Induction CLass Of 2022

If a person were to look at Ryan's sports schedule, you would see that he was a man for all seasons! He played football -4 years; baseball- 4 years; basketball -3 years: track- 1 year.

Beginning with the sport of football, Ryan was a varsity player for four years and held the position of quarterback and safety for two of those years and captain his senior year.

During his years with football, Ryan gathered many skills in his position, and that earned him many accolades from many sources. He had 6 touchdown passes in one game against Barnstable. This was part of his career record of 23 touchdown passes. Ryan was a key player for Coach Hamlet as he stated, "Ryan Walsh was who we depended on. If Ryan was having a good game, the whole team was." This shows why he would be named MVP his senior year. During his junior year, he was selected as Outstanding Offensive Player. He played in the Shriners All-Star Game and had the role of Team Captain senior year and All-Big Three (Jr. and Sr years) He was selected for the Standard-Times Super Team both junior and senior years as well as the Boston Globe All-Star Team and the Boston Herald All-Star Team senior year.

In his next major sport of baseball, Ryan played varsity for three years, both as a pitcher and a 3rd baseman along with the role of captain his senior year. Coach Seed described him as a hard-throwing righthander who was always willing to take the ball. He had a very good breaking ball and always went right after hitters. His record for his senior year was 5W - 2L - 2,77 E.R.A. After a mediocre junior year for the team, their fortunes changed their senior year, leading Ryan and the team back to the State Tournament by winning five games and saving three others. As a position player, Ryan was a very good defensive 3rd baseman with a good glove and a strong arm. Coach Seed best described Ryan "as a player, in whatever sport he played, Ryan was the ultimate competitor - he would do whatever it took to give his team a win!"

Ryan also played All Big Three his junior and senior years and was named Big Three Co-MVP his senior year. Agganis All-Star Baseball Game and, additionally selected for the Standard-Times Super Team junior and senior years.

As one looks at these honors and accolades in so many facets of the sports in which he participated, it is easy to understand why this young man was selected for the Otto Graham Award and also received one of the most prized awards for the high school by being selected as "New Bedford High School Athlete of the Year".

Ryan went on to UMass Dartmouth and played football for 2 years. He also played with Whaling City Clippers, semi-pro football for 3 years, and the Middleboro Cobras.

This young man was most likely watched by everyone in disbelief and amazement at his skills in his chosen sport of volleyball. Some of his fans felt he was one of the most dominant players to wear the Whaler uniform, while others argued that he was the most dominant all-around individual player in the history of the NBHS Boys Volleyball program. His career numbers seem to support that opinion.

Stephen graduated from NBHS in 2002 holding four individual records including these listed as follows: record for most career kills (629) with a kill percentage of 438; record for most career serve receptions (730) and a quality serve receive percentage of .706; record for most service points (357) and record for most dig saves (466).

Other records achieved were in a single match: most kills (28) and most digs (26) and in a single season were most kills (293) and most digs (189).

Recognizing the talents of this, young man, The Boston Globe selected him as a member of the newspaper's "Super Team" followed by his selection for the same honor with The Boston Herald.

He finished his senior year at New Bedford High School with another honor for his hard work in perfecting his skills at volleyball by being selected by The Standard-Times as their "Player of the Year". In making this decision, the paper used terms calling him "a total

player", "a team leader" and at times, "a player-coach".

Perhaps the person who knows best of his unlimited abilities and of his importance to the success of the team was his coach who truly appreciated what his talents brought to the whole team. The team managed to win 17 regular season games, and then, 2 tournament games. In all, the Whaler Boys Volleyball Team brought much prestige and credibility to our school in all areas in their 2002 season.

In honoring Stephen's induction to the Hall of Fame, Coach DeRossi congratulated him with the title of "Whaler Volleyball's Most Productive Offensive Player".

To Stephen's credit, he carried his love of volleyball into his future by going on to be an assistant coach at both UConn and Maryland.

New Bedford High's Chante Soares was quite well-known early on for her amazing abilities in both track and field. It's interesting to watch her development from sophomore year to senior year. In the spring of 1998, Under Head Coach Tony Rolfe, she participated in the 55m Dash, finishing 3rd. (There was no long jump contested indoors until 1999). Moving to her junior year under Head Coach Tom Giasson, in the winter of 1999 indoors she participated in the All-State Long Jump and came in 3rd. In the Class A Long Jump she took 2nd, losing by a mere 14. In the spring of 1999 outdoors) she finished 4th in the All-State Long Jump.

Unknown to most of those following her development was a secret goal she set for herself and worked hard to accomplish. She carried the thought from the very beginning and was now nearer to the possibility of reaching it. It was going into her senior year and now working with Head Coach Giasson (indoors) and Coach Rezendes (outdoors).

