Induction Class Of 2014

Ann Signorella may be the most prolific scorer, over one season, in New Bedford High School sports history. In only its second season of competing in girl's lacrosse, and without the benefit of any junior varsity experience, the NBHS girls found themselves competing at the varsity level against some of the most established programs in the state. As a 2 year captain, Ann set not only an NBHS single-season scoring record but an all-time Massachusetts state scoring record of 80 goals and 30 assists ( a record that stood for many years).

Among her many achievements, Ann was a Boston Herald All-Scholastic, Boston Globe All-State Team selection, and a Boston Globe All-American.

Besides competing in lacrosse Ann was a 4 year varsity player on the field hockey team, also being selected as a captain her senior season. She and her field hockey teammates were 4 time Big 3 Conference Champions, with Ann receiving The Most Improved Player Award.

After graduating from New Bedford High, as a member of the National Honor Society,

Ann enrolled at Stonehill College where she continued her athletic prowess in lacrosse. During her 4 years playing on several of Stonehill's championship Division Il teams, she achieved many individual honors. As captain of the team her Jr. and Sr. years she was also a NE-10 First Team All-Conference Player both years. In 2002 Ann was selected as the NE-10 Conference Championship Most Valuable Player. She also made the NCAA Division II All-Tournament Team and the Brine/WLCA All-American Second Team.

Ann graduated from Stonehill College with a double major: BS in Biology and BA in Fine Arts. She received many academic awards, among them the Brassil Fitzgerald Achievement Scholarship for best all-around rising senior, and studied abroad in Tasmania, Au. She then attended the Royal (Dick) College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and received her Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Degree while graduating with distinction.

While currently a practicing small animal and exotics veterinarian in Victoria, British Columbia, Ann continues to be an avid athlete in several different sports. She has coached lacrosse both at the youth and high school levels and individually has pursued rock and ice climbing from Kenya to Italy. As an accomplished trail runner, she is the 2 year reigning champion of Fletcher's Challenge, Squamish 23km in 2:28. Also a marathon runner she has competed in the Edinburgh Marathon in 2010, the Whidbey Island Marathon 2013 and will be running in the Boston Marathon this year.

During his four years at New Bedford High School, John participated in both Football and Swimming & Diving. As a member of the football team he played wide receiver and competed on the 1994 squad that went undefeated and won the MIAA Div. | Super Bowl Championship.

John began diving for the swim team as a freshman. However, as a sophomore, he completed the season with an 11-0 record in 1-meter diving. He was the Big 3 Conference Champion and was selected as a Conference All-Star.

John placed 3rd. in the South Sectional Championships and during a regular season meet he scored 195.2 points and missed the sophomore school record Sectional & ham punishes, He gai da the big & con tane cha min an

selected as a Swimming All-Star. The Swimming & Diving Team completed the season 11-0 and John was ranked 21st by the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association of America (NISÇA).

John was selected as a Co-Captain of the Swimming a Diving team in his senior year. This team placed 3rd at the State Championship and John won the Boys Div.I State Championship after placing 3rd in the South Sectional meet.

He was again selected to the All-Conference Team.

After graduating in 1997, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served the next 15 years on active duty. He participated in operations in the Balkans and instructed newly commissioned officers in martial arts, water survival, and infantry tactics at The Basic School in Quantico, VA.

At present, John lives in Fredericksburg, VA, and works as the Lead Representative for the Wounded Warrior Call Center (WWCC). The Wwee is a section that falls under the Marine Corps' Wounded Warrior Regiment and provides assistance to wounded, ill and injured Marines that have separated out of the Marine Corps. He continues to serve as a Marine Corps Reservist and Group Gunnery sergeant for 2nd Civil Affairs Group in Washington, Dc.

John is currently taking online classes through National University and volunteers his time managing a Wounded Warrior Resources Group on Special Agent with the U.S. Office of Personal Management, Federa, won an Investigative Service. They have a blended family with their daughter, Adia, and son, Joao, both 11 years old.

Often referred to by Coach Bob Foster as "a very coachable player who showed great leadership," Tiffany played basketball all four years during her tenure at New Bedford High School. Three of those years were as a starter for the varsity Lady Whalers basketball team. The Whaler's 6' forward often created matchup problems for opponents. As one of the team's best defensive players, Tiffany was designated to guard the other team's premier player and often stopped them from scoring. The most elite opponents had their lowest-scoring games against the Whalers due to her lockdown defense.

