Induction Class Of 2013

John B. Seed ('98) is the son of NBHS Hall of Famer and current baseball coach John D. Seed, Jr. ('72).

John was a three-sport athlete at NBHS from 1994-1998, playing football (3 letters), basketball (2 letters) and baseball (4 letters). He was a member of the 1994 Division I Super Bowl Championship team in football and the 1998 Division | State Championship baseball team.

Additionally, John led his American Legion Post 1 team to the state title in 1997.

In football, John played wide receiver as a junior. He caught 20 passes for 420 yards and 4 touchdowns. However, it was as a senior that he came into his own as the team's Quarterback.

He set school season records for touchdown passes (17) and passing yards (1,765) that still stand today. He led the Whalers to a 7-4 record and a trip to the Division I Super Bowl. He was named the team's Most Valuable Player and was a Big 3 All-Star, Boston Herald AlI-Star, Standard-Times All-Star, and a finalist for the Otto Graham Award. He was also nominated nationally as a candidate for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award.

John's best sport, baseball, was where he really made a name for himself. He was the first player in school history to play four years on the varsity, starting every game the Whalers played during that span. He owns school records for most consecutive games played (92), hits

(113), doubles (25), and RBI (86). He finished his career with a .363 batting average. Most memorable for John was his game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the 7th inning to beat Dartmouth his junior year; hitting two home runs and driving in seven runs in the 1998 state semi-final game; and winning the Division / State Championship at Fenway Park as a senior in 1998. John was a 1998 Boston Globe All-Scholastic, a three-time Big 3 All-Star, the Big 3 MVP in 1998, Standard-Times Player of the Year in 1998, and a 3-time Standard Times All-Star. He was also named MVP of the 1998 Massachusetts State Tournament.

John played Division I collegiate baseball at UMass Amherst following his graduation from

NBHS. After graduating from UMass, John attended the New England School of Law and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 2007.

After serving as a Suffolk County Assistant

District Attorney for three years, he left the office to become a partner at the Boston law firm of Krefetz and Seed where he is a criminal defense lawyer. He currently resides in Peabody, Massachusetts with his wife, Bethany, and their son, John.

Debbie Sousa was one of the rare student/ athletes at NBHS who not only lettered in three varsity sports but was also selected as captain of all three sports she participated in.

She competed at the varsity level for four consecutive years in soccer, basketball, and softball. She was selected captain of the softball team in 1997 and 1998, captain of the basketball team in 1998, and captain of the soccer team in 1997.

As a catcher on the softball team, she was a 4-year starter on a team that was Big

3 Champions in 1995 and 1996. She was selected by The Boston Globe and The New BedfordStandard-Timess to their Softball All-Star Teams.

As a soccer player,r Debbie was a 4 year starter also. She played the mid-field position as well as a forward position. She was good enough to be selected to TheStandard-Timess and Big 3 All-Star Teams.

Debbie was a 4-year player and 3-year starter on the NBHS basketball team. During her junior and senior years, Debbie and her teammates enjoyed enormous success and finished each year as the Big 3 Champions. Debbie was a guard on these teams and because of her outstanding play, she was chosen as a Standard-Timess, Big 3 Conference, and Boston Globe All-Star. She ended her basketball career at NBHS as the all-time leader in assists. She was nominated in 1998 for the Dave Cowens Award, given to the outstanding basketball player of the year. Also in 1998 she made the Mass. Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Team and received both the Robyn Dabrowski and the Richard "Digger" Phelps Awards. With all these accomplishments, it was a foregone conclusion that she would receive New Bedford High's most coveted honor given for academic and athletic excellence, the James P. Murphy Award. To complete her senior year she was voted Female Athlete of the Year by the entire NBHS coaching staff.

Debbie is presently the Director of Rehab for Alliance Rehab located in Bristol, Connecticut. She is also a world traveler, spending much of her leisure time in various locales around the world.

From 1995 to 1998 Yusef White was a runner at New Bedford High School. He was a running back for 4 years (2 years on the varsity) and a multi-talented competitor on the Whaler track teams. He was a highly successful sprinter, hurdler, long jumper and relay runner both in Indoor Track and Spring Track.

As a football player, Yusef began his junior year as the starting tailback for the Whalers but was injured in his second game of the season. He came back for game six, and in the last five games, he scored 4 touchdowns. This was an indication of what was to come in his senior year.

