The new class of honorees elected to the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame

Several outstanding players and coaches and several Championship teams will be inducted into the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame on September 28.

May 31, 2024 10:44 am EDT | Updated May 31, 2024 12:27 PM EDT

ENFIELD, CT — Seven individuals and a pair of championship teams will be honored with induction into the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame this fall. The 28th class of honorees will be celebrated on Saturday, September 28 at Oak Ridge Country Club in Feeding Hills, Mass.

The new elected class includes Bob Bacewicz, Branden Chicorka, Rob Hudson, Dawn Massey, Ed Pohorylo and Lenny Shortz. Hudson and Pohorylo will be inducted posthumously.

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The 2003-2004 Enfield High School boys basketball team that won the Division IV state championship and the 1998, 1999 and 2000 Fermi High School girls soccer teams that won three straight CCC East titles and have reached the semifinals of class L twice, they will be entered in the team category. Tommy Owens will receive the George Daly Jr. Special Recognition Award.

Tickets for the induction dinner are available on the Hall of Fame website, www.enfieldathletichof.org.

Here’s a quick look at the class of 2024.

BOB BACEWICZ

• Enfield HS 1969. 3-year, 3-sport athlete in football, basketball and track, winning Suburban League football and Valley Wheel basketball championships senior year. He played football at the University of Connecticut as an offensive guard and punter from 1970-72. He became an assistant offensive line and special teams coach at Fitch High School for nearly two decades, helping to an undefeated Class LL state title in 1976.

BRANDEN CHICORKA

• Fermi HS 2009. CIAC Division II Golf Champion in 2007, fourth in New England Championship. Tied for second in Division II championship in 2008. Recorded career-low 66 (-6) at CCC Championship at Stanley Golf Club. Played four years at University of Rhode Island, tied for third in 2012 New England Div. I Championships. 5-time Atlantic-10 Golfer of the Week. He won the 2011 Russell C. Palmer Cup, a CSGA major, and led after the first round of the 109th Connecticut Amateur. Made it to the semifinals of the 2014 Connecticut Amateur.

ROB HUDSON

• Enfield HS 1983. All-State ice hockey defenseman in 1982 and 1983; anchor defense of Raider teams that captured 1982 Div. II and 1983 Div. I have championships and have won 43 games in a row. Tri-captain on 1983 undefeated team. Despite not being an offensive player, scored three goals in one game in 1983 state tournament.

DAWN MASSEY

• Enfield HS 1985. Three-year field hockey player, Class M champion in 1983 and 1984, runner-up in 1982. Tri-captain and leading scorer on the 1984 team, All-State selection, first team All-CCC. He also played four years of varsity tennis as a No. 1 singles player and team captain as a senior. She played field hockey at Mitchell College, but her career was cut short by injuries. Assistant Field Hockey Coach at Enfield High School and Volunteer Farmington Youth Field Hockey Coach.

ED POHORYLO

• Enfield HS 1934. Played baseball and basketball; the Raider baseball team won the 1934 Valley Wheel championship. After high school, he played on regional semi-pro baseball and basketball teams, including the Bigelow Weavers of the Triple-A Industrial baseball league, and batted .400 for an Alabama military team . In basketball, he played for Saint Adalbert’s in the Connecticut State Basketball League and for the Springfield PNA team.

LENNY SHORTZ

• Enfield HS 1969. Played three years of football, winning team MVP award as a senior. He played three years of football and one year of tennis at Central Connecticut State College. Coached boys soccer at Enfield HS from 1981-89, won the CCC East championship and finished as the Class L runner-up in 1987. Coached tennis at Fermi HS for 20 years, posting winning records for 13 consecutive seasons .

2003-04 ENFIELD BOYS BAST

• Entered the Division IV tournament as the No. 1 seed. 6, but has won five straight games, including quarterfinal and semifinal wins against top-seeded teams. Defeated Griswold 55-45 in title game at Central Connecticut State University on March 20, 2004.

1998, 1999, 2000 FERMI FOOTBALL GIRLS

• Won three consecutive Central Connecticut Conference Eastern Division championships. 15-1 regular season record and No. 3 in the 1998 Class L tournament, falling in the semifinals to eventual state champion Trumbull. 13-2-1 regular season record in 1999, advanced to the Class L semifinals again before being swept by eventual champion Trumbull.

TOMMY OWENS

• Longtime board member, including six years as president of Thompsonville Little League. Founded the Columbus, Memorial Day and Labor Day tours; developed fall leagues and travel programs; coached at all levels for more than 35 years, sometimes coaching three teams at once. Current American Legion Senior Coach. Gym Supervisor and Basketball Official for over 13 years.