Celebrating the New England Basketball Hall of Fame’s (NEBHOF) High School Pathfinder Team:

Basketball Bugle

93 min readMay 15, 2021

The 1978–79 Conard High School Girls’ Basketball Team West Hartford, Connecticut

(Inducted into the NEBHOF in 2006)

An historical tribute to Conard High School’s

female student-athletes of the 1970’s,

A Magical and Transformational Decade,

that led to the 1978–79 Girls’ Basketball perfect season (24–0) and Connecticut Class LL State Championship!

Written by: Dr. Suzi D’Annolfo

Founding member of the Girls’ Interscholastic Athletic Program Teacher, Coach and Athletic Director

West Hartford Public Schools

1970–1988

With significant contributions by Coach Pamela (Viti) Moffo Conard Basketball Coach (1973–1980), Eddie Litos, team historian, and

Many of the talented pioneers and student-athletes of the Conard High School Girls’ Interscholastic Athletic Program during the magical and transformative decade of the 1970s

DEDICATION

This story is written as a gift to all the amazing female student-athletes at Conard High School (West Hartford, Ct.) during the magical and transformation decade of the 1970s

Gratitude is extended to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame for recognizing the 1978–79 Conard Girls’ Basketball Team

as the High School Pathfinder Team

and for providing the digital platform for sharing this inclusive story

INTRODUCTION

The focus of this story is the recognition and celebration of the 1978–79 Conard (West Hartford, Ct.) Girls’ Basketball team, designated by the New England Basketball Hall of Fame (NEBHOF) as the High School Pathfinder Team. This extraordinarily talented team went 24–0 and won the 1978–79 Connecticut Class “LL” State Championship under the skilled and enthusiastic coaching of Pam (Viti) Moffo, who was inducted into the NEBHOF in 2004 followed by the induction of the 1978–79 Championship team in 2006.

It is often said, “we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.” Before highlighting the young women who made up this “Pathfinder Team,” it is essential to acknowledge and honor the overall history of the establishment of the West Hartford Public Schools’ female interscholastic sports program. The pioneers of the Conard Girls’ Basketball program ultimately paved the way for the outstanding achievements of the 1978–79 Conard Girls’ Basketball Team.

Research for this story include: (1) first-hand accounts of the early years (late 1960s and early 1970s) with many of the adults who were actively involved as coaches in the highly successful boys’ sports programs, as well as the women (predominately physical education teachers) who volunteered for many years; (2) the school district and Board of Education decision makers; (3) newspaper articles, records, and yearbooks. These factual accounts were brought to life by reconnecting with so many of the young women who were part of the

history of the seventies at Conard High School. Each person had their own point of reference, their own story. Many of their voices and personal reflections are woven into the fabric of this inclusive story as it evolved over the transformative decade of the 1970’s.

Regardless of the year, through all the individual conversations or emails with the female student-athletes of the 1970’s, there was an overwhelming feeling of joy, passion, commitment, and enthusiasm for their opportunities to play for the true “love of the game,” the relationships they built with their teammates, and the lessons learned that have translated into their adult lives and careers.

While it was impossible to contact everyone involved, those who responded, expressed their experiences “like it was yesterday,” starting from their associations in elementary school, through junior high schools and coming together at Conard High School. Many spoke of how their elementary and junior high school physical education teachers laid a great foundation for them at the high school through their skillful teaching, development of the whole person, high expectations, consistent messages and demonstration of collaboration and teamwork. They generously gave credit to their elementary and junior high physical education teachers for their foundational skills, motivation, and drive to succeed in an environment of fun and encouragement. They remember vividly that those same teachers came to support them at their games at Conard High School.

At Conard, most girls played all three sport seasons, and regardless of what sport team they represented, they all consistently exuded sheer

joy and fun in participating, the same passion for high standards, the importance of establishing and carrying on traditions, the importance of female role models as players and coaches, and what became known as “Conard Pride.” They were competitive and knew they were part of something special. While many of the teams of the 1970’s were highly successful, they focused and invested in the process (experience) as much as the product (season record). They spoke of the knowledge, attitudes, skills and habits they developed over the years, reflecting the admiration of the girls who came before them and the power of role models, noting that “it’s often hard to be what you can’t see.” Significantly, they all shared their thanks, appreciation and gratitude for the access and opportunity to play over the years.

To reflect the inclusive and comprehensive points of reference of this transformational decade, and all the people involved in this process, the following chronology will be used to tell this story:

Chapter 1: Providing a Context: 1960’s and very early 1970’s

Chapter 2: Honoring History: Official adoption of the West Hartford Girls’ Interscholastic Athletic Program (February 1972)… And then came Title IX June 1972 (A refresher)

Chapter 3: Chronology of the growth of the official Girls’ Sports Program and related changes over the years

Chapter 4: The Conard Girls’ Basketball Teams’ Journey by season: 1972–73 through the 1978–79 State Championship team (NEBHOF Pathfinders Team)

Chapter 5: Impact: Then and Now

Chapter 1:

PROVIDING A CONTEXT (1960’s and very early 1970’s)

West Hartford. A 22.2 square mile residential suburb of the Hartford Metropolitan area is located in Central Connecticut with a population ranging in the mid to high 64,000–68,000 range. Considered a progressive, high achieving school district with an abundance of resources, the West Hartford Public School District had 15 elementary schools, four junior highs and two high schools (Conard and Hall). The town enjoyed a reputation of providing multiple opportunities for all its students academically, in the arts and athletically (boys), including being noted as a lighthouse district in physical education. Neighborhood elementary schools (grades K-6) provided physical education for all students and provided gymnastics shows and individual school and town wide field day events; the four junior high schools (grades 7–9) provided an interscholastic sports program where the schedule reflected in-town competition among the four schools (six games per sport) and occasional competition outside of town. However, the difference was that the boys enjoyed multiple sports (soccer, basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, baseball, track) every season with the head coaches being paid $300 a sport and assistants $150 per sport season commencing in 1966. The girls’ program was limited to field hockey, basketball, gymnastics, and track, with opportunities to compete among the four junior high schools, as well as town wide events, and gymnastic shows. All of this was done with no

compensation; rather, the physical education teachers just saw it as part of their job.

The community boasted beautiful neighborhood parks with fields, basketball courts, pools and tennis courts, where a well organized summer recreation program enrolled hundreds of children over the summer and provided summer competitive swim teams. The addition of two public golf courses, Cornerstone Pool and Veterans Memorial Rink, as well as two private Country Clubs further provided some children the opportunity to learn, practice and hone their skills.

During the 1960’s and early 1970’s, Conard High School (and Hall High School, the other public high school in town) were grades 10–12.

(For this story, the focus and references will be specifically about Conard High School.) Males enjoyed a full slate of interscholastic sports each season (football, soccer, cross country, swimming, basketball, wrestling, ice hockey, track, tennis, baseball, golf, and lacrosse). All of these teams were coached predominately by members of the Conard Physical Education Department, with many coaching all three seasons, as well as other classroom teachers at Conard. There was a no-cut policy and separate uniforms were provided for each sport, as well as equipment such as football and soccer shoes and sticks for each ice hockey player. All head and assistant coaches were paid for their coaching roles and responsibilities. The teams all experienced a high level of success, with a large following by their peers, parents and community members. Everyone shared in the pride of the highly successful boys’ interscholastic athletic program.

During the 1960’s, and through the school year of 1970–71 and fall and winter of 1971–72, females at the two high schools enjoyed a plethora of activities and clubs in which to channel their interests, skills, and talents. The difference was there was no planned interscholastic program for girls. Through the volunteer efforts (no pay) of the physical education teachers, opportunities to participate in field hockey, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, swimming, tennis and track and field, were organized through competition between the two high schools, competition and play days with girls from neighboring high schools, and a strong intramural program. They shared the same uniforms, sometimes practiced before school when facilities were available and played/competed right after school. Busses were provided through the Intramural fund. Debby Duval (class of 1971 who participated in field hockey, basketball, track and Leaders Club) shared that, “we took advantage of opportunities that were there and didn’t fight for anything. At the time we didn’t think about getting less than the boys. It was a tribute to our coaches at the time to provide these experiences for us; they were ahead of many college athletics for women. We felt valued; there was a positive atmosphere that everyone mattered; we played hard and we worked hard and we laughed often; I was a ‘nerdy’ student and playing sports was an important part my high school life. There were no pictures in the yearbook of any girls playing sports; that in itself, speaks volumes.”

In the fall of 1971, before the official adoption of a girls’ interscholastic program, the first Conard Girls’ swim team, coached by Suzi (Olcott) D’Annolfo, had limited practice time at the town indoor pool, but none-the-less provided an opportunity for a very talented

group of young women to swim competitively (Nancy and Jackie Force among them). The girls had just come off their summer swimming competition in the town’s recreational program and they were so grateful for the opportunity. The attitude was “we made the best of what we had.”

If you looked at the yearbook, you would see an abundance of girls in pictures in the wide range of activities offered after school, some related to sports. The Leaders Club, as quoted in the 1970 Yearbook, “rendered valuable assistance to the Physical Education Department, led exercises, supervised activities, refereed sports and proved to be a great asset to the gym classes.” The Pep Club, organized to support the boys’ teams was filled with girls who saw this as a natural outlet; there was one group picture of girls’ intramurals that spanned all three seasons. Girls also served as cross country timers, track and field officials, swim team timers, Cheerleaders, Chieftainesses, Athletic Relations Committee members, and members of the Dance Club. There were so many other academic and activity-related clubs in which the majority of girls participated such as German, French, Spanish, Latin and Italian Clubs, Student Government, Art, Photography, AFS, Math team, Sr. Girls League, Glee Club, Future Teachers, Future Physicians, Future Business Leaders, DECA, Ski Club, Mountaineers, Debate, Newspaper, Yearbook, Quill and Scroll, Junior Engineer and Technology Society (JETS), Folk Guitar, Stage Crew, Trends, Musicals, every level of vocal, instrumental, jazz, band, and orchestra, Home Economics, Bowling, World Affairs, Chess, National Honor Society, Foreign Policy Associations, hall monitor, Hartford Stage, Photography, Psychology

club, etc. So, there wasn’t an absence of opportunities for involvement for girls, just not much in sports.

In addition to the Leaders Club, intramural and serving as timers for boys’ teams, many of the girls interested in athletics chose to go out for cheerleading to channel their athletic interests. Meg Sinatro (class of 1972), said, “I remember Karen Roberts, our physical education teacher, taking us to gymnastics meets. It was fun and was a great carry over from the heavy emphasis on gymnastics in elementary and junior high school. Another physical education teacher, Suzi (Olcott) D’Annolfo, who was in charge of cheerleaders, named one of our cheers, ‘Meg’s cheer,’ because it involved me doing a round off and back handspring at the end of it. We were so limited in what was offered, but Suzi made it fun and competitive. I admired her passion, commitment and dedication, kindness and caring for everyone; she made a difference in putting girls high school sports on the map and in our lives. I remember many years later, she organized a second varsity cheerleading squad (one red and one grey) so more girls would have the opportunity to be part of the school. Also, after girls’ sports were officially recognized, she made sure the cheerleaders cheered at all girls’ games as well as the boys! We are still good friends today and my own daughter had a full choice of sports from which to choose when she got to Conard.”

The class of the school year 1972–1973 was on the cusp when things changed in the spring of their junior year (1971–72) after experiencing a limited program of unofficial games and intramural in their sophomore year (1970–71). Mary Manning (class of 1973) said, “We

just wanted to play! Anything they put in front of us, we’d play; we just loved to play and had so much fun. Mary went on to be the cop- captain of the first track team in spring of 1972, field hockey in fall of 1972, and co-captain of the first official basketball team in 1972–73.

Lori Everett (class of 1973) experienced the limited program as a sophomore, playing intramural volleyball, field hockey, and basketball and then was a leader in advocating for girls’ sports at the Board of Education meetings as a junior. She served as captain of the first official tennis team in the spring of 1972 as a junior and was a tri- captain of the first official field hockey team in the fall of 1972 and basketball team in the 1972–73 season. She shared the following memories of the evolution of girls’ sports in West Hartford from her perspective. “My fellow athletes and I had a passion for sports. In elementary school and junior high, we would seek out pick up games in any sport. Often there was a baseball or basketball game at the playground, local school or in the neighborhood. Many of us had a hoop in the driveway so we could play and practice at all hours of the day. While in elementary school, gymnastics was popular and there were town wide meets. In the spring there was a field day. But that was only track and field events. Then, there was a town meet for the highest place athletes at each of the schools. Occasionally there was a town round robin event where each school had a soccer team and we played games. In junior high, we played a few basketball games against the other junior highs in town. We played 6 on 6. Players were designated as offense or defense and had to stay on their side of the court. There was one rover that could play the whole court. It was a thrill and honor to be the rover. By the time we got to high school we

were anxious to play and compete in some kind of league (that was organized). For years we had been honing our skills. What was neat in high school is that we reconnected with the athletes we had competed against in the town-wide meets. We were all enthusiastic and ready to work hard, learn, and compete; but all we had were intramurals. They were fun and we built some great friendships, but this wasn’t enough. We still had the questions: were we any good? How do we compare to others?”

Chapter 2:

HONORING HISTORY;

OFFICIAL ADOPTION OF THE GIRLS’ INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC PROGRAM by the West Hartford Board of Education FEBRUARY 1972….

And then came Title IX June 1972 (A refresher)

Jerry Trecker, well known sports writer for The Hartford Courant, and former Hall High School coach and English teacher, generously covered the formative years of women’s sports in West Hartford for the West Hartford News. He wrote, “When girls entered Conard and Hall as sophomores in the fall of 1970, they had nothing to be very excited about in terms of athletics. Marilyn Sesta and Lori Everett (Conard) and Betty Remigino and Linda Reichlin (Hall), as well as many of their class companions, were talented performers, but the absence of varsity programs at the town’s high schools, except those which were voluntary run by dedicated people like Suzi (Olcott) D’Annolfo, Karen Roberts and Justine Clark from Conard and Jane Rosenkrans, Sally Warren and Marion Berlin at Hall, meant that girls had no avenue to maintain athletic interest.”

This was the turning point to initiate the process to establish an official girls’ sports program because it was the right thing to do; it was the right time to do it and the right people were in place. Again, this was before TITLE IX and had nothing to do with it.