In the winter of her senior year, she became the indoor State Champion Long Jump and Class A Long Jump Champion with a school record of 17'9 1/4". Moving into the spring outdoors competitions; she again was the Class A Long Jump Champion, and finally, her secret goal showed its head at the New England Long Jump Championships in Portland, Maine. The school record was 18'6" and Chante jumped 18'7" and fouled on her second jump. (Chante did not realize, nor did most people there, that she had broken the school record, her secret goal from the very beginning). Thinking everything was on this third jump, she put her whole mind and body into this final attempt. If ended up being a full foot (18 10" better than her next competitor. It also showed her beating the school record twice in the same event!

Although most of the spotlight was in the areas of the long jump, Chante was a major factor for the high school on the track as well. She holds the area bests in the 100 (12.4 seconds) and the 200 meters (26.5). Her coach recalls that the team could always count on Chante to bring victories in both of those events along with the long jump.

It is easy to see why she became the Standard-Times' Girls Track Co-Players of the Year for the second straight season with Beth Smith of Apponequet. It also shows why UMass Amherst was eager to offer her a scholarship where she was named Atlantic 10 Athlete of the Week during her sophomore year. While at UMass Amherst, Chante received many honors both at the school and in areas throughout New England.

After completing her four years at UMass Amherst, she held the position of Assistant Coach at Emmanuel College from 2011 to 2017. She currently holds the position of Co-Manufacturing Coordinator in Roxbury, MA with Commonwealth Kitchen, which is an incubator for small minority-owned local food companies.

Amy was described as a hard-working young lady who had a strong determination to succeed at anything she attempted. This attitude extended beyond the classroom to the area of athletics. This is a young lady who didn't just participate in a sport.

She approached her role in the athletic arena as a major challenge to her abilities and always gave it her best efforts. Her efforts made her shine in the sport of track and field throughout her high school years.

At some point in her high school sports life, she had the distinction of being the first girl at NBHS to throw a 40 ft shot put. During her junior year with her Indoor Track Coach Steve. Gardiner, she placed 2nd in the Class A Championship (shot put) and 3rd place (shot put) in the State Championship.

At the change of the season during her junior year the Outdoor sessions began with Coach Tony Rolfe. Amy took 1st place in the Class A Championship (shot put). 3rd place in the All-State Championship (shot put), and amazingly ist place in the New England Championship (shot put).

During her senior year with her Indoor Track and Field Coach Tom Giasson, she once again showed herself to be a worthy competitor. She placed 1st in the Class A Championship (shot put), 1st place All-State Championship (shot put), and 5th place in the New England Championship.

Her senior Outdoor Track Coach Tony Rolfe witnessed once again a 1st place win in the Class A Championship (shot put), 1st place All-State Championship (shot put), and 3rd place in the New England Championship (shot put).

After high school, Amy wanted to attend a Division I school, and she was accepted at Boston College. After two years and sensing that she was not happy at BC, and feeling that her athletic interests and performance were weakening, she decided she needed a change. After meeting with family members, she decided to make a move to Liberty University in Virginia. The move was the right one for Amy who felt better suited to her new location and once again felt comfortable with participating in the athletics programs. She became a "spark plug" on the team and settled in nicely.

Amy finished her degree programs with a BA in Psychology (99) and then ('04) her Master's in Counseling. She currently lives in Florida with her husband, Boris.

What do you do when you enter New Bedford High School in your first year and your name is already a household name known to most people you meet? You could try to find a comfortable hiding place for the rest of your days there, or you can prove you have learned from the best players around known as the Gomes family. I say family because this includes not only the men and women of the family but also the two who created this dynasty...Mom and Dad.

While the family members played a variety of sports, there is one sport that is synonymous with the name "Gomes",

and that is basketball! While Helen watched every move of her older siblings, she also played for the delight of her younger sister.

At this time very little space in the daily newspaper was allotted to female athletics, but Helen's talent and positive attitudes captured the attention of one keen reporter on the S-T who recognized her adeptness at scoring points and her gifted talents in all phases of the game. Reporter Jim Curry noted that Helen, just a 15-year-old sophomore had scored 246 points in 12 games. Her coach, Mrs. Pauline Amaral, crowned her the best she'd seen in her five years at New Bedford High. One of Helen's best efforts was against Dighton-Rehoboth when she scored 32 points. She held the role of co-captain or tri-captain throughout her four years of playing varsity.

Considered an outstanding rebounder with an average of 13-14 rebounds per game, she was also known for her consistency in making free throws. Teamed with sister Regina and Diane (Leitao) Pina, they went on to lead the team to an impressive 11 and 4 overall record. She also captained the team to an 8-1 League Competition record. She was chosen by the S-T for Player of the Week as "Tops in Sports".

