Athletic Hall of Fame

Until 1950, only seven Groton football teams had played undefeated seasons. The 1950 team, with its T-formation and extraordinary record, easily became the eighth. On the gridiron, the team rolled up 225 points in a seven-game schedule, averaging thirty-two points per game and never scoring fewer than four touchdowns.

In his Quarterly write up from fall 1954, Coach Larry Noble wrote, “Frank White, Ray Walker, and Bill Chauncey were all fast, triple-threat backs, and quarterback John Rhinelander was not only a deft ball handler and accurate passer, but a real student of football strategy and a cool thinker under fire. Their best weapon was the wide pitchout to White or Walker, with the option to run or pass. This was effective on both sides as White was a left-hander. Bill Chauncey’s off- tackle slants and thrusts through the middle were devastating. Gordon Gray was a great end, and Al McLean one of the three best centers of my time.”

In 1978, boys varsity soccer had an outstanding season. Only the second team since 1958 to have a perfect Gummere Cup league record (10–0), it was also the first Gummere Cup champion to participate in post-season, losing in the semi-finals 1–0 to Williston-Northampton, the eventual winner of the WNESC Tournament.

The team defeated key rivals—Middlesex, Belmont Hill, Brooks, Noble & Greenough, Milton, and St. Mark’s—by a 19–4 margin, including a 6–1 drubbing of St. Mark’s, and set a new Groton team scoring record (forty-one goals in thirteen games). The steady development of the defense (two goals allowed in the last five games and fourteen altogether) played as important a role in the overall success of the team as did the outstanding offense. Nine core players were able to build on the success of the prior year’s team, which ended its season in second place due to an overtime loss to Belmont Hill, making the two-year league record 18–2. Six players from the fall 1978 team were awarded All-League honors, including Stephen Higginson ’79, Jonathan Rich ’79, and David Wilmerding ’79 on the First Team, and Mike Curtis ’80, Tom Hoopes ’79, and John Steinert ’79 on the Second Team.

Much of the credit for this team’s success goes to Hall of Fame Coach Mark Blood ’50, a star athlete in his own right. He brought his unique, analytical, and highly motivating teacher-coach style to the field, which his players say made all the difference.

It was an unforgettable, undefeated 12–0 season for the 1994 Groton girls varsity squash team, which placed second out of twenty-five teams in the NE Interscholastics. Thanks to the exceptional coaching of John Tulp, there was great depth in the team that season, led by Leah Ramella ’95 at #1 (who lost only one game all season) and Sarah McGowan ’95 at #2. Both of them placed second in their respective spots in the NEI. Undefeated Co-captain Elizabeth Brantley Turner Bradley ’94 also placed second in the NEI, in the #3 position, while Co-Captain Mary Helen Trent Kelt ’94 was New England champion for the #4 spot. Rounding out the team were Viveca Gruen ’95, Robin Schmidek Lippert ’96, and Mihee Kim ’94.

Aaron Cooper ’94 earned nine varsity letters during his Groton days, including four in cross country, three in baseball, and two in cross-country skiing. As a runner, he was a member of the New England champion team in 1990 and was recognized on the All-ISL and All-New England teams in 1992 and 1993. He capped off his Groton running career by winning the New England Championship in 1993 as a Sixth Former. He was voted co-captain by his teammates in both 1992 and 1993.

After Groton, Aaron went on to run at Haverford College, where as a senior he captained the cross country, indoor, and outdoor track teams, which were undefeated in conference championship meets during his entire college career. He was also a three-time All-American in cross country and track and received Haverford’s Alumni-Varsity Club Award for his contributions to athletics.

After graduation, Aaron went into education as a middle school teacher and coach and then as an administrator; he currently is head of school at New Canaan Country School in Connecticut.

The 1994 varsity field hockey team had its most successful season in Groton School history, with a regular season record of 13 – 1 – 1. Their last regular season game was a hard fought victory over St. Mark’s, whom Groton had not beaten in eight years. After the regular season, Groton was tied for first place in the ISL with St. Paul’s and was the top seeded team in the small-school division at the NEPSAC tournament at Hotchkiss. They went on to win, beating Berkshire, St. George’s and Holderness. The closest game was against St. Georges, the number four seed, in the semifinal game, when in the fourth minute of double-sudden-death overtime, Claudia Asano pushed in the winning goal.

The weekend at the New England’s was a memorable one for the team, and an incredible way to end an incredible season. The 1994 Field Hockey team was characterized by extraordinary skill and amazing team dynamics. All-League players were Gayley Blaine, Claudia Asano, Barkley Kinkead, and Margaret Metz; Meredith Gordon received honorable mention. Margaret Metz was elected the most valuable player of the lSL.