Acknowledging that change is a process, not an event, the female coaches rolled up their sleeves and began the ball rolling through

education and communication. They had a problem to solve and approached it methodically, step by step, to get the outcome they were seeking for girls. They engaged key stakeholders every step of the way, did their homework and made it a cohesive, collaborative and positive process. With the underlying principle, “if it’s good for the boys, it had to be good for the girls,” they worked tirelessly for hours, weekends and nights, collaborating with the male coaches to learn logistically how their sports got started. Suzi (Olcott) D’Annolfo was made the designated leader and met with then Athletic Director, Dale Harper to research costs of busses, officials, uniforms, use of facilities and the point system that was used to determine coaching salaries for different sports. They communicated with the other coaches in the Central Connecticut Interscholastic League (CCIL), of which the Conard and Hall male teams were a part, to arrange possible schedules. The women coaches wanted a well thought-out, sustainable program modeled after the highly successful boys’ program. There was great energy and support from the male coaches and faculty managers (Assistant A.D.s) at both Conard (Bob McKee, George Beaudry, Frank D’Annolfo, Will Hunter, and faculty manager, Norm Johnson) and at Hall (Frank Robinson, Dave Deacon, Dick Fitzpatrick and faculty manager, Bob Chalmers.). The male coaches from Conard and Hall were an amazing cast of characters and legendary coaches in their own time. They gave so generously of their time and expertise during this process. At the same time, Conard Principal, Henry Weyland, and Hall Principal, Robert Dunn were sounding boards for the work in progress. There were no conflicts, no fighting, no “playing hardball;” rather, it was a collaborative process focused on achieving an outcome that was the right thing to do for girls.

Parallel to this work was the tireless enthusiasm of the female student-athletes who were being educated about how to effect change and be the pioneers in this history-making time. They were preparing how to present themselves to the Board of Education, what points they wanted to make, and garnering support for attendance at the Board of Education meetings. The support of numerous parents, led by Claire and Ken Hungerford from Conard (who had 7 daughters and one son) and June and Lindy Remigino from Hall (who had four daughters and one son) was invaluable. Together, parents and their daughters, prepared and delivered compelling statements to the Board of Education.

With a high level of organization and encouragement, all constituents lobbied vigorously to the Board of Education on numerous occasions throughout the fall (1971) and early winter of 1971–72. The week before the final presentation to the West Hartford Board of Education, Suzi (Olcott) D’Annolfo made a call to Board Chair, Madeline McKernan, to ask her for any final advice. She said, “Have those girls dressed in their school colors (red and grey for Conard and blue and white for Hall) when they come to speak and show their support. Get as many as you can and tell them to bring their parents.” Mrs. McKernan fondly remembers that the chairs and floor were filled so much that people had difficulty walking to the Board table. With a standing room only crowd, representatives of each constituency…the female student-athletes, parents, coaches and athletic director…spoke to the Board of Education. Everyone played an integral part in the

planning and preparation and were able to answer every question asked of them.

As Lori Everett (class of 1973) reflects, “Finally in the late fall of 1971 and early 1972, we had the opportunity to speak out and let others know what we wanted. Mary Manning, Marilyn Sesta, Jennifer Dobbs and I spoke at the final Board of Education meeting representing the female athletes from Conard. We wanted to convince the Board that sports were important and we were worthy of an official girls’ league. We conveyed our goals, strengths, work ethic, and the pride in ourselves and our school. With all the athletes, coaches, family and friends in the audience, we were able to convince them we deserved an official program for girls’ sports. The female coaches, spearheaded by Suzi (Olcott) D’Annolfo, had been working on a comprehensive, detailed plan for months and she presented it next. What a lot of work!!!”

Coach Suzi (Olcott) D’Annolfo then presented the comprehensive three-season proposal for the girls’ interscholastic program and answered all their questions; however, a Board of Education member had one final question which she vividly remembers. “What boys’ teams do you propose we cut in order to make room for the girls’ program?” The room went silent as Suzi took a deep reflective breath and responded emphatically, “NONE…the boys and their coaches have worked hard to establish and develop one of the top athletic programs in the state with a ‘no-cut’ policy that provides opportunities for all boys to be involved. Nothing should be taken from them; the girls’ program should just be added. If it’s good enough for the boys, it has to be good for girls.” The room erupted in cheers and applause. Years

later, Suzi often said that was the smartest answer she ever gave because first, it was the truth, and second, it prevented any divisive measure to pit boys and girls against one another. She credits that firm stand as the foundation of: (1) the incredible support of all the boys’ teams and the male coaches for the initiation of the girls’ program; (2) the ensuing cooperation and collaboration that followed with establishing and sharing practice times and facilities equitably; and (3) visibly supporting one another’s teams in competition.

After the final presentation, then Superintendent, Dr. Charles O. Richter, turned to Athletic Director, Dale Harper, and said, “How much do the women coaches need to start a program for our girls?” Mirroring teamwork at its best, the Board of Education authorized funds for the first two women’s teams, track and field and tennis, to commence in the spring of 1972, with a full interscholastic program to be continued in the fall of the 1972–73 school year. Members of the West Hartford Board of Education, Chair Madeline McKernan, David McMahon, Dayton DeCourcey, Muriel Fleishmann, Daniel Lynch, Betsy Stevens, and David Carson, were part of the process and deserve to be recognized for their contribution to this historical event. There were a lot of cheers, hugs, tears of joy, congratulations and thanks. It was an incredibly joyous ending to an arduous process. It was teamwork at its best!! And now, time to bring the comprehensive plan to life!!

It’s important to note that Madeline McKernan was the first woman chairperson in the history of the West Hartford Board of Education, serving as chair from 1971–73. She also was elected to the Town Council and served from 1985 until 1997. As stated in the book,

Celebrate West Hartford (2001), “As the 20th century ended, no public figure in West Hartford had been more continuously involved in more varied positions of community leadership than Madeline McKernan.” Her leadership made a difference on that important night in 1972 and as time passed, her own daughters were student-athletes at Conard: Mary Jo in track and cheerleading (class of 1979) and Anne as a sophomore member of the 1978–79 basketball state championship team and captain of basketball and softball in her senior year (1981).

It is important to emphasize again that all of this took place prior to the passage of Title IX. This process of establishing a girls’ sports program was initiated because it was the right thing to do; and, it was done in an environment of collaboration, encouragement, teamwork and support, not because of an impeding law.

Two months before the passage of Title IX in June 1972, Mr. Trecker wrote an article headlined, “Girls’ Varsity Sports Start with Triumphs… The first interscholastic varsity athletic competition for Hall and Conard girls’ teams, since the Board of Education authorized their existence for the 1972 Spring season, saw nothing but success for the local girls’ track and tennis teams. The track teams were coached by Jane Rosenkrans at Hall and Suzi (Olcott) D’Annolfo at Conard. The tennis teams were coached by Sally Warren at Hall and Karen Roberts at Conard. Superintendent Richter even spoke about their successes at the graduation ceremonies, noting Conard’s undefeated girls’ track and tennis teams.”

For the first time in history, the Conard yearbook (1972) acknowledged girls’ sports teams and included this in their Spring Sports section, “The 1972 Spring Sports season was especially significant in the history of Conard athletics because it represented the debut of organized girls’ sports teams. The Conard athletic tradition is a very proud one and the new girls’ teams carried on in this tradition by compiling unbeaten records. The girls’ track team had a 5–0 record in dual meets and went on to win first place in the regional meet. Outstanding performers for the team included Marilyn Sesta, Martha Stone, Sally Lockwood, Gail Hungerford, Mimi Wildman, Mary Manning and Jennifer Hobbs. The girls tennis team’s record was 7–0–2 and their unbeaten season included two victories over Hall (crosstown rival). The team was led by Lori Everett and Leslie Montgomery in singles competition and by the doubles team of Anne Dimmitt and Pat Garlock who went to the state tournament.”

AND THEN CAME TITLE IX: It’s been many years since 1972, so a refresher on Title IX seems appropriate here.

Title IX is a federal civil rights law in the United States that was passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or other education program that receives federal money.

Title IX was enacted as a followup to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The 1964 Act was passed to end discrimination in various fields based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin in the areas of employment and public accommodation. The 1964 Act did not

prohibit sex discrimination against persons employed at educational institutions. A parallel law, Title VI, had also been enacted in 1964 to prohibit discrimination in federally funded private and public entities. It covered race, color, and national origin but excluded sex. Feminists during the early 1970s lobbied Congress to add sex as a protected class category. Title IX was enacted to fill this gap and prohibit discrimination in all federally funded education programs.

While Title IX is best known for its impact on high school and collegiate athletics, the original statute made no explicit mention of sports.

Legislative history:

February 28, 1972: Introduced in the Senate by Birch Bay (D-IN)*
• Committee consideration by House Subcommittee on Higher
Education
• March 1, 1972: Passed the Senate (88–6)
• May 11, 1972: Passed the House (275–125)
• May 24, 1972: Reported by the joint conference committee
• May 24, 1972: Agreed by the Senate (63–15)
• June 8, 1972: Agreed by the House (218–180)
• June 23, 1972: Signed into law by President Nixon
* Senator Birch Bay, who introduced this legislation, is a member of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame (NEBHOF) and spoke in 2006 at the Institute of International Sport about this landmark legislation.
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Chapter 3:

CHRONOLOGY of the growth of the official Girls’ Interscholastic Sports Program in West Hartford and Related Changes over time

The first “official” varsity sports for girls, were approved three weeks before the U.S. Senate’s approval of Title IX, pending signing into law in June 1972, With the methodical addition of each new girls’ sports, came the need to reconfigure facility use/times for practice and competition. This was accomplished with a strong sense of collaboration, teamwork, and support by all the coaches. Just a note, additions are marked by seasons and school years.

Spring 1972: Track and Field and Tennis would mark the beginning of a well-established, maintained program for girls’ sports that shared
practice times and facilities with the boys’ teams for the first time.
• Fall of 1972: Field Hockey
• Winter of 1972–73: Girls’ Basketball
• 1973–74 school year: Official full inclusion of Girls’ Sports in the
Central Connecticut Interscholastic League (CCIL) same as the boys
• Fall of 1973: Girls’ Swimming and Diving
• Winter of 1973–74: Girls’ Gymnastics
• Fall of 1974: Girls’ Cross Country
• Fall of 1976: Girls’ Volleyball
• Spring of 1977: Girls’ Softball
• June of 1979: Dale Harper, Athletic Director and Department Chair of Health and Physical Education, for 30 years as a teacher, coach, and A.D. retired.
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• June 1979: Suzi (Olcott) D’Annolfo, founding member of the Girls’ Interscholastic Program in West Hartford and Conard coach of cross country and track was named Athletic Director for Conard and Hall, as well as Department Chair for K-12 Health and Physical Education. She was one of the first females in Connecticut and nationally to head up a high school boys and girls athletic program. Reporter Jerry Trecker wrote, “Suzi felt like she had to work twice as hard to prove a woman could do the job traditionally held by a man.”

Fall of 1980: Girls’ Soccer (Athletic Director Suzi (Olcott) D’Annolfo reflected that in the Fall of 1979 she was asked as the first female A.D. to speak to the girls’ youth soccer opening ceremonies at Wolcott Park; looking at all these little girls in their brightly colored jerseys and matching knee socks, she knew she needed to have something ready for them when they got to the high school.)
• Fall of 1980: A full Sportsmedicine program was introduced to
all male and female coaches and athletes. Prior to that, all coaches handled their own team’s first aid, taping, injury prevention and treatment. Part time athletic trainers were placed seasonally at each high school
• Fall of 1981: Full time Athletic trainers at each high school
• 1983: Creation of the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC)- Four leagues (CCIL, CDC, COC, and CVC) joined together with the purpose to include the three Hartford High Schools (Weaver, Bulkeley,
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Hartford Public) so they would not have to travel all over the state to other urban centers for competition (New Haven, Bridgeport, New London). The 24 schools were divided into three regional divisions and each included one of the Hartford Schools. Conard hosted Captains meetings which were organized each season to bring together the captains from each of the teams (boys and girls) with their coaches, A.D.s, and principals. They engaged in team-building activities in an effort to build a “CCC captains’ leadership team” so that before any athletic event, the captains would have already met and spent time getting to know one another and provide consistent messages and role modeling for the high expectations of the CCC. Each year they created a theme and wore Captains’ buttons throughout their season to demonstrate unity. This received a lot of attention by the press and media as people saw it as ground breaking to integrate the suburbs and cities through sports. A huge press conference was held at Trinity College and Bohdan Kolinsky of the Hartford Courant emceed the event and chronicled its development.

Spring of 1986: Girls’ Lacrosse
• Spring of 1987: Girls’ played on the Boys’ Golf team
• June of 1987: Athletic Director Suzi D’Annolfo, resigned (family)
• June of 1987: Joe Mosa (Conard) & Dave Deacon (Hall) named A.D.s
• Winter 1995–96 Indoor Track (coed)
• January 1996: Betty Remigino Knapp named Athletic Director
• Spring 1997: Girls’ Golf
• Winter 1997–98: Conard/Hall Girls’ Ice Hockey Club team
• Winter 2000–2001: Conard/Hall Girls’ Hockey Varsity team
• Summer 2016: Jason Siegel named Athletic Director
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Young women and coaches today share equity in the West Hartford Interscholastic Sports program because of the work of so many in the formative years. Reflecting on those times now (2021)…50 plus years ago…it was about teamwork at its best; it was about adults working together in a positive way doing what was right for our young female student-athletes. We were glad to be there and be part of it. Our collective thanks and appreciation to all who continue the strong traditions of the interscholastic sports programs in West Hartford.

At this point, it would be easy to create a separate written chapter for each of the different girls’ sports teams and highlight their successes and their stories, as all teams shared this wonderful foundation, but that is for another forum. It’s time to tell the amazing, exciting, and joyful story of the highly successful Conard Girls’ Basketball program in the magical and transformational decade of the 1970’s!

Chapter 4:

The Conard Girls’ Basketball Teams’ Journey by Season:

Beginning with the 1972–73 first official Girls’ Basketball Team to the 1978–79 Perfect Season (24–0) & State “LL” Champions,

and the recognition as the

New England Basketball Hall of Fame Pathfinder Team

While the focus of our story is on the recognition and celebration of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame Pathfinder team: the 1978–79 Conard Girls’ Basketball undefeated (24–0) and Class LL State Champions, this section will begin by telling a brief story of the Conard High School girls’ basketball teams through the decade of the 1970s, beginning with the first official team in 1972–73. Each team’s writeup will include their season and over-all record, names of the captains, members of the team, outstanding performances, post season, reflections from some of the players, and reflections from Coach Pamela (Viti) Moffo. For the NEBHOF Pathfinder team of 1978–79, their story will be expanded to include not only their regular season, but the highlights of their post-season games that led to their perfect 24–0 season and the Class LL State Championship.

