 2016 as the woman’s assistant basketball coach and was promoted to head coach the following season.
For the past 11 years, Jon has been a personal skills instructor to athletes of all ages in basketball and baseball. For the 2022 baseball season, Jon will be the head coach at New Britain High School.
Christopher B. Ryba – Chris grew up playing every sport he could. His baseball career started with the Cardinals Little League team. At St. Francis Middle School, he played on the basketball team and the summer league baseball team, He is a 1970 graduate of St Thomas Aquinas High School where he played both basketball and baseball for Dom Ferraro from 1966 to 1970.
He was recruited to Stony Brook University in New York to play basketball by Rollie Massimino. He played basketball and pitched for the baseball team at Stony Brook for 4 years. He also played in the Hartford Twilight League while in college. His 1972-73 ERA of 2.58 still stands as Second in Career ERA for Stony Brook. He was the first player ever drafted from Stony Brook in 1973. He was selected by the NY Mets and played in the NY-Pennsylvania League for the Batavia Trojans for 2 seasons. One of his favorite memories of that time was throwing batting practice at Shea Stadium to Willie Mays.
He began coaching baseball when his son was old enough to play tee-ball. He served as pitching coach/assistant coach for Newington Little League for several years and then moved to NB Mangan League in the same capacity as his son got older. He loved sharing his skill and teaching youngsters how to pitch and could be heard at games calling out instructions to the pitchers on both teams. He became involved with sports at St. Francis of Assisi Middle School while his four children attended and played basketball there. He served in many capacities there including being an assistant coach, facility manager, athletic director, and athletic association president. In this capacity, he was able to raise thousands of dollars that went toward giving youngsters a top-quality sporting experience.
In 1991 his daughter was chosen for an AAU team and Chris went on to serve as a co-director for Connecticut Starters AAU Girls Basketball Club for 10 years. At its peak Starters had over 250 girls on 22 teams playing across 7 age groups. As a director, assistant coach and parent Chris went to practices, summer camp, tryouts and easily attended a thousand games including dozens of national championship tournaments across the United States He also never missed a basketball or volleyball game at NBHS as his three daughters went on to win State Championships in both basketball and volleyball.
Luz J. Vazquez – Luz Vazquez was a three-sport athlete at New Britain High School playing volleyball, basketball and softball from 1975 to 1979. She enrolled at Eastern Connecticut State College and continued her basketball career. After graduation Luz had the opportunity to play basketball for the Puerto Rican National Team from 1983 to 1985.
When Luz returned to New Britain she began her 35-year career as a coach and teacher at her alma mater. She has been the assistant girl’s volleyball coach for 26 years. In 2018 Luz received the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year award for her contribution to the sport of volleyball. She also served as the girl’s head basketball coach from 1987 to 1988. Luz returned to coaching basketball in 1995 serving as the girl’s freshman coach for ten years.
Besides her commitment to coaching, Luz’s classroom accomplishments are stellar. She is the advisor to the Latin American Club, serves on the National Honors Society, and New Britain Scholarship committee, and teaches honors and AP Spanish. Luz continues to be a mentor, friend, leader, and educator to all of the students current and past.
Todd Verdi – Todd Verdi was born and raised in New Britain and whose legacy is engrained on the baseball field at Martha Hart Park and at Veterans Stadium. However, his biggest contribution to sports is that he continues to promote athleticism and academics to the youth of New Britain as Principle of Slade Middle School.
As a Golden Hurricane from 1984 to 1988 Todd received many accolades. in his junior year, he was recognized by both the Hartford Courant and the CCC Conference for both his offense and defense skills. In his senior year, Todd was named one of the top ten football players in the state and was awarded All-State honors by the Hartford Courant and New Haven Register. The USA Today named Todd an Honorable All American along with Honorable Mention as the “Milky Way Athlete of the Year.” Academically Todd was named twice to the Who’s Who of American High School Students and was a winner of Connecticut’s State Scholar-Athlete Award. After being recruited by the top schools such as Syracuse, Yale, and Maine, he decided to attend UConn.
As a UConn Husky, Todd enjoyed 2 1/2 years as a starter playing both guard and tackle. Todd pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and often volunteered as a mentor to underprivileged children. Upon graduation, Todd pursued football in Italy with the Modena Viper acting as a player-coach. Missing his family he accepted the offer to become a football Graduate Assistant at Sacred Heart University. He earned his Master’s Degree in Education.
In 1995 Todd met his future wife Heather while he was a substitute teacher at New Britain’s Slade Middle school. While teaching, coaching continued to be a passion for Todd and he joined Jack Cochran’s coaching staff at NBHS in 2001 as offensive line coach and was part of that year’s State Championship Football Team.
On the home front, Todd’s sons Zachary, Hunter, and Todd Jr. were poised to play football. Todd immersed himself in youth football in Southington as a coach and a league president enacting best practices in coaching aligned with CIAC and NCAA standards. He currently serves as an offensive line coach for the Southington Valley Midget football team. In 2012 Todd was instrumental in forming a girls powder puff football division for young athletes in grades 3 – 12.
Todd became principal of Slade Middle School in 2018 and made it his mission to enhance academics, athletics, and school pride which were the standards he grew up with.
Todd joins The New Britain Sports Hall of Fame alongside his father Sal and brother Tory.
Eric Bird – 2022 Don Clerkin Award Winner – Eric is a 1994 graduate of EC Goodwin Tech. He was a student manager for the Gladiators basketball team for 3 years. In 1994 he began his career as the team manager of the boy’s basketball team at New Britain High School under the tutelage of head coach Stan Glowiak. Over the next 30-plus years, Eric Bird has been an integral part of athletics at NBHS. At any given event held at NBHS, whether it’s football, basketball, track, or volleyball, Eric is there.
Eric has acted tirelessly as team manager for many of NBHS’s sports teams and could always be counted on to keep equipment and coaches organized. Hundreds of coaches and players are grateful to Eric Bird for his dedication over the years. The Hall of Fame is extremely happy to honor Mr. Eric Bird with the 2022 Don Clerkin Award.
Richard Lorch – 2022 Bill Huber Award Winner – Rich was a lifelong servant of his New Britain community. He demonstrated his pride in New Britain through his gift of coaching. Richard Larch coached tee-ball, Fagan and Mangan little league baseball, JC Courant Juniors and Seniors Summer League, American Legion, and both baseball and softball at his alma mater, New Britain High School. Lorch also coached football, the sport he played for the Golden Hurricanes in the early 70s. He coached PAL football and was an assistant coach at NBHS and Plainville High School as part of a coaching career that lasted more than 40 years!
He dedicated his time and knowledge of the sports he loved to hundreds of New Britain’s youth and was beloved by many. His unmistakable baritone laugh and his “old school” approach to working with kids was his calling card.
Rich was also a proud supporter of the NBHS Golden Hurricanes Marching Band. He served the City of New Britain through various appointed positions such as the Board of Assessments, Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Police Commission. He was also well known as a golf course ranger at Stanley Golf Course.
The New Britain Sports Hall of Fame is proud to select Richard Larch as the first recipient of the Bill Huber Sports Community Award.
Rich unexpectedly passed away last August. His family is here to accept the award on his behalf.
Both Richard Lorch’s and Bill Huber’s legacy will live on for many years to come!