Team: Sarah Fitzgerald '95, Hillary J. Roselund '95, Gayley Blaine '95, Meredith Gordon Naftalis '95 (captain), Margaret Metz '95 (captain), Jane Blair Oberle '95, Barkley Kinkead Walter '95, Claudia Asano Barcomb '95, Chandler Bass Evans '96, Robyn Schmidek Lippert '96, Nancy W. Dickson '96, Jennifer D. Field '97, Harmony S. Spongberg '97, Emily Oates Torres '97, Carol Jin Yoon '96, Elisabeth Motley (manager), and Coach Kathy Leggat. 

Considered one of the most talented teams to pass through the Circle gates, Groton’s 1994 football team featured an explosive offense, a stifling defense, and ended the season with a 7-1-0 record. While it averaged one of the largest margins of victory over its opponents of any Groton team, it is most proud of the defense, which held the opposition to one of the lowest points against averages in the history of the School. 
 
Over the playing careers of the Sixth Formers, the team was named ISL co-champions and never lost a game to St. Mark’s School. The 1994 team, led by captains Tim Bass, Andrew Caspersen, Topher Watts, and Spiritual Leader Freddy Erazo, featured 11 All-League members (Tim Bass, Andrew Caspersen, Topher Watts, Mike Gingras, Henry Nuzum, Darren Van Blois, Zach Wheeler, Wilton Yeh, Pijo Akuete, John Mayhall, and Justin Miller). Tim and Andrew received First Team All-League recognition two years in a row, and Andrew was named MVP of the Independent School League, the highest honor ever bestowed upon a Groton football player. The 1994 football team’s success capped the Hall of Fame coaching career of Jake Congleton, one of the winningest coaches in Groton School history.

Team: David J. Cusack ’95, Henry G. Nuzum ’95, Darren J. Van Blois ’95, Zachariah L. Wheeler ’95, Christopher P. Watts ’95 (captain), Timothy R. Bass ’95 (captain), Andrew W.W. Caspersen ’95 (captain), Wilton K. Yeh ’95, Michael A. Gingras ’95, Freddy A. Erazo ’95, Rehman Ali Khan ’95, Nicholas E. Tuff ’95, Jedon Vaskov ’95, Jaime B. Alencastro ’95, Daryl R. Peagler ’95, Jeffrey O. Polubinski ’98, Justin R. Miller ’96, John R. Mayhall ’96, Matthew K. Asano ’97, Dixon Merkt ’96, Nii-Ama Akuete ’96, Edward T. Stephenson ’97, Joshua F. Shorr ’97, Lawrence T. Perera, Jr. ’96, Benjamin E. Jallow ’97, Kenneth W. Baughman ’97, Stephen W. McNamee ’96, Peter O. Nkongho ’96, Owen I. Breck ’96, Anthony V. Ducret ’96, Robert Benn Calhoun III ’95, Roman Martinez V ’97,  Dominique J. Pouhe  ’96 , Guillermo Barnetche  ’97, Robert Allan Davis Pike  ’97, Byron Yueh-Yee Chen  ’97, Alexander Yaohsien Du  ’97, Sayed A. Tagoe  ’97, Brooks Brent Finnegan  ’97, Peter R. Lehrman  ’97, Ian William Hopper  ’97, Matthew A. Zsofka  ’97, Kwei Akuete ’97, Coach William M. Polk ’58, Coach Jake Congleton, Jr., Coach David H. Black ’80, Coach Charlie C. Alexander, Maura Jakola Gerhart ’95, Linda S. Pacylowski Carmody ’95.

The son of a schoolteacher and coach, Charles Alexander left an indelible mark on generations of Groton students—in the classroom and on the playing fields, and squash courts—during his 48 years at the School. A true advocate of the hard right over the easy wrong, Mr. Alexander taught students that participation and effort count more than simply winning.

Mr. Alexander coached varsity football from 1960 to 2006 and varsity baseball from 1962 to 2007. He also helped introduce squash to Groton, was the first coach of the sport, and continued to coach squash from 1964 to 1980. 

Mr. Alexander’s legacy, as a teacher and coach, is best summed up in a baseball write-up that appeared in the 1962 yearbook, his first year on the team: “Mr. Alexander is a coach not only dedicated to the best in the sport but to the growth and welfare of every individual on the squad and in the system.”

Mark was a three-sport athlete best known for his exploits on the baseball diamond. He entered Groton as a Second Former and anchored Groton’s infield for the next five years, mostly at shortstop. In 1949, he was an integral member of “the Groton nine,” the first champion of the newly formed Private School Baseball League. In football, Mark distinguished himself as a passing quarterback. In four seasons of varsity basketball, he proved to be an effective scorer and deft ball-handler, well-suited to the team’s fast-breaking style.
 