1972–1973 Conard Girls’ Basketball Team The First Official Team

Regular Season: 11–1; Overall (including post season play): 11–2
• Coach: Karen Roberts
• Captains: Jennifer Dobbs, Mary Everett, Mary Manning
• Team members: Marilyn Sesta, Laura Hungerford, Jenny Burrill, Kris
Rup, Alex Everson, Debbie Ahlstrin, Ann Sullivan, Charlotte Massie, Nancy Duval, Maggi Concannon, Janet Diesel, Beth Schofield, Kathy Walsh, Laura Grippo, Sue Silver
• Outstanding Performances: Laura Hungerford 115 pts. (8.8 ppg) Jennifer Dobbs 101 pts. (7.8 ppg)
• Total Points Scored: 484
What the yearbook said: “The first season of girls’ basketball at Conard was highly successful. The team’s final record was 11–1, an undefeated season being spoiled by a loss to Hall (crosstown rival) in the season’s last game. The team was led by sophomore Laura Hungerford who was the leading scorer. Also contributing to the team’s extraordinary success were Marilyn Sesta, Lori Everett, Jennifer Hobbs and Mary Manning.”
Reflections from the players:
Lori Everett (senior; captain of field hockey, basketball and tennis) “We were ready for basketball! Now that we were going to be playing, I saved my babysitting money to buy my first red pair of Converse sneakers. I wore those with pride and even wore them in college. We all practiced hard and strived to get better. We looked forward to the competition. We believed in ourselves, the team, and we were
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enthusiastic to represent our school and town. We brought passion, enthusiasm and fight to every practice and game. We wanted to grow as individuals and athletes and hoped we would be successful so later we might be able to compete at the college level. Our coaches were our teachers so we had already built relationships. Sports were an outlet where you could grow as an individual, help others grow, and learn a lot of wonderful skills. Everyone had a role from coach, player, manager and bench players; it was a team!”

Marilyn Sesta (senior; volleyball, gymnastics, basketball, cheerleading, captain of track). “Whatever opportunities were put in front of us as sophomores, we played. I vividly remember how hard we worked to get girls’ sports established, speaking to the Board of Eduction, and it was fun to help it grow and finally be part of official teams. I remember there was a common philosophy among the coaches which was helpful with receiving consistent messages. I remember watching the interaction between grade levels and seeing how younger kids would mature more when they had older kids as role models.” Marilyn went on to coach the Conard JV basketball team (while in college) 1973–74 and 1974–75, as well as Conard track from 1974–79.

Mary Manning (senior; captain of field hockey, basketball and track) “We had so much fun playing anything that was available, but once we had official sports teams it gave us even more excitement about being together and playing for our school. I remember the coaches being so accessible and available to us regardless of what sport we played.

They had a huge impact on my life as a player and my career choice. To

this day, I still love playing. I have great memories of funny stories and spending time together; many of us are still lifelong friends.”

Kris Rup (sophomore; field hockey, basketball and track)

“I must give credit to Fran Lynch, our physical education teacher at Sedgwick Jr. High, for stoking the fire and interest in basketball for so many of us; we were all good athletes who were self motivated, but she took the time to teach us specific skills and plays in basketball, specifically the high post plays. My first year at Conard (remember it was grades 10–12), I came with a pretty talented bunch of athletes and I remember Coach Roberts not starting any of us. She (all 4’10” of her) told us that the seniors had been here longer than us, had worked hard to get this program started, and they were going to start and play first because they earned it.”

Laura Hungerford (sophomore, field hockey, basketball, track)

“In the late 60’s and early 70’s you wouldn’t be a ‘female athlete,’ you were still a ‘tom-boy.’ It was frustrating being an athletically gifted girl and hearing that over and over again. Couldn’t they understand? We simply loved sports. Our role models and idols in sports were usually all males. There were no recreational youth basketball no AAU, no college recruits coming to see us play, and certainly no WNBA league for girls. It was in my sophomore year (1972–73) in my first year at Conard (then grades 10–12)….no longer just intramural and playdays; it became the first opportunity for athletic competition for females.

The experience I had in the 70’s is vastly different than the experiences of Diana Taurasi, Brianna Stewart or Maya Moore. By the mid to late 80’s it didn’t matter if you were a girl, what mattered was

if you could play. What mattered for us as pioneers is the love of the game and the opportunity to play. With basketball I fell in love with the energy of the game and was excited to play a game I loved and compete against other teams in varsity competition. In 1972–73 it was the first opportunity to have competitive games versus other schools in the area. Doors had been opened….we were all excited to test our talents versus other towns/schools. I remember games took place after school and we had a 12 game schedule. I know we were excited to be wearing new uniforms which consisted of short shorts, sleeved numeral shirts and warmups which were red and white striped. We wore long white tube socks up to our knees with a red stripe on the top. Some of us were lucky to have Chuck Taylor sneakers! Remember, this was before sports bras too, so sometimes we had to go to the locker room to fix the broken strap from our bra!!!! From the start of our first games, we created a winning tradition as Coach Roberts started the seniors because it was their one and only chance to experience this new opportunity before graduating….this first season of girls’ basketball senior stars were Lori Everett, Jennifer Dobbs, Marilyn Sesta, and Mary Manning. This first season was highly successful as a great group of sophomore players (Laura Hungerford, Jennifer Burrill, Kris Rup, Nora McMahon, Charlotte Massie, Beth Schofield, etc) were a great addition to the team, which went 11–1….There was no state tournament, only a Penney High School Invitational Tournament in which we participated. The first year of girls’ varsity basketball showed it should have happened long ago!”

Reflections from Pam Viti (later Moffo) are important here because Pam was assigned as a student teacher from Springfield College in the

fall of 1972 with her cooperating teacher, Suzi (Olcott) D’Annolfo: “My student teaching experience ended as the basketball season was beginning. But…meeting all those kids, their incredible excitement, and coming back during the season to actually see them play….I remember their high energy, (like their coach), very determined and really skillful too. My most outstanding memory is how very proud they were in their new uniforms, competing as a varsity sport!! They weren’t there “just to play,” but definitely to compete and to win!”

As circumstances happened, Coach Karen Roberts moved out of state at the end of the year, thus opening up a full time physical education position and opportunities for taking over the girls’ field hockey and basketball teams starting the following school year 1973–74. Because of the outstanding job Pam Viti (Moffo) had done in her student teaching, she was appointed to teach physical education and began her first year at Conard High School coaching field hockey (1973–76), girls’ basketball (1973–1980) and eventually softball (1977–1995).

As timing would have it, Pam Viti (Moffo) started her teaching and coaching career at Conard in the 1973–74 school year with (1) the girls’ interscholastic athletic program already established; (2) the first year of participation in the Central Connecticut Interscholastic League (CCIL boys and girls’ league) in place; and (3) coaching the same girls in field hockey in the fall of 1973 who would become the nucleus of her first highly successful 1973–74 basketball team. Pam often said over the years, she felt like “the luckiest person in the world!”

1973–1974 Conard Girls’ Basketball Team The Team without Seniors

Regular Season: 11–2; Overall (including post season play): 13–3
• Coach: Pam Viti (Moffo) — first year; Assistant Coach: Marilyn Sesta
• Captains: Laura Hungerford and Jenny Burrill (both juniors)
• Team members: (Varsity): Laura Hungerford, Jenny Burrill, Kris Rup,
Beth Schofield, Faith Fieldman, Nora McMahon, Charlotte Massie, Nancy Duval, Andi Slusarz, Donna Fiedorowicz; (J.V.): Linda Berry, Jen Allison, Maggi Concannon, Sue Oakleaf, Sandy Milyko, Nancy Newell, Janet Diesel, Betsy Morcom, Amy Bond, Donna Badner, Kelly McMahon, Sue Silver
• Outstanding Performances: Laura Hungerford (Jr.) 180 pts. (22 ppg) Donna Fiedorowicz (Soph.) 150 pts. (10.7 ppg) Individual Rebounds for season 116; for one game 18
• Finished 2nd in CCIL to Enfield
• Ranked 9th in the State (tourney record: beat Killingly 40–29 and
East Haven 41–36 to advance to the Quarterfinals and lost to Lee
(#1 ranking) 53–33
• Total Team Points Scored: 565
What the yearbook said: “The girls’ basketball team, led by co- captains Laura Hungerford and Jenny Burrill, finished their second season as a varsity team with a fantastic 13–3 record. They ranked second in the CCIL and ninth in the state. During the CCIL championship the Conard girls won over Enfield by 11 points, which was the biggest upset of the season, as it was the first time Enfield had ever been beaten on their own court. Outstanding all season were
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Laura Hungerford, Jenny Burrill, Kris Rup, Beth Schofield, and Donna Fiedorowicz.”

With no seniors on the 1973–74 team, the first year coach, Pam Viti (Moffo), and junior captains, Laura Hungerford and Jenny Burrill, had reunited after coaching/playing field hockey together in the Fall. Laura and Jenny both echoed that they felt it was a “great honor” to lead their basketball team, and Coach Viti said, “they really stepped up!” It was also the start of establishing traditions, protocols, and procedures for this team and all to follow: how to line up for the National Anthem, where everyone sat at halftime, establishing an atmosphere of being first class; no detail was left unturned.

Reflections from the players:

Laura Hungerford (junior; basketball captain, field hockey, track) “In 73–74, my junior season, we began our second season with a new

young coach, Pam Viti (Moffo) and a strong returning team. We were the first to play in a revised CCIL league which offered better competition and gave us the opportunity to become the first West Hartford basketball team to capture a title in the circuit. It was a 13 game schedule and included a newly created state tournament as an added incentive. We welcomed back Laura, Kris, Jenny, Beth, and added sophomores Donna Fiedorowicz, Faith Fieldman, and Linda Berry. Juniors Charlotte Massie, Nancy Duval, Nora McMahon were valuable players off the bench. Our goal as a basketball team, having been given these opportunities to play competitive ball, was to leave a lasting impression on anyone watching us play. Granted, we didn’t have huge crowds, mostly parents, grandparents and a few friends as most games

were early at 3:15 or 3:30, so it limited some parents who could not make games due to work schedules. Rules that were different for the girls at that time included no backcourt 10 second rule, a 30 second clock, and every foul was a shooting foul. Remember, we played with the bigger boys’ ball back then and also had no 3 point line. Boy, if I had the chance to make some 3’s!!!” We made it our job to give 110% during every practice, every game and every scrimmage. We wanted to prove ourselves to everyone watching that we had great potential and wanted to become the best team we could become by working hard together to win games and create that Conard Pride. The game of basketball is about team chemistry as we created nicknames for each other including, ‘Tree,’ ‘Magic,’ ‘Captain,’ ‘Wheels,’ etc.; we had togetherness outside the court with a group we called the ‘Red Phantom.’ Coach Viti created unity and camaraderie and it was these relationships that were so instrumental for us in playing the game we loved. We finished the season at 11–2 which was not good enough to win the CCIL title. An upset loss at the hands of Penney High School cleared the way for Enfield HS to take the crown. (We had split games with Enfield through the season). Conard was ranked #9 in the very first State Tournament for female hoopsters. Injuries to key players derailed our dream of advancing to the championships as we saw our season come to an end in the quarter finals, losing to #1 ranked team Lee High of New Haven. We vowed to return next year as we were all underclassman and if we could stay healthy and injury free, we knew we would be tough to be.”

Donna Fiedorowicz (sophomore; starting Varsity team and record holder in her first year for Conard basketball): “I must give credit to

Fran Lynch, my junior high physical education. She was a real good fundamentals teacher and she got me started at basketball. It’s too bad junior high teachers like her don’t get enough credit, because they’re the ones who build the foundation….When I got to Conard, Coach Viti (Moffo) really developed my skills. She is just outstanding; she makes everything so much fun that you want to do ten times better than you think you can….We formed some great friendships and lasting memories. My childhood years were simply the best. Living directly across the street from the school also helped!”- more to come on Donna in her junior and senior year as she continued to set records.

Maggi Concannon (junior — J.V. team): “Our practices were rigorous; our drills were intense and we were always motivated by our coach to do our best, to try a little harder. I was amazed at the talent of my teammates, whether the speed and agility at the front of the floor or the incredible outside shots (which would now be 3 pointers). We were taught responsibility to the team and each member. The “work hard” philosophy definitely resonated with the coach and with us so we experienced all the positive benefits of team sports. I remember how leadership skills and roles were enhanced at every level with each player. The captains took the younger players under their wings and always gave support and encouragement.”

Nancy Duval (junior, basketball; field hockey and track): “While I didn’t play much, I tried to contribute as much as I could when I was called from the bench. Honestly, a feeling of panic always set in because I wanted to do well for my team and never let them down. Even though a bunch of us played every Saturday in junior high, this

was different. I enjoyed cheering on the other talented girls on our team. Playing three sports at Conard, I always felt respected, supported and included and it certainly made me feel more confident and empowered as I got older. Sports certainly shaped the way I felt about myself and gave me opportunities to develop strong friendships and connections with my classmates for a lifetime.”

Linda Berry (sophomore — J.V. basketball team; swimming and track and field) “The State Open for swimming always took place on the Saturday after winter sports started, so I was late in trying out for basketball. I’m not sure if cuts had already been made by the time I arrived for my first day of tryouts or not. But regardless, I had no experience playing basketball and it showed! I remember one day driving in for a layup and putting the ball up on the balcony in the small gym! When that happened, everything stopped, the gym was silent for a moment and then everyone started laughing! I admit it was funny! I tell you this to illustrate where my journey began. (Coach) Pam was so kind to keep me on the junior varsity team — when I really had no business being there! And for that, I am forever grateful! I wore #4 and I loved being part of a team. During that first year, my passion for the game just exploded and I was determined to put in whatever effort was necessary to get better and to develop as a payer.

Certainly I had a long way to go. I remember the junior varsity coach, Marilyn Sesta, being very patient with me as I struggled to learn how to shoot and to play defense. Given the success I had in swimming, it was a humbling experience to be one of the worst players on the second team. But during that season, I understood how a group can really carry one person along — just like a wave! And that knowledge

has stayed with me throughout my life. In my career, I was always aware of how everyone in the group was feeling — from the most skilled to the least skilled — and I tried to bridge that gap to make everyone feel included. By the end of the first year at Conard, I knew the varsity players well enough to become part of the gang. I remember that the basketball group was like a family. And even though I was not as skilled as many of my teammates, I still felt a part of it. We spent a week the next summer at a basketball camp in Pennsylvania and played in numerous summer leagues. I still have my camp report card signed by Paul Silas! Donna Fiedorowicz and I spent many nights playing basketball outdoors, with guys, under the lights at Wolcott Park and I remember taking an elbow to my eye one afternoon during some serious summer hoops in Elizabeth Park.”….more to come from Linda Berry in her junior and senior year.