Tiffany worked hard to develop an outside shot her senior year in addition to her fierce post-play. Furthermore, using natural athleticism to her advantage, Tiffany was called upon to handle the ball in pressure situations. Tiffany's ball-handling skills caused players guarding her to have trouble keeping up. As a co-captain of the Lady Whalers basketball team her senior year, Tiffany averaged 15.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game in helping NBHS end the regular season 15-5 and its first Big Three Conference championship. Tiffany ended her NBHS basketball career with a record-breaking 541 rebounds and still holds the title of "Queen of the Boards." In 1977 she was nominated for the Dave Cowens Achievement Award and was selected the Big Three Conference Player of the Year and The Standard Times Player of the Year. Tiffany was also a two-time Big Three Conference All-Star and Standard Times All-Star. She was the first Lady Whaler since 1989 to make the Best 80 Games, which featured the top 40 boys and top 40 girls in Massachusetts.

Tiffany also excelled as a valued member of the Girls' Volleyball team for three years. After graduating from New Bedford High School, Tiffany began her collegiate career with a full basketball scholarship to American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. Tiffany still enjoys playing competitive basketball.

Wife to Matthew and mother of four; Brycen 14, Elijah 10, Caleb 8 and Olivia 7, Tiffany enjoys a career in Human Services and resides in New Bedford.

Although Ben Figueiredo only played soccer for New Bedford High School in his Jr. and Sr. years, he proved to be one of the greatest players to ever wear the red and white. A prolific goal scorer, he recorded 34 goals and 46 assists leading the Whalers to 39 wins and only 3 losses over his two seasons of play. A captain his Sr. year he also led the team to 2 MIAA South Sectional Championship games.

As a result of Ben's outstanding play, he was selected to several all-star teams and individual honors, including a two-time Big Three Conference All-Star, 2-time Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Star, Standard-Times Player of the Year, Gatorade Circle of Champions, 2-time All-State Team, 2-time All-New England Team, and All-American his Sr. year.

After graduating NBHS Ben continued his playing days both professionally and internationally. His post Whaler playing included: US ISL, USL, and 8 years with the Rhode Island Stingrays. He has imparted his vast knowledge and expertise as a coach at several high schools and colleges in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He is the Director of Coaching and Academy Director of the Premier Club of Expos Soccer & Futbal Club.

In 2009 Ben received a Recognition Award from Senator Mark Montigny for winning the Futbal Nationals with the New England Futbal Academy Boys U19 and Expos Fubal Boys U15. This year, as the head coach of the boys' U19 and women's Futbal US Northeast Regional Champions will compete in the Nationals, in July, in Anaheim, California.

Ben is currently the boys' Head Soccer and Tennis Coach at Bishop Stang High School and resides in Mattapoisett, MA with his wife Melissa and their children; Jaidyn 16, Kennedy 14, Mia 6 and Ava 4.

With a long history of outstanding New Bedford High soccer goalkeepers

Mike Carvalho may be statistically the greatest. As a 4 year starter for the Whalers, he set a career school record of 33 shutouts. For three of his years as a member of the soccer team, he was selected as a captain.

Among his many honors achieved Mike was a 4-year Standard-Times All-Star, a 3year Boston Globe All-Scholastic, a 3 year Boston Herald All-Scholastic, a 3-time Southeastern Conference All-Star, 2 time All-State selection, 2 time All-New England selection, 2 time Bay State Games Gold Medalist and All-American selection his senior year.

After competing at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst for a year Mike continued playing semi-professionally for the Portuguese Sports Club in the Luso American Soccer Association (where he actually began at the age of 16).

Mike has continued his involvement with soccer as the strength and conditioning coach for the Wellington Ware Soccer Program in Wellington, Florida (one of the largest travel programs in the state). He has been part of a coaching staff that took over a U-14 girls' program that was ranked 75th in the state to a top 10 ranking in 3 years. The satisfaction of watching several girls being recruited by major college programs is the reward. He is currently working with multiple goalkeepers, gaining national attention from colleges and Olympic development programs.

He has worked with in the past as well as currently several international players preparing their fitness programs for both international and professional club play.