Mark returned to Groton in 1969 as an English teacher and coach. He brought the same level of enthusiasm, preparedness, candor, and humor to his coaching that he used in his classroom. Emphasizing the importance of greater competitiveness and strategic tactics, he took over the varsity soccer program in 1972. His 1974 and 1979 Gummere Cup championship squads were known for their outstanding scoring and defensive toughness.
 
As the varsity baseball coach from 1974 to 1984, Mark brought this same level of passion and commitment, emphasizing the importance of both the physical and mental sides of the game. As Independent School League (ISL) champs, the 1976 squad was noted for its smart play, efficient pitching, and potent hitting. Following Mark’s sudden death in 1984, the ISL soccer coaches created the Mark H. Blood Trophy, which is awarded annually to the team that best exemplifies the spirit of the game of soccer through its enthusiasm, effort, sportsmanship, dignity, and competitiveness.
  
Written by William Blood ’76 and Phillip Blood ’82

John (Parkie) Keyes entered Groton in 1955 and made an impact across the School’s sports venues. He earned a combined 12 varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball, and tennis; captained the latter three sports his senior year; and received the Reginald Fincke, Jr. Medal, awarded to a Sixth Former who has demonstrated perseverance, courage, and unselfish sportsmanship. 
 
Parkie would attribute much of his success to the two Groton Hall of Fame coaches, Jim Waugh and Jake Congleton. Their ability to inspire players and teach leadership skills allowed Parkie to succeed as quarterback, point guard, and shortstop during his Sixth Form year. After Groton, he played three years of baseball and a year of squash at Harvard, as well as many intramural sports. 
 
After college, Parkie coached varsity basketball and baseball for a combined 30-plus years in high schools on the east and west coasts. He also ran a summer tennis camp in New Hampshire for 10 years.
 
Staying active as a fan and participant in several sports, he has remained focused on tennis during the last three decades. A top-ranked senior doubles player for 10 years in the Pacific Northwest United States Tennis Association, Parkie has played on three teams that won national championships.

Mark Yanetti has built a career around professional hockey, as both a player and a scout. He played 380 games as a professional hockey player but, after sustaining a career-ending injury in 2000, began his National Hockey League scouting career with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
 
In 2006, Mark joined the staff of the Los Angeles Kings, where he has served as Director of Amateur Scouting. After helping the Kings rise from 29th place to Stanley Cup Champions in five years, Mark was honored to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup twice, and to be on the ice of the Staples Center to hoist this iconic trophy over his head in 2012 and again in 2014.
 
At Groton, Mark received 10 varsity letters in three sports. He was awarded three First Team All-League honors in hockey, two in soccer, and two in lacrosse. During his Fourth and Fifth Form years, Mark participated in the U.S. Olympic Development Program and was named one of the country’s 54 best hockey players in his age group. He participated in the national team tryouts at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and also was selected to play in the High School All American Hockey Tournament in both 1989 and 1990.
 
Mark played one year of varsity hockey at Brown University, winning the Ivy League Championship, then transferred to Williams College, where he received All-League and All-American honors in hockey.

Percy Haughton played both defensive end and fullback and kicked for a dominant Groton football team. Between 1892 and 1894, the defense gave up only 68 points while the team scored an impressive 707 points. In those three years, Groton football lost only once, the final game of the 1894 season—St. Mark’s first victory over Groton.
 
In addition to his success on the football field, Mr. Haughton was a two-time fives singles champion and also a two-time doubles champion. As starting pitcher and third baseman on the baseball team, he hit .527 and averaged 7.2 strikeouts per game during his Sixth Form season.
 
After Groton, Mr. Haughton went on to play football at Harvard. He became known as one of the great pioneers of American football as a coach at Cornell, Harvard, and Columbia. His record at Harvard was an incredible 72-7-5. In 1951, he was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Charles Devens played shortstop, centerfield, and was the number-one pitcher for Groton’s baseball team. Mr. Devens stood out at the plate and on the field, but was most known as an ace on the mound, striking out 140 batters during his Sixth Form season. After Groton, Mr. Devens attended Harvard, where he has been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
 
After Harvard, Mr. Devens was signed as a pitcher by the New York Yankees. In three seasons he appeared in 16 games, including the game against the Cleveland Indians in which Babe Ruth famously called his home-run shot. In his only game with the Yankees during his final season, he allowed only three runs and struck out four in an 11-inning complete game win.
 
In addition to his baseball success at Groton, Mr. Devens was Senior Prefect; a three-sport captain in tennis, football, and hockey; and a two-time fives champion in both singles and doubles.

