Purpose: The Groton School Athletic Hall of Fame honors past student athletes, faculty, staff, and friends who have brought distinction through athletics to Groton School and themselves. Consideration will also be given to athletes who display a lasting commitment to the mission of Groton School.

Nominations: The committee welcomes nominations from the greater Groton School community. If you know a formmate or friend who was a standout athlete, either at Groton and/or after Prize Day, please email your nomination to amacbride@ekdantagro.com. Include the nominee's name, form year, and a brief explanation why the person should be considered for Groton's Athletic Hall of Fame. 

Inducted 2022

List of 10 items.

  • John Higginson ’56

    Arriving at Groton in 1950, John Higginson ’56 found a home at the boathouse, starting out as a coxswain and then, as his height increased, switching to rowing his Fifth Form year. He first stroked the B boat then advanced to stroke A boat his Sixth Form spring. Both crews were fast and undefeated, thanks to their teamwork and John’s expertise at setting a blistering cadence.

    After Groton, John rowed for the heavyweights at Harvard and was elected captain for the 1962 season. Rowing led John back to Harvard in the 1970s to coach the men’s lightweights for six years. He and his crews had such success that more than forty of his rowers bought Harvard a new shell and dedicated it to John, acknowledging his leadership, coaching expertise, and belief that individuals, working together as a crew, can make boats fly.  

    Among other professional pursuits, John started a boat-building business, painstakingly making shells and sculls. He never strayed far from the water, and he continued to row, stroking the Compote Rowing Association’s crew for twenty-five years. Races would take this crew—which included formmate Emory Clark sitting in the three-seat behind John once again—around the world, competing in approximately sixty races with only eight losses. 
  • Gussie Johns Bannard P’01, ’03

    Gussie Johns Bannard, coach from 1977 to 1989, was regarded as a mentor to many newly arrived girls. On the lacrosse field, she taught her players leadership, teamwork, and the importance of preparation—lessons that her student-athletes carried both on the field and long after Prize Day.

    As a new Groton coach to a fledgling program, she led her 1978 team to a 12–0 record; the team scored 109 goals and allowed only fifteen. 
    Gussie's superlative coaching resulted in numerous winning seasons and league recognition for many individual players. With her competitive spirit, unshakable faith that hard work pays off, and commitment to her players, both collectively and individually, Gussie made her mark on Groton athletics. 
  • Joan Ogilvy Holden

    Joan Ogilvy Holden arrived on the Circle in fall 1974, part of the inaugural team of women hired to move the school from all boys to coeducation. Girls arrived a year later, and Joan expertly and enthusiastically began coaching the girls varsity field hockey team. Over ten years at Groton, Joan's demanding and caring coaching style helped Groton’s field hockey program establish prominence in the Independent School League. In 1980, the team finished with an 8–2–2 season and secured the league championship. By the time she said goodbye to Groton in 1984, the varsity field hockey team had earned three league championships, and multiple players had made All-League. 
     
    Joan's coached her players into cohesive teams that were strong on both offense and defense. She demanded teamwork, reinforced the importance of skills and conditioning, and instilled a commitment to excellence on and off the field. 
  • 1969 Football Team

    The 1969 Football Team was one of the finest the school has ever produced. The team won all seven games and accumulated a remarkable set of statistics, all school records at the time: 247 points scored; 1,700 yards rushed; 1,310 yards passed; scores fifteen times on passes. The first-string defense allowed only two touchdowns against league opponents and held them to an average of fewer than 100 yards per game.

    The 1969 football team’s success was a genuine team effort, from the supportive coaching staff and fine management to the excellent team photographer. “They made every sacrifice necessary, gave true commitment, and most important of all worked both with their coaches and their teammates,” said Coach Congleton. “I have never seen such a divergent group of individualists who could play so well together.”
  • Bunny Forbes Hickey ’82

    Bunny Forbes Hickey was a tri-sport athlete at Groton in field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse, captaining all three sports in Sixth Form. Individually, Bunny was a force, but she also brought out the best in her teammates.

    The 1981 varsity field hockey team ended the season at 9–1–3 and won the league championship for the second year in a row. Bunny led the team in goals, scoring ten of the team’s twenty-three—including a dramatic tie-breaker with only three minutes. Groton was awarded a penalty stroke, and Bunny made the winning goal against Lawrence Academy! 

    In ice hockey, the 1982 varsity girls team stood out with a 13–1 record. At the time, the team was considered the best in the school’s history. And the girls 1982 lacrosse team achieved an 11–1–0 season. 

    While at UMass Amherst, Bunny was a star lacrosse player who, between 1983 and 1986, participated in two final-four NCAA Championships and was an All-Time Letterwinner with a career record of sixty-two goals, forty-one saves/assists, and 103 points. 
  • Michael Oh ’92

    Michael Oh was a top, two-sport racquet athlete at Groton, excelling in both squash and tennis. As a Third Former, he moved from JV to varsity to become #5 on the ladder, moving up to #1 as a Fifth Former and ultimately being elected captain for his Sixth Form year. In 1992, the boys squash team won the Jackson and Belmont Hill tournaments and defeated the JV squads of Harvard and Dartmouth. In regular season play, the team was undefeated, with a 13–0 record, while Michael held his #1 position with an 11–2 individual record. 
     
    Michael also played varsity tennis team all four years at Groton and was All-League for three; he was considered the best player in the league as a Fifth Former and received the Boston Globe All-Interscholastic Award. 
     
    The 1992 boys tennis team proved its success with a 14–1 season, led by Michael as co-captain. After Groton, Michael started on the Harvard squash team and played all four years. In his junior year, Michael earned the distinction of All-American.
  • 1994 Girls Crew, First and Second Boats

    The 1994 girls crew was the best since 1980, the first to win at Quinsigamond since 1984, and the first Groton girls to row (and win!) at the Henley Regatta. 

    The crew’s first race, against St. Mark’s, was a win for the first and second boats. The following weekend, the third and fourth boats also beat St. Mark’s, and the first boat won at the Founder’s Cup on Lake Waramaug. For the second year in a row, the four boats swept against Middlesex, adding Brooks to the wins.

    The year’s first boat rowed an undefeated regular season, and with the two boats seeded first, the team went to Quinsigamond, where the second boat had a .9-second victory over Nobles, winning the Robert C. Parker Trophy. 
     
    Because of the crews’ successful season, both boats went to the Henley Regatta in England, where the two boats combined into an eight and the first boat also rowed as a coxed four. This was the first time Groton girls had competed at Henley, and they won the Henley Women’s Regatta in both the 8 and 4, beating Bryanston School in the finals of the 4 and Haberdasher’s Monmouth School in the 8. 

    First Boat: Nancy Pile ’95, Jen Stager ’96, Abigail Cromwell ’95, Isabel Linse ’95, and Sahngmie Lah Graven ’94 (cox)
     
    Second Boat: Michelle Jewett ’95, Sarah Stillman Fitzgerald ’95, Bridget Sinnott Sharpe ’97, Liane Malcos Keister ’96, and Samantha Goldstein ’96 (cox)
  • Jane Bradley Allison ’02

    Jane Bradley Allison earned eleven varsity letters during her five years at Groton, playing soccer, lacrosse, and hockey. She took to the ice for the varsity team as a Second Former, and throughout her hockey career, was an aggressive forward and top scorer. For the 2002 season, Jane was co-captain, led the team in scoring with twenty-four goals, and was named an ISL All-League. In lacrosse, she was co-captain in 2002 and received an ISL Honorable Mention. She went on to receive the Charles S. Potter Award, given to a Sixth Former who, through her athletic endeavors, has modeled sportsmanship and leadership.

    After Groton, Jane continued on the ice at Hamilton College, scoring thirty goals, with thirty assists, in her 96-game career—including five game-winning goals. She captained Hamilton’s team in 2005–06 and was awarded the Michael S. White award for leadership and integrity. 
  • 2002 Girls Varsity Tennis

    With all six singles players returning, the 2002 girls varsity tennis team was positioned for success with talent, extensive experience, and ambition. The players practiced with joy and intensity and, in a year of exceptional strength and parity in the league, ran off eleven straight wins after a close, early loss to Thayer. Groton’s 12–1 record included victories over perennial powerhouses Milton and Nobles and led to the ISL Championship. 

    Caroline Connor was a focused and consistently effective competitor in both singles and doubles. Earning All-League were Caroline Bierbaum, who never lost a singles match in four years; Liz Campbell, a two-year co-captain; and Sara-Camp Arnold, another two-year co-captain, who finished her final season at the top of the ladder; and key contributor Caroline Hamilton ’03. Also essential to the team’s success were Alessandra Henderson ‘03 and Jessica Huang ‘06.
  • Michael J. Doherty ’12

    An elite two-sport athlete at Groton, Michael Doherty excelled in both hockey and lacrosse and went on to play professional hockey.

    At Groton, Mike played five seasons of hockey and four seasons of lacrosse. In hockey, he scored eighty-one goals and set what then was a school record of 161 points. He was a three-time All-Independent School League, ISL MVP during Fifth Form year, two-time team MVP, New England leader in points per game as a Fifth Former, 2010–11 Boston Globe All-Scholastic, and a leader behind the team’s two ISL Eberhart Championships.

    In lacrosse, Mike was the team MVP and All-ISL pick in Sixth Form. He was awarded the Reginald Finke Jr. Medal for his perseverance, courage, and unselfish sportsmanship. 

    After a year of junior hockey in the Eastern Junior Hockey League and four years at Yale, Mike signed with the Providence Bruins and subsequently played three seasons of professional hockey as a forward. His career included 159 games in the East Coast Hockey League, playing for the Manchester Monarchs and the Indy Fuel. 

Inducted 2020

List of 4 items.

  • Nicole W. Piasecki ’80

    Nicole, a three-sport athlete during her four years at Groton, earned eleven varsity letters in field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse. As a Sixth Former and captain of the field hockey team, Nicole was the leading high scorer and led the team to an impressive 8–2–2 record. That same year, as a point guard and co-captain of the girls varsity basketball team, she contributed to both the team's 14–1 regular season, its ISL title, and its postseason championship over previously undefeated Nobles. That spring, Nicole was a starter on the lacrosse team, which achieved a 9–2 record. Capping an impressive sports career at Groton, Nicole received the Cornelia Amory Frothingham Athletic Prize, given in recognition for her all-around athletic ability and exemplary qualities of leadership and sportsmanship. 