His breakout year was as a senior when he led NBHS to a trip to the MIAA Division I Super Bowl. Along the way, he scored 21 touchdowns, including 4 in a 35-14 romp over Durfee High School on Thanksgiving Day.

He traded his football cleats for winter track shoes and continued his phenomenal senior-year performances. He was a Class A 300-meter run Champion and he also long jumped 21'11";. He was named the Outstanding Athlete of the Pilgrim Conference.

As a relay runner, his 4 X 200meter relay team won the McIntyre Relay Championship, which featured the top relay teams in New England. He helped the team score a strong 10th-place finish in the Indoor National Championships.

Spring arrived and Yusef was still running. He was a member of the 4 X 400 meter relay team that won a State Championship. He also led his team to a Class A long jump title. He ran the second leg on the team's 4 X 100-meter relay and had the second-best time in the state at 43.2 seconds.

As an individual runner, he had area bests in the 400 meters (49.8), the 300-meter hurdles (38.6) and the long jump (21'3").

For his career, Yusef scored 93 points in Class A, State, and New England Competitions and in 1998 was named The Standard Times Male Athlete of the Year.

Jill Paquette played for three athletic teams at New Bedford High School; basketball, volleyball and softball. She lettered in two of those sports, volleyball and softball. She also was elected captain of the volleyball and softball teams in her senior year.

Softball was Jill's main claim to fame. As the pitcher of a NBHS team that went to the MIA Division | South Sectional semi-finals, she ended the regular season of 1996 with a 13-1 record. One of those victories was a no-hitter, two of those victories were

1-hitters, and one was a 2-hitter. During the course of her senior season, she struck out 82 batters and walked only 7. The culmination of her season came when she beat the top-ranked team in the state, Bishop Fenwick 2-1, throwing a 1-hitter in the process. In the two years that Jill was the ace of the pitching staff, she compiled a regular season record of 25-4.

Because of her heroics on the volleyball court and the softball diamond, and because of her academic prowess as well, Jill was voted Female Athlete of the Year for 1996 by the entire NBHS coaching staff, and was also the recipient of the James P. Murphy Memorial Award given to a New Bedford High student who excels both athletically and academically.

She was selected by the Standard-Times as the Softball Player of the Year, and The Boston Globe, as well as the Boston Herald, selected her to their respective all-star teams.

Jill was also picked to compete in the Massachusetts vs. Connecticut all-star game at the end of the season.

Jill went on to play softball for Stonehill College. She played 4 years at Stonehill and was the captain of the team in her senior year. She graduated with academic honors from Stonehill in 2000, and in 2008 she earned her Master's Degree from San Francisco State University.

Presently she is the director and lead instructor of Integrated English Solutions, a firm that provides English language instruction and service solutions for independent clients and companies. The firm is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the city Jill now calls home. Jill is the mother of 4 year old Mateo Pichardo Paquette, whom she says, has been successfully hitting line drives off a "T" since the age of 18 months.

Scott Medeiros was a rare "pool rat" with enough early experience to allow him to step into the starting line-up as a freshman. He contributed immediately and worked extremely hard, quickly becoming the most versatile swimmer in the history of boys' swimming at New Bedford High.

As a sophomore, he was a team leader and placed second in the 100 yd. freestyle

(50.32) and third in the 200 yd. freestyle (1:51.02) at the South Sectional Championships.

As a junior Scott's times continued to drop steadily and his value to the team increased with his unselfish contributions in more different events (where ever the team needed him). He was undefeated in dual meets in several different events and was the South Sectional Champion in the 100 yd. freestyle (49.70), and third in the 50 yd. freestyle (22.90).

During his senior year, Scott was a Co-Captain and once again was undefeated in dual meets in several different events. He accomplished a rarity in qualifying for the Sectional Championships in all eight individual swimming events, although the rules limited him to competing in only two events. Scott was also accomplished enough in the diving event to compete and win against most teams. He was the Sectional Champion in the 50 yd. freestyle (22.22) and placed third in the 100 yd. butterfly (55.52).

Few people knew that Scott accomplished these fetes by swimming with a broken bone in his wrist, which was the result of a bicycle accident. His doctor fashioned a two part cast that was removable to allow him to swim with only heavy tape on his wrist.

After graduating in June of 1988, Scott attended Southern Connecticut State University and Bridgewater State University. He has remained active in sports including hockey, motorcycle racing, bicycle racing (he was a two-time Charlestown Cycling Time Trial Champion) and he is a past Freeskate Ice Sailing National Champion.

