The Old Rochester Regional Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed a number of new inductees on June 21 during an induction ceremony, and many of the ORR alumni athletes inducted this year said they were surprised and felt honored to be chosen.
“I didn’t believe it,” said former trainer Andrew Mendes, honored for his significant contribution to ORR sports. “I thought it was amazing.” Mendes said he used to be a disciplinarian at ORR, in charge of detention and suspension. The mean guy, basically – the respected guy.
“I thought, ‘you got the wrong guy,’” said Mendes laughing, recalling when he received the letter informing him of the honor.
ORR football star Peter Borsari, who was also voted “biggest mouth” according to the photograph slideshow during the buffet-style dinner, said being inducted was “the ultimate individual accomplishment in a completely team game.”
“Obviously, it’s a great honor to be recognized after so many years,” said Borsari. “And for playing a sport that I loved.”
Charles Jefferson, a graduate of the school’s first graduating class of 1962, was an all-star football player and captain of ORR’s first football team. He also played baseball, basketball, and track.
During his acceptance speech, Jefferson disclosed a bit of ORR history when he told everyone in attendance how the team came to be known as the ORR Bulldogs.
After a football game against Dighton-Rehoboth when the ORR “Red Wings” won 14-6, the coach told Jefferson that he played with the intensity of a bulldog, and instructed Jefferson to announce to the student body that the Red Wings would from then on be known as the Bulldogs. Apparently, no one at the induction ceremony had ever heard that story before.
Gretchen Hamer McDonald, who played volleyball, basketball, and track, said the personal nomination letter written to her from an underclassman that went to school with McDonald touched her the most about the whole Hall of Fame induction.
“It made me proud,” said McDonald, who said she really did not remember who the student was that wrote the letter, but it was clear that she remembered McDonald. “It made me realize that I had a positive effect on someone. That letter really made me feel good when she said that I made her feel good.”
McDonald’s young foster daughter Alyssa Silva never knew her foster mom was such a gifted athlete, and McDonald has been introducing Alyssa to a number of different sports. Alyssa shyly confessed that her favorite sport now is basketball.
Also inducted was Steven Heath who was an “offensive powerhouse” on the baseball team, played basketball, and threw the shot put in track. He was named Most Valuable Player in the spring of his senior year in 1969.
Tom DeCosta earned 11 varsity letters before graduating in 1970, playing basketball, baseball, and football, and later becoming the football coach at ORR.
Cornelia Dougall was one of ORR’s first female sports stars in track and field, field hockey, volleyball, tennis, and basketball, in which she was MVP three years in a row.
Coach Jim Hubbard was also inducted into the Hall of Fame, and he was also Athletics Director at ORR from 1975 to 1980, overseeing ten boys and girls sports teams.
The 1962 Cross Country Track Team was also inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame.
Each inductee was introduced by the person of their choice and given a plaque to place on the display table, signifying their entrance into the ORR Athletic Hall of Fame.
Before a full house of guests, Athletics Director Bill Tilden told the alumni and their families and friends that athletics at ORR are “going in the right direction,” highlighting this year’s major accomplishments.
“And all they’re doing is trying to keep up with you guys,” said Tilden.
By Jean Perry
Photos by Felix Perez