    After Groton, Nicole continued her athletic career at Yale, where she played for the Bulldogs in both field hockey and lacrosse.  A varsity player for all four college years in both sports, Nicole was named to the All-Ivy League in field hockey and, in 1982 and 1983, was named to the Ivy League First Team in lacrosse. In 1984, Nicole received the All-Time Nellie Pratt Elliot Award for her contributions to the lacrosse and field hockey teams, the Barbara Bowditch Award for the most-valuable player in women's lacrosse; and was named an All-American for lacrosse. Yale lacrosse teammates nicknamed Nicole "7 Goal Nicole," a result of her high scoring per game.
  • 1979 Football Team

    The 1979 football team played with the ferocity and focus of all great underdogs. Returning just three starters from a one-win season, they were told they’d be lucky to win a single game. Instead, they swept the league. They could win with finesse—after the St. Paul’s game, Coach Jake Congleton said it was the best first half he’d ever coached—and they could win ugly in slugfests against much bigger and deeper teams. Their offense rolled up 222 points, then the second most in Groton history, led by All-League Jim Conzelman’s 1,000-plus yards throwing. Anchored by All-League and All-State Daniel Salzman, their defense delivered in the clutch, including several game-winning goal line stands. They were ISL co-champs with Nobles, a team they’d beaten in a pre-season scrimmage. 

    One of many highlights is likely a Groton gridiron record: down to a talent-packed Governor Dummer squad after halftime, the 1979 team exploded for 22 points in less than a minute. Stunned, Governor Dummer, like everyone else, had underestimated what this team could do. 

    This was a real team in which everyone played a part, from Mark Streaker’s larger-than-life persona to the ever-enthusiastic managers. Other All-Leaguers were James Hicks, Tim Dilworth, Emmett O’Donnell, and Tony Ashby. But the true stars were Coaches Jon Choate, Charlie Alexander, and especially, Jake Congleton. Jake returned from sabbatical with no preconceptions, recognized the team’s commitment and passion, and shaped it into the team it believed it could be. 
  • 1980 Girls Varsity First Boat

    This crew began the spring 1980 season as the second boat, but that would not last long. With a winning streak and times faster than the then first boat, Coach Janet Youngholm was motivated to switch the two crews at mid-season, equipment and all. With just one slim loss, to Middlesex School, they wrapped up the season at the NEIRAs, dominating the heats and securing the winning trophy by eight seconds of open water in the finals. 

    Janet offered the then groundbreaking opportunity to race post-season at the National Women's Rowing Championships. After jostling summer commitments, the group trained on the muddy Nashua after Prize Day, then road-tripped to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. On the quick 1,000-meter course at Lake Melton, the crew won their heat by 2.3 seconds, earning them a spot in the finals as well as a nervous extra day of rest. From the very first stroke of the final race, Groton's crew left nothing on the table, distancing itself with every stroke from all but two crews. With an explosive sprint, Groton charged, and at the very end it was Groton and Seattle's Lakeside School swapping the lead, stroke for stroke. At the staggered finish, everyone was strangely unsure about the outcome, which was dramatically delayed as officials checked and rechecked the results. At last it was announced: silver for Groton, gold for Lakeside. Crew and coach were elated to medal just forty-six hundredths of a second behind the much larger winning crew.  

     

    This crew's efforts to be the best that they could be made the 1980 season magical—magic that has endured for forty years of dinners, letters, emails, a visit to the Circle in 1994 to christen a new shell donated by the team and aptly named Gold and Silver Champions, tales of sons and daughters growing and competing, and even a return to masters rowing. Their continuing hope is to reunite for a fast paddle on the Nashua. 

    Bow: Kate Blow McGloon ’81
    Two: Kathy Sardegna ’80
    Three: Hilary Callahan ’81
    Stroke: Alice Perera Lucey ’80
    Coxswain: Betsy Wray Lawrence ’82
    Coach: Janet Youngholm
  • Claudia A. Barcomb ’95

    Claudia was a three-season athlete during her four years at Groton, earning ten varsity letters in field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse. In her Sixth Form year, the field hockey team had its most successful season in Groton School's history and won the New England Championship. For her contributions in that game as well as in regular season play, Claudia was named an ISL All-League player. On the ice, Claudia was recognized by her teammates for her leadership skills and was elected captain for both her Fifth and Sixth Form years, as well as honored with All-League recognition both years. Her final season was particularly memorable, with a team record of 11–6–1, including tournament play. 

    Claudia went on to play ice hockey and lacrosse her freshman year at Boston College and, upon transfer to Harvard the following year, she joined the women’s hockey and lacrosse teams. Under her leadership as co-captain of the hockey team, Harvard had a phenomenal 33–1 season her senior year. Harvard’s 1999 hockey team went on to win the ECAC Women’s Division I and U.S. Nationals, claiming the school’s second-ever U.S. National (AWCHA) Championship.

    Claudia's passion for sports has led her back to her roots. At the collegiate level, Claudia was  assistant head coach of the Crimson's ice hockey team and head coach of women's hockey at Union College. At the secondary school level, Claudia was assistant director of athletics at Middlesex School, coaching all three seasons; associate director of athletics, two-sport coach, and history teacher at Kimball Union Academy; and serves as director of afternoon programs and athletics at The Governor’s ​Academy, where she coaches girls ice hockey. 

Inducted 2019

List of 4 items.

  • 1950 Football Team

    Until 1950, only seven Groton football teams had played undefeated seasons. The 1950 team, with its T-formation and extraordinary record, easily became the eighth. On the gridiron, the team rolled up 225 points in a seven-game schedule, averaging thirty-two points per game and never scoring fewer than four touchdowns.

    In his Quarterly write up from fall 1954, Coach Larry Noble wrote, “Frank White, Ray Walker, and Bill Chauncey were all fast, triple-threat backs, and quarterback John Rhinelander was not only a deft ball handler and accurate passer, but a real student of football strategy and a cool thinker under fire. Their best weapon was the wide pitchout to White or Walker, with the option to run or pass. This was effective on both sides as White was a left-hander. Bill Chauncey’s off- tackle slants and thrusts through the middle were devastating. Gordon Gray was a great end, and Al McLean one of the three best centers of my time.”
  • 1978 Boys Varsity Soccer

    In 1978, boys varsity soccer had an outstanding season. Only the second team since 1958 to have a perfect Gummere Cup league record (10–0), it was also the first Gummere Cup champion to participate in post-season, losing in the semi-finals 1–0 to Williston-Northampton, the eventual winner of the WNESC Tournament.

    The team defeated key rivals—Middlesex, Belmont Hill, Brooks, Noble & Greenough, Milton, and St. Mark’s—by a 19–4 margin, including a 6–1 drubbing of St. Mark’s, and set a new Groton team scoring record (forty-one goals in thirteen games). The steady development of the defense (two goals allowed in the last five games and fourteen altogether) played as important a role in the overall success of the team as did the outstanding offense. Nine core players were able to build on the success of the prior year’s team, which ended its season in second place due to an overtime loss to Belmont Hill, making the two-year league record 18–2. Six players from the fall 1978 team were awarded All-League honors, including Stephen Higginson ’79, Jonathan Rich ’79, and David Wilmerding ’79 on the First Team, and Mike Curtis ’80, Tom Hoopes ’79, and John Steinert ’79 on the Second Team.

    Much of the credit for this team’s success goes to Hall of Fame Coach Mark Blood ’50, a star athlete in his own right. He brought his unique, analytical, and highly motivating teacher-coach style to the field, which his players say made all the difference.
  • 1994 Girls Varsity Squash

    It was an unforgettable, undefeated 12–0 season for the 1994 Groton girls varsity squash team, which placed second out of twenty-five teams in the NE Interscholastics. Thanks to the exceptional coaching of John Tulp, there was great depth in the team that season, led by Leah Ramella ’95 at #1 (who lost only one game all season) and Sarah McGowan ’95 at #2. Both of them placed second in their respective spots in the NEI. Undefeated Co-captain Elizabeth Brantley Turner Bradley ’94 also placed second in the NEI, in the #3 position, while Co-Captain Mary Helen Trent Kelt ’94 was New England champion for the #4 spot. Rounding out the team were Viveca Gruen ’95, Robin Schmidek Lippert ’96, and Mihee Kim ’94.
  • Aaron Cooper ’94

    Aaron Cooper ’94 earned nine varsity letters during his Groton days, including four in cross country, three in baseball, and two in cross-country skiing. As a runner, he was a member of the New England champion team in 1990 and was recognized on the All-ISL and All-New England teams in 1992 and 1993. He capped off his Groton running career by winning the New England Championship in 1993 as a Sixth Former. He was voted co-captain by his teammates in both 1992 and 1993.

    After Groton, Aaron went on to run at Haverford College, where as a senior he captained the cross country, indoor, and outdoor track teams, which were undefeated in conference championship meets during his entire college career. He was also a three-time All-American in cross country and track and received Haverford’s Alumni-Varsity Club Award for his contributions to athletics.

    After graduation, Aaron went into education as a middle school teacher and coach and then as an administrator; he currently is head of school at New Canaan Country School in Connecticut.

Inducted 2018

List of 7 items.

  • William M. Polk '58

    HEADMASTER 1978–2003

    Bill Polk epitomized the notion of a well-rounded athlete: as a Groton student, he played varsity football, hockey, and baseball, then went on to play all three sports at Trinity College.

    At Groton, he was captain of the football team and goalie on the undefeated 1957 hockey team, which scored fifty-one goals and held opponents to nine goals and four shut-outs. Bill received the Reginald Fincke Jr. Medal and earned eight varsity letters; he would have received three more had there been letters in hockey.

    At Trinity College, Bill played on the freshman football and baseball teams, then played on both varsity teams for three years. A founding member of Trinity’s hockey program, he was the team’s goalie for four years. As a senior, he received Trinity’s McCook Trophy for athletic achievement.