At present Scott lives in Wakefield, Rhode Island and is a stay at home dad, while working for the W.E. Stedman Bicycle Company. He is married to Julie Snow, who is a Professor of Mathematics at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. They have a daughter Gabriella, who is 7 years old.

Beth was a three-sport, varsity athlete at New Bedford High School from 1982-1986, participating in swimming & diving, gymnastics, and track & field. She served as co-captain for both the swimming & diving team and the gymnastics team. Beth also held school records in each of the three sports she participated in.

As a member of the gymnastics team, Beth held school records in uneven bars, beam, vault, and the all-around event. She was selected as a League All-Star on bars, floor, and the all-around event. Beth joined the swim team with the intention of participating in swimming events, however, she quickly realized that her gymnastics experience would help her to excel as a diver. Beth placed 1st in the 1-meter diving event at the 1984 Sectional Meet. She also set the 1-meter diving school record, which she still holds today.

During track & field season, Beth competed in the long jump, triple jump, javelin, high jump, and 4 x 110 relay. She set the high jump school record, clearing 5'1.

In 1986, Beth was awarded the James Murphy Memorial Award for excellence in athletics, citizenship, leadership, and scholarship. She was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated with Highest Honors.

After graduation, Beth attended Providence College and graduated in 1990 with a B.S. degree in Marketing. While at PC, she continued her diving career as a member of the swimming & diving team. Beth set the school's 1-meter diving record (336.50) as well as the 3-meter diving record (384.00). She qualified for the Division 1 National Swimming & Diving Qualifications Meet. During her senior year, Beth was selected to be the co-captain and was named the Division 1 New England Diver of the Year. Beth was also named to the Big East Academic All-Star Team.

After college, Beth worked in the Marketing Department of the accounting firm of Price-waterhouseCoopers LLC., until starting a family with her husband, Dan. After taking time off to stay home with her daughters, Erin and Caroline, Beth is currently working at the Wallingford, CT Police Department.

Henry played soccer and ran spring track. It was soccer that he excelled at. Henry was a three year varsity starter and in his senior was team captain and the team MVP. He lead his team to the South Sectional finals and was selected in 1982 and 1983 to the Southeastern Mass.

Conference All-Star soccer team. In 1983 he was selected to The Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic Boys Soccer Teams. As a player at New Bedford High School, Henry tallied 27 goals and 52 assists.

After graduating from New Bedford high, Henry attended Massasoit Community College. In 1984 and 1985 he was selected to the NJCAA All New England Team and in 1985 was a NJACC All American. Henry then went on to Southern Connecticut State University. In 1987 Henry and the Owls became the University's first soccer champions, winning the NCAA Division Il National Soccer Championship.

After college, Henry then went on to play semi-professional for the LASA. He played for the Portuguese Sports Club and the Portuguese American Club. From 1994-1999 he coached varsity soccer at Case High School in Swansea, MA. From 2001-2005 he was the JV coach at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational High School and from 2006 to the present he is the Boys Varsity Coach at Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech. Henry has led the Bears to six South Coast Soccer Conference Championships and five Vocational State Championships.

In 2011 Henry coached the Voc-Tech Bears to the MIAA Division | South Sectional Title. He was selected to coach the MIAA Division | All-Star Team. He was also selected Eastern Mass Soccer Association Coach of the Year as well as All Scholastic Boys' Coach of the Year. He was honored by Senator Scott Brown for his selection as All Scholastic Coach of the Year.

Henry resides in Acushnet with his wife Fatima, and their children Meagan, Katia, Cassandra, and Robert.

Mike Shea has been a member of this community his entire life. He graduated from New Bedford High School in 1970 where he played football, basketball, and track. He was the captain of the football team his Senior year and during his Senior year, he was selected as an all-star for the New Bedford Standard-Times, Taunton Daily Gazette All-Scholastic, Boston Globe Honorable Mention, Boston Herald Traveler Honorable Mention, WNBH Sports Achievement Award winner and the NBHS Player of the Year, DR. Paul+ Walsh Trophy. In winter track, he only lost one dual meet all season in the shot put. He won the Association League Meet with a throw of 50'3 1/4",

', won the area vocational meet and placed 4th in the shot put in the Class A State Meet.

In Spring Track, Mike threw the shot put and discus. Mike's best shot put throw in his Senior year was 50’3 3/4”. 