Reflections from Coach Pam Viti (Moffo): “This team had wonderful talent — strong, competitive and so much FUN! I thought I had spirit, but, oh my gosh! What a crew, and such hard workers too. The older kids set an excellent tone that quickly got everyone together. Excellent athletes tough competitors and terrific young ladies. I’ll never forget the loss to Penney at home (36–31). The kids had exams that morning but still a game was scheduled for the afternoon. We lost a close one, and from that time on, I made certain that we NEVER had to play a game during exams again! Felt so badly for them. They deserved better.”

1974–1975 Conard Girls’ Basketball Team The First Undefeated Regular Season Team

Regular Season: 17–0; Overall (including post season play): 18–1
• Coach: Pam Moffo (second season); Asst. Coach: Marilyn Sesta
• Captains: Laura Hungerford, Jenny Burrill, Kris Rup
• Team Members: (Varsity): Laura Hungerford, Jenny Burrill, Kris Rup,
Donna Fiedorowicz, Beth Schofield, Nora McMahon, Charlotte Massie, Amy Bond, Linda Berry, Andi Slusarz, Jan Condon
(J.V.): Marge Jackson, Maggi Concannon, Anne Christie, Cheryl Gagne, Nancy Newell, Debbie Woodward, Cindy Miller, Sandy Milyko, Sandy Morse, Betsy Morcom, Faith Fieldman, Sue Oakleaf
• Outstanding Performances: Donna Fiedorowicz 313 pts. (16.5 ppg) Laura Hungerford. 240 pts. (12.6 ppg)
• First CCIL Championship in program history
• All CCIL: Donna Fiedorowicz, Laura Hungerford, Kris Rup
• First Undefeated Regular Season: 17–0
• Seeded #2 in State Tournament (Tourney play: Beat New Canaan
42–37 and lost to Shelton 63–50)
• Total Team Points Scored: 949
What the yearbook said: The yearbook only provided a team picture and not write up about many of the sports
Reflections from the players:
Laura Hungerford (senior captain of basketball; field hockey and track): “We were counting down the days until the basketball season would begin again. We saw our skills improving, our confidence was sky
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high and we were focused on winning not only the CCIL title but the state championship. We started to draw more people to our games. We possessed experience, a great bench and some exceptional players. Donna and Laura were the inside-outside punch, Jenny the consistent corner shooter, Kris the strong inside force and rebounder. We lost Beth Schofield for most of the season to back injuries, but Faith Fieldman stepped into the starting lineup to pick up the slack. Charlotte, Nora, and Linda added scoring punch, rebounds and hustle from the bench. We knew each other inside and out. Being the best is all you dream about and nobody remembers who comes in second. We had something to prove this season. People looked at us as the team to beat and the pressure to keep a winning tradition was our focus. At mid-season, we were undefeated at 8–0 and our cross town rival Hall High School was also unbeaten at 7–0. This game was for the undisputed possession of first place in the CCIL as well as our own winning streak. At that time there was an article about our game in The Hartford Courant headlined, “Hall, Conard in Grudge Match.” This game was huge and was for the bragging rights of West Hartford girls’ basketball. We remained unbeaten with a 51–38 win. I still remember that game because just three years ago no one would have accurately predicted the atmosphere and level of play in girls’ basketball that occurred in that game. The gym was mobbed with only one major bleacher section open. I think it had to be the largest crowd ever at that point to see girls play basketball in West Hartford. The crowd was noisy and very involved. Both clubs played solid basketball and everyone had to like the fact that the girls’ game continued to grow in status…..We continued to roll over our opponents winning by 20–40 points and finished the 74–75 season PERFECT, UNDEFEATED at 17–0!

We were the CCIL Champs and headed to the State Tournament. The Hartford Courant did an article, “Conard Girls Perfect,” which gave us earned recognition as we achieved one of our goals as league champs, but still had business to do for the state tournament. Interesting to note we were the first town basketball squad in West Hartford, boys or girls, to complete a perfect regular season campaign. Being #1 in the CCIL and at 17–0, Conard was ranked #2 in Class L behind #1 Lee High of New Haven, the defending champs. The state tournament was broken down in three classes: L, M, S for the first time as last season it only had two classes A and B. The tournament in its second year had jumped to 77 participating teams, 13 more than than a year ago. All games were to be played at night either at 7 or 8 pm which was new to us at the time. During the season we had been used o playing games after school at 3:30 or 5:00 pm. Because of our high ranking, we did not have a first round game, which Coach Viti (Moffo) was not happy about because it gave us a 10 day layoff. She also was unhappy that Hall was placed in our bracket and had wished that the West Hartford schools would be in opposite brackets so we could let each school go as far as it could. We finally played and got by our first round opponent New Canaan and had to play Shelton High School in the quarter-finals. Shelton had beaten Hall in the earlier rounds and proved to be a tough opponent taking care of Hall easily. Everyone but one team ends their season with a loss. Having won 18 straight and earning #2 seed in the State, we had high hopes. We put up a good battle, but just had a cold shooting night as we lost to a very good team in an upset 63–50. Of course we were very disappointed. We had just ended a super season with an 18–1 record. We knew going in that it was going to be a challenge, and we had a lot of high hopes. At the beginning of the year

we envisioned a perfect season…we came close. With 15 seconds left on the clock, I remember I lost it. I remember Coach Viti (Moffo) walking over to us after the buzzer rang and giving me a big bear hug telling me that I was a huge part of getting us here and that she was so proud of me. I just couldn’t believe it was my last basketball game in a Conard uniform….I know now that we set the stage for Conard Girls’ Basketball to continue to strive to be successful in the future. Most of us were graduating but Donna, Linda, Faith, and Amy Bond would return and battle on. I can honestly say that I gave everything

I had to Conard basketball. The more a person puts into something, the more it hurts. When I look back on all the great moments I’ve had at Conard, I won’t remember the scores of every game. All the awards, recognitions, praises, they’re all nice; but 30–40 years down the road, when I think of Conard basketball, I’m going to think of my coaches, teammates and the times we shared. We laughed together, we cried together, we grew up together. It’s comforting to know we’ll have a connection to each other for the rest of our lives. Coach Viti (Moffo) had a huge influence on our character and values. She wanted to make us better people even more than she wanted to make us the best basketball players. Coach motivated us to play for our teammates, and to be part of something bigger than ourselves. Thank you, Coach, for the influence you had in my life.” Laura Hungerford went on to Central ConnecticutState University, majoring in Physical Education and playing Basketball. She was a college coach her entire career (U.Maine Farmington, University of Chicago, RIT, and Connecticut College) until she retired. She continues to give back as a high school basketball referee.

Jenny Burrill (senior captain of basketball & field hockey; tennis)

“It was an honor to be a co-captain again my senior year and so exciting to go undefeated in our regular season. It was an honor to be recognized with a Proclamation by the State Legislature for our undefeated team. I want to give credit to our physical education teacher at Sedgwick Junior High, Fran Lynch, who gave us as many opportunities to learn from her, participate in competitions with our other three junior highs in town, and provide informal practices throughout the season….our Conard team had great chemistry both on and off the court. One of our teammates, Nora McMahon, had a modified hearse (like the kind used in funeral processions). We used to load up in the hearse and go to games of our future opponents to scout on our own. Needless to say, those trips were filled with many good times and laughs…..The night of our post season playoff game loss vs. Shelton was so difficult for all of us. When you’re on a winning streak and it comes to a halt, it’s tough! ….post Conard, and while I was a student at Syracuse University, one of the happiest days of my life was in 1979 when the Syracuse men were in the NCAA’s…we drove to Providence to watch them play (and win) and then drove down Route 95 to watch the Conard girls play in the state championship game at Southern Connecticut State University. I saw Laura Hungerford and Donna Fiedorowicz and immediately went down memory lane to our undefeated regular season in 1974–75. While our team came up short of winning the state championship, we were thrilled to share in the celebration of the 1978–79 Conard girls’ team who was undefeated and won the state championship! It was a great day!” Jenny Burrill attended Syracuse University and played two years of basketball and four years of tennis there.

Nora McMahon (senior): “I have fond memories of our hare-brained antics (lovingly) directed at our young coach, the shared exuberance of the Big Red Machine, and just the love of sport and the fun of playing games together. Mostly, it was the opportunity that was given to us to be seen as athletes, competitors, and teammates…and to be supported by our coaches, friends, and family. I’ve come to understand the immeasurable value of a knowledgeable, enthusiastic and committed coach — and how fortunate we were to have one at that time — and that our coach was a woman — a female athlete. I remember being awed by Laura Hungerford’s athleticism, skills and her understanding of the game….and she went to camp for basketball! (I had never heard of that). She was ‘Flash’ with a play called just for her — and rightly so; Beth Schofield — what a gamer! (was that even a descriptor back then?); Donna Fiedorowicz — heck she was now ‘drop the mic’ amazing!

I was inspired by just being around talented athletes (my teammates!), learning from them and sharing the same goals to work hard and play to win!…I remember a group of us playing in the summer — with Hall HS players — just to keep playing basketball. Again, the love of the game, the fun of it, and the friendship of it. We played organized pick up games, just because we wanted to — no clubs, no coaches, just us. I went on to play at Drew University… It’s the value of opportunities in sport for women that has informed and influenced many of my choices — such as becoming a professional umpire and being a coach at the recreational, high school and collegiate levels.”

Charlotte Massie (senior, basketball, field hockey and tennis): “Our class of 1975 had the advantage of learning and playing together in junior high and I always felt that gave us a big leg up on our

competition when we got to Conard, since we were in the infancy of girls’ sports and we had great coaching from our then rookie Coach that allowed us to eventually go undefeated our senior year! I remember when we lost in the state tournament we were all crying our eyes out in the locker room as that was the last game we would ever play together. Coach Viti (Moffo) told us we could keep our uniforms and that was so meaningful to me/us. She probably figured she couldn’t get them off us anyway! That shirt as well as other memorabilia was in my parents’ finished basement along with my brother, Buck’s, jersey in what we called our “Conard Hall of Fame.”…..Our coaches had a huge impact on me and because of their role modeling, I majored in Health and Physical Education at the University of Richmond. I went on to teach and coach for a short time before continuing on to become a Physical Therapist for the rest of my career. ..Always continued to be involved with sports…working with the Hartford Whalers Professional Hockey team. Being a part of Conard sports was instrumental for me in a life of discipline, working together for shared goals, encouraging and supporting each other while learning how to win graciously as well as lose while maintaining self respect.”

Kris Rup (senior captain of basketball & field Hockey; track and field): “My coaches at Sedgwick (Fran Lynch) and Conard Pam Viti (Moffo) [field hockey and basketball] and Suzi (Olcott) D’Annolfo [track] had a major influence on my life. They emulated what I admired and made me feel like I could pursue anything as I moved forward in my thinking. I attended Springfield College, majoring in Physical Education with a concentration in Athletic Training. After college Coach (Olcott) D’Annolfo, who served on the US Olympic Learn by Doing and Education

Councils, made a call to her colleagues at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to see if I could go there for a summer internship; and the rest is history….. I can best say it this way, ‘the impact of my experiences in the 1970’s at Conard got me to the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo where I was a member of the United States Olympic Medical Staff.’ I’m proud to wear my US Olympic Team ring!”

Reflections from Coach Pam Viti (Moffo): “ The term ‘tradition’ seemed clearly evident now in this team’s outlook, expectations and goals. These kids continued to improve, they played better than ever and challenged themselves daily. Champions! And not just because of their record. Dedication to the max! Excellent leaders on this team. Joyful….everyday, even if there were struggles, these kids were joyful.”

History Lesson: The 1974–75 school year was an anomaly for Conard. Prior to this school year, Conard High School had only housed students in grades 10–12. Because of renovations being delayed at Sedgwick Jr. High School, a segment of ninth graders were sent to Conard to start their high school career as freshmen; among them was Jan Condon, who ended up playing four years of Varsity Basketball at Conard. This anomaly was only for the 1974–75 school year, meaning a small segment of students entered Conard in 1974 as freshmen and spent all four years at Conard, while the majority of students spent their freshmen year as part of the grade 7–9 junior high schools. To be responsive to this difference in opportunities for girls to participate in sports, the junior high schools formalized their interscholastic athletic program

for girls and set up a schedule where each of the four junior high schools would play each other three times in each team sport (field hockey, basketball, softball) so a season would have nine games and the team with the best record would be recognized as the town junior high champion. The junior highs still had competition in gymnastics and track and field with one another. With declining enrollment on the horizon, plans were being made in the future to close two of the four junior high schools (Talcott and Plant) in West Hartford. It was not until the 1979–80 school year, that all freshmen were brought to Conard and it became a full-fledged four-year high school.

Back to the 1974–75 school year: It was not unusual for Coach Viti (Moffo) and some of her players to attend games at the junior high schools that fed into Conard. Likewise, it was not unusual for those players to come to the Conard games to watch their role models like Laura Hungerford, Jenny Burrill, Kris Rup and Donna Fiedorowicz.

The summer of 1975 found many of the Conard players playing summer basketball all over West Hartford with other girls in town who went to Hall, Northwest Catholic and Kingswood. They played at Wolcott Park (cited as one of top basketball courts in the country for pickup games), Fern Park and Eisenhower Park. They also enjoyed playing at Kingswood School (an independent private day school in West Hartford) during the summer, being welcomed to the gym by the then Headmaster Bob Lazer. He and Coach Dan Doyle often commented on the amazing skill level of the girls playing in the summer pickup games and the sheer joy they had in playing for the “love of the game.”