    As headmaster, Bill would occasionally assist with coaching the football and baseball teams and was supportive of all athletic teams. His afternoon runs took him past nearly every practice, and in conversation it was clear that he knew what was happening with players and teams at all levels of every sport.
  • Jonathan Choate '60

    COACH 1964–2016

    A legendary athlete and coach, Choatie played varsity football, hockey, and baseball for three years at Groton and was captain of the hockey team. His hockey career began when, as a six-foot Second Former, he was cut from the basketball team and friends urged him to come across the street to skate. He continued hockey at Colby College, playing freshman hockey then spending three years on the varsity team. He was a stalwart member of Colby’s 1962 team, one of the best in the college’s history.

    In 1964, Choatie began his legendary coaching career as Groton, spending three years as the JV hockey coach. After a year coaching Bowdoin College’s freshman team, he returned to Groton and went on to spend twelve years as head coach for boys varsity hockey and another twenty-three years as assistant coach. He then coached girls varsity hockey for five years, guiding an undefeated team in 1983. In addition, Choatie was an invaluable assistant coach of the varsity football team for twenty-four years. In 1993, the Massachusetts Football Association honored him with the Assistant Coach of the Year Award.

    A gifted teacher, Choatie approached coaching as an opportunity to help students develop their skills, self-confidence, and enduring values—while experiencing the joy of the athletic experience.
  • William F. Maguire

    COACH 1985–2017

    Bill “Fire” Maguire was a teacher and cross-country running coach for over thirty years at Groton. From 2008 to 2017, he also created, led, and grew the spring track program. During his time as cross-country coach, he achieved a remarkable record of 256 wins with only sixty-three losses. His teams won the ISL championships twice and the New England championship thirteen times. His was a constant presence in the woods of the Triangle and the surrounding trails.

    Like all great coaches, Fire achieved success in part by teaching students the value of perseverance and training. Perhaps more importantly, however, he created a supportive culture that naturally led to wins. His teams developed a camaraderie that enabled a group of students in the most individualistic of sports to come together and achieve success. Whether on distance runs along the Nashua River or during intense interval workouts around the Circle, his teams managed both to have fun and work hard at the same time.

    Ultimately, through humor, sarcasm, and a genuine, easy friendship with students that would span decades, he fostered a passion and reverence for the sport. As described by a fellow coach, “Fire coached as a good teacher teaches, through relationships and humor and delight and faith that the seemingly absurd act of running through the wood has intrinsic merit—which, of course, it does.”
  • Donald A.E. Beer '53 | Charles L. Grimes '53

    Donald Beer and Charlie Grimes both learned to row at Groton, then went to Yale and became the “engine room” (fourth and fifth seat, respectively) of Yale’s 1956 varsity eight, which won gold for the United States at the Melbourne Olympic Games.

    The Yale 1956 crew was notable for several reasons. No other U.S. eight had ever lost an Olympic race before: they came in behind Australia and Canada in a preliminary heat, shocking rowing enthusiasts. But Yale took revenge in the second-chance race known as the repechage and earned a spot in the four-boat finals. In the race that would determine medals, Yale rowed at an unusually fast thirty-six beats per minute and won the gold medal—the only boat ever to win gold by going through the repechage. Yale’s 1956 crew also was the last college crew to win an Olympic gold medal.

    With picture-perfect form, Don was the consummate oarsman—a quiet, reliable, and steadying influence in three Yale varsity crews. Charlie was a force of nature both physically and intellectually, and his athletic ambitions extended beyond crew. Much to the consternation of Yale crew coach Jim Rathschmidt, Charlie played football in the fall and basketball in the winter. Coach Rathschmidt was reluctant to put Grimes in the varsity boat, but every boat he was in seemed to win, so the coach had no choice.

    Both athletes passed away after battles with cancer, Don in 1997 from brain cancer and Charlie in 2007 from pancreatic cancer. Charlie’s gold medal now hangs in Groton’s boathouse and his oar in the Athletic Center lobby, inspiring generations of Groton’s rowers.
  • Alexander E. Karwoski '08

    Alex’s Olympic rowing career started at Groton in the spring of 2005; he credits his coaches, teachers, advisors, friends, and family for his success.

    After Groton, he rowed for Trinity College during his freshman year, then transferred to Cornell University, where he rowed in the varsity boat as a junior and senior. After graduation in 2012, Alex made his first national team and competed at the U-23 World Championships, finishing fourth in the men’s straight four.

    After working and coaching at Kent School in 2012–13, Alex began to train with the U.S. Rowing Training Center and competed at the 2013, 2014, and 2015 World Championships in the men’s pair, double, and eight respectively. In 2016, he was selected to the men’s eight and competed in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, finishing fourth.

    Post-Olympics, Alex was an assistant coach at Cornell in 2016–17, then was selected to row in the men’s eight at the 2017 World Championships, where the boat finished second.

    Despite his success on the water, Alex was a talented and well-rounded athlete at Groton, earning nine varsity letters—four in cross country, three in crew, and two in basketball. He captained both the cross country and basketball teams in his Sixth Form year and led the cross country team to a New England Championship.
  • Andre F. Parris '93

    Andre Parris earned nine varsity letters in three sports at Groton, but left an indelible mark on the soccer field. As a midfielder and forward on one of the school’s most successful boys soccer teams, he led a memorable campaign that took the team all the way to the Independent School League tournament. In that magical year, Andre scored the winning goal against a powerhouse Belmont Hill squad that was both undefeated and in the process of winning five league championships in a row. As a result of that being a weekday make-up game, the entire school was on hand to watch. Andre won numerous All-League honors, was named Boston Globe Player of the Year, was a member of the United States Under-18 National Team, and was a Parade All-American before attending Princeton University.

    At Princeton, Andre continued to leave his mark on the pitch. In his freshman year, he led the Princeton Tigers to their first playoff win since 1979 and ultimately to their first-ever Final Four, while collecting numerous awards and accolades along the way. The NCAA Rookie of the Year in 1993, Andre still holds Princeton’s record for assists in a season (12), the all-time Princeton career assist record (27), and the NCAA post-season assist record (6). He was also a member of the United States Under-20 National Team.
  • Katherine Oates Sweeney '93

    Kate was a three-sport athlete during her five years at Groton, earning ten varsity letters in field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse. As a Sixth Former, she co-captained both the field hockey and ice hockey teams, and went on to receive the Cornelia Amory Frothingham Athletic Prize, given to a Sixth Form girl who demonstrates all-round athletic ability and exemplary qualities of leadership and sportsmanship. Kate also received All-League honors in field hockey and an honorable mention in ice hockey while at Groton.

    After Groton, Kate played varsity ice hockey for three years at Middlebury College, where she earned the school’s Panther Award in 1997. Her Middlebury teams earned back-to-back Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championships in 1996 and 1997.

    Kate went on to earn a master’s degree in early childhood elementary education from New York University; she teaches and continues to coach, now working with grade schoolers, including her daughters, Macy and Walker. Kate also heads the youth lacrosse program in her hometown of Dedham, Massachusetts.

Inducted 2017

List of 5 items.

  • Paul Gerard Stewart '72

    Paul Gerard Stewart arrived at Groton School in the fall of 1967 as a Second Former. Paul, a young teen from Dorchester and Jamaica Plain, was often in tow when his father’s English High School teams played against Groton. Once a student, he loved everything about the school; the people, traditions, and athletics. To Paul, sports were not just an after-school activity. Rather, sports were an integral part of life, one that was shaped and guided by many amazing coaches, peers, and teachers.
     
    Paul, an avid athlete involved with many sports, was most devoted to and passionate for his time on the ice. He played JV his first year at Groton, followed by four years at the varsity level. He served as assistant captain his Sixth Form year. Post Groton, Paul played Division 1 college hockey at the University of Pennsylvania, and was a player on both the World Hockey Association Cincinnati Stinger and NHL Quebec Nordiques professional teams. In 1994, Paul found a new career as a NHL referee. During his career, Paul refereed 1,010 regular season NHL games and 49 Stanley Cup games. He also refereed two Canada Cup Finals, including Game Two with the Soviet Union versus Canada, played in Ontario in September of 1987. Many would argue that this was indeed the "greatest game" ever played.
     
    This Hall of Fame honor would not be possible without the support of many teammates, mentors, and coaches, including 1972 formmates Larkin, Key, Peacock, Ellis, Gruner, Sedgewick, Borgeson (the Slide Action Hockey Champion), Groton / Princeton's Hockey Manager, Larney Fowler. For their guidance, coaching, and patience, Messrs. Crocker, Wickens, Rogerson, O'Brien, Congleton, Choate, Irons, Wright, Grew, White, Alexander, Cooke, and Blood. In addition, as a young second former, Paul was mentored by '68 Sixth Formers Gannett, Gadsden, Mercer, and Huff. He was immeasurably helped in so many ways by teachers and their spouses, including Messrs. Nichols, Mansur, Gammons, Sackett and the Mesdames Wright, O'Brien, Rogerson, Alexander, Blood, Choate, and Cooke.
     
    Cui Servire Est Regnare is both a motto and a mission, one that Paul Stewart strives to live by.
  • 1957 Varsity Hockey Team

    It was a winter like no other; a hockey season unblemished by loss. The 1957 Varsity Hockey Team ended the season with a 10-0 record, outscoring opponents 53-9. The squad was led by many respected and talented players: the official leader, Kenny MacLean ’57, was key to influencing the positive and effervescent team spirit and attitude. Coach O’Brien showed everyone that the only way to achieve this level of success was to act as a team, not as individuals. Each player contributed, while never losing sight of their love and enjoyment of hockey.
     
