2 weeks Ago By By Nick Giannino | Sports Editor
The pure sense of pride and fellowship that stems from the Gloucester community and its high school athletic programs is truly unmatched. And if you aren’t from there or haven’t experienced the tightknit nature of the area, you may never know just how prominent that pride actually is. Those who grow up on the “island” may venture elsewhere at one point or another, but more often than not, those individuals gravitate back towards their home city later in life.
That reality was on full display Saturday afternoon in the Gloucester High School Field House, as the school honored its newest Athletic Hall of Fame induction class with a heartfelt ceremony. It was the Fishermen’s first class since 2015 and 14th overall, with 10 different individuals added to the previous 149 members of the heralded Hall. “We all come from different times and eras, but there was one thing that we had in common: we came from Gloucester and (it’s) the history and traditions, the community which we were a part of that made it a special place,” Thomas Babson, a 1963 GHS graduate and one of this year’s inductees, said to the crowd and his fellow inductees during his acceptance speech.
“I grew up here, I went away for 20 years to be an actor and see the world, and I always wanted to come back (to Gloucester). I did, and I came back here to start my family.” During his playing days, Babson shined for the hockey team as a four-year starter and supreme goal scorer, propelling Gloucester into their deepest state tournament run at the time: an appearance in the state quarterfinals.
He also starred for the tennis team, and his high school career was just one of many impressive runs highlighted at Saturday’s ceremony. Paul Ingram, the school’s legendary football coach who won three Super Bowl titles with Gloucester in a four-year span, was also honored. He, too, spoke about the camaraderie surrounding the GHS community, while also shouting out five of his former players — Adam Orlando (Class of 2001), Nate Hunter (‘05), Andrew Fulford (‘08), Conor Resel (‘10) and Adam Philpott (‘11) — each of whom were also enshrined on Saturday.
“I’d like to congratulate all the other inductees and I’m so proud that five of them I had the privilege of coaching,” said Ingram. “Please note that every single one of these men were multi sport athletes, and I get worried when I see kids today going out for just one sport. “I’ve coached in many communities,” continued Ingram.
“However, I’ve always believed that Gloucester is a unique city whose physical lifestyle and competitive spirit was great for football. I believe Gloucester’s culture had a lot to do with our teams and our success.” Each of Ingram’s players that were honored brought their own unique skillset to the table during a string of wildly successful campaigns.
Among their other accomplishments, Fulford set the still-standing career TD record with 57 scores; Hunter was an NEC Defensive Player of the Year with a program single-season record 15 sacks while also thriving on the track surface as a thrower; Orlando scored three TDs including the game-winner in the 2000 Division 3 Super Bowl; Philpott shined on the basketball court but was also a two-way force in football; and Resel set multiple GHS rushing records and earned NEC MVP, among other accolades. “When you come from a community like Gloucester it’s not just a one time thing,” added Philpott, who now serves as the Fishermen’s boys varsity basketball coach after scoring 1,300 points during his HS playing career. “It sounds cliché but there’s something truly unique about this place.
To be born here and to have the opportunity to play with some of the players I’ve gotten to play with and be coached by some of those coaches is something I will never take for granted.” Another legendary Fishermen coach, Jim Munn, was also honored for his unprecedented contributions to the school’s track and field teams. From 1993-2010 he piled up more than 250 combined dual meet wins in the NEC with 23 total conference championships and 11 undefeated seasons.
Munn was represented at the ceremony by his two sons, Corey and Janda Ricci Munn, the latter of whom put together a moving acceptance speech on his father’s behalf. In addition, there were two more-than-deserving female honorees in this year’s class. Meghan Riley, a field hockey star and 2000 graduate, was one of those two individuals, and carried out the theme of speaking glowingly about her GHS experience.
“Field hockey has given me some of the best memories of my adolescence, but it wasn’t so much playing field hockey as it was playing field hockey for Gloucester,” she said. “I had so much fun playing with my sisters and friends and there’s such a sense of pride that came with representing the Gloucester Fishermen.” The other was Clare Pleuler, a 2012 graduate who was wracking up conference all-star nods in soccer, indoor track and softball not too long ago.
Pleuler guided the Fishermen girls soccer team to their first two tournament wins in program history and a Division 2 North semifinal appearance before going to play for nationally ranked Boston University. She still holds the outdoor 800 meter and javelin records at GHS, too. “It’s really nostalgic to be back in the GHS Field House where so many incredible memories were made,” said Pleuler.
“Gloucester has always been full of athletic talent and I think this induction class is a great example of that.” With Lisa Olson handling the MC duties at Saturday’s ceremony and chairperson of the GHS Hall of Fame committee Bill Goodwin also on hand offering words of support, the overall event was certainly a memorable and special one for all involved. Nearly a dozen former inductees were in attendance for the celebration as well.
The school now plans to continue to induct a new class every two years as the Gloucester High Athletic Hall of Fame tradition is brought back to life. Sports Editor Nick Giannino may be contacted at 978-675-2712 or [email protected] .
Sports Editor Nick Giannino may be contacted at 978-675-2712 or [email protected] . Thomas Babson — Class of 1963 Andrew Fulford — Class of 2008 Nate Hunter — Class of 2005 Paul Ingram Jim Munn Adam Orland — Class of 2001 Adam Philpott — Class of 2011 Clare Pleuler — Class of 2012 Conor Resel — Class of 2010 Meghan Riley — Class of 2000 {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
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