1975–1976 Conard Girls’ Basketball Team

A future New England Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee: Captain Donna Fiedorowicz

Regular Season: 13–5; Overall (including post season play): 13–6
• Coach: Pam Moffo (third season); Assistant Coach: Linda Galati
• Captains: Donna Fiedorowicz and Amy Bond
• Team Members: (Varsity): Amy Bond, Donna Fiedorowicz, Linda Berry,
Anne Christie, Marge Jackson, Betsy Morcom, Sue Oakleaf, Debbie Woodward, Jan Condon, Cindy Blackman; Sandy Milyko; (Junior Varsity): Leah Raymond, Mary Ellen O’Meara, Tricia Lunden, Kathy Jaeger, Jodi Brainerd, Lisa Arcari, Colleen Barry, Lorry O’Connor, Donna Schurtz
• Outstanding Performances:
Donna Fiedorowicz: 382 pts. (20.3 ppg)
Points in one game 32 Rebounds in one game 28 Career points: 868
• All CCIL Team: Donna Fiedorowicz
• Ranked #14 in the State tournament
• Post Season: Lost in the first game to West Haven 55–51
• Total Team Points Scored: 857
Whattheyearbooksaid: Theyearbookgavethegirls’basketball team a page with the team picture and action shots. It was clear they were firmly established in the culture of the school!
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Reflections from the players:

Linda Berry (senior — Captain: swimming; basketball; track and field): “Throughout my junior and senior seasons playing on the Conard varsity team, my number changed to #11 and my confidence and skill level increased. My hard work paid off as I was becoming a starter during my senior year. My memories of my most successful game, towards the end of my senior year, was when I had 12 points and 14 rebounds. I wish I had started playing organized basketball much earlier in my life because I had aspirations that were greater than my experiences. However, Conard basketball changed the direction of my life and for that, I was happy to have the three years….Being a member of the Conard basketball program allowed me to walk on at Indiana University (a school that had just won the NCAA men’s basketball tournament) and to play basketball in the Big 10 Conference for three years. It was a dream of a lifetime! It allowed me to take a class with the legendary coach, Bobby Knight, considered one of the best coaches ever. I learned so much about the technical aspects of the game from Pam Moffo that I was able to take with me and find success at the next level. The physical and emotional growth that I made as a member of the Conard basketball program translated into my understanding that there was no ceiling to my success as long as I was willing to put in the time and effort. In college and in my career, this enabled me to set the bar high and to outwork other people. As a high school teacher, a high school principal, and a Central Office Administrator, this meant long days and nights. In every degree up to my doctorate, it meant not settling for anything but my best. I set a goal of getting a 4.0 in my doctoral program and was one of only four in my cohort of 30 to achieve that mark. The lessons I took from my experiences at Conard

opened many doors for me!….Another critical lesson that I took away from being a member of the Conard basketball program was that one person can really make a difference and change a life! Pam Moffo’s influence on my life was profound in many ways, As a teenager, I lacked confidence for many reasons….Pam’s willingness to give of herself in ways more than just basketball was life saving for me. This gift ultimately effected my decision to pursue a career in education. I have consciously carried this gift with me throughout my professional life. I remember as a young principal talking to the teaching staff about the need to be sensitive and thoughtful in their interactions with students — because they might be that one person who makes a difference in a child’s life. And I know my sensitivity has made me more effective in my relationships with students and adults. As Pam modeled for us as players, I led with compassion and patience, knowing that every individual has traveled a different path — with different challenges and struggles. I’ve had many students tell me that they appreciated the respect I had for them, even at a time when they didn’t respect themselves. That was the way I was treated as a member of the Conard basketball program and it helped me to develop confidence and approach successive challenges.”

As a side note, in the summer of her junior year at Indiana, Linda Berry returned to West Hartford as Director of a program to start a formal summer girls’ basketball league for the Department of Parks and Recreation. She continued to give back and grow the sport. Many basketball players in future years referenced how much they loved playing in this summer league with girls from all over town with Linda Berry running the program assisted by Donna Fiedorowicz.

Donna Fiedorowicz (senior- field Hockey; captain of basketball; track): “Playing basketball at Conard burst open my love of sports. Every day was a new day to go to the gym and practice. It was a time of forming new friends and learning what it meant to be part of a team….I vividly remember turning the corner on my immature ways when I reached my senior year. It was another outburst during a game. I know I embarrassed Coach Moffo and I remember her parents being in the stands. They had traveled from Rhode Island to watch her coach and watch us play. I still remember how awful I felt after the game. I felt so embarrassed that I acted so awful in front of her parents. I vividly remember apologizing to Coach Moffo and the sense of relief I had when the words came out. I now knew ‘how’ to apologize and ‘why’ it was important. That was a huge lesson for me and a moment that I genuinely believe ‘broke me from my immaturity’ into a young person who became super aware of her actions and feelings of others. It was almost a cathartic moment for me in many ways…I remember fun, teammates, new friends, and a sport I could not get enough of. I remember my mother somehow finding enough money to buy me a new pair of Adidas basketball sneakers every year when I know my parents did not have the extra cash. I remember how fun all those years were, no matter what we were doing….The most important thing that remains with me on almost a daily basis is the fact that sports (especially my success in basketball) provided me the confidence to believe in myself and my abilities. Without sports, I am quite sure I would have lacked belief in myself to achieve my goals…My experience in sports helped me in my career 100%. My playing basketball at Conard High School shaped my life in so many ways: (1) I had so much respect for Coach Moffo and the way she taught us, the way she coached and taught

classes. She was a ‘people person’ and I wanted to mimic her as a role model. I originally went into teaching because of Coach Moffo. While I did not remain in teaching, I followed my dream of remaining in sports and did my best to be a ‘team leader’ throughout my career.

(2) The success we had as a team elevated the confidence I had in myself and abilities. My love of team sports truly shaped the way I led the various teams I was responsible for at the PGA TOUR (my career). I hired ‘team players’ — those who wanted to work hard and those who brought positive attitudes to their jobs. My days playing basketball made me a better communicator and more aware of others’ thoughts and feelings. I believe I am a better listener because of my time playing sports and I came to understand that like our records at Conard, we were going to have some losses along the way…1973–76 were some of the greatest years of my life. Without a fun and successful basketball experience, there would have been no college. (I was the last of four in my household and my parents would not have been able to afford to send me). Once at Central Connecticut State University my success continued and my confidence grew. It led me to experiences at ESPN which led me to 25 amazing years at the PGA TOUR. My days on the basketball court at Conard High School set the stage for a life I could not imagine. I am forever grateful and I have pledged to always give back to ensure others have the same opportunities I have been blessed to have had. Conard High basketball will always be in my heart and soul.”

A few side notes about Donna: she held the single scoring average (20.1 ppg) and points in a game (32) from 1976 until they were broken in 2020; In addition, she is fourth in career points (845) and 4th in

points in a season (382); however, it’s important to remember she only played for three years at Conard and there was not a three point line….so her records, along with Kathy Cermola’s (1978–79 team) are in a league of their own!…..Donna was the first female full scholarship athlete at Central Connecticut State University (where she joined her former teammate, Laura Hungerford….talk about a coach’s dream!). Donna continued to excel, being named an All-American and being inducted into the CCSU Hall of Fame, among many other awards and recognition…..In 2006, Donna Fiedorowicz was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame for her achievements and contributions to Women’s Basketball.

From the 1975 -76 team, some additional trivia: co-captain Amy Bond became one of the first female jet pilots in the country and Sue Oakleaf became a National Champion in Doubles Team Handball.

Reflections from Coach Pam Moffo: “Instead of thinking about all the wonderful kids we’d lost to graduation, they focused on the fact that it was their turn to take care of the basketball program, and they certainly did. They played hard, and with passion and joy, just as those seniors had in the previous year. The new leaders took the new kids into the family seamlessly. The level of commitment, hard work and devotion to the team, and their desire to achieve, equaled their love of the game!”

1976–1977 Conard Girls’ Basketball Team The Team that Surprised Everyone

Regular Season: 18–2; Overall (including post season play): 18–3
• Coach: Pam Moffo (fourth season); Assistant Coach: Linda Galati •Captains: MargeJacksomandBetsyMorcom
• Team members: (Varsity): Marge Jackson, Betsy Morcom, Debbie
Woodward, Cindy Blackman, Jan Condon, Kathy Cermola, Cathy Foto, Paula Clough, Tricia Lunden, Cathy D’Apice, Michelle Kellough (J.V.): Leah Raymond, Mary Ellen O’Meara, Jodi Brainerd, Nina Clark, Patty Dalton, Ellen Greene, Louise Bristol, Pam Carver, Alison Hobbs, Diane McKone, Donna Schuetz
• Outstanding Performances: Record for highest point single game — 83
• Finished 2nd in the CCIL
• All CCIL Team: Kathy Cermola (sophomore)
• All CCIL Honorable Mention: Cindy Blackman (jr.), Paula Clough (soph),
Cathy Foto (soph)
• All State Honorable Mention: Kathy Cermola (sophomore)
• Ranked #4 in Class LL State Tournament, lost in first round 64–59
• Team Points Scored: 1,194 (new record)
What the yearbook said: The girls basketball team got good coverage with their team picture, actions shots, and a full listing of individual game scores and standings.
Co-Captain Betsy Morcom represented the class where part of the class entered Conard as freshmen because of renovations at Sedgwick Junior High School; thus, she spent four years in the girls’ basketball
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program. She also was a member of the track team and displayed her school spirit as a Conard Chieftainess her senior year. Co-captain Marge Jackson represented the majority of the class by entering Conard as a sophomore. She was a member of the basketball team for three years and in the fall also played field hockey her sophomore and junior year and girls’ volleyball, in its first year, during her senior year. She participated on the track and field team all three years. Their collective leadership made a huge difference in galvanizing the spirit and talent of the team by leading by example and pulling the new players into a strong tradition of high expectations and hard work. While the 1976–77 team dominated most of their 20 games throughout the regular season, their only two losses came at the hands of their crosstown rival Hall High School (48–46 and 52–33), with Conard finishing #2 in the CCIL, behind Hall. Ranked #4 in the State tournament, they lost a tough first post season game to West Haven 64–59. But the team set a new program record of most team points for a season at 1,194 and placed four players on the CCIL team (Kathy Cermola and honorable mention to Cindy Blackman, Paula Clough and Cathy Foto). Another first in the Conard program history was the naming of sophomore Kathy Cermola as All State Honorable Mention.

The 1976–77 team also saw the addition of a very strong sophomore class that would turn out to surprise everyone. In an article written by Paul Kowalski in the February 7, 1979 issue of the school newspaper, the Pow Wow, he wrote an article entitled, “The Fantastic Four Leads Team to Tourney.” It chronicled the arrival of four specific sophomores in 1976–77 and captured in a very clever way what would be a very special run in the Conard girls’ basketball program.

“Once upon a time, about four years ago, there were two girls’ basketball junior high teams, the Talcott Tigers and the Sedgwick Wildcats. Both squads were very strong and went neck and neck at each other only to end their short season in a tie for first place among the four junior high schools in town. From each team there seemed to be two ninth grade girls who stuck out as exceptional ball players. For Talcott, it was Cathy Foto, with her great quickness and excellent passing ability, and Cathy D’Apice who ripped down rebounds left and right. For Sedgwick the two were Kathy Cermola, who ran circles around everyone with her ball handling and hot shooting from the outside, and Paula Clough who dominated the boards at both ends of the court…..Well, as most stories would conclude with some kind of ‘all is well’ happy ending, this one doesn’t, not by any stretch of the imagination. A year later, the two superstars from each team joined each other as high school sophomores and formed the nucleus of a brand new Talcott-Sedgwick team better known as the mighty Conard Chieftains….The four young starters, finding themselves in the same school and uniform, quickly adapted to each other and formed a dominating, young strong unit which went on to win 18 of 20 regular season games. Thus they became ranked #4 in the State. As it turned out, the young ladies ended that season with a disappointing loss against West Haven in the first game of the State tournament and were eliminated.” There’s more to come…stay tuned for their junior and senior years.

Reflections from the players:

Patty Dalton (sophomore: cross country, basketball and rack):

“We had a lot of fun playing together. One thing that really stands out is playing together in the summer with kids from Hall and Northwest in the Summer Parks and Recreation program. It was fun to be together again with kids we went to elementary and junior high school as well as kids we would compete against in the basketball season. Down the road, I remember Donna Fiedorowicz and Linda Berry, who had played at Conard, running the Summer program. It makes me smile today thinking of those great summer basketball games.”

Cathy Foto (sophomore: field hockey, basketball, and track):

“I remember going to watch Donna Fiedorowicz and Laura Hungerford at Conard when I was still in junior high school and I was so excited to watch them play and knew I wanted to be a part of this. When I got to Conard, I knew right away it was going to be a special time. Funny that I remember in my sophomore year we played another team that was dressed in pinafores; it seemed so old fashioned and I was glad to be in a progressive program. The transition to high school seemed so natural because there seemed to be a common message from my physical education teachers in elementary school (Carol MacAleese at Elmwood Elementary School) and Talcott Junior High School. All our teachers invested time in us and taught us to work hard, to always have high expectations and stand up for ourselves. I remember the teachers coming to Conard to support us at our games. I don’t think you think about history while you’re going through it, but there is no doubt that we were part of an idyllic situation that would ultimately shape each of us as people and impact our careers.”

Marge Jackson (senior captain-basketball; field hockey, volleyball, and track and field): “High school was a tough time for me; it’s clear to me the reason I got through high school were sports. I really didn’t come into myself until later. There was something very valuable about playing different sports with different coaches and taking the best from each of my coaches to help shape my own sense of self and the value of teamwork. Being a captain strengthened my leadership skills and allowed me to help our new sophomore class to feel a part of the team. I also remembered that many of us had different interests outside of sports; for example, Cindy Blackman, who was a junior and a teammate on basketball and track, was a gifted jazz percussionist and played at Jazz Clubs in Hartford on weekend nights as she honed her skills and passion. That was really different than anything else I experienced and it was interesting to talk with Cindy about her life and pursuit of a career in music. All lessons learned during my years at Conard impacted my choice to go into education as a career where I was fortunate to continue to work with students as a teacher, coach, and school principal. I continued to challenge myself by pursuing my masters and doctoral degrees, which were a reflection of lessons learned about high expectations and hard work. After a 30+ year in public school education, I’m now teaching at the University of Hartford and continue working with kids to help them discover their potential and maximize their own sense of self. The experiences I had at Conard shaped me in many ways to be more thoughtful and intentional about the way I treat and interact with others. I continue to grow.”

ReflectionsfromCoachPamMoffo: “Anothertransition-graduates, new kids, returning players. But the same foundation; the tradition of high expectations, excitement, FUN and pride in their efforts to be the best for their team. Our newest group of sophomores made significant contributions very quickly! But it would not have been possible without our senior leadership. I admired their ability to take care of the younger players and weave them into the fabric of our program — more than skills and plays, what it meant to be a part of the team. That was huge. It was so exciting! These kids surprised everyone…I think even themselves once in a while!”