    Standing: John J. Trask Jr. ’58, Frank R. Hill ’57, George B. Cabot ’57, David B. Bingham ’58, Edward H. Robbins ’58, Frederick T. Busk ’58, John M. Weekes ’59, Charles P. Williamson, Jr. ’59, William A. Oates, Jr. ’61, Mr. O’Brien (coach)
    Kneeling: William M. Polk ’58, C. Stewart Forbes ’57, Gordon Gund ’57, Kenneth MacLean Jr. ’57 (captain), Hugh C. Scott ’57, Wilford H. Welch ’57, William G. Brooks ’59
  • Caroline Bierbaum LeFrak ’02

    Caroline ran on the Varsity Girls Cross Country team for four years and was a four-time ISL and NEPSAC Divison 3 Champion. She holds course records on every course she ran, including Groton, Lawrence Academy, St. George’s, and Middlesex.
    A decorated athlete at Columbia University in New York City, Caroline was a five-time All-American in cross country and track and field. She was the 2005 recipient of the Honda Award, which is given to the nation’s most outstanding athlete in women’s cross country, as selected by national balloting from 1,000 NCAA member schools. She has track bests of 32:44 for a 10k and 15:52 for a 5k.
    Caroline graduated from Columbia in 2006, with a degree in history, and was selected as an NCAA postgraduate scholarship recipient. Professionally sponsored by Nike from 2006 to 2008, Caroline now runs competitively for the New York Athletic Club. In 2012, she ran in the Olympic Trials Marathon and finished in a personal best of 2:38:14.
  • 2002 Varsity Boys Tennis

    Tennis is the most unlikely of team sports. It is a game defined by individual performances. It is you versus the opponent. The 2002 Groton Boys Varsity Team will forever be defined as a group of individuals, led by legendary coach Señor John Conner, who came together to achieve the perfect season: an undefeated 15-0 ISL season capped off by the first and only New England Division “A” Championship in the school’s history.
     
    The 2002 Sixth Formers had all been a part of a stellar 2001 team, which had defeated archrival Milton to win the ISL crown, but fell short in the New England Championship to a strong Phillips Exeter squad. After losing four starters from the previous year, the team entered the 2002 season with uncertain expectations. Ultimately, the squad’s story was headlined by the rise of the underformers, who became stronger and more confident as the season progressed. The season began with a few close matches, and then the team hit its stride with a dominating win over Milton on its way to a perfect ISL season. In the New England Championship, the team finally overcame Exeter in an extremely hard-fought battle in the semis, and then persevered to come from behind against Milton in the finals to capture the title.  
     
    Team members J. Grenier ’04 (All-League), T. Bunzel ’04, C. Hall ’04, A. Usmani ’04, S. Landesberg ’03, R. Ramkhelawan ’02, J. Higgins ’02, S. Dhaka ’02 (captain, All-League), and Z. Pasanen ’02 (captain, All-League & Boston Globe MVP) would have not reached this achievement without the leadership of prior teams and players, including W. Thompson, B. Lawrence, K. Bhupal, A. Sutherland, M. Baudler, D. Helwing, J. de Grazia, and many others. These players and teams shared a common thread in that Señor Conner coached them all. He will forever be remembered as a masterful teacher who inspired his players to be their best, on and off the court, and led the Boys Tennis program into the record books. With his memorable motivational speeches, training sessions, road trips, and Wendy’s runs, the 2002 Boys Tennis Team thanks Señor for his years of service. Ole!
  • Seymour L. Cromwell II ’52

    While at Groton, Seymour “Sy” Cromwell played football, managed the baseball team, and participated in track. It was at Princeton where he started his rowing career, one that spanned decades and was ultimately fulfilling as well as successful. After graduating in l956, Sy spent two years in the Air Force, then took a degree in Naval Architecture at MIT. He began to scull on the Charles River in l959, quickly becoming one of the top U.S. scullers. He won many national sculling championships beginning in l960, ventured to Canada to win the Royal Canadian Henley singles championships two years running, and then traveled abroad to compete in the European and World Championships. In winning the Henley Royal Regatta Diamond Sculls, he was the first sculler to complete the course in under 8 minutes, setting a new record for the 120-year old event. He worked as a naval architect at Babcock & Gibbs in New York, before sailing on Ted Hood’s Nefertiti in the America’s Cup Trials in l962. Later he would teach at Iolani School in Honolulu, Collegiate School in NYC, and the at Groton School from 1973 through 1976. At the time of his death from pancreatic cancer in 1977, Sy was completing a degree at Harvard University in Environmental Engineering.
     
    Sy’s most memorable accomplishments on the water include:
     
    l966 World Championships, Silver Medal, Double Sculls
    1964 Olympics, Silver Medal, Double Sculls, Tokyo
    l964 Henley Royal Regatta, Diamond Sculls Singles Champion
    1963 Pan American Games, Gold Medal, Single Sculls
    1963 European Championships, Silver Medal, Single Sculls
    l962 World Championships, Bronze medal, Single Sculls
    1961 European Championships, Bronze medal, Single Sculls
    1960 and 1961 Royal Canadian Henley Gold Medal, Single Sculls
    1960-1966 Numerous National Championships in Single and Double Sculls
    Sy was inducted in US Rowing Hall of Fame in 1976.

Inducted 2016

List of 5 items.

  • Hope Nichols Prockop ’86

    Hope arrived at Groton as a third former in the fall of 1982. She was already a tennis player and credits her math teacher, David Bannard, with introducing her to squash. Hope played varsity squash and tennis at Groton for four years, held the number one spot on the ladder for two years of squash and three years of tennis and achieved a junior squash ranking of number five in the nation. At graduation, she was awarded the Cornelia A. Frothingham Athletic Award.

    Hope's squash career has now spanned 34 years, and in that time she has distinguished herself as a junior, collegiate, adult, and masters champion. After Groton, Hope attended Harvard, where she co-captained a National and Ivy League Championship team and was named All-Ivy and Second Team All- American. After Harvard, she reached a world ranking of number 92 and represented the USA as a member of the National Team on three occasions, in 2006, 2008, and 2010, most notably earning gold medals in both team and doubles events at the 2006 Pan-American Squash Championships in Colombia. In 2015, Hope became the first American woman to win a British Open Masters title when she captured the 45+ championship. In 2016, Hope added to her US Masters National Championship collection by winning both the 40+ and the 45+ titles for the second year in a row. She now has eight Masters National titles and appears far from finished.

    In addition to her own competitive career, Hope continues to coach and inspire squash players of all levels. She has also been an active volunteer for urban squash programs for fifteen years, in addition to serving on a leadership committee for US Squash and chairing the Friends of Harvard Squash for over a decade. In 2015, her achievements and impact on the sport led to Hope being named by US Squash as one of the “Top 50 Most Influential People in the Game.”
  • Emory Clark ’56

    Emory Clark discovered his passion for rowing in a heavy old “tub” on the Nashua River during his Second Form year. He loved running through the woods to the boathouse every afternoon and “messing around in boats.” During his Fifth and Sixth Form years he rowed in two almost-undefeated A Boats.

    He then went on to Yale where he won every race for two straight years, with Groton formmate Sam Lambert. Captain of the crew his senior year, Emory was not so fortunate, losing in 1960 to a Harvard boat in which another Groton formmate, John Higginson was in the two seat.

    Unwilling to settle for that final defeat, and after a three-year tour in the Marine Corps, Emory joined Philadelphia’s Vesper Boat Club in 1964. There, rowing in the five seat in an eight, his boat won the Olympic trials, beating a favored Harvard eight and going to Japan for the 1964 Olympic Games. In Tokyo, after losing in the first heat by 28 hundredths of a second to the undefeated Ratzeburg crew from Germany, Emory’s boat came from behind to beat the Germans in the final for the gold medal.

    Following the Olympics, Emory joined up again with John Higginson and, with two other vintage oarsmen, raced in veterans’ regattas around the world for 25 years, winning more than their share of races. With considerable regret, Emory retired from competitive rowing in 2015.

    At its 60th reunion in 2016, that ’56 Groton A Boat once again ventured out on the Nashua with Higginson stroking, Clark at three, Sam Lambert at two, and Jim White in the bow. This time they did, in fact, go undefeated.
  • 1985 Football Team

    Urgency defined this team of 14 Sixth Formers and 28 underformers as they returned from a 6-1 season. Determined not to let another undefeated season slip away, the team came ready to play each game as if it were their last. Fall soon echoed with frenzied cries of “Are You Ready?” Followed by the rejoinder of “We Are Ready.” Jake Congleton’s squad ended the year in first place and undefeated. In seven games they outscored their opponents 147-25, and it took six games for the first team defense to be scored upon. Tom Gardner (captain), Dave Archer (captain), and Gat Caperton were nominated to First Team All-League, Sean Dooley, Charlie Forbes, Brendan O’Malley, and Mike Pak to Second Team All-League, and Honorable Mention given to Matt Brock, Huao Hwang, John Jacobsson, and Chip McDonald. The squad was led by a tight-knit group of Fifth and Sixth Formers who 30 years later, as they are inducted, still believe in each other and are still “Ready.” The 1985 Football Team is greatly appreciative of Jake, Choatie, Mr. Alexander, and their entire coaching staff.

    Bodhi Amos ’88, Co-Captain Dave Archer ’86, Archer Bishop ’88, Matt Brock ’86, Barry Browning ’87, Will Campbell ’88, Gat Caperton ’86, Erik Caspersen ’88, David Choate ’88, Tim Choate ’88, Vaughn Cordes ’86, Sean Delaney ’86, Sean Dooley ’87, Kirkman Finlay ’88, Charlie Forbes ’86, , Jerine Gadsen ’88, Co-Captain Tom Gardner ’86, Paul Geary ’88, Daniel Go ’88, Chris Goring ’87, Hua Hwang ’86, Patrick Jackson ’87, John Jacobsson ’86, Josh Karch ’87, Michael Kearney ’88, Kevin Kiley ’88, Tony Kugler ’88, Aarre Laakso ’87, , Gen Matsui ’88, Chip McDonald ’86, Angus McFadden ’87, Padma Mott ’86, Brendan O’Malley ’86, Mike Pak ’86, Ted Polubinski ’88, Eric Taylor ’88, Steve Theobald ’88, Edgar Torres ’87, David Tosatti ’86, Nick Van Buskirk ’86, Tim Walker ’88, Josh Webber ’87, Tom Wright ’87, Coach Jon Choate ’60, Assistant Coach Daniel Salzman ’80, Head Coach Jake Congleton, Coach Charles Alexander, Coach Brian Ford

    OpponentFinal Score
    St. Paul's19-6 Win
    St. George's34-0 Win
    Middlesex26-7 Win
    Belmont Hill15-0 Win
    Governor Dummer32-6 Win
    Milton15-0 Win
    St. Mark's31-6 Win
  • 2005 Cross Country Team

    On the heels of an undefeated regular season the previous fall, the 2005 Boys Cross Country team entered the year motivated to reach even greater heights. With a strong returning core, the 2005 squad managed to complete one of the most successful seasons in the program’s impressive history. Its 19-1 record was punctuated by a thrilling victory at the ISL Championships, which avenged a regular season loss to St. Paul’s and earned Groton its first ever league title. A first place finish at the New England Division III Championships, the program’s sixth in a row, capped off the amazing year. Led by Sixth Form captains Sam Allen and Chris Graham, the 2005 squad featured four All-ISL honorees, Chris Graham, Alex Karwoski, Nick Karwoski, Rees Sweeney-Taylor, and five All-New England winners, Django Broer-Hellermann, Chris Graham, Alex Karwoski, Nick Karwoski, Rees Sweeney-Taylor. In addition, Nick Karwoski set a new school record on the home course, completing the five kilometers in 16:30. This outstanding season was a testament to the runners’ camaraderie and drive, and to the excellent coaching of Bill Maguire and Nishad Das.

