Induction Class Of 2005

Jose Correia burst on the New Bedford athletic scene when he ran a 5:03 mile as a seventh-grade student. The anticipation was great for his arrival in the fall of 1986, and he would demonstrate a graceful yet powerful running style that would establish him as one of the track program's greatest and most versatile runners.

He captured the State Coaches' Invitational freshman race as well as the Brown University freshman race during that initial cross country season and the career was off and running. Joe would go on to establish freshman class records in the 440 yd. (52.1), 880 (2:00.3), one mile (4:26.6) and two mile (9:47) that still stand today.

His accomplishment include the school record in the mile (4:13.1) that he set as a junior when he won the Louck's Games (White Plains, NY) championship. The Class A, All-State and New England titles that he captured indoors in the 1000 yard run. There were the two consecutive years that he led the nation as ho recorded the fastest times (2:14.6) in the 1000 as both a junior and a senior. There were his three consecutive appearances on the Boston Globe All Scholastic cross country team.

As a senior, there are two individual races that were unique in the Joe Correia files. The first was described by the Standard Tunes as follows: "Correia, the defending All State 1000-yard champion won his specialty and answered a curtain call in the mile relay with a blistering anchor leg that won the race and clinched second place overall for NBHS."

What wasn't mentioned was that Joe had run down the State 300-yard champion in the process. 

In the second story the cross country team was facing the final dual meet of the season and a win would clinch an unbeaten season The opponent was also unbeaten and it became evident midway through the race that the only way the Whalers could win would be by sweeping the top three places Correia was running alongside Walter Chomak attempting to finish one two when he sent Chomak on his way and ran back to get the team's third runner. 

Today, Jose is employed by E & R Systems as a technical specialist with a territory that covers North America. He, his wife Gayle, and a son Jonah reside in North Dartmouth.

In 1906, Cathy's t freshman year at NBHS, the girls soccer program was launched under Coach Bob Parker. With very little soccer experience, Cathy showed her athletic talents by scoring the first goal in the history of the program and continuing to set the all time NBHS scoring record with 77 goals and 27 assists (a record that stood until 2004). She was also the team captain and Standard Times All-Star in her Jr. and St. years.

As a 4-year starter on the basketball team, Cathy became the 1st female player in history to score 1000 points, ending her career with 1178. She was selected Standard-Times All-Star in her Jr. and St. years. As the team captain her Sr. year, she was also selected to the Boston Globe All-State team and received the 1st Dave Cowens Award for the outstanding female basketball player in the Greater New Bedford area.

Statistically, softball may have been Cathy's best sport. As a four-year starter at shortstop, she won the Division 1 state batting title with an average of .614 in her sophomore year. A Standard-Times All-Star in her Soph, Jr, and Sr years she led the whalers to their 1st and only State Championship in 1989. As the team captain in her Sr year, she was again selected to the Boston Globe All-State team.

Upon graduation, Cathy attended Wheaton College and continued her brilliant career in both basketball and softball. As a two-time member of the New England Women's Eight All-Conference basketball team, she ended her career as the College's all-time leading scorer with 1292 points. The team leader in scoring and assists Cathy led Wheaton to its 1st NCAA final-four appearance in women's basketball in the school's history. She served as team captain her Sr. year.

A 4-year starter at shortstop and team captain her Sr. year she led Wheaton to its 1st appearance in the ECAC tournament in school history

England 1st team shortstop and & time New England Women's Eight All-Conference team. Still holding

20 Wheaton College softball records her most prestigious award was being named the NCAA Division

III National Batting Champion in 1002 with an average of .538

Cathy currently teaches elementary Physical Education in Fairhaven and is the Head Softball Coach at Fairhaven High School. In her spare time, she officiates high School field hockey and basketball and still plays ice hockey, basketball, and indoor soccer in various women's leagues.

Roger Lewis Ill graduated from NBH& in 1080. Known as "Tres", Roger had incredible jumping ability and was known for his funny smile and his left-handed jump shot. Tres scored 1281 points in his career and as a Junior averaged 20.2 points per game reaching double figures in all 20 regular season games, his season high was 34 points in a 59-56 win over Durfee.

As a Senior, he scored 430 points again scoring double figures in every game. In the Brockton Christmas Tournament, he scored 46 against Don Bosco and 30 against Brockton guiding the Whalers to the championship and getting the MVP Award. Tres was selected to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and New Bedford Standard-Times All-Scholastic Teams. He was also voted to play on the Top 40 team, which is comprised of the top 48 players in Massachusetts Tres went on 10 Maine Central Institute where he was the leading scorer and MVP. Tres went on to Vincennes University in Indiana where he received his associate's degree in communications and was selected as Defensive Player of the Year twice.

