Classical Hall of Fame  inducts new Members

from the Daily Item of Lynn

The Lynn Classical High School Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held Saturday, May 14, at the Nahant Country Club. The event  began with a 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. social hour followed by dinner and the induction.

The inductees are:

  John "Jay" Alicudo (1977) -- For this lifelong Lynn resident and Classical alumnus, sports have played a significant role since childhood and still today. Alicudo wore his green and gold colors with pride, playing three years of varsity basketball and varsity football. Jay was a member of the celebrated 1976 Lynn Classical High School Super Bowl Championship Team, playing a fundamental role in the season's 7-0 Thanksgiving Day victory against rival Lynn English; a game that was a determining factor for the Rams' Super Bowl candidacy that year.

Alicudo's athletic ability smoothly transitioned from the field to the court, as he was a member of two Northeastern Conference champion basketball teams. He has two children, who both attended Lynn Classical High School. His daughter, Justina, is a former three-sport athlete who graduated from Northeastern University and is now teaching at Lynn Classical. His son, Tyler, is a member of the class of 2011 and had an impressive football career thus far. Tyler will attend a four-year college, where he plans to continue his career on the field.

Alicudo's passion for sports is evident today as you'll find him dedicating time to student-athletes, whether on the sidelines or in the weight room during the off-season. He has a unique ability to connect with students and show them how to reach their potential, both on and off the field.

Catherine "Katie" Barber (1997) was the varsity softball captain in 1997 and a four-year starting pitcher for the Rams. She broke the city and school records for the most career wins with 45.

In addition to being a three time Northeastern Conference All-Star and Item All-Star, she was selected as the Northeastern Conference MVP and Boston Globe All-Scholastic during her senior year. Barber was also a two-time Sunday Post Player of the Year. During her junior and senior seasons, she had two no-hitters, seven shutouts and led her team in batting with .413 and .400 respectively.

Barber had more than 450 career strikeouts, averaging more than one strikeout per inning in her final two years. She was also a four-year varsity soccer player. Barber was awarded a softball scholarship at University of Massachusetts at Lowell where she was a four-year starting pitcher for the Lady Riverhawks. She earned a bachelor's degree in business management from UML. She is employed as a real estate paralegal and resides in West Lynn.

James Cowdell (1979) led the Rams baseball team to a deep run in the state tournament in 1979. He had an earned run average of 0.71 and led the team with eight wins. He was an Item and Post All-Star. In 1983 he was elected to the Lynn Park Softball board of directors and became President in 1985.

Cowdell has a deep love for the city of Lynn where he was born and raised. In 1987 he was elected to the Lynn City Council as Ward 5 Councilor. He was the longest serving ward councilor in Lynn's history, serving a record 20 years. As an adult learner he went back to school and at the age of 41 received his bachelor's degree and at 44, he received his MBA, both from Endicott College.

Cowdell is an active member of the Endicott Alumni Association. Today he is the executive director of EDIC where he is responsible for Economic Development for the city of Lynn. He was the former COO of Bridgewell, where he held that post for 14 years. He has spoken twice at Classical graduations and both times spoke about the pride the graduates should feel for being a graduate of such a great school. He is happily married to his wife Julie and they have two children, James and Timothy, both proud Lynn Classical graduates.

Kevin Debasitis (1978) played football, baseball, and track, lettering in football and track (shot put). Junior year he was named Lineman of the Year on the 1976 team that beat Lynn English in the historic Thanksgiving Day game at a packed Manning Bowl. The Rams went on to beat Wilmington and win the state Super Bowl Championship. In his senior year Debasitis was the captain of the football team, an Item All-Star, and he played in the 1978 Agganis All-Star Game.

Debasitis was a true scholar-athlete at LCHS and was accepted to both Yale and Harvard. He made the right choice by going to Yale and playing football on three straight Ivy League championship teams (1979, 1980, and 1981). His senior year saw him anchor the number seven overall defense in the country from his starting nose guard position. Debasitis' football career culminated with earning the Game Ball for the Yale-Harvard Game ("The Game"), which Yale won 28-0 in front of a New England sports record 78,000+ fans at the Yale Bowl.

