FALLS VILLAGE, Conn.—Past glory on the playing fields translated into induction into the Housatonic Valley Regional High School Athletic Hall of Fame for 10 alumni on Sunday, Oct. 11.
Catherine Mechare, Sally (Michalek) Green, Marci Perotti Saunders and Lauren Segalla. Photo contributed
Their graduation years spanned nearly a half century, from Sally (Michalek) Green, who graduated with the Class of 1974 and played soccer, basketball and softball, to Lauren Segalla, Class of 2017, who took part in soccer and basketball.
Green was a pioneer in women’s sports, championing formation of a new soccer team for women in 1972. At graduation, she delivered an essay titled “Athletics: Coed or Not?”
Her youngest cohort, Lauren Segalla, set the school’s all-time career scoring record in soccer. She went on to be a Mountaineer at West Virginia University, where she helped the school capture the Big 12 Tournament Championship, earning All-Tournament Team honors twice.
Other inductees were Phil Aldrich, Class of 1992, cross country, wrestling and in/outdoor track; Brooks Beaupré Belter, Class of 2006, who played soccer, basketball and baseball; Adam Grant-West, Class of 1988, football, basketball and baseball; Kaite Heacox, Class of 2014, soccer, basketball and track; Juliet Lyon, Class of 1997, cross country, wrestling, softball and track; Donna Marchi, Class of 1976, soccer, basketball and softball; Catherine Mechare, Class of 2001, volleyball and basketball, and Marci (Perotti) Saunders, Class of 2000, soccer, basketball, softball.
The ceremony was led by Principal Ian Strever and Athletic Director Anne MacNeil and recognized the achievements of each of the alums. MacNeil noted that 130 former students have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since its beginning in 1996, including athletes, coaches and administrators.
Some of the inductees had continued a long line of local athletic elite. Brooks Belter is grandson of J. Henry “Hank” Belter, Class of ’41, who was among the first inductees in the Hall of Fame in 1996. Brooks Belter went on to a professional career, selected in the 25th round of the MLB draft by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Adam Grant-West, who excelled in every sport he played, also went on to a professional career when he was drafted by the Houston Astros minor league baseball team. Unhappily, an injury ended his career.
Katie Heacox, a three-sport athlete, distinguished herself in track and field, setting records in shot put, hammer throw and discus, while inductee Juliet Lyon played soccer, basketball and softball, before being diverted by wrestling. Lyons was co-captain of the wrestling team in a senior year and pinned three boys to take first place in the Berkshire League championship that year.
Catherine Mechare excelled in basketball. During her high school career, she scored 1,228 points and set a school record with nine steals in a single game.
Marci (Perotti) Saunders participated in three sports during her high school career, receiving 12 varsity letters, She played soccer at Eastern Connecticut State University and then returned to Region 1, where she has been a physical education teacher at Kent Center School for 22 years.
Inductee Donna Marchi set a school record for shutouts as goalkeeper in her senior soccer season, while Aldrich was honored for his successful achievements in track and field. He broke the school record in the pole vault.