Tres went on to play Division 1 basketball at Eastern Michigan University. In his Senior year, they advanced to the sweet sixteen of the NCAA Tournament where they lost to powerful North Carolina. In the NCAA Tournament Tres averaged 22 minutes a game and scored a big basket in the waning second of overtime for a win against Penn State to put them into the Sweet Sixteen. Tres was known as a "defensive specialist" earning him the Defensive Player of the Year Award during his two seasons at Eastern Michigan. Tres Graduated from Eastern Michigan in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications. Tres now lives in Reading MA with his wife Michelle. He works as a Court Officer in Woburn. Tres and Michelle are expecting their first child together in September. Tres has twin boys aged 16 Marcus and Kendall.

Russell O'Berry is the only NBHS track athlete to win both a running and field event in both the Class A and All-State Meets. The 1980 graduate would score more points in state championship meets for a career than any other Whaler track athlete had before him.

As a sophomore, athletic success for Russ came quite early. He entered high school as a freshman with a strong work ethic and solid strength foundation. He was a starting varsity defensive end in football as a sophomore. That success continued into the spring as he

would win the Class A triple jump while setting a school record of 45'3". This was just the beginning of what would ultimately be an outstanding track and field career.

Russell focused solely on track as a junior and senior and he continued to dominate at every level that he competed. He was part of the school's triple jump relay team that captured Class A relay titles in both 1979 and 1980. The current school triple jump record (46'10%*) was set by Russ during a relay competition. Russ would capture the triple jump at both the Class A and State meets while finishing third at the New England championship meet in that event.

By his senior year, Russ had developed into New England's premiere high hurdler. Indoors, he Captured the Class A (50 yd.) high hurdle title setting the state record in that event. As there was not a state indoor meet until 1985, the Class A meet was as far as Russ could advance that season. Outdoors, Russ captured the 120-yard high hurdles in every

competition. This included the Class A, State, and New England championship meets. He set

• Class A meet record of 14.0 in the process. His efforts led the Whalers to team titles in the Class A, State, and New England Championships. The Boston Globe recognized Russ as the track athlete of the year in 1980. He accepted a scholarship to the University of Connecticut where he set the school high hurdle record in his first college meet.

Today, Russ lives in Presque Isle,, Maine. He has a home improvement business and is also employed by a marketing firm in Portland ME. He has a daughter Lauren and son Jacob.

Vinnie Mello attended NBHS from 1003 to 1900. During those years he established himself as an all-star athlete. Vinnie started on the football team from 1963 to 1965, playing offensive and defensive tackle. In 1965 he received the Standard Times Player of the Week award for his outstanding play in the Thanksgiving Day game against Durfee High. He was inducted into the New Bedford High School Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

In his sophomore and junior years, Vinnie played basketball and was a starting forward in his junior year. Although he loved the game of basketball, Vinnie realized that his greatest potential was in the field of track. He ran the 100-yard dash and threw the shot put for the Whalers track team. Vinnie was the Class A state champ for two years. ln 1996 Vinnie set an indoor school record of 56'7" and placed 3rd at the National High School track meet m New York City. After high school, Vinnie went to SMU graduating in 1971. In 1979 and 1980 Vinnie coached football at Old Colony High School and was an assistant coach at UMass Dartmouth from 1985 to 1987.

Vinnie has been in the insurance and financial service industry for 26 years. He is currently a financial advisor with the AIG Corporation. Vinnie has many local affiliations including the Board of Directors of the New Bedford Boys and Girls Club, New Bedford Chamber of Commerce, NAACP, Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association, and the 9/18 Golf Club.

These days Vinnie still follows Now Bedford High School sports closely, he enjoys watching his granddaughter, Linee  Mello Frost, a sophomore at the high school, following in his footsteps by making a name for herself in the athletic department.

Ron Barboza graduated from NBHS in 1965. Ron was an outstanding athlete during the 1960s, playing two years of football and basketball before turning his full attention to track & field. He was the captain and leading scorer of the track team during his senior year. He went undefeated in the long jump during dual meet competitions and went on to capture the Class A long jump title. He held several school records and is still the record holder in the long jump at (22'6%*) after 40 years. On scholarship to Morgan State College, he competed in cross country, winter and spring track earning varsity letters.

Returning to NB in 1969, he became a physical education instructor at Roosevelt Jr. High and coached football, basketball and track. Ron was the first coach to have girls competing in this pre-Title 1X era, even before any of the high schools had girl's teams. In 1975, he became the head coach of the girls' spring track program at NBHS. The Whalers had immediate success and many of those teams and performances would be outstanding in any era. Altogether, there are eight school records set by Barboza-coached relay teams or individual athletes that still stand today. Quite frankly, when on thinks of NBHS track, one must start the discussion with the name Ron Barboza.

Ron left his head coaching position after the 1983 season so that he could devote more time to his growing family and his passion Cape Verdean Culture. He returned to coach both indoor and outdoor track from the winter of 2002 through June of 2004.