Debasitis graduated from Yale with a dual BS Degree in Geology and Geophysics and was awarded the coveted "Geologic Hammer Award" for the most outstanding senior thesis. He married his LCHS sweetheart (Mary Ellen Cushing) and went to work in the oil industry living and working all over North and South America. They eventually moved back to Massachusetts and now live in Amesbury where they raised their son Jason (now a biomedical engineer at Novartis Vaccines in Cambridge) and daughter Alexandria, a student-athlete at St. Thomas High School.

In 1992 Debasitis earned a master's degree in environmental engineering and now works in the field of renewable energy building wind farms all over the country. Over the years he has enjoyed helping to coach his son and daughter throughout their athletic careers.

Joseph Gunning (1968) was one of three players from the Lynn Bantams to travel to Toronto, Canada on a team sponsored by the Boston Bruins in 1964. Gunning had an outstanding hockey career at Classical from 1966 to 1968 (captain 1968). He attended NSCC for two years, was a Massachusetts Junior College hockey all-star, and later graduated from Boston State College with a bachelor's degree. He spent 35 years as an educator in the Lynn Public School System before retiring in 2010. Gunning coached basketball, baseball, track, and hockey at all levels in the Lynn Public Schools.

He is a 40- year member of the National Ice Hockey Officials Association and an active member of the Lynn Knights of Columbus Board of Directors. Gunning was honored as Knight of the Year in 1984 and Irishman of the Year in 1988. He was also the recipient of the Northeastern Conference Community Service Award in 2006.

Gunning presently serves as the site director for both the Classical boys and girls soccer teams, as well as the Lynn lacrosse team. Gunning has been an assistant boys ice hockey coach for the past four years with the Lynn Jets and has helped guide them to two straight MIAA state tournament appearances.

Jack Harney (1942) played on Classical's football teams in 1940 (state champions) and '41 (state and New England champions) and the baseball teams of 1941 and 1942.

He claims sports did much to shape his life: they helped him become president of both the Junior and Senior Classes at Classical; win a National Scholarship to Harvard; endure the rigors of WWII infantry combat; and achieve post-war success at careers in education and government.

Harney was a teaching fellow at Boston University while pursuing a PhD, but left Academe when recruited into a secret profession with the NSA. Thirty years later he retired as an assistant director of the agency. The details remain classified, but he and family served more than seven years in overseas tours. He graduated from the National War College, was the commandant of the National Cryptologic School, and was for three years the senior NSA presence in the Pentagon. Harney highlights two other events: being Boley Dancewicz' substitute and capturing Wernher von Braun, Hitler's rocket scientist who helped the US reach the moon.

Bruce D. Hogan (1959) was an outstanding football, basketball, and track athlete at Classical from 1957 to 1959. He was a two-year varsity football starter who played both tight end and defensive end, captained the 1959 football team, and was named to the Item All-Star team.

Hogan was also a two year starting power forward on the Classical baseball team whose 1959 squad qualified for the state tournament. An accomplished track athlete as well, Bruce competed in the 220 yard dash (now the 200m), the four-man relay team, the mile, and the shot put. He received an athletic scholarship to the University of Wyoming (Division 1), but later transferred and graduated from Northeastern University.

Hogan then went on to Anna Marie College where he received his master's degree in criminal justice. He played one year for the semi-pro football team the Black Knights and basketball in numerous park leagues and at the YMCA. He played basketball daily up until his 50th birthday and is a fixture at the Lynn YMCA.

Hogan was a 38-year member of the Lynn Police Department, serving from 1963 to 2001. He retired as a Captain. While a member of the department, he actively participated on the Lynn Police softball team and the Lynn Police bowling team. Hogan was also involved in community policing in the 1970s and was instrumental in forming the Lynn Police basketball team, which competed against local high school athletes and the Lynn Teachers Association. He married Helen McDonough Hogan and they had five children. Hogan is a life-long Lynn resident. He continues to bowl.

