Former Warrior greats achievements recognized at induction ceremonies
Published in the April 26, 2017 edition
THE LATEST group of Warrior greats were inducted into the WMHS Athletic Hall of Fame last Saturday night. From left to right are Coach Brad Simpson, Samantha Rush Tetreau, Bill Morrison, Scott Brown, Janel Gerrior Stevenson, John Sage, Jul Gerrior Schofield, and Andrew Lombara. (Dan Margarita Photo)
By DAN MARGARITA
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield Memorial High School Athletic Hall of Fame formally inducted its newest members on Saturday night at a dinner held at the Crystal Community Club. This was the 14th induction to the WMHS Athletic HOF.
The inductees to the Hall of Fame included Scott Brown (Class of 1977, Basketball and Track), Janel Gerrior Stevenson (Class of 1989, Soccer, Basketball, and Softball), Jul Gerrior Schofield (Class of 1989, Soccer, Basketball, and Softball), Andrew Lombara (Class of 1988, Football, Hockey, and Track), William Morrison (Class of 1999, Football and Track), Samantha Rush Tetreau (2004, Ice Hockey, Field Hockey, and Softball), John Sage (Class of 1965, Basketball, Football, and Baseball), Coach Brad Simpson (1988 to Present, Varsity Boys’ Basketball), and the 1964-65 Boys’ Basketball Team.
Tom Merchant emceed the evening and brought up the first and best-known inductee, former Senator Scott Brown. A star basketball player in the 1970’s, Brown gave Merchant, his former teacher some good-natured ribbing about a “C” Merchant once gave him on a school paper and then suggested that having a book on the New York Times best seller list warranted raising that grade.
Next to be inducted simultaneously were twin sisters, Janel (Gerrior) Stevenson and Jul (Gerrior) Schofield, who remembered their late father instilling their love of sports and raising them and their siblings when their mom died when the girls were just five years old.
Andrew Lombara, a star in football, hockey and track, now lives in New York City but said that Wakefield was, “always in my thoughts.”
Bill Morrison was next in line to be inducted and noted that when his temper as a child made him expendable for some youth baseball coaches, he focused his energy on football.
“There are no politics in football,” he said.
Samantha (Rush) Tetreau noted that she was one of 10 kids and when meeting a certain teacher familiar with her many siblings, the teacher remarked, “When does it end?”
She also noted that her father fought for her right to play baseball when officials insisted that she play softball.
John Sage said that as an “army brat” he moved around as a kid, but got to spend three years in Wakefield where he starred in football, basketball and baseball.
Sage said it was his first time back in Wakefield in 52 years but praised Wakefield as a “wonderful town.”
The last individual inductee was longtime boys basketball coach Brad Simpson, who has been a coach at Wakefield since 1970. He began as an assistant under legendary coach Ellis “Sonny” Lane, whom Simpson praised for mentoring him in basketball and in life.
Simpson, who took over as head coach in 1988, also had praise for Brown, who starred in the late 1970’s, though joked that they had “divergent political views.”
The final induction went to the 1964-65 boys basketball team which became Eastern Massachusetts Class B Tech Tournament Champs under the late Frank Charbonneau, for whom the current field house is named, and assistant coach, the late Pete Saitta.
Speaking on behalf of the team was Saitta’s daughter, Laura Saitta Berg who remembered her father’s advice, “Follow your passion.”
Hall of Fame Committee and team member Mike Martello and team member Sage remembered the team’s heroics as well as those members that have since passed away.
It was a proud night for all those honored at the event and an enjoyable evening for everyone in attendance.