1977–1978 Conard Girls’ Basketball Team The Second Undefeated Regular Season Team

Regular Season: 19–0; Overall (including post season play): 19–1
• Coach: Pam Moffo (fifth season); assistant coach: Ken Kuczynski
• Captains: Tricia Lunden and Cindy Blackman
• Team Members: (Varsity): Tricia Lunden, Cindy Blackman, Patty
Dalton, Cathy Foto, Cathy D’Apice, Paula Clough, Kathy Cermola, Nina Clark, Debbie Woodward, Jan Condon, Michelle O’connor. (Junior Varsity): Beth Allison, Cheryl Bruttomesso, Pam Carver, Carol D’Alotto, Joan Everin, Louise Geib, Ellen Greene, Eileen Griffith, Andrea Hinkle, Alison Hobbs, Jenny Little, Diane McKone, Jenne Steinetz, Adrienne Tsantes
• Outstanding Performances: Kathy Cermola — 250 pts. (13.2ppg) Cindy Blackman — 188 pts. (10.4ppg)
Cathy D’Apice — 195 pts. (9.8ppg)
Paula Clough — 157 pts. (7.9 ppg)
• Total Team Points Scored: 1,277 (63.9 average ppg)
• Highest Team points for one game: 84 (12/27/77) vs. Newington
• Finished in first place in CCIL
• All CCIL team: Cindy Blackman, Kathy Cermola, Paula Clough and
Cathy D’Apice; Honorable Mention: Cathy Foto
• Ranked #1 in Class LL State Tournament, losing to Roger Ludlowe HS
in overtime 61–64
• All-State Class LL Second Team: Kathy Cermola
WhattheYearbooksaid: Nolongeranissueofcoverage,thegirls’ team had plenty of action shots, team picture and full scoreboard.
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Returning to the continuation of Paul Kowalski’s story started last season, of the ‘Fantastic Four’ in the school paper, “A year later the four (Kathy Cermola, Cathy Foto, Cathy D’Apice and Paula Clough) returned as juniors and were classified as an overall bigger, better, stronger, and a faster starting team than the previous year. Not only that, they had a year’s experience under their belts. Like a hot knife through butter, they plowed through the CCIL and ended up the regular season with a record of 19–0. At the end of their undefeated regular season, they were ranked number one in the state but were shockingly knocked out of the state tournament again in the first round.” (in a heartbreaking overtime game with Ludlowe HS 64–61). This is not the end of their story….more to come…..promise!

The 1977–78 team did go undefeated, rolling over most of their opponents by a wide margin. On many occasions, Coach Moffo pulled her first stringers by the beginning of the fourth quarter or sooner to give her talent-ladened bench opportunities to contribute to each game. Even with her starters often playing three or less quarters, four starters scored impressive individual totals for the season: Kathy Cermola leading with 250 points, followed by Cathy D’Apice with 195, Co-captain Cindy Blackman with 188 and Paula Clough with 157. Often the second string off the bench would have beaten most of the teams, the talent ran so deep. The team set a new school record for most points scored in a season with a total of 1,277 points, averaging 63.9 average points per fame. They surpassed their previous school record of most points for one game by scoring 84 points vs. Newington in December 1977.

With the domination of the regular season, Conard easily captured first place in the CCIL and placed four starters on the All- CCIL team: Cindy Blackman, Kathy Cermola, Paula Clough and Cathy D’Apice and Cathy Foto being named to the CCIL Honorable Mention team.

Co-captains Tricia Lunden and Cindy Blackman continued the tradition of strong leadership of the Conard girls’ basketball teams. They led by example with their enthusiasm, spirit, hard work and commitment to advance the team to an undefeated season. Basketball co-captain Tricia Lunden also excelled in cross country and was captain and an All- American in Track (high jump, sprints and relays). Her radiant, constant smile reflected her inner joy of sports throughout the three seasons, without missing a beat. She was a great role model for her teams as she embraced her leadership role and the Conard basketball traditions that kept the team working as a well-oiled machine.

Basketball co-captain, Cindy Blackman, who also was on the track team (javelin and relay teams), was a multi-talented student-athlete. She also had a gift in the arts; Cindy was a budding jazz percussionist and loved to bring her drum sticks to practice. Coach Moffo said she could always count on Cindy playing different cadences with her drumsticks on the bleachers every practice. Unbeknownst to many, Cindy often spent weekend nights while in high school playing in local Jazz Clubs in Hartford to continue to learn and grow her craft. Cindy Blackman may get the top vote as the most famous alum as she went on to become one of the top jazz percussionists in the world, recording 11 solo albums, and collaborating with everyone from Lenny Kravitz, Patti LaBelle, The Drifters and Jack Bruce to such heavyweights as singers

Cassandra Wilson, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and saxophonists Jackie McLean and Sam Rivers. On her most recent solo album, ‘Give the Drummer Some,’ released in September 2020, she sings on 11 of 17 selections and co-wrote 15 of them. Later in her career, Cindy Blackman married Carlos Santana and continues performing with him throughout the world. So there’s some trivia for you from the magical decade of the 1970s!

Reflections from the players:

Tricia Lunden (senior captain of basketball & track; cross country)

“I have so many great memories of my sports experiences at Conard. I must say I always had a lot of encouragement from elementary school on with my physical education teacher at Wolcott, Mr. Springer, through my physical education teachers at Talcott, Connie (Ingersoll), Walkwitz, Don Walkwitz and Charlotte Ackerman. I was tall and had long legs and loved to run. (Now as an adult, I run everyday; I’ve done 30 marathons in 15 years and for 10 years coached people for the Hartford Marathon.). When I was a sophomore, I was mentored by the older kids in such a great way. They made me feel part of the basketball team right away and I quickly learned the traditions of the team. Coach Marilyn Sesta was a great JV basketball coach and I learned so much from her. Donna Fiedorowicz and Linda Berry were great leaders in our summer league. We went to basketball camp to improve our skills and because we wanted to work together better as a team. I loved practicing at the parks with Debbie Woodward and Jan Condon (who both spent four years on the basketball team as they had entered Conard as freshmen). We had a lot of traditions both on and off the court. We always had our trips to McDonalds and we played

music when we entered the gym for warmups on game days, ‘We Are the Champions.’ There were so many people who attended our games over the years, parents and grandparents, other coaches, our peers from Conard and other friends. We had a bigger following each year. When I went to UConn for college, it was such a different environment. We were spoiled at Conard. We were given so many great opportunities to participate in sports at Conard. It truly was a magical environment.”

Debbie Woodward (senior basketball; track; captain of field hockey; Conard Chieftainess): “I have to credit Fran Lynch at Sedgwick for getting girls involved in sports in junior high. I didn’t have a clue about soccer, but I learned and field hockey became a favorite. By getting involved with other girls, I fell in love with sports; I was hooked. I loved the camaraderie and it became a part of me. When I got to Conard (I was part of the group that entered as freshmen), there was no question that I would be part of a team every season. Friendships were the most important part of being on a team; it didn’t make any difference which team you were on; all the female student-athletes were all friends; it was never exclusive, rather always inclusive. It became a big part of my identity and the central part of my life in high school. Pam Moffo and Suzi (Olcott) D’Annolfo were my teachers and my coaches and they were central figures in my development; they were both so young and energetic, upfront, and they brought kids together in such a positive way.”

Patty Dalton (junior basketball, cross country and track):

“I remember that each year we had more and more people come to our games to support us and cheer us on. Mr. and Mrs. Cermola (Kathy’s parents) were the glue that held the basketball families together. The mothers had their own rituals, sayings and songs, and the fathers would talk among themselves about the strategies of the games and the performance of all the players. They were a very tight, encouraging and supportive presence in the gym and it made a difference. I think we players enjoyed watching the parents enjoy themselves as much as they enjoyed watching us play.”

Reflections from Coach Pam Moffo: “With every passing year, more and more folks would attend our games. It just added to the excitement and joy of everyone…and I do mean everyone! The girls traveled to games in nice clothes, carrying their uniforms on hangers into the visitor’s gym. Oh, yes, and proudly so. This season I vividly remember the girls bursting out onto the floor to music for warmups, and having printed programs to give to our spectators; can’t recall if we started printing programs the previous year?….And what a deep, talented, wonderful group of young ladies — WOW! Seriously, I often said that our second team would have beaten most any team in our league. These kids pushed each other and had a blast the whole time. Again, I have to give a huge amount of credit to our leaders, especially the captains. Passionate, dedicated, always working to improve, fantastic teammates to each other; they saw every challenge as an opportunity to show what they could accomplish together. Joyful!!

Our overtime loss, in the first round of the state tourney was absolutely heartbreaking.”

1978–1979 Conard Girls’ Basketball Team The Third Undefeated Regular Season (18–0) Perfect Overall Season Record (24–0) State LL Class Champions

Future New England Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees; The 1978–1979 Conard Girls’ Basketball Team (inducted in 2006)

Kathy Cermola (inducted in 2006)

Named in 2021 as the High School Pathfinder Team by NEBHOF

Regular season: 18–0: Overall (including post season play): 24–0 • Coach: Pam Moffo (sixth season); Asst. Coach: Ken Kuczynski •Captains: CathyD’ApiceandCathyFoto
• Team Members: (Varsity): Cathy D’Apice, Cathy Foto, Kathy Cermola,
Paula Clough, Patty Dalton , Eileen Griffith, Anne McKernan, Becky Rahn, Lesley Skenderian, Kristen Dallmeyer, Ellen Greene, Lynn Carlson. (J.V.): Cheryl Bruttomesso, Jenny Little, Adrienne Tsantes, Michele O’Connor, Debbie Kostek, Kim Shirer, MaryBeth Cermola, Theresa Gustafson, Lynn Stanford, Karen Roth, Monique Allum, Lisa O’Connor. Manager: Jeannette Sanzo
• Outstanding Performances; Kathy Cermola — 418 pts. (17.4 ppg) Kathy Cermola — First team Class LL All-State
• Total points for the season: 1,383 (new school record) • CCIL Champions — 1st place
• CCIL All league team: Kathy Cermola, Cathy Foto, Cathy D’Apice,
Paula Clough
• Ranked #1 in State Tournament for second year in a row
• Class LL State Champions (first West Hartford Basketball Team to win a State Championship)
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So our very long and comprehensive story is coming to the final chapter to focus on the 1978–79 state champions and the designated 2021 High School Pathfinder Team by the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. Your indulgence in reading the history lesson that led up to the establishment of the girls’ interscholastic sports program in West Hartford, coupled with the chronological journey of the Conard Girls’ Basketball teams through the magical and transformational decade of the 1970’s, is appreciated. Hopefully, it serves as a reminder that those who have been part of something so historic take the time to share their stories so that those who play now are reminded they are always, “standing on the shoulders of those who came and played before them.” As fans and followers of the game, the journey for women’s basketball continues to evolve, as witnessed in the NCAA 2021 Tournament with the incredible skill level on the court and the challenges for equity off the court….and there will be more stories to write and share about that progress over the years….

This final chapter, celebrating the 1978–79 team’s perfect 24–0 season and their State LL Championship has a little variation on the theme of the format of the previous years’ coverage. Reflections of the players, in their words, are included throughout the story of their season and post season through direct quotes they have shared, as well as their voices found in the plethora of print coverage they deservedly received during the season. Since this is the pinnacle of our story, of course there will be more coverage of the regular season and of each of the post-season games that led to the state championship game.

So onto the story of the 1978–79 team…..The previous three years, the Conard girls’ basketball teams had been knocked out of the state tournament in the first round. Well, the players on the 1978–79 team were bound and determined to change that trajectory and outcome.

Kathy Cermola and Cathy Foto both shared that after they came back from being knocked out of the tournament (64–59 vs. West Haven) their first year at Conard (1976–77) as sophomores, they were not going to settle for that post-season loss ever again.

“Everyone was crying and upset, especially the seniors; we felt so badly for them, because that was it for them, but not for us! We were all three sport athletes, playing field hockey, volleyball, or running cross country in the fall and track or softball in the spring, so we never had an off-season. We were always active and working hard. Summer was our time to go to basketball camp. We came back in 1977–78 more prepared than ever and helped produce Conard’s second undefeated regular season (19–0), only to lose in the first round of the state tournament in a tough overtime loss to Roger Ludlow High School, 64–61. After getting back to the school locker room and gathering our things, we went down to the gym and practiced layups and foul shots in our street clothes before our coaches came out. We didn’t want to leave the gym, nor each other, without making a commitment that we would be back and there would be a different outcome. That was it! We knew we had to challenge ourselves to change that outcome for our senior year. We had great chemistry as a team; we had a common goal; we had a great work ethic; but we needed more. We had been to summer basketball camp previously, and we knew it helped, so we all

planned to go the summer before our senior year. We knew we would continue playing all summer at Fern Park or under the lights at Wolcott Park to improve our conditioning and competitive edge. We tried to get guys to play against us…..initially the guys thought we were kidding, but after being knocked down by Paula Clough and not being able to keep up with our speed and ball handling, they changed their outlook on us. Lessons learned, guys!……We knew we had to have some additional experience playing against tougher teams who would mirror the competition we would see in post-season play. We decided to go one step further….we needed to find that tougher competition that often eluded us during the regular season; so we looked around to see what was available more down-state where there was a dominance of state championship girls’ basketball teams. We decided to join the Pearl Street Summer League in Waterbury, Connecticut. But we needed a coach because our coach, Pam Moffo, couldn’t coach us as a team outside the season, so we asked her husband, Nick, who was originally from that Watertown-Waterbury area. Growing up in that area, he knew we would face some competition we wouldn’t necessarily be familiar with on a regular basis. He told us to be ready to get some elbows and pushes that don’t get called; he told us we’d have to toughen up to stay up with the Waterbury girls….we thought, ‘what do you mean we can’t keep up with them?’….it was just the challenge we needed…..we embraced it…. and we never looked back!!”

A special note is that these senior varsity players were all three sport athletes as well as captains of different teams: Cathy Foto was captain of three sports: field hockey, basketball and track; Cathy D’Apice, was captain of volleyball and basketball and played softball; Kathy Cermola

was captain of cross country, high scorer in basketball and did track and softball in different years; Paula Clough was a key player on volleyball, key rebounder in basketball and field events champion in track; and Patty Dalton was captain of cross country (jr. and sr. year), and track and a key player off the bench player in basketball. They were all familiar with the roles and responsibilities of being a captain; they knew how to be a leader and maximize the role of a team member; they understood the power of role modeling and invested in being the best role models for their teammates; they embraced the strong work ethic it took to meet the high expectations of themselves and their program, they thrived on competition, never shying away from it, rather facing it head on; they wanted to do their best for themselves, their team and their school. Most importantly, they always had fun….they truly played for the “love of the game.” They were the perfect nucleus for this team and they were not going to let anything get in their way of the perfect basketball season and bringing home a state championship!

RegularSeason: Inthe1970’stherewasanoticeableincreasein newspaper coverage of local girls’ sports by the Hartford Courant, West Hartford News and New Britain Herald. Thanks are extended to the many reporters who covered and wrote about Conard’s teams including Jerry Trecker, Woody Anderson, Ginny Apple, Bo Kolinsky, Bill Downes, Bill Millerick, Fred and Bobby Desroisers, Bart Fisher, and Barry Peters to name a few. The Conard girls’ basketball team had attracted well-deserved attention for their successes over the years and the 1978–79 team was set to provide plenty of material for them to write about in their respective papers. Many of the following

descriptions and reporting of games are taken verbatim from their reporting.