Beyond the sports arena, Helen was respected by her classmates as well when they chose her as Senior Vice-president for the Class of 1974. It has been said that one of the reasons for the success comes from the closeness of the family members and the encouragement they always offered one another win or lose. It should also be pointed out that the officials always commended her for her fine attitude and for being a good sport on and off the court. These positive comments explain her popularity not only with sports but throughout all her dealings with others.

It is important to also mention that Helen played two years of varsity volleyball when she came to NBHS and played softball in the summers. She's a powerhouse of energy year-round!

After graduating from NBHS, Helen attended Liberty University in Virginia where she received her Bachelor of Science degree. Helen later worked for ine bepanment or Corrections and 32 years later retired from her position of sergeant. Ihroughout her career she received many commendations for her outstanding handling of many sensitive issues arising on the job site.

It is now time for her to join her sister Reggie ('07), son Sam (16), brother Jake ('16). and daughter Christina ('17) as a proud member of the NBHS Hall of Fame. well-deserved, Helen.

Thomas Eck showed early signs of determination and desire to reach goals he set for himself as a high school student when he managed to become the only student from his high school in Allentown, Pennsylvania not only to graduate but also the only student to go on to college. For those who know the historically poor economic conditions of that area of the state, this feat is very much a minor miracle. He attended Colgate University where he played football for three years (1935-1937) and later graduated in 1938.

He began his high school coaching career at Northampton High School after graduating from college and led his team to the school's first football championship in 1939. This was another first for his accomplishments.

In 1945, he served as the head coach at the Massachusetts State College. This later became known as the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1947. In 1945 and from 1947-1951, he compiled a record of 17-23-4. Coach Eck coached the then "Redmen" (later changed to Minutemen in 1972.) to their first official football conference, the Yankee Conference in 1947.

It should also be mentioned that between the time of coaching high school and college teams, he also served as a special projects officer in the US Army Air Forces during World War Il.

Returning to his love of coaching football, he decided to accept the position of head coach at Thornton Academy in Saco, Maine. During his time there (1952-1955) the team's record was impressive (33-4-2) and produced a 24-game winning streak. He left Thornton Academy in 1956 for a position at New Bedford High School.

His position at NBHS was as the "first official Athletic Director" With this title came additional duties along with the role of football coach. He became a strong advocate for women's sports and added teams in various areas to accommodate female athletes with softball, field hockey, etc. He started the junior high school football programs, the NBHS Gridiron Club, the introduction of facemasks, football films, scouting reports, and most importantly, the resources of college scholarships.

Arriving in 1956, he was taking over a program with its 1955 football team record of no wins for the entire season. By 1959, he produced a team that was undefeated throughout the entire season, which was a rare feat in the history of the school's football program. He finished his time at New Bedford High School with a team record of 24-13-3.

*Special note: Coach Eck was inducted into the NBHS Gridiron Hall of Fame previously.

Before coming to New Bedford High School, Mickey Gonsalves coached basketball at both Holy Family High School and Coyle-Cassidy High School. He established himself as quite a player during his own high school and college years, including being named to the Standard-Times All-Star Team (HS) and then at Boston State College, playing one year for Jim Loscutoff, a legendary Boston Celtic player, before transferring to Framingham State College where he scored over one thousand points in two seasons. For obvious reasons, he was named MVP, All-Conference Team, All-New England, and All-American Candidate in 1978-1979.

These are the credentials that he brought to New Bedford High School, along with a philosophy of coaching focused on the defensive side, while taking advantage of mismatches on the offensive side. Mickey's coaching career at the high school spanned 24 years with 13 spent with the JV program and the other 11 with the varsity.

His overall varsity record was 168 W- 76 L.

The Lady Whalers gave him 2 South Sectional Championships (2008 and 2011) and 5

Big Three Championships. A major highlight for them and their coach was from the 2011 team by attaining an undefeated season with a record 20-0 record. This stands as the best record in the program. The accomplishments of this well-coached team earned them the rank of #1 in the State and #13 in the country - East Coast. (It should be noted that Coach Gonsalves had previously coached 2 undefeated JV teams.)

Achieving such success for his teams brought many accolades to Coach Gonsalves also. In 2008 he was named the Boston Globe Coach of the Year, the Massachusetts Coaches Association Coach of the Year, and the Boston Celtic Award 3 C's of Excellence in Community, Classroom and Court. Additionally, there was a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition Office of Barney Frank (2011).

In 2008 The New Bedford City Council gave him a Resolution Honoring the Division I South Champions and again in 2011 with a Resolution Honoring the Division I South Champs. In 2008 he was named Cape Verdean Man of the Year. 2011, he received a Resolution from the Cape Verdean American Veterans Association and an Auxiliary Civic Award from Councilor Brian Gomes. He also received an official Resolution from the City of New Bedford from the mayor of the city.

Mickey retired two years ago from his school position and now works at Sail, an assisted-living program for adults with disabilities.