Mike's best discus throw was 146'7" Mike won the Suburban League Discus title. In spring 1970 Mike teamed up with Alan Zexter and Mike McCann to win first place in the Class A relays in the discus and 2nd place in the shot put. He also placed 6th in the discus in the Class A State meet. During Mike's sophomore and Junior years, he played on the basketball team. He was Vice President of his Senior Class and continues to be involved in planning reunions and activities for the Class of 1970.

Upon graduation, he entered Boston University where he majored in Health and Physical Education. Mike was a walk-on for the Boston University football team his freshman year and earned a scholarship for the next three years playing football. While at BU, Mike started as an offensive guard for 3 years and was selected as Team Captain for two games in his Senior master's in education in 1975 from Boston University.

Mikes education continued when he

earned his CAGS (Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies) degree from Bridgewater State College in School Administration in 1986.

Mike was a science teacher and football coach at Fairhaven High School for 3 years before transferring to a Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School in 1978. Mike was a Physical Education teacher for 5 years Head Football Coach for 6 years, Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics for 5 years, the principal for 18 years, and 6 years as the Superintendent-Director before his retirement in June 2011.

Mayor Jon Mitchell asked Mike to come out of retirement in May 2012 to be the Interim Superintendent for the New Bedford Public Schools. Even though Mike was very happy to retire, he felt honored and knew that this was one way he could give back to the city of New Bedford, which has given so much to him.

Mike is married to Cynthia and is the father of Erin DaSilva, Colleen Cook and Ryan Shea. He is also the grandfather of Lauren, Alex, Allison and Megan DaSilva, and Tucker and Taylor Cook.

Lee Baptista was a three-year starter on the football team at New Bedford High School from 1956-1958. He played center on offense and tackle on defense in the days when players played both offense and defense. He was selected to the All Bristol County Team all three years that he played, the only player other than the great Bobby Watkins to accomplish that feat. His football skills got him a full scholarship to Maine Central Institute, a highly regarded prep school that prepared Division I athletes.

Lee was also a three-year participant on the Whaler track teams as a shot putter. Very few athletes can profess to match the accomplishments of Lee in the shot put circle. He not only was the Class A and All-State Champion but also the New England Champion in the shot put in both 1957 and 1958. He was a long-time record holder in this event at New Bedford High School.

Lee Baptista sadly passed away of a heart attack in 1992 at the age of 52.

Fred Pimentel was a student athlete at New Bedford high school from 1982 to 1986. He participated on the basketball team for 3 years and the football team for 4 years.

As a football player, Fred was elected captain in his senior year. As an offensive and defensive lineman, he was selected as a Standard-Times All-Star in 1985 and was chosen for the Division Ill All-State Team.

Fred went on to Plymouth State College where he played 4 years of varsity football. He was selected captain of his team in 1989. At Plymouth State he was an All ECAC selection and he was a winner of the Currier Award given to a player that showed the most dedication and hustle.

After graduating from Plymouth State College, it was back to New Bedford High where Fred began his teaching career in the Business Department in 1991 and has been there ever since.

Teaching at NBHS allowed Fred to continue his athletic interests. He immediately became an assistant coach in the Whaler football program. He has been an assistant football coach for 23 years and counting.

Then in 1997, the school decided to add wrestling to the athletic program and he was appointed assistant coach for the first ever wrestling team. Having never competed in or coached wrestling before, Fred had to learn a lot and he had to learn fast. He did both. In only his second year of involvement with wrestling, Fred was appointed to the position of Head Coach. He served as Head Coach from 1997 to 2009 and compiled a record of 224 wins and only 49 losses. His teams were Big 3 Champions for 10 consecutive years (2000-2009). Four of his teams advanced to the South sectional finals (2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008) and two of those teams, (2006 and 2008) were South Sectional Champions. So rapid was the success of NBHS wrestling under Fred's tutelage that in only 5 years of varsity competition, NBHS was in the South Sectional finals, and he was selected The Boston Globe's Wrestling Coach of the Year.

During Fred's tenure as Head Wrestling Coach, he produced 18 sectional champions, 3 Division I State Champions, 1 All-State Champion (John Marsh), and 1 New England Champion (Corey Mello).

Fred lives with his wife Maria in Smithfield, Rhode Island and they are the parents of 3 daughters, Kayla 23, Corrin 20, and Kacey 15.