In Conard’s opening game of the 1978–79 season, the New Britain Herald newspaper (Dec.5, 1978) wrote, “Conard’s Lady Chieftains were among the state’s best basketball teams last year, rattling off 19 straight regular season wins. If there was any doubt about the prowess of Pam Moffo’s 1978–79 quintet, it was erased last night….The Chieftains dealt with the height and speed of the New Britain Lady Hurricanes on their way to a season opening 49–40 win. Cathy D’Apice led all scorers with 20 points for the winners who never trailed in the game…Conard’s twin towers of strength, Paula Clough and D’Apice dominated the backboards to key the inside game….Conard Coach Pam Moffo said, ‘It was a great game to open the season with a non-league game — our poise was really tested.’”

Conard went on to win their next ten league games with wide margins, often providing the opportunity for everybody off the bench to get key playing time. Coach Moffo had told her players that “if we we’re ahead by 25 at the beginning of the 4th quarter, we would pull all our starters.” While the players thought that was a league rule, Moffo never told them that was her rule in order to play everybody and to reflect good sportsmanship by not running up the score. A quick review of the scores of the next ten games and the leading scorers, shows the strength and depth of a team, offensively and defensively, often when the starters didn’t play more than three quarters. Newspapers often did not provide box scores of girls’ games, rather highlighted the top

scorer(s), sometimes rebounders, and rarely acknowledged assists or steals in their reporting.

Conard 53 — Enfield 29 (Paula Clough 18)
• Conard 51 — Wethersfield 33 (Kathy Cermola 24)
• Conard 63 — Penney 25 (Kathy Cermola 24)
• Conard 53 — Windham 20 (Kathy Cermola 24)
• Conard 58 — Manchester 33 (Kathy Cermola 19; Cathy D’Apice 11)
• Conard 67 — Newington 35 (Kathy Cermola and Paula Clough 16 each) • Conard 42 — Simsbury 26 (Kathy Cermola 16)
• Conard 70 — East Hartford 38 (Kathy Cermola 25)
• Conard 50 — Fermi 33. (Cathy D’Apice 13)
• Conard 60 — Enfield 48 (Cermola 17; Paula Clough 16; 11 rebounds)
The cross-town rivalry (Conard vs. Hall) is note-worthy in every sport. with the 1978–79 girls’ basketball team no exception. Jerry Trecker wrote about this rivalry before the Conard-Hall game in the Hartford Courant (Jan. 8, 1979): “Conard remains unbeaten because of size, shooting and excellent talent. Hall is still perfect because they have learned how to win…so they’ll need to settle the internal question, who is best in town?”…..Barry Peters reported on the outcome, “the Big Red Conard Basketball machine, well-oiled and running in high gear, raced to a 25–0 first half lead, including southpaw Lesley Skendarian’s, an impressive sophomore guard (off the bench), six straight points at the outset of the second period…..Everything went right for Conard from the opening tap….as do-it-all guard Kathy Cermola, the quickest player on the court, threw in 10 first quarter points (total 14)…..Hall was rattled by numerous Cermola and Cathy Foto steals…and no Hall player
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could match the dominant inside strength of Paula Clough (10 points and some rugged board play) and Cathy D’Apice who hit 11…… as Conard rolled to a 63–37 win over rival Hall.”

Conard went on to dominate their remaining games in the regular season with something special happening along the way…..Coach Pam Moffo’s 100th win, achieved in only her 6th season!…an amazing accomplishment!!

Conard 53 — Wethersfield 34 (Paula Clough 17; Kathy Cermola 16)
• Conard 69 — Penney 36 (Kathy Cermola 22, Paula Clough 14, Cathy
D’Apice 12, and with bench strength which Coach Moffo noted “has been well beyond her highest hopes. Patty Dalton and Lesley Skendarian have done excellent work.”
• Conard 59 -
• Conard 57 -
• Conard 54 -
• Conard 58 -
• Conard 50 -
• Conard 58 -
Windham 32 (Kathy Cermola 12)
Manchester 41 (Cathy D’Apice 18)
Simsbury 36 (Clough 16 pts/12 rebounds; D’Apice 13) East Hartford 40 (Cermola 18, Lesley Skendarian 14
Clough 12, D’Apice 10) Fermi 39 (Cermola 16, Clough 16, D’Apice 13)
Coach Pam Moffo’s 100th win!!
Hall 31 (Cermola 21, D’Apice 15, Foto, 6, Skendarian 4
Griffith 2, Dalton 2, McKernan 2)
The 1978–79 Conard Girls’ Basketball finished the regular season 20–0 and 18–0 in the CCIL, making them league champions for the second year in a row and ranked #1 in the state tournament for the second consecutive year!
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To complete some unfinished business, Paul Kowalski’s story, “Fantastic Four Leads Team to Tourney,” which appeared in the school newspaper on Feb. 2, 1979, chronicling the arrival of Cermola, Foto, D’Apice and Clough as sophomores, reported their undefeated regular season who “were shockingly knocked out of the state tournament in the first round.” So, in the last part of his article, he writes: “The big question is, after getting knocked out of the tourney for two consecutive years, how will they make out this year?” And he reported these responses from the four as part of his conclusion….Kathy Cermola:”After working with each other for three years, we’ve come to know each other’s moves and style of play.” Cathy Foto: “…we have the confidence that this year Conard will be a strong contender in the tourney….We have more experience this year. We’re smarter and have learned a lot from playing together for so long.” Cathy D’Apice: “I feel the key to our success is due to the fact that we have a very close relationship with each other as well as with our coach, Mrs. Pam Moffo, on the court and off.” When Paula Clough was asked if she thought the team would choke in the state tournament again, she replied, “We didn’t choke last year like most people thought, and we’re certainly not going to this year!”

Tournament Games:

Sports reporter Bo Kolinsky of the Hartford Courant wrote a featured preview of the State Tournament with the headlines, “Conard Girls Eager for Tourney” in which in wrote: “For the second straight year, Conard’s girls’ basketball team was top-ranked for the Class LL State Tournament. Coach Pam Moffo hopes her girls can overcome the

‘first game jinx,’ stating that ‘The girls are really anxious for the tournament. We haven’t made it past the first round the last three years and the girls have something to prove.’” …and they did!

First round game: Conard 57 — Norwich 26

Coach Moffo said, “The first one was so big to get done and won; we didn’t have the experience level like the 1977–78 team, but this team was seeking this challenge. It was a good game and we steadily increased the lead….these seniors wanted it and convinced the younger ones the team could do it…and they did!”

Quarterfinals: Conard 64 — Windsor 47

Reporter Ginny Apple of the Hartford Courant (March 2, 1979) wrote, “Conard’s undefeated girls’ basketball team finally has made it to the state semifinals. After three tries, the Chieftains, top ranked for the second year in a row, have passed the enigmatic quarterfinals…Conard’s Cathy D’Apice sank the opening bucket and two quick baskets by Kathy Cermola put the Chieftains up 6–0. They never looked back….Cermola paced the winners with 16 points while senior Paula Clough added 14, Cathy D’Apice had 11 and guard Cathy Foto had six steals….Conard out rebounded Windsor 36–20 with Clough pulling down nine and Eileen Griffith snaring eight.” Coach Moffo reflects on that game, stating that “we didn’t play Windsor in the regular season, although they were a local team. We loved the fact that we’d be playing all new teams. It felt like any other game — more than usual — we played our game — a lot of kids played — it was a solid victory. Now we knew looking ahead competition was going to get stiffer.”

Semifinals: Conard 62 — Trumbull 48

Reporter Ginny Apple of the Hartford Courant followed up the next day (March 7, 1979), with the headline, “Conard Rallies to Gain Finals” “Top-ranked Conard High School rolled to its 23rd victory in as many starts with a 62–48 semifinal win over 12th ranked Trumbull….The win proved to be one of the Chieftains’ sweetest. It not only put Conard in the state final for the first time ever, but it also was the first time the team had to come from behind to win this year…and that according to Coach Pam Moffo, is something to shout about. In fact that’s just what she was doing after the game….’This is the only thing the team hasn’t done all season, ..we’ve never had to come from behind to win a game. What better way to enter a state championship!’….Conard cruised to an easy 16–9 first quarter lead, taking advantage of nine Trumbull turnovers. But the 14–2 downstaters quickly got things together and outscored Conard 18–4 in the second quarter to snatch a 27–20 halftime edge. During that span, 5’10” senior Patricia Dufficy tossed in 16 points, 14 of which came during the last five minutes of the half.”

Conard sophomore, Anne McKernan, her first year on the team, remembers walking up to the locker room for the half-time talk.

“I kept thinking, this can’t be happening….It was Coach Moffo’s ritual to wait until we were all seated quietly before she would come in the locker room to address us. She entered quietly; we had no idea what she would say. Her opening words in that moment were, ‘I’ve got such good news for you! We have just played our worst half of basketball this season and we are only behind by eight! Imagine what will happen in the 2nd half when we start to play our game!’….In her calm and collected way, she reminded us of who we were and what we could do.”

Ginny Apple, continues in her article in the Hartford Courant: “But when the halftime break was over, Conard was ready to play….Led by senior center, Paula Clough, who tossed in 12 points and grabbed six rebounds during the third quarter, Conard outscored Trumbull 20–10 to grab a 40–37 lead. The Chieftains took the lead for good on a rebound shot by senior Cathy D’Apice. That made it 36–35 with 1:45 remaining in the third quarter….Point guard Kathy Cermola, who unofficially scored her 1,000 point (including 27 in her 9th grade year at the junior high)…paced the Chieftains with 24 point, while Clough added 18. Trumbull’s Patricia Dufficy finished with a game high 30 points.

Conard out rebounded Trumbull 34–30, with Clough grabbing 11 and D’Apice 10….After the game, a tired, but happy, D’Apice summed it all up, ‘The win is definitely sweeter since we had to come from behind. For Conard, it’s great that we made it to the state final. For us (the seniors), it’s fantastic!’”

Reflections on the semifinal game from Coach Moffo: “Trumbull’s player, Patricia Dufficy, got a lot of press; I told the kids during warmups stay stay focused and do not look over to the other team. Meanwhile, while I’m greeting the opposing coach, she says to me, ‘there’s only one team that can beat Norwalk in the state finals, and that’s us.’”……(well, as the author says, it’s never over until it’s over)…. Coach Moffo continued, “we got off to a rough start — there were no surprises; we just weren’t in our flow yet. After halftime we started playing our game, but honestly, it wasn’t until the last few minutes could we breathe!”

The Final: The State Championship Game Conard 63 — Norwalk 55

Reporter Jerry Trecker of the Hartford Courant headline on March 11, 1979, read: “Conard Erupts in Third Period, Wins Girls Class LL Hoop Title.” His reporting followed, “Conard won the LL State Championship with a victory over Norwalk in a match of unbeaten teams….Conard broke the game open with a devastating third period run to finish the year at 24–0…..Kathy Cermola got everything going for the Chieftains after they had seen an early lead all but wiped out. Her second half included 13 points, five assists and many steals, not to mention her floor leadership. She scored eight of her points during a spell when Conard outscored their opponents 15–2 to turn a 30–29 lead into a safe 45–31 margin….It was by no means a one-girl show for the West Hartford team. Cermola, who ended the game with 21 points, was merely outstanding in a team that was excellent most of the night. Cathy D’Apice played a dominant role with 16 rebounds and 12 points; Paula Clough had 16 points and 7 rebounds; Eileen Griffith contributed eight vital points, played solid defense and rebounded effectively; and Cathy Foto was a floor leader, a defensive demon and a calming influence during first half problems….Patty Dalton came off the bench and gave another one of her fine performances….Moffo called D’Apice’s performance her best tournament game ever…..Moffo credits all the kids for playing good tough defense despite foul troubles.

In another article by Bart Fisher, Moffo stated, “You can’t single out one girl; this was a real team effort all the way. But there is no doubt that Kathy Cermola makes us go. She is the catalyst…..This is a great bunch of girls who worked so hard for this that I can’t find the words to explain how truly proud of them I really am. We set a goal for

ourselves before the season began. We felt we could win the state championship and well, here we are (holding up the plaque just presented)…this is the happiest day of my life.”

Reflections on the game from Coach Pam Moffo; “This was a Monday night game; we practiced Saturday, but could not practice Sunday as there was a rule of no Sunday practices for all sports. The game was at Southern Connecticut State University which had a setting with an open-ended court at each end of the floor. While the space beyond the backboards was deeper than our home court, I reminded them it was just like ours….It was a very close game….When Norwalk played a 1–3–1 defense; we made our adjustments and made two quick baskets. The kids forced them into man to man or straight zone. The final score was the biggest margin of the game….nothing occurred that our kids couldn’t take care of….Three to four minutes into the game I called a timeout….the kids were so pumped….I told them to breathe, to look around, and they said, ‘we’re good to go.’……Our defense was excellent throughout. Foul trouble allowed Norwalk to tighten the game in the first half, but our subs, Patty Dalton and Lesley Skendarian in particular, stepped in and did a terrific job. As the game was happening, we never changed anything…we had worked so hard until no time was left on the clock….What a game!!……I told them to enjoy the moment…..This was one of the most exciting and amazing group of females I’ve worked with…they were unique…they put beautiful finishing touches on our girls’ basketball program that started years ago.”

Some additional reflections from the players:

Anne McKernan (sophomore — basketball, field hockey, softball):

“To say a fifteen year old is highly impressionable is truly to state the obvious. During this time in my life, I was tremendously fortunate to be a member of this outstanding team. The lessons of those years shaped how I approach challenges in my work and how I interact with others to achieve common goals. To this day, I remember the shock, and frankly the fear, when I first realized I would be on the varsity squad with upperclassmen. These girls were among the best players in the state. During the previous year, Conard went undefeated (19–0) in the regular season, but they had not achieved their goal of reaching the state final. With the majority of this talented, experienced and hungry team returning, I had no idea how I could contribute anything. Through each day of practice, our role became clearer and clearer. Coach Moffo’s expectations for hard work, commitment, and respect were paramount. For the five sophomores, the expectations were the same and she gave us an important role. We were to work the upperclassmen as hard as we could in drills, sprints, skill stations, and scrimmages. Our job was to challenge the starters so they could grow strong in practice. In games, our role was to offer them rest. In most games, the starters had us ahead by double digits by the second quarter, so the sophomores got ample playing time. On those nights, we tried hard not to lose the lead they had built. Coach Moffo knew that if she could get the best out of every member of the team, the team would flourish. This was a lesson I would never forget……The lessons I learned at 15 years old have stayed with me as a teacher, coach, principal and district leader. This experience was a blessing for me and I thank all of the exceptional women for their contributions to the girls’ sports

program.” (Anne McKernan went on to become the captain of basketball and softball at Conard during her senior year (1980–1981). She is now the Director of Secondary Schools in the West Hartford School District, the home of her own education. Her mother, Madeline McKernan, was the Chair of the Board of Education who provided the leadership for the adoption of an official girls’ interscholastic sports program in February of 1972, before Title IX was even on anyone’s radar.)