Howard Lavan (1957) built upon his experiences at Classical High to become a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball club and later a successful artisan and entrepreneur. From 1955 to 1957 he was a member of the LCHS baseball team where he gained leadership experience and learned the importance of teamwork, playing left field and eventually spending his senior year as the team's captain. Upon graduation, he turned down college scholarships to Boston University and Salem State for the chance to play professional baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers for a year and a half. After leaving the Dodgers and serving his country in the United States Army, he moved back home to Massachusetts and learned the art of jewelry making at the North Bennett School in Boston.

Jewelry making became not only a business but a passion. He worked as an apprentice and as a partner for several years, and then eventually opened his own stores where he created and sold jewelry for almost forty years. Partially retired now, he still stays connected to the jewelry business, but he also enjoys traveling and spending time with his grandchildren.

Richard K. Mikszenas (1951) was committed to the winning ways of Classical High at an early age watching his brother Bob play football with "Boley" Dancewicz in 1941 and under the watchful eyes of both Harry Agganis and George Bullard at Barry Park and Breed School in West Lynn. With his many heroes and commitment to be the very best at the various positions called upon him by his coaches at Classical High - he played first, second or third base, forward, guard, half-back on offense and defense - wherever he was needed.

Mikszenas, called 'crazy legs' by his teammates for his running flair, had the cunning ability to intercept many passes thrown by his opponents; and during the 1950 English-Classical clash at Manning Bowl, his last game played as a Ram, he intercepted three and knocked down two more of Lynn English's Art Boland's passes helping Classical to a 13-6 victory.

Upon graduation, Mikszenas was awarded a full scholarship to Wake Forest College only to be interrupted by the Korean War. Honorably discharged in 1956 after four years in the USAF, he returned to college, playing football and baseball for the University of New Hampshire. He graduated in 1960 with a bachelor's degree. He later returned to Lynn where he umpired softball for 36 straight seasons. He received the coveted Stan Kimball Award and the Bunny Lee Award for his community service and dedication to the North Shore Umpire's Association. He also served as president of the North Shore Umpires' Association. A past commander of Lynn's VFW Post 507, he has been happily married for 37 years to Terri Farmer Mikszenas of Beverly. They lived in Danvers until retiring from Wilmington's General Electric/Ametek and now in Clearwater, FL.

Helen T. Ridley (2001) changed the face of girls' basketball. Although the team didn't win a game her freshmen year, her four years as a varsity player were extraordinary. As a sophomore Helen scored a school record 52 points in a game vs. Lynn English and was also a finalist in the Red Auerbach Youth Foundation MASS state free throw championship held at the old Boston Garden and was recognized at half-time at a game between the Celtics and Washington.

In her four years at Classical, she was a Northeastern Conference all-star her sophomore, junior and senior years. She was a Hoffman All-Star junior and senior years. Her senior year she was selected as a Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Hoop Mountain All Star. Helen was named Most Valuable Player of the Northeastern Conference her senior year.

Ridley accumulated more than 1,000 points during her high school career and was also named a captain of the basketball team her junior and senior year. She received a full Division 1 athletic scholarship to Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. She was a four-year letter winner at Quinnipiac University.

Ridley played at the highest level of collegiate sports. She became a starter her junior and senior year and was named a captain her senior year. As a student athlete at Quinnipiac University, Ridley was a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and a member of the Community Action Project. She got her bachelor's degree in public relations with a minor in sociology (2005).

Ridley has worked at the University of New Hampshire as a graduate assistant 2005-2006, and was a full time assistant women's basketball coach, 2006-2007.

In 2007 Helen had the opportunity to go back to Quinnipiac University and work as a full time Assistant Coach in the women's basketball program where she presently works.

Ridley also has her master's degree from Quinnipiac University in Organizational Leadership (2010).