    Arjun Aggarwal ’09, Capt. Sam Allen ’06, Austin Anton ’10, Ben Bayley ’07, Russell Bennum ’06, Django Broer-Hellermann ’08, Jack Carter ’09, Andrew Dabrowski ’06, Max Davison ’06, Adrien Duroc-Danner ’09, Alex Fieldcamp ’08, Capt. Chris Graham ’06, Alex Karwoski ’08, Nick Karwoski ’06, Vinnie Lu ’06, Ian MacLellan ’08, Tom Mott ’06, Alex Perkins ’06, Chris Pitsiokis ’08, Gardner Smith ’08, Rees Sweeney-Taylor ’06, Stephen Thomasch ’06, Eric Valchuis ’08, Davis Vigneault ’07, Head Coach Bill Maguire, Assistant Coach Nishad Das
  • Frank White ’51

    Frank White, Senior Prefect of the Form of 1951, was a three sport athlete, playing a significant role on the varsity football, basketball, and baseball teams in his upper school years at Groton. Frank was the Captain of the 1950 undefeated football team, which set three school records at the time. The team scored more points, 225, than any previous team playing a seven game schedule, scoring four or more touchdowns in each game and averaging 32 points per game. Frank’s strong leadership was ever-present in the team’s success. A triple threat on offense, and a stalwart on defense, he played nearly every minute of every game. He was a highly disciplined and dedicated player with an extraordinary work ethic that made him a phenomenal athlete. Frank overcame many injuries and setbacks in school and college, yet his performance under pressure was remarkable. His wingback reverse pass, the first pass he ever threw in college, won the Harvard-Yale game of 1954 in the closing minutes.

    Frank joined the faculty at Groton in 1963, where he taught until 1972 in the English Department. He was an assistant football coach under Jake Congleton, and head coach for one year, while Jake was on sabbatical. He played a part in producing three league championship football teams and was beloved by the players.

    In 1967, he became the founding director of the school’s sponsored Groton Lowell Upward Bound Project, a national-government sponsored program that helped low income youth attain and succeed in college. Frank’s life was dedicated to those who were less fortunate. He was direct, kind, and brought out the best in people and he was always thinking of how to make life better for others. Frank spent his life in education, where he touched and changed the lives of his students and of others.

    Written by William E. Chauncey ’51

Inducted 2015

List of 6 items.

  • 1994 Field Hockey Team

    The 1994 varsity field hockey team had its most successful season in Groton School history, with a regular season record of 13 – 1 – 1. Their last regular season game was a hard fought victory over St. Mark’s, whom Groton had not beaten in eight years. After the regular season, Groton was tied for first place in the ISL with St. Paul’s and was the top seeded team in the small-school division at the NEPSAC tournament at Hotchkiss. They went on to win, beating Berkshire, St. George’s and Holderness. The closest game was against St. Georges, the number four seed, in the semifinal game, when in the fourth minute of double-sudden-death overtime, Claudia Asano pushed in the winning goal.

    The weekend at the New England’s was a memorable one for the team, and an incredible way to end an incredible season. The 1994 Field Hockey team was characterized by extraordinary skill and amazing team dynamics. All-League players were Gayley Blaine, Claudia Asano, Barkley Kinkead, and Margaret Metz; Meredith Gordon received honorable mention. Margaret Metz was elected the most valuable player of the lSL.

    Team: Sarah Fitzgerald '95, Hillary J. Roselund '95, Gayley Blaine '95, Meredith Gordon Naftalis '95 (captain), Margaret Metz '95 (captain), Jane Blair Oberle '95, Barkley Kinkead Walter '95, Claudia Asano Barcomb '95, Chandler Bass Evans '96, Robyn Schmidek Lippert '96, Nancy W. Dickson '96, Jennifer D. Field '97, Harmony S. Spongberg '97, Emily Oates Torres '97, Carol Jin Yoon '96, Elisabeth Motley (manager), and Coach Kathy Leggat. 
  • 1994 Football Team

    Considered one of the most talented teams to pass through the Circle gates, Groton’s 1994 football team featured an explosive offense, a stifling defense, and ended the season with a 7-1-0 record. While it averaged one of the largest margins of victory over its opponents of any Groton team, it is most proud of the defense, which held the opposition to one of the lowest points against averages in the history of the School. 
     
    Over the playing careers of the Sixth Formers, the team was named ISL co-champions and never lost a game to St. Mark’s School. The 1994 team, led by captains Tim Bass, Andrew Caspersen, Topher Watts, and Spiritual Leader Freddy Erazo, featured 11 All-League members (Tim Bass, Andrew Caspersen, Topher Watts, Mike Gingras, Henry Nuzum, Darren Van Blois, Zach Wheeler, Wilton Yeh, Pijo Akuete, John Mayhall, and Justin Miller). Tim and Andrew received First Team All-League recognition two years in a row, and Andrew was named MVP of the Independent School League, the highest honor ever bestowed upon a Groton football player. The 1994 football team’s success capped the Hall of Fame coaching career of Jake Congleton, one of the winningest coaches in Groton School history.

    Team: David J. Cusack ’95, Henry G. Nuzum ’95, Darren J. Van Blois ’95, Zachariah L. Wheeler ’95, Christopher P. Watts ’95 (captain), Timothy R. Bass ’95 (captain), Andrew W.W. Caspersen ’95 (captain), Wilton K. Yeh ’95, Michael A. Gingras ’95, Freddy A. Erazo ’95, Rehman Ali Khan ’95, Nicholas E. Tuff ’95, Jedon Vaskov ’95, Jaime B. Alencastro ’95, Daryl R. Peagler ’95, Jeffrey O. Polubinski ’98, Justin R. Miller ’96, John R. Mayhall ’96, Matthew K. Asano ’97, Dixon Merkt ’96, Nii-Ama Akuete ’96, Edward T. Stephenson ’97, Joshua F. Shorr ’97, Lawrence T. Perera, Jr. ’96, Benjamin E. Jallow ’97, Kenneth W. Baughman ’97, Stephen W. McNamee ’96, Peter O. Nkongho ’96, Owen I. Breck ’96, Anthony V. Ducret ’96, Robert Benn Calhoun III ’95, Roman Martinez V ’97,  Dominique J. Pouhe  ’96 , Guillermo Barnetche  ’97, Robert Allan Davis Pike  ’97, Byron Yueh-Yee Chen  ’97, Alexander Yaohsien Du  ’97, Sayed A. Tagoe  ’97, Brooks Brent Finnegan  ’97, Peter R. Lehrman  ’97, Ian William Hopper  ’97, Matthew A. Zsofka  ’97, Kwei Akuete ’97, Coach William M. Polk ’58, Coach Jake Congleton, Jr., Coach David H. Black ’80, Coach Charlie C. Alexander, Maura Jakola Gerhart ’95, Linda S. Pacylowski Carmody ’95.
  • Charles C. Alexander—Coach 1960–2008

    The son of a schoolteacher and coach, Charles Alexander left an indelible mark on generations of Groton students—in the classroom and on the playing fields, and squash courts—during his 48 years at the School. A true advocate of the hard right over the easy wrong, Mr. Alexander taught students that participation and effort count more than simply winning.

    Mr. Alexander coached varsity football from 1960 to 2006 and varsity baseball from 1962 to 2007. He also helped introduce squash to Groton, was the first coach of the sport, and continued to coach squash from 1964 to 1980. 

    Mr. Alexander’s legacy, as a teacher and coach, is best summed up in a baseball write-up that appeared in the 1962 yearbook, his first year on the team: “Mr. Alexander is a coach not only dedicated to the best in the sport but to the growth and welfare of every individual on the squad and in the system.”
  • Mark Blood 1950

    Mark was a three-sport athlete best known for his exploits on the baseball diamond. He entered Groton as a Second Former and anchored Groton’s infield for the next five years, mostly at shortstop. In 1949, he was an integral member of “the Groton nine,” the first champion of the newly formed Private School Baseball League. In football, Mark distinguished himself as a passing quarterback. In four seasons of varsity basketball, he proved to be an effective scorer and deft ball-handler, well-suited to the team’s fast-breaking style.
     
    Mark returned to Groton in 1969 as an English teacher and coach. He brought the same level of enthusiasm, preparedness, candor, and humor to his coaching that he used in his classroom. Emphasizing the importance of greater competitiveness and strategic tactics, he took over the varsity soccer program in 1972. His 1974 and 1979 Gummere Cup championship squads were known for their outstanding scoring and defensive toughness.
     
    As the varsity baseball coach from 1974 to 1984, Mark brought this same level of passion and commitment, emphasizing the importance of both the physical and mental sides of the game. As Independent School League (ISL) champs, the 1976 squad was noted for its smart play, efficient pitching, and potent hitting. Following Mark’s sudden death in 1984, the ISL soccer coaches created the Mark H. Blood Trophy, which is awarded annually to the team that best exemplifies the spirit of the game of soccer through its enthusiasm, effort, sportsmanship, dignity, and competitiveness.
      
    Written by William Blood ’76 and Phillip Blood ’82
  • John (Parkie) Keyes 1960

    John (Parkie) Keyes entered Groton in 1955 and made an impact across the School’s sports venues. He earned a combined 12 varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball, and tennis; captained the latter three sports his senior year; and received the Reginald Fincke, Jr. Medal, awarded to a Sixth Former who has demonstrated perseverance, courage, and unselfish sportsmanship. 
     