Today, Hon is retired after a thirty-five-year teaching career in New Bedford, He continues is work as a Cape Verdean historian and photographer and has had major exhibitions at the

1992 World's Fair in Sevilla, Spain and at the Smithsonian Institutes (1995). He still resides in New Bedford with his wife Helen They have four children, Ron Jr., Banka, Bianca, and Adia. Ron and Helen became grandparents for the first time this past January with the birth of a grandson, Camraun.

"Mr. Secret Weapon" as Joe was described by Don Harrington, sports writer for the New Bedford Standard Times, watching Joe's performances in football, baseball and basketball.

Head football coach Thomas Eck described Joe as the "Most courageous athlete" he had coached in his over 30 years of coaching football. His baseball coach, Charles Luchetti, described Joe as perhaps the best shortstop ever to play at NBHS with tremendous range and a clothes line like throw to first base.

Joe was a halfback on offense and a safety on defense; he also served on all of the Specialty teams receiving both kick-offs and punts and expected to make the tackle when kicking to the other team: He also served as an end and wide receiver owing to his speed and great hands. Joe was also the backup place kicker, punter and extra point kicker.

In baseball, Joe excelled as well playing varsity all 3 years as shortstop, earning All Bristol County honors all three years. in 1951 Joe began his athletic career by throwing the first pitch to initiate the Eagles Little League of New Bedford. Pitching for Frank's Variety vs.

Pop Smith Sports. Frank's won 25 - 0 with Joe allowing only 3 hits and striking out 11. He also was 3 for 5 hitting and scored 4 runs. Joe was also invited back to throw the first pitch in the Fiftieth Anniversary Game of the League. Joe also played Post 1 Legion baseball where he was batting champion both of the years he played and was awarded the Mayor Francis J. Lawler City of New Bedford Trophy for the two years he played.

Joe holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from UMass Amherst having been awarded the New York School of Psychiatry Fellowship Award for his Academics in Psychology. Ho was also the recipient of 1972 Outstanding Man of the Year for work with handicapped children. Joe and his wife of 43 years Nadine live in Clifton Park, New York. They have 2 sons. Glenn and Dean and 3 grandchildren, Kaitlin 10, Garrett 8, and Noah 7.

John Mckenna is a 1954 graduate of New Bedford High School. In 1952 he transferred from Holy Family High School and became a tireless three sport standout at NBHS Competing in football, basketball and baseball. He was selected to All-Bristol County teams in all three sports and was inducted into the NBHS Gridiron Club's Hall of Fame in 1990.

In 1955, John signed a pro-baseball contract as a catcher with the Brooklyn Dodgers and participated in spring training sessions until the final cut but was considered too small for a professional catching carrier.

John was drafted in 1956 to serve in the U.S. Army and was sent to Korea for eighteen months. He was assigned to Special Services and played basketball and baseball on the All Far East Tournaments in Korea and Japan.

Following his military service, John remained active in sports playing football with the James

P. Murphy Memorial Club and numerous semi-pro baseball teams in the area. It was then he turned to officiating the three sports he loved, which he did for forty-five years at the high school level.

John worked for the City of New Bedford Engineering Department and eventually became the Department Head of the New Bedford Traffic Commission. He retired in 1997 after forty-five years of employment but remains active as a volunteer for the Buttonwood Seniors Travel Club. He currently still lives in New Bedford with his wild of forty-six years Ann Dalzell They have five sons, Timothy, Thomas, Kevin, J.D. and Christopher and five grandchildren, Jessica, Kacey, Ryan, Madison and Meghan.

Thomas Cambra was born on the 12th day of the 12th month in the 12th year, December 12, 1912, and had 12 letters in his name. He played baseball for four years at New Bedford High School, 1920-1031. He also played freshman soccer and basketball. He was the ace pitcher for the American Legion Juniors who won the State Championship at Fenway Park in 1929.

This was written by O. E. Epstein in the Now Bedford Times on August 22, 1929. " Thomas Cambra, youthful High Flinger, is the rosiest baseball prospect who has been developed in this section in many a day. Going through a grueling series that had games scheduled on successive days, the stocky Grimson Flinger came through with flying colors. His work was so effective that Major League Attaches started to pay attention."

In the ten games which he pitched for the American Legion Juniors in 1929 he struck out 142 opponents in 81 innings, almost 16 for each complete game, he was 16 years old at the time. He was a perennial High School All Star selection and was the star pitcher on the New Bedford Times All-Scholastic Team in 1931. At 16 he played in the Twilight League for the Dartmouth Mill team and other leading clubs in the city setting many strikeout records. In 1933 he pitched for Samuel Johnson Academy (Ct.) and pitched in the Cape Cod, New England and Northeastern Leagues. 

He later turned to golf and in 1956 partnered up to win the Fall River Country Club Invitational and in 1959 was again a partner in winning the New Bedford Country Club's

August Fourball.

Tommy died unexpectedly on June 22, 19/0, at the age of 57 which was much too early, even if he had a full life of Memories.