Gary Sverker (1968) played football, ran track, and was captain of the swim team at Classical. He played in the last Joyce Jamboree and the Agganis Football Game.

The University of Rhode Island graduate played four years of football where he earned All-Yankee Conference honors. The lifelong West Lynner began his 36-year physical education teaching career at Breed Junior High School. He went on to teach at the elementary schools and Lynn Tech. He was a basketball official and an ASA umpire for 20 years.

Sverker began coaching at Classical in 1972 and returned in 1984. Along the way, he coached hockey and track. His football coaching career took him from Lynn Classical to North Reading, Bishop Fenwick, Peabody, Lynn English, and the last 19 years as head coach at Lynn Tech. He coached in three Agganis Games and four Super Bowls. He lives in Lynn with his wife Anne. They have three daughters Heather, Jennifer, and Brianna and two grandsons Damon and Trevin.

Alexis "Lex" Thornton (1992) was a three-year football starter at Classical and an integral part of the 1992 track championship team (triple jump and intermediate hurdles).

He was well-known throughout the Northeastern Conference as a fierce football competitor and defensive stopper. Thornton compiled a team leading 221 tackles his junior year and topped that with 226 tackles his senior year. Thornton's 1991 team was crowned NEC co-champs and he was named to the Boston Herald All-Scholastic Team and was further honored by The Item as the Defensive Player of the Year. In 1992 Thornton was selected to play in the annual Shriners' Football Game (defensive captain) as well as the Agganis All-Star football game.

Upon graduation from LCHS, Thornton accepted a football scholarship to Boston University where he was a four year letterman. Thornton's 1993 BU Team captured the Yankee Conference Championship by finishing the season with a 12-0 record. Thornton received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1996 and was invited to attend the Jacksonville Jaguars football combine. After a brief taste of the NFL, he returned home to Lynn to work as an educator and football coach at both the Lynn Community Charter School and Classical. Today Thornton works in the field of law enforcement.

James Twombly (1958) proudly wore the green and gold of LCHS from 1955 to 1958 and as captain of the football team his senior year he was selected to play in the Harry Agganis All Star game that year. He played baseball for Mel Palumbo for two years before graduating at 16 years of age and attending Brewster Academy for a PG year. He graduated from UNH playing football and baseball and was a member of the undefeated Yankee Conference Championship Football Team of 1962.

Joining the Air Force in 1963, Thornton graduated from Officer Training School and the Air Force's Navigational Training School in 1964. He flew tactical support missions in Southeast Asia from 1966-1971. From training Air Force Navigators to becoming an Aerospace Physiologist teaching the effects of flight on the human body, he spent 22 years in the Air Force obtaining a master's degree from Webster University in St. Louis. Upon retirement from the Air Force he returned to UNH to assist his alma mater in fund raising for Athletic Scholarships for 10 years. He was elected to the Rochester, N.H. City Council and served for eight years as a city councilor before being elected to the N.H. General Court for which he served as a legislator representing Rochester for eight years. In 2007 he was inducted into the UNH ROTC Hall of Fame for his contributions and service to his country, UNH, State of New Hampshire and City of Rochester.

The 1992 Classical Spring Track Team, under the leadership of coach Gary Bogart, brought home the Class D championship with only five members. Richard Valentine, Marlon Gore, Karim Gibson, Lex Thornton and Geoffrey Boyd successfully compiled enough points to bring to Lynn Classical High School the first track championship in the school's sports history.

That day a new Class D long jump record of 21'11" was set by Classical's Geoffrey Boyd, and the relay team had a personal best time. Three out of the five members of that track team went on to compete at the Division IAA level and were proud to represent their home town and Classical High School. The team would like to extend their gratitude to Mr. Joe Abelon, who unselfishly gave of his personal time to help the team perfect the techniques that were necessary to win and set what is understood to be one of the best recorded times for the school 4x100 relay team. Finally, a special thanks from the team goes to Coach Gary "Bogie" Bogart, who led the track team to its first ever Class D spring track championship.