Mike is currently the National Director of Logistics for Sigma Plastics Group and resides in Royal Palm Beach, Florida with his wife Dara Lynn and his 17-year-old stepdaughter Madison Lamm.

"Dusty" as he is known to teammates and friends was an outstanding 3 sport athlete at New Bedford High School from 1984-1987. He was a two-way player on the football team for 4 years, a goalie on the ice hockey team for 3 years, and threw the shot put for the track team for 4 years.

Dustin not only participated but excelled in all 3 sports during his junior and senior years at NBHS. During those final 2 years, he was selected by the Standard-Times as an All-Star in all three sports. In 2007 Dustin was inducted into the New Bedford High Gridiron Club Hall of Fame. While attending NBHS he was not only an outstanding athlete but an excellent student as well, shown by his induction into the National Honor Society.

After graduating from New Bedford High School Dustin was admitted and also graduated from Brown University. While a student at Brown he played football and his career was cut short after 2 years due to injuries.

Dustin currently lives in Acushnet with his wife of 16 years, Tina and their two children, Bailey 14 and Benjamin 5. He is a fleet manager for Andersen Logistics and in his spare time is a high school official in both football and softball as well as coaching his daughter in soccer and son in t-ball.

Steve Drayton is a 1983 graduate of New Bedford High School and was a four-year member of both the indoor and outdoor track and field programs. During those eight seasons, Steve was a significant contributor to an amazing period in Whaler Track and Field History. In eight seasons, NB Track and Field captured four Class A Team Championships (3 outdoor and 1 indoor)plus three Class A runner-up finishes (2 indoor and one outdoor), four Class A Relay Team Championships (all indoors), two All-State Titles out of a there opportunities there wasn't an All-State Meet during indoors nor was there one during the 1982 outdoor season plus one New England leam lite 1980) and a runner-up finish in 1983 (once again there wasn't an opportunity in 1982 after winning the outdoor Class A title). Oh, and the team managed to win the SMC Indoor and Outdoor Team Championship Meet six out of the seven seasons that it was contested.

What an amazing "run" that Steve shared with fellow 1983 Hall of Fame members Kippy Andrade, Chris Horn, and Jose Rocha. 

Steve was an instant contributor as a freshman, as he set treshman class records in the Soya, 100yd, 220yd, 300yd and 600yd events.

He competed in the Class A meet as a freshman both indoors (buyd) and outdoors (220yd) so he was competing at a young age in high-pressure situations against seasoned juniors and seniors.

By his junior year, Steve had developed into one of the premier sprinters in New England winning the Class A 220-yard title by running times of 23.0, 22.7,22.6 and 22.5 all in one day. Yes, sprinters had to run four heats all in one day back in the 1980s! He followed that up with a 50-point relay carry in a 4 x 400-meter relay as the Whalers easily won the Class A team title. Unfortunately, that was the end of the season for Massachusetts Track and Field athletes as due to the recently passed Proposition 2 / legislation the state did not sponsor an All-State Meet in 1982.

Senior year, Steve was faster and stronger than ever as evidenced by his string of 200's at the 1985 Class A meet (22.0, 22.8,21.9 and 22.0) but that year Steve was second behind one of the premier sprinters in the country by the name of Randy King of Medford. That 21.9 is still a school record that Steve shares with NB alum Jameson Barber '02 and Jeff Rose '08. The 1983 team captured the Class A and All-State titles and finished as runner-ups in the New England Team Championships. He and teammate Kippy Andrade served as captains on the 1982-83 team.

Upon graduation, Steve Drayton held school records in the 100m, 200m/220-yard, and the 4 x 400m and 4 x 440 yard relay.

What an illustrious career and it was carried out by a young man who was always the gentleman, polite, humble and great representative of what New Bedford High School Athletics is all about.

Today, Steve resides in Dartmouth with his wite Susan. Together they have two children, Stephen (23) and Samantha (20) and granddaughter Athena Trinity Brown (age 17 months).

Mark spent most of his high school career (1974-1977) focusing on two sports, baseball and ice hockey. He was named a hockey All-Scholastic in his junior year and in his senior year, he captained both sports and earned All-Scholastic honors in both. At the urging of one of his hockey buddies, he went out for the football team his senior year. Mark ended up starting both ways (tight end and linebacker). He was named Standard-Times Football Player of the Year and was awarded the Dr. Paul F. Walsh Award as the team's defensive MVP.