    Parkie would attribute much of his success to the two Groton Hall of Fame coaches, Jim Waugh and Jake Congleton. Their ability to inspire players and teach leadership skills allowed Parkie to succeed as quarterback, point guard, and shortstop during his Sixth Form year. After Groton, he played three years of baseball and a year of squash at Harvard, as well as many intramural sports. 
     
    After college, Parkie coached varsity basketball and baseball for a combined 30-plus years in high schools on the east and west coasts. He also ran a summer tennis camp in New Hampshire for 10 years.
     
    Staying active as a fan and participant in several sports, he has remained focused on tennis during the last three decades. A top-ranked senior doubles player for 10 years in the Pacific Northwest United States Tennis Association, Parkie has played on three teams that won national championships.
  • Mark Yanetti 1990

    Mark Yanetti has built a career around professional hockey, as both a player and a scout. He played 380 games as a professional hockey player but, after sustaining a career-ending injury in 2000, began his National Hockey League scouting career with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
     
    In 2006, Mark joined the staff of the Los Angeles Kings, where he has served as Director of Amateur Scouting. After helping the Kings rise from 29th place to Stanley Cup Champions in five years, Mark was honored to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup twice, and to be on the ice of the Staples Center to hoist this iconic trophy over his head in 2012 and again in 2014.
     
    At Groton, Mark received 10 varsity letters in three sports. He was awarded three First Team All-League honors in hockey, two in soccer, and two in lacrosse. During his Fourth and Fifth Form years, Mark participated in the U.S. Olympic Development Program and was named one of the country’s 54 best hockey players in his age group. He participated in the national team tryouts at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and also was selected to play in the High School All American Hockey Tournament in both 1989 and 1990.
     
    Mark played one year of varsity hockey at Brown University, winning the Ivy League Championship, then transferred to Williams College, where he received All-League and All-American honors in hockey.

Inducted 2014

List of 8 items.

  • Margaret Whinery Pearce 1989

    After arriving in Fourth Form at Groton, Margot earned nine varsity letters on the field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse teams. In Fifth and Sixth Forms, Margot also earned First Team All-League recognition for each season. Her Sixth Form year, she was named co-captain of the field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse teams, and she was the recipient of the Independent School League Most Valuable Player award in ice hockey. Margot won the Cornelia Frothingham Athletic Prize and graduated cum laude.

    After Groton, Margot earned eight varsity letters in women’s ice hockey and lacrosse at Dartmouth College. The Dartmouth women’s hockey team won the Ivy League Championship in 1991 and again in 1993, under Margot’s leadership as captain. Also in her senior year, the Dartmouth women’s lacrosse team was invited to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. Her awards included Rookie of the Year, Most Improved, and Unsung Hero.

    Since graduating from college, Margot has remained involved in sports through teaching and coaching at independent schools. She has more than 30 seasons under her belt and continues to coach boys ice hockey and lacrosse.
  • Edward B. Patton 1984

    Ted Patton entered Groton an uncoordinated Third Former and exited it an uncoordinated Sixth Former. In between, he was fortunate enough to have had some great coaches in Jake Congleton for football and Todd Jesdale for crew. Thanks to them, he managed to win more than he lost. During the summer after his Fifth Form year, he rowed in the first Groton boat, representing the East, which won the National Sports Festival in Colorado Springs. After a second place finish at the NEIRA race at Lake Quinsigamond during his Sixth Form year, the Groton crew traveled to England to row in the Marlow, Henley, Richmond, and Bedford regattas. The team won at Richmond and Bedford.

    After Groton, Ted attended Brown University, where he continued to be the beneficiary of great coaching and won the Eastern Sprints, the IRAs, and came in second twice at the National Championship Regatta in Cincinnati. He went on to win the World Championships in Copenhagen in 1987 and competed in the Olympics in Seoul in 1988, where he received a bronze medal. Ted has been inducted into the U.S. Rowing Hall of Fame and the Brown University Athletic Hall of Fame.
  • 1979 Girls Crew—First and Second Boats

    The year 1979 was a great year for Groton crew. Coach Bob Parker forged an expectation of victory, graciousness, and common endeavor. Parent and alumnus David Howe’s pledge of a burger and a shake for each win cemented the deal, and made for scenes of excess at Johnson’s Restaurant. Endeavoring to meet the renaissance standards of our coach, the crew combined rowing with singing in four-part harmony. It was a time of transition, from wood to fiberglass, from upright rowing to long reach, and, most of all, a time of transition for Groton. 

    Katherine Roberts Alteneder ’82 remembers racing BB&N:

    “I recall being excited and proud to row on the Charles. As we pushed off, some old guy (complete with boater, double-breasted jacket, and a G & T) shouted, ‘Girls? at Groton! The Rector would roll over in his grave.’ As happened more than once in those early years of co-education, I felt frozen. Olivia Hatch Farr ’79 had it handled. Without missing a beat, she retorted, full of confidence, laughter, and insouciance, "I'm sure he already has!" The coxswain followed with: "Ready; Row." Off we paddled. A perfect piece of performance art and life lesson, and that moment taught me to pursue my dreams and ambitions in the face of others' biases. We rowed our hearts out to prove we had a right to be there. For me, co-education was not about giving girls a chance; it was about giving talent opportunity. The seasons of '78 and '79 were all about proving that co-education had not been a mistake, and that we could bring honor to the School in the oldest of old boy sports. It seemed this was Mr. Parker's plan as well, and that he delighted in our successes not just for us, but for co-education.”

    The girls first and second boats were undefeated during the regular season and at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association Championships at Lake Quinsigamond, a first for Groton in only the fourth year of girls crew.

    First Boat: Ruth Kennedy Sudduth ’79, Katherine Roberts Alteneder ’82, Eliza Storey Anderson ’79 (captain), Rachel Chapman ’80, Claire Richards ’79
    Second Boat: Olivia Hatch Farr ’79 (captain), Francesca Fleming Keating ’79, Anne Hamel ’80, Adair Mali ’80, and Selden Wells Tearse ’81

    In Memory of Robert Parker ’57 (1938-1986), faculty member and rowing coach 1964-1979
  • James C. Waugh

    Jim Waugh was the only Groton teacher who coached three varsity sports: football for one year, basketball and baseball for many.

    A superb teacher in the classroom, on the football and baseball fields, and on the basketball court, he always asked probing questions and listened carefully to the answers. During baseball games, he would move up and down the bench asking players what would be a good pitch in this situation and what made the runner’s move a bad one in that situation. He pushed, he prodded, he encouraged, all with incisiveness and wit. A brilliant strategist during games, one who put players in a position to use their talents to best advantage, Jim was at his masterful best the day after a competition, when talking to his players about lessons to be drawn from the game.

    His approach led Bill Littlefield of NPR’s Only A Game to call Jim “Coach Aristotle” and to conclude, “But over the course of the short New England school baseball season, the ones who listen will find themselves learning not only about baseball, but also a lot about learning.”
  • 1979 Boys Crew—First and Second Boats

    The first and second boats of Groton’s 1979 crew went undefeated the entire season, highlighted by season-ending victories at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association Championships on Lake Quinsigamond. Coach Todd Jesdale (already a legend at both the college and prep school ranks) coached the crew masterfully—beginning training with a strenuous camp on Lake Carnegie at Princeton University during spring break. The two boats—unusual in that they featured all Sixth Formers in the rowing positions (with two Fifth Form coxswains)—were molded into highly intense, competitive, and focused machines. The first boat was stroked by Matthew Smith, with Alex Chatfield in the three seat, Dave Rimmer in the two seat, Andrew Kennedy in the bow, and Nelson Howe at the controls. The second boat was stroked by Willy Packard, with John Storey in the three seat, Jim Criner in the two seat, Steve Curtis in the bow, and Kevin Griffith at the controls. 

    The boats opened with preseason wins against Northeastern University’s JV and BB&N, followed by a dominant, season-opening victory against St. Mark’s—winning by margins of five to six boat lengths and shattering the St. Mark’s course record. Course records would continue to be broken over the remainder of the season as the two boats also easily mowed down Middlesex, Nobles, Belmont Hill, and Brooks, all by open water. The NEIRA finals at Lake Quinsigamond were no different, other than a mighty effort by Brooks’ first boat to close the gap in the middle of the final race, only to be met by Groton’s breakaway sprint in the closing 500 meters. It was often said during the course of the season that the first boat’s toughest competition was the second boat, as the boats routinely traded positions during midweek practice sprints. Several of the crew went on to have successful college rowing careers.

    First Boat: Andrew Kennedy ’79, David Rimmer ’79, Alexander Chatfield ’79, Matthew Smith ’79,  and Nelson Howe ’80
    Second Boat: Steven Curtis ’79, James Criner ’79, John Storey ’79 (capt.), William Packard ’79, and Kevin Griffith ’80

    Coach: T. Todd Jesdale
  • Sue Cutler Christie 1984

    Arriving at Groton in the fall of 1980, Sue Cutler Christie lettered in four sports at Grotontennis, lacrosse, squash, and field hockey. She came to Groton a nationally ranked tennis player—within the top 15 for her age bracket—and was ranked #1 in Texas. She was first on the tennis ladder in singles and doubles her Third Form year, before taking up lacrosse for the first time the following spring, making varsity and being an All-League selection for three years and being elected captain her Sixth Form year. In addition, Sue took up another new sport, squash, the winter term of Third Form, making varsity and All-League each of her four years, as well as leading the team as captain her Sixth Form year.  
     
    At Brown University, Sue played four years of varsity squash and lacrosse and was captain of both her senior year. She earned four First Team All-Ivy awards in squash and was All-Ivy and a Brine All-Star Selection in lacrosse. Brown awarded her the Kate Silva Award for best outstanding female freshman athlete and the Meducci Morphy Award for best sportsmanship by a senior player; in addition, she was chosen for Brown’s 100 Greatest Athletes of the Century list in 2000.

    Continuing her love of athletics, Sue went on to work in the sports industry for Reebok and International Management Group.
  • 1964 Boys Crew—First and Second Boats

    The 1964 first boat was undefeated during the regular season and was the first Groton boat to win at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association Championships; it had a breathtaking finish, with a time of 4:10:07. The second boat also won at Lake Quinsigamond with a time of 4.08. With these strong performances, the athletes and coach decided to combine the two fours post-season to race as an eight in England. 