Eileen Griffith (junior; starter on the 1978–79 basketball team; cross country and track): “Being a part of that special group of people provided me with many valuable life lessons that have stayed with me throughout my life in various ways. Even now, when I feel pressure and am in a difficult or stressful situation, I’ll think back to what our team accomplished and remind myself that I can do hard things. We did a hard thing. And that means I can do hard things, too. That reminder can give me confidence when I need it the most…..I give much credit to this mindset to Pam Moffo. She was an amazing leader and worked tirelessly to prepare our team to achieve the goal of an undefeated season and state championship….During the regular season, most of our games were not close. Coach Moffo had to keep us focused on playing our best, when we could have won without much effort. We understood that we needed to play our best game and not allow ourselves to get complacent or lazy, just because we could have gotten away with it.

We had worked hard and prepared to come to each game to give full effort and play our best game. That was a valuable lesson for a teenage girl to learn, and I have never forgotten it….Another lesson I learned was understanding my own strengths and weaknesses.

Everyone brings something different to a team, and the better you know yourself, the better you can contribute positively to the team as a whole. I knew I could rebound and throw the basketball well, but there were many girls on the team who were much better shooters than me. Coach Moffo used to say that the fast break play was our team’s ‘bread and butter;’ by the way, I still use the expression and always think of her when I do. I have many happy memories of pulling down defensive rebounds, yelling the word ‘outlet’ and turning to see Kathy Cermola running down the court as I threw her the ball then watching her score an easy lay-up. Learning how to best contribute to a team is so important — what a great life lesson that is….Lastly, one of the best parts of this experience was all the love and caring for one another that was shared. The parents, coaches, teammates, friends, and fans who all came together and supported the effort was overwhelming. It is fun to be able to look back and think about this special experience we shared and be grateful and smile. Thanks to everyone who was part of making it happen.” (Eileen was elected captain for the 1979–80 team which went 12–9. It was Coach Pam Moffo’s last basketball team she coached, leaving with a record of 113–25 over seven seasons.)

Patty Dalton (senior, basketball, captain of cross country and track) ‘Of course my fondest memories are the friendships that were

further developed on the basketball team. So many of us played on other teams together that it seemed only natural to be together. The one thing that stands out to me was the growing support of parents and the following we had to our games over the three years. Our parents got so connected to one another and developed very important

friendships and relationships through watching their daughters play basketball. I always felt the strong presence of Mr. and Mrs. Cermola as the leader of the parents’ cheering group!” (Patty had a unique experience her senior year as she was part of three state championships- basketball, captain of cross Country and captain of Track and Field. Underclassman Lynn Carlson also shared that honor.)

Cathy Foto (senior, captain of field hockey, basketball and track):

“It’s hard to put into words the feelings I have about this state championship year — I know for those who know me it is hard to believe that I might not have words — but seriously, we were really in an idyllic situation from elementary through junior high school, through high school. Our physical education teachers were so invested in us; they were all educators first; they all approached how they taught us in a consistent way where success — doing our best — was the outcome.

They shaped us as persons and they impacted our career choices; they motivated us and encouraged our parents to be involved. As far as basketball, I remember so many things beginning with watching Donna and Laura when we were in junior high and wanting to be like them; we had female role models as players and coaches; the fun we had playing together, whether it was during the season, at summer camp, at Fern Park and Wolcott Park in town, or in the Pearl Street Summer League in Waterbury with Mr. Moffo coaching us. We had alot of great traditions on our team; we did the same things the same way every game. You really don’t think about history while you’re going through it, but the 1970s were really a special time and I am so grateful for the experience.” (Cathy Foto led the team in assists and also contributed

to two state championships in her senior year with her teammate Paula Clough in basketball and track).

Kathy Cermola: (senior; basketball, softball, track, captain — X-Country) “There are so many memories I have about Conard basketball. I remember practicing for hours everyday in my driveway to sharpen my shooting, playing at the parks and summer teams; loving every minute; playing with such intensity and loving the game!… running to improve my speed and endurance. Our teams were so successful that Coach Moffo would tell us if we were 25 points ahead at the beginning of the 4th quarter, we’d have to come to the bench….I thought that was a league rule…we played with the boy’s ball, not the smaller version now used for girls; there wasn’t a three point line….what fun we had at basketball camp in the Pocono’s! We really got close as a team….We all went to Herb’s Sports’ store in town to get the same sneakers…at Saturday morning practice we had McDonald juice boxes we used for drills…We had so many little traditions and made sure we did the same things at every game like sit in the same spots during our halftime talk…. we spent a lot of time together…..All the parents got along so well….it was wonderful to have their support at all our games. When we won the state championship, it was hard to believe that we had met our goal….I still have the shower curtain from the locker room somewhere in my attic….and my socks, etc….when we won the state championship game, my parents invited all the players and their parents to our house to celebrate…I couldn’t believe we won!!! …..It was worth all the

work.” (Notice in Kathy’s reflections, she never talks about her scoring or contributions to the game; she is so humble when it comes to this aspect of the game and finds it uncomfortable to talk about herself or

bring attention to herself. However, as part of this story, her accomplishments must go on record. She was selected to the All-State team each of her three years at Conard; as a sophomore Honorable Mention (LL); as a junior, second team (LL)All-State, and as a senior, first team (LL) All-State. Kathy finished her senior season with 418 point, 145 assists and 137 steals. Kathy scored her 1,000 point during the semifinals of the State Championship game on March 6, 1979. She held the record of highest career points from 1979, until it was broken in 2018; she ranks fourth in single season scoring average (17.5). She held the points in a season record (418) from 1979 until it was broken in 2020. [remember though that Conard was a three year high school until the 1979–80 school year, there was no three point line, and the starters were often pulled in the third quarter because of the large leads of the team]. In addition, Kathy was co-captain of the cross country team her senior year when they won the state championship, she placed third in the state meet and was named an All-American in cross ountry. Kathy was the first player from Conard to be recruited to the University of North Carolina. Missing the closeness of her family, and a knee injury in her sophomore year, she eventually finished her education and playing at the University of Connecticut (pre-Geno). Kathy was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in the category of player in 2006.

Reflections from Coach Pam Moffo:

“Though a big piece of our team graduated from the 1977–78 season, those who remained were as determined as ever to take our team to the next step. After successful seasons, we had been knocked out of the state tourney in the first round in each of the past three years,

This group decided they wanted to do more. In preparation for the season they all signed up to play basketball in a summer league in Waterbury. Nick (my husband) was their coach! It was a highly regarded league with vey talented teams competing. In addition, they all decided to attend a basketball summer camp together. The season began, and we welcomed new, young players to the team. And, as others had done before them, with the excellent leadership of our captains, our whole team embraced the new season with the same passion, joy and determination that we had come to know and respect. With every passing game, the kids got more and more comfortable with their roles and responsibilities and everyone’s confidence really grew. So many things to celebrate along the way. As serious and tough as they could be, they were also such a FUN group! And funny too! …

Our managers and other helpers over the years were incredible. Jennette Sanzo kept me and the whole team in excellent order. She knew every pregame detail, and made certain they happened, and she was so happy to help with everything! She was as much a key member of the team as anyone and we loved her. The staff who announced games, kept the scorebook, even the retired teacher who collected tickets at the door….they were all part of the family. I remember at season’s end that a few of them requested signed team pictures!… There was tremendous support from everywhere — parents, teachers, classmates, friends, relatives….so many people! Especially the last two years, people genuinely loved watching this group play! From the moment you walked into the gym, the atmosphere exuded ‘special!’… That’s what these kids brought; guests were excited to interact with the kids before and after the games as well…Norm Johnson, our wonderful, extremely supportive faculty manager (who handled the day

to day game and travel logistics of our teams), came down to the gym the morning after our last regular season game. He wanted to tell me that we had to break that ‘first round tourney game jinx.’ In fact, he went on to say that if we could do that, and make it all the way to the final game, that he would send us to that game in style…he would order the team a real coach bus…no school bus to the finals, he said. And he kept his word!! The girls couldn’t believe it!”

Coach Pam Moffo was a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic coach who knew how to maximize the talents of the young ladies who were part of the program. She instilled a balance of hard work, high expectations, teamwork and FUN! She was inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. She was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in three different categories: as a Coach in 2004, with her 1978–79 team in 2006, and in 2019 in the Legends Class.

THEN:

Chapter 5: IMPACT: THEN and NOW

Coach Pam Moffo was asked what were some central principles and practices she consistently used with her teams during the transformative decade of the 1970’s that provided the foundation for Conard girls’ basketball year-to-year:

Be proud to share and show a pure love of the game and your pride in your teammates, school and the whole experience of playing basketball at Conard.
• High expectations for how they prepared and handled themselves, not just at meetings, practices and during competition, but always… the way they wore their uniforms, the way they lined up for the National Anthem, everything was important to us. (Best of all, they felt great about it.)
• We had goals….NOT just to win games…how we did it was the key. Setting the tone early, executing the plans, and having everyone involved, whether on the floor, or the bench….everyone, all the time… and with class…this was incredibly important.
• Demonstrating gratitude, pride, respect, high energy, real passion, and even at moments that were difficult/disappointing, there was always joy.
• Everything they did made a difference….we all had a responsibility to “leave the program” in some way better/stronger than what it was. Passing on that love and appreciation was important.
• Helping everyone find their niche was key; to do things right, it would always take all of us.
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• We tried to keep things fresh, and yet continue to work on all parts of the game.

Clear and positive communication, dedicated leadership, endless effort and willingness to take risks/to set high goals, commitment to “pick each other up” and always to enjoy and appreciate what we had.
• Once a week a new “saying” or challenge would go up on the team room wall. (I think we actually always sat in the very same spots every time we were there!)…Players confirmed that!
Coach Moffo further shared that “over the years many people helped me… not just fantastic assistants, but other coaches too. Clinics, conferences, working at camps….fortunately I was able to take advantage of learning from outstanding mentors/veterans/experts and coaches I met. I was determined to never stop trying to learn more, because our kids deserved it.”
And finally, Coach Moffo remembers meeting a couple of the team parents years later and they said, “those kids, and those teams…they were our UCONN women, before the real ones ever got started! The fun, the talent, the work, the success, the crowds, all of it! And Coach Moffo thought to herself, “Wow!! I was lucky enough to be a part of it. Forever grateful.”
NOW:
There were many voices of the female student-athletes representing each of the years woven throughout the fabric of this story about the magical and transformational decade of the 1970s at Conard High
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School. A few more have been selected in this final section to capture the global and comprehensive impact of their experiences:

“Building relationships through shared experiences result in lifelong connections”…..Kris Rup, Class of 1975

“We were so honored to be the foundation for women’s sports for our school and town. It’s wonderful to see how sports for girls have expanded and grown over the years. Our experiences developed lifelong friendships. We learned problem solving, perseverance, teamwork and team building, respect and trust of others. We were excited to be able to continue to grow, compete, learn and promote others. We did all of this for the love of the game. It was always a team effort. We all loved sports and continue to play today. Sports shaped our lives. The skills we developed in sports are used in all facets of our lives today.” …… Lori Everett, Class 1973

“I remember how incredibly close we all became..spending time at each other’s houses, getting together on weekends. While many of us came from different backgrounds and schools, we were all united on the court, track and field, which continued as we grew and matured. We loved watching each other compete -always cheering each other on! Through sports, we gained important life skills such as teamwork, leadership and confidence. We were able to express ourselves openly with each other and our coaches. Excitement, enthusiasm, disappointments, concerns — there was a wonderful community that fostered openness and communication….those were such wonderful years, and I know for many it was the best part of high school. I am

privileged to have been a part of the teams where I was nurtured, taught and cared for in every way. As a team we learned the impact we had on each other to the end result. We learned the importance of integrity, determination and patience. I know for me it was the best time of high school. It was a time where I could be recognized and valued as an individual and part of the spirit that embodied a dynamic, caring group of young athletes. Those experiences and relationships shaped how I live today.” ……Maggi Concannon, Class of 1975

“Looking back on my career, I realize that basketball has been much more to me than just a sport. Basketball has changed my life and shaped me into the person I am today. It has taught me I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. I often wonder if I had the opportunity the girls have today, would I have been able to play in the WNBA? I often wonder why we are sometimes told to stop daydreaming as we get older. Daydreams keep us sane and remind us that it’s okay to look beyond the present to find ourselves. Sometimes daydreams give you hope when hope is a tall order. The game of basketball is about the pursuit of perfection and the fleeting moments when that perfection actually illuminates itself. Anyone who has ever really played the game understands that at some point in their formative years, they were hard-wired to sweat, hurt, and chase perfection, early, if ever, to catch it. Most will find regret and loss much more often than wins and celebrations. It was that 1978–79 team that achieved that perfection for Conard High School, winning their first state championship of which West Hartford was so proud! They won and then celebrated; it is something they will never forget as long as they live….A player is a player; we are not so different from one

another after all. Young girls today in grade school, high school, NCAA athletes, the elite basketball players in the WNBA, and USA basketball all past and present, all play one game. We play finally because WE CAN!!” …Laura Hungerford 1975.

“What else stays with me now…the ongoing need to support female athletes — I came to realize that sharing my love of basketball (and sport) with my children (sons and daughters)/family could be intentional — taking them to one of the first nationally televised women’s collegiate basketball games (Stanford vs. UConn at Gampel); attending games for the ABL and WNBA that was separate from supporting their individual athletic pursuits. And then combining their love of soccer by taking them to the opening ceremonies and games of the USA Women’s World Cup in 1999. It’s not meant to be a brag list, rather it illustrates how I used those opportunities to show up — to support women in their opportunities — with my children/family witnessing what happens when you do….tons of fun and fabulous family memories. I’m sure there are many more stories like mine….give a girl a chance to play, and its power of transformation can continue for decades.” …Nora McMahon, Class of 1975

Cathy D’Apice, Co-Captain of the 1978–79 undefeated (24–0) and State LL Championship Basketball team went on to be a standout volleyball player at the University of Hartford. She passed away in 1992. Cathy will live forever in our memories.

LAST WORD;

“We were young and fearless pioneers without seeing ourselves that way. We grew into seasoned professionals and our beliefs became deeper, our commitments became stronger, and our work galvanized the ‘we’ attitude. We were passionate in our work. We knew you never do anything alone. We believed in the power of teamwork. We all believed in equity and in our own individual and collective way, we were advocates for social justice and making the world a better place.”

Dr. Suzi D’Annolfo, author of this story

Submitted by Creative Director of the Basketball Bugle, Maureen Baron

Written by Basketball Bugle

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