Mark also excelled in the classroom. He was a member of the National Honor Society and won the Gridiron Club Scholarship. He was also selected as a High School Academic All American for Ice Hockey and was the recipient of the James P. Murphy Memorial Award given for excellence in athletics, citizenship, leadership and scholarship.

Following graduation from NBHS, he played football and ice hockey at Brown University. After receiving his Economics degree in 1981, Mark worked on Wall Street. In 1984, he returned to school to earn his MBA from Harvard Business School. Mark spent the next 15 years as an investment banker in Boston. In 1997, Boston Magazine selected Mark as one of the 40 most influential people in Boston under the age of 40.

Currently, Mark is a partner in a private equity firm. He still plays hockey a few times a week. He lives Wellesley, MA with his wife of 29 years, Beth.

They have 3 children, Alexandra (26), Bryson (21) and Blake (16). Each of the children are accomplished athletes in their own right, Alexandra was a 2 sport athlete in college, Bryson was a High School All American in lacrosse and is now playing in college and Blake is a nationally ranked squash player.

Dennis was a three-sport varsity athlete at New Bedford High School from

1974-1976. He participated in baseball and basketball for all three years of his career, and soccer his senior year, following a short stint on the football team during his sophomore and junior years. During his senior year, Dennis was selected as a co-captain of the baseball, basketball,l and soccer teams.

Despite having never played soccer, Dennis quickly earned a starting position at right wing his senior year. Proving to be a major offensive contributor, he helped lead the team in 1976 to the Southeastern Conference Championship at Boston College, where he scored 6 goals in the two games that were played.

In addition to excelling on the soccer field, Dennis' contributions were no less significant on the basketball court. Playing all three years of his high school career, with two of them spent at the varsity level, he proved to be an excellent defensive player as his team's point guard. Nicknamed "Mr. De-fense" by his teammates and coaches, his tremendous speed proved to be just as much of an asset on the court as it was on the soccer field.

Baseball was Dennis's greatest passion, however, and it was where enjoyed the most success. Serving as an outfielder and starting pitcher all three years of his New Bedford High School career, his senior year saw him lead his team to the Eastern Massachusetts Championship, earning him an MVP award and a spot on the Standard-Times All-Star Team for his pitching.

After high school, Dennis went to work for various contracting companies.

He eventually branched out on his own and started his own business specializing in finish carpentry, which has thrived for over 30 years. He resides in Mattapoisett with his wife Pat and their son Matthew.

Matt Bernardo was a two-sport star at New Bedford High School from

1962-1964. He was the Whalers' starting quarterback in 1962 and 1963 and the catcher on the baseball team in 1963 and 1964.

It is difficult to determine which sport he excelled in more, as he was an outstanding performer in both sports.

In football, during the 1962 season, he was instrumental in leading NBHS to a 5 and 2 record. He wasn't the star of the team but he was a mighty contributor, as he complimented running back Paul Mandeville's many TD dashes with 2 touchdowns on his own.

In 1963, with Mandeville and a slew of starters graduating the year before, it fell on Matt to attempt survival in the tough Greater Boston League.

Due to the play of Matt and others on that team, The Whalers managed a respectable 4 and 5 record. Matt scored 3 touchdowns over the course of that season, and also threw 2 touchdown passes.

Matt was the clean-up hitter for NBHS in 1963 and 1964. In 1963, NBHS went 15-2 while playing in the Greater Boston League. He was selected for the Class A All-Scholastic Team along with 7 of his teammates. The 1963 NBHS baseball team was the Southeastern Mass. Conference Champions.

Again graduation was tough on the 1964 edition of NBHS baseball.

Although their record slipped to 9 and 7 for the season, Matt had an outstanding year. He batted .304 and was again selected as the catcher for the All-Scholastic Class A baseball team.

Upon graduating from New Bedford High School, Matt went on to Bryant College where he continued to play baseball. After Matt's baseball career, he continued his competitive days playing softball on 2 different state championship teams. He was part of the Massachusetts Class B Softball Champions in 1971 and was also a member of the Rhode Island Softball State Champions in 1974.

Matt and his wife Sandra lived happily until his untimely death at the young age of 35. Matt is also survived by his sister, Delores Rodrigues of New Bedford.