    After their Henley Regatta final, a London newspaper said: "The race between Groton School, USA, and Washington-Lee High School, USA (the reigning U.S. championship eight) was certainly one of the closest and most exciting of the day. After a massive struggle, Washington-Lee won by only half a length in a time one second different from the two semi-finals (each crew covered the course in an identical time of 6:51). Such competitors can only help the standards and experience of British schools. The sight of Groton and Washington-Lee coming up the enclosures at 41 and 42 was something to be remembered.”

    At season’s end, Coach James Satterthwaite wrote, “There are no magic victories. Interval training, weight-lifting, and Ratzeburg strokes may get you to the finals; when you’re there, you’re just five boys in a boat, and you and nobody else have to make the piece of kindling wood that floats you move. You call on something you didn’t know was there, and suddenly you sprint from third place to seventh heaven. You can’t be taught to win; you win by doing what you were never taught.”
       
    First Boat: Ian Gardiner ’64 (captain), Oliver Edwards ’64, Thomas Jackson ’64, Nason Hamlin ’64, and David Noyes, III ’67
    Second Boat: Mathew Hudson ’64, John Chandler ’64, Jacques Seronde ’65, David Wadsworth '64and Sam Pease ’64  

    Coach: James B. Satterthwaite
    Assistant Coach: Peter Willauer
  • 1923 Football Team

    Praise is nowhere more welcome than from a generous opponent, and the following quotation from the St. Mark’s Alumni Bulletin is not amiss here: “Groton had come unbeaten and unscored on, an impressive early season record, and its playing was in every way worthy of a championship eleven. Alertness, a fine defensive, especially in its fast charging forwards and the secondary line defensive of its captain, and finally exceptional punting, well covered, proved to be sufficient to win.” 

    In a St. Mark’s game recap, Philip Kunhardt 1919 wrote: "The team showed its ability on the defensive by stopping a heavier opponent. On the offensive, it earned the breaks and took advantage of them, turning them into scores. In other words, it won by just that most subtle quality that has been developed through the whole season and especially during the last few weeks. Mr. Tuttle and Captain Stone had taken an experienced lot of men and had brought out the right qualities. That the qualities were there was a tribute to every man on the team."

    With a 13-0 score versus St. Mark’s, the 1923 Football team won its final game and remained unscored upon during its seven games that season.  

    J. Stewart Barney, Jr. ’24, Charles T. Bingham ’24, Howard G. Cushing ’24, A. Lithgow Devens ’26, Morton C. Eustis ’24, William C. Faversham ’25, Hamilton E. Heard ’24, Clinton B.H. Hollister ’25, William W. Hoppin, Jr. ’24, Chauncey B. Ives ’24, James Lawrence, Jr. ’25, Charles C. McGehee ’25, Guy H. Norris ’25, John Parkinson, Jr. ’25, David C. Percival, Jr. ’24, Kenneth D. Robinson, Jr. ’25, S. Whitney Satterlee ’26, Melville E. Stone II ’24 (captain), John W.G. Tenney ’24, John C. West ’26

    Coach: H. E. Tuttle

Inducted 2013

List of 6 items.

  • Gordon Gray 1951

    At Groton, Gordon Gray played offensive and defensive left end on the undefeated and untied varsity football team of 1950. That team scored more points than any other Groton team prior, and coach Larry Noble judged Mr. Gray to be the best end in his 20 years of coaching.

    Mr. Gray was also captain of the varsity basketball team, left fielder on the varsity baseball team, and captain of the tennis team. Mr. Gray was awarded the Reginald Fincke, Jr. Medal, which is awarded to a member of the Sixth Form who has demonstrated perseverance, courage, and unselfish sportsmanship.

    At Princeton he played varsity baseball for four years. He was national men's paddle tennis champion three years in a row from 1969 to 1971. He also won the mixed doubles paddle tennis championship three years in a row from 1966 to 1968. Mr. Gray was inducted into the National Platform Tennis Hall of Fame in 1996.

    Those who played with Mr. Gray remember his qualities of sportsmanship, anticipation, and modesty.
  • Peter Gammons 1963

    The athletic career of Peter Gammons was what he wrote and said, not going down the right field hill at St. Mark’s. His roots lay with the Third Form Weekly and eventually moved on to the University of North Carolina, The Boston Globe, Sports Illustrated, ESPN and the Major League Baseball Network.

    Mr. Gammons was voted the National Sportswriter of the Year by the National Association of Writers and Broadcasters three times, and in 2010 was voted into its Hall of Fame. In 2005 he received the C.C. Johnson Spink Award and was honored in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

    Mr. Gammons is proud to claim that one of the 10 most important sporting events he ever covered was Jake Congleton’s final game as Groton School’s head football coach in 1994.
  • 1983 Girls Ice Hockey Team

  • Gillian Thomson 1988

    Gillian Thomson was a three-sport athlete at Groton, earning All-League honors in field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse. She captained the basketball and lacrosse teams, and was awarded the Cornelia Amory Frothingham Athletic Prize.

    At Princeton, Ms. Thomson received seven varsity letters in field hockey and lacrosse. In field hockey, she twice earned Second Team All-Ivy honors. In lacrosse, she was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year, followed by three years on the All-Ivy First Team. In her senior year, she captained the lacrosse team, earned First Team All-American honors, and received the Emily Goodfellow Women’s Lacrosse Award for contributions to team unity, morale, and spirit. Her speed through the midfield and her determined play at both ends of the field helped Princeton reach the NCAA Division I Semifinals in her freshman and senior years.

    In 1997, Ms. Thomson captained the Canadian National Women’s Lacrosse team in the World Cup in Japan.

    Ms. Thomson is currently coaching the high school girls’ lacrosse team in Bexley, Ohio.
  • Stephen Maturo 1993

    Dr. Maturo earned a total of 13 Groton School varsity letters in soccer, football, hockey, and baseball including two earned playing baseball and hockey as a Second Former. He was captain of the football and hockey teams his Sixth Form year and captain of the baseball team his Fifth and Sixth Form years.

    Dr. Maturo received All-league honors four times in ice hockey, three in baseball, and once in football. He was named All New England in ice hockey his Sixth Form year when he won the ISL 's Flood Shield, given to the ISL boys' hockey player “whose enthusiasm for hockey and devotion to the game is marked by his playing ability and physical toughness and yet whose competitive spirit is balanced by emotional control and a real desire to play within the rules of the game.” Dr. Maturo received Groton School’s Reginald Fincke, Jr. Medal, which is awarded to a member of the Sixth Form who has demonstrated perseverance, courage, and unselfish sportsmanship.

    At the United States Air Force Academy, Dr. Maturo was a four-year letter winner on the ice hockey team. He was a co-captain in his senior year when he was a finalist for the Humanitarian Award given to “college hockey’s finest citizen.” Dr. Maturo also earned distinguished graduate honors from the Air Force Academy.

    After college, Dr. Maturo earned his medical degree with Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society honors from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He was an Air Force flight surgeon prior to attending an Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Residency. After finishing residency training, Dr. Maturo completed a two-year fellowship at Harvard University. He is now an Air Force pediatric otolaryngologist.
  • Isabelle Kinsolving Farrar 1998

    Isabelle Kinsolving Farrar was a member of the U.S. Sailing Team for 12 consecutive years, from 2001 through 2012, as a crew in the Women’s 470 (the women’s Olympic double-handed division). Isabelle placed 5th at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, with teammate Katherine McDowell. In 2006, Isabelle teamed up with Erin Maxwell. The two won the 2008 Women’s 470 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. To date, Isabelle and Erin are the only American 470 Team to win a World Championship since 1991. In 2011, Isabelle and Erin won the ISAF World Cup, and earned a 1st place ranking in the ISAF World Rankings in November and December.

    At Groton, after arriving in Fourth Form, Isabelle earned eight varsity letters on the soccer, ice hockey, and crew teams. Her Sixth Form year, she was co-captain of the ice hockey team. That same year, she rowed for Groton’s first boat, under coach Andy Anderson. With Dana Berlin ’99, Melanie Broad ’98, India Foster ’98, and Christina Maloney ’98, Isabelle won the NEIRA Championships. Isabelle won the Upper School Shop Prize twice—first in Fifth Form, and then in her Sixth Form year with her brother Arthur Kinsolving--and graduated Summa Cum Laude.

    After Groton, Isabelle earned two varsity letters at Yale on the Women’s Ice Hockey Team, before concentrating solely on sailing. Isabelle was the captain of the Yale Varsity Sailing Team in 2000.

Inducted 2012

List of 11 items.

  • Percy D. Haughton 1895

    Percy Haughton played both defensive end and fullback and kicked for a dominant Groton football team. Between 1892 and 1894, the defense gave up only 68 points while the team scored an impressive 707 points. In those three years, Groton football lost only once, the final game of the 1894 season—St. Mark’s first victory over Groton.
     
    In addition to his success on the football field, Mr. Haughton was a two-time fives singles champion and also a two-time doubles champion. As starting pitcher and third baseman on the baseball team, he hit .527 and averaged 7.2 strikeouts per game during his Sixth Form season.
     
    After Groton, Mr. Haughton went on to play football at Harvard. He became known as one of the great pioneers of American football as a coach at Cornell, Harvard, and Columbia. His record at Harvard was an incredible 72-7-5. In 1951, he was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame.
  • Charles Devens 1928

    Charles Devens played shortstop, centerfield, and was the number-one pitcher for Groton’s baseball team. Mr. Devens stood out at the plate and on the field, but was most known as an ace on the mound, striking out 140 batters during his Sixth Form season. After Groton, Mr. Devens attended Harvard, where he has been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
     
    After Harvard, Mr. Devens was signed as a pitcher by the New York Yankees. In three seasons he appeared in 16 games, including the game against the Cleveland Indians in which Babe Ruth famously called his home-run shot. In his only game with the Yankees during his final season, he allowed only three runs and struck out four in an 11-inning complete game win.
     
    In addition to his baseball success at Groton, Mr. Devens was Senior Prefect; a three-sport captain in tennis, football, and hockey; and a two-time fives champion in both singles and doubles.
  • Endicott “Chub” Peabody 1938

    Endicott Peabody played varsity football and basketball and was a member of crew at Groton. Playing right and left guard and tackle, Mr. Peabody anchored a line that was one of Groton’s best. In his Sixth Form year, led by Mr. Peabody, the Groton football team completed an undefeated season, outscoring opponents by a margin of 154 to 6 during a six-game schedule—a margin that when adjusted for the number of games played, eclipsed the previous mark set by the 1894 team. The 1938 yearbook describes Mr. Peabody’s team: “They had a one for all and all for one spirit, they liked football, they had team pride, and they had a great leader in Captain Endicott Peabody.”
     
    Mr. Peabody attended Harvard, where he continued to be a force on the gridiron. As one opposing coach said, “Peabody hit you so many times and he hit you so hard you thought he was four or five men.”
     
    At Harvard, Mr. Peabody was voted the nation’s most outstanding lineman and was a unanimous choice for All-American. He finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1942, higher than any lineman had previously finished. He was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973.
  • Hugh “Scotty” Scott 1957

    Hugh Scott was a four-year leader on Groton’s football teams; during his Fifth Form year, the team was undefeated, and during his Sixth Form, it lost only its last game, to St. Mark’s.
     
    Mr. Scott also was a member of Groton’s undefeated hockey team his Sixth Form year, and he captained the baseball and tennis teams. On the fives courts, Mr. Scott duplicated the record set by his grandfather by winning four School championships.
     
    After Groton, Mr. Scott attended Princeton University, where he was a four-year standout on both the varsity football and hockey teams. After persuading his roommate to teach him the game of lacrosse, he earned a starting role on the second midfield of Princeton’s squad.
     
    At Groton, Mr. Scott received the Reginald Fincke, Jr. Medal, awarded to a member of the Sixth Form who has demonstrated perseverance, courage, and unselfish sportsmanship. At Princeton, he was awarded the William Winston Roper Award, given to a Princeton senior of high scholastic rank and with outstanding qualities of sportsmanship and a general proficiency in athletics.
  • 1962 Basketball Team

    A tight zone defense, excellent rebounding, and excellent shot selection became the hallmarks of Groton’s undefeated 1962 basketball team.
     
    Jake Congleton, in his first year as head coach, challenged his team to “take good shots, play aggressive defense, and hustle.” The team took up that challenge, averaging 48 points per game, shooting 40 percent from the floor and 60 percent from the foul line, and giving up only 38 points per game. They neither tied nor lost a single game.
     
    The play of the year occurred against Brooks late in the season. With fleeting seconds left, Groton trailed by a point. Robert Knapp ’62 dribbled coast-to-coast, then found a path in the lane and drove through it. His layup swished through the net, and Groton won by a point as the buzzer sounded.
     
    The team’s tenth and final victory took place in a packed gym on the Saturday afternoon of Dance Weekend; at the time, it was the School’s best-attended basketball game ever. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, the spectators roared boisterously, perhaps sensing that they were witnessing more than just a season-ending victory. Groton overcame an early 13-point deficit, outscoring Andover 36-8 in the second half to seal the 62-37 win and the undefeated season.
     
    Team members: Donald Chauncey ’63, Joseph Sitterson ’63, Jeremy Williams ’63, Tod Gregory ’62 (Captain), Belford Lawson ’62, Robert Knapp ’62, Thomas Lorch (Assistant Coach), Thomas Moser ’64, Michael Knapp ’64, John Gregory ’64, Robert Parke ’63, Lawrence Irwin ’65, Charles Miller ’65, Anthony Barton ’65, William Boyd ’65, Jake Congleton (Head Coach)
  • William Larkin 1972

    William Larkin was awarded 12 varsity letters at Groton for football, basketball, and baseball. He captained all three sports his Sixth Form year.
     
    Mr. Larkin was named All-League multiple times in each sport; football, however, where he played quarterback and defensive back, was his best. During his four years, Groton’s football teams went 22-5, 19-2 with Mr. Larkin at quarterback. His sophomore year, as quarterback, he led Groton to a 7-0 season, once throwing seven touchdown passes in a game against Boston English. In the three seasons between 1969 and 1971, Mr. Larkin rushed for 1,348 yards and passed for 2,616. He scored 16 rushing touchdowns, 30 passing touchdowns, and scored a total of 323 points.
     
    During his Sixth Form year, The Boston Globe cited him as the “All-New England Quarterback and Offensive Player of the Year” and The Boston Herald named him “All-New England Defensive Back.”
     
    Mr. Larkin was fives champion in both the Lower and Upper Schools, in singles and doubles, and was captain of fives his Sixth Form year. He received the School’s Reginald Fincke, Jr. Medal, which is awarded to a member of the Sixth Form who has demonstrated perseverance, courage, and unselfish sportsmanship.
  • Charlotte Joslin 1985

    Charlotte Joslin was a three-sport athlete at Groton, earning an impressive 12 varsity letters in field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse. She was named All-League multiple times and captained the field hockey and ice hockey teams her Sixth Form year.
     
    In ice hockey, Ms. Joslin was key to the program’s success, losing only three games over three seasons. She was known to switch positions at a moment’s notice and was a prolific scorer. She also led the lacrosse team in scoring her Sixth Form year, and was a key playmaker in field hockey.
     
    At Harvard, Ms. Joslin played field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse, earning All-Ivy during all 12 seasons. She received All-American honors twice in field hockey and twice in lacrosse. In ice hockey, she was named Player of the Year twice (All-American honors were not awarded in the sport of women’s ice hockey until after she graduated). She played on the 1990 National Champion Lacrosse team.
     
    Ms. Joslin won Harvard’s Radcliffe College Alumni Association Award as top female athlete in her class, and was chosen as a member of the Ivy League Silver Anniversary Team, which celebrated 25 years of Ivy League women’s athletics.
  • Margaret Metz 1995

    Margaret Metz was a three-sport athlete at Groton, earning 12 varsity letters over her four years at the School. She was a two-time captain in field hockey and captained the ice hockey and lacrosse teams her Sixth Form year. Ms. Metz led the 1994 field hockey team to a 15-1-2 season that included a NEPSAC championship.
     
    At Wesleyan University, Ms. Metz was the only tri-sport varsity letter winner in 1995-96. She was a three-time First Team Regional All-American in both field hockey and lacrosse, and a Second Team National All-American in field hockey in 1998. She captained the field hockey team her senior year and received the Wesleyan University Jones Award in field hockey and lacrosse, recognized as each team’s most valuable player. A record breaker, she scored the most goals ever in a single Wesleyan game (seven) and is number-seven on the all-time career points list, with 110 in the Wesleyan lacrosse program.
  • Henry G. Nuzum 1995

    Henry Nuzum began rowing in the fifth boat as a Third Former. Two years later, after a year away from Groton, he rowed for Coach John Niles in the undefeated first boat, which won the NEIRA championship and competed at Henley (under Coach Andy Anderson). The following year, the first boat suffered one blemish, a second-place finish by a split second at NEIRAs, but won the National Championship Regatta in Cincinnati, where Mr. Nuzum, the captain, joined fellow Sixth Formers Andrew Caspersen, Topher Watts, and Nathan Brown, and Fifth Former Nancy Kim. Mr. Nuzum also earned four letters in football (1993 ISL co-champion) and basketball (1995 captain).
     
    Inspired by Cui Servire Est Regnare, Mr. Nuzum earned an NROTC scholarship and attended Harvard. He rowed three years under Harry Parker in the varsity boat, twice defeating Yale in the four-miler. His junior year, the boat won all dual races and the Ladies Challenge Plate at Henley. He was captain his senior year at Harvard. Mr. Nuzum also won silver medals in the U.S. Under-23 8+ at the 1997 and 1998 Nations Cups.
     
    In 2000, Mr. Nuzum won U.S. Olympic Trials with Mike Ferry in the double; they placed eighth at the Sydney Games. Between Olympic Games, he served aboard the destroyer U.S.S. John S. McCain on successive Arabian Gulf deployments, leading boarding parties and Tomahawk strikes. In 2004, he won rowing trials with Aquil Abdullah and placed sixth in the Athens Olympics, the first U.S. double to reach the finals since 1984 (setting an American record of 6:14.69 in the semifinal). He also rowed in the U.S. quad at the 2001 and 2003 World Championships.
  • Richard “Jake” Congleton, Jr.

    Jake Congleton taught at Groton School for 38 years. He was the varsity football coach for 34 years, following one year as assistant coach in 1957. During his years as head coach, Groton had three undefeated seasons and won or shared in 10 league championships. The team’s record against other independent schools during his tenure was 144 wins, 68 losses, and nine ties. Mr. Congleton coached an estimated 500-plus Groton football players.
     
    He also coached varsity boys basketball for 19 years and was the head coach from 1962 to 1977. During that time, Groton shared three league championships, was undefeated in 1962, and went 17-1 in 1977, Mr. Congleton’s last year as boys head coach. He also coached a winning girls varsity basketball team in 1990.
     
    In the spring, Mr. Congleton also coached freshman baseball for many years, and after coaching varsity basketball, he coached both thirds boys and girls basketball and had at least one undefeated season with each team. He started the thirds girls program, which he coached until his retirement.
     
    Mr. Congleton was elected to the Massachusetts Football Hall of Fame as a Head Coach in 1995.
  • Reverend Endicott Peabody

    The Reverend Endicott Peabody was an imposing physical presence at Groton School. Standing six feet tall and weighing 210 pounds, the School’s founder was nearly impossible to tackle on the football field. It was said that once Mr. Peabody received the football, he scored a touchdown. So dominant was he that after Groton handily won the first Groton-St. Mark’s football game, a rule was instated preventing masters weighing more than 165 pounds from playing.
     
    While a schoolboy at Cheltenham College, Mr. Peabody won the school championships in racquets and in fives. At Groton, Henry Richards called Mr. Peabody, “The best fives doubles player the School had ever seen.” Additionally, Mr. Peabody rowed college crew at Trinity College, Cambridge and excelled at single sculling.
     
    Mr. Peabody’s influence in sport reached beyond the Circle to a national front. In 1905, after a series of brutal injuries in college football, he petitioned then President Theodore Roosevelt to convene a group to discuss rule changes that would make the game safer. The resulting conference brought together representatives from Princeton, Harvard, and Yale, and the resulting rules made play less risky for athletes.