Endicott Peabody played varsity football and basketball and was a member of crew at Groton. Playing right and left guard and tackle, Mr. Peabody anchored a line that was one of Groton’s best. In his Sixth Form year, led by Mr. Peabody, the Groton football team completed an undefeated season, outscoring opponents by a margin of 154 to 6 during a six-game schedule—a margin that when adjusted for the number of games played, eclipsed the previous mark set by the 1894 team. The 1938 yearbook describes Mr. Peabody’s team: “They had a one for all and all for one spirit, they liked football, they had team pride, and they had a great leader in Captain Endicott Peabody.”
 
Mr. Peabody attended Harvard, where he continued to be a force on the gridiron. As one opposing coach said, “Peabody hit you so many times and he hit you so hard you thought he was four or five men.”
 
At Harvard, Mr. Peabody was voted the nation’s most outstanding lineman and was a unanimous choice for All-American. He finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1942, higher than any lineman had previously finished. He was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973.

Hugh Scott was a four-year leader on Groton’s football teams; during his Fifth Form year, the team was undefeated, and during his Sixth Form, it lost only its last game, to St. Mark’s.
 
Mr. Scott also was a member of Groton’s undefeated hockey team his Sixth Form year, and he captained the baseball and tennis teams. On the fives courts, Mr. Scott duplicated the record set by his grandfather by winning four School championships.
 
After Groton, Mr. Scott attended Princeton University, where he was a four-year standout on both the varsity football and hockey teams. After persuading his roommate to teach him the game of lacrosse, he earned a starting role on the second midfield of Princeton’s squad.
 
At Groton, Mr. Scott received the Reginald Fincke, Jr. Medal, awarded to a member of the Sixth Form who has demonstrated perseverance, courage, and unselfish sportsmanship. At Princeton, he was awarded the William Winston Roper Award, given to a Princeton senior of high scholastic rank and with outstanding qualities of sportsmanship and a general proficiency in athletics.

A tight zone defense, excellent rebounding, and excellent shot selection became the hallmarks of Groton’s undefeated 1962 basketball team.
 
Jake Congleton, in his first year as head coach, challenged his team to “take good shots, play aggressive defense, and hustle.” The team took up that challenge, averaging 48 points per game, shooting 40 percent from the floor and 60 percent from the foul line, and giving up only 38 points per game. They neither tied nor lost a single game.
 
The play of the year occurred against Brooks late in the season. With fleeting seconds left, Groton trailed by a point. Robert Knapp ’62 dribbled coast-to-coast, then found a path in the lane and drove through it. His layup swished through the net, and Groton won by a point as the buzzer sounded.
 
The team’s tenth and final victory took place in a packed gym on the Saturday afternoon of Dance Weekend; at the time, it was the School’s best-attended basketball game ever. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, the spectators roared boisterously, perhaps sensing that they were witnessing more than just a season-ending victory. Groton overcame an early 13-point deficit, outscoring Andover 36-8 in the second half to seal the 62-37 win and the undefeated season.
 
Team members: Donald Chauncey ’63, Joseph Sitterson ’63, Jeremy Williams ’63, Tod Gregory ’62 (Captain), Belford Lawson ’62, Robert Knapp ’62, Thomas Lorch (Assistant Coach), Thomas Moser ’64, Michael Knapp ’64, John Gregory ’64, Robert Parke ’63, Lawrence Irwin ’65, Charles Miller ’65, Anthony Barton ’65, William Boyd ’65, Jake Congleton (Head Coach)

William Larkin was awarded 12 varsity letters at Groton for football, basketball, and baseball. He captained all three sports his Sixth Form year.
 
Mr. Larkin was named All-League multiple times in each sport; football, however, where he played quarterback and defensive back, was his best. During his four years, Groton’s football teams went 22-5, 19-2 with Mr. Larkin at quarterback. His sophomore year, as quarterback, he led Groton to a 7-0 season, once throwing seven touchdown passes in a game against Boston English. In the three seasons between 1969 and 1971, Mr. Larkin rushed for 1,348 yards and passed for 2,616. He scored 16 rushing touchdowns, 30 passing touchdowns, and scored a total of 323 points.
 
During his Sixth Form year, The Boston Globe cited him as the “All-New England Quarterback and Offensive Player of the Year” and The Boston Herald named him “All-New England Defensive Back.”
 
Mr. Larkin was fives champion in both the Lower and Upper Schools, in singles and doubles, and was captain of fives his Sixth Form year. He received the School’s Reginald Fincke, Jr. Medal, which is awarded to a member of the Sixth Form who has demonstrated perseverance, courage, and unselfish sportsmanship.

Charlotte Joslin was a three-sport athlete at Groton, earning an impressive 12 varsity letters in field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse. She was named All-League multiple times and captained the field hockey and ice hockey teams her Sixth Form year.
 
In ice hockey, Ms. Joslin was key to the program’s success, losing only three games over three seasons. She was known to switch positions at a moment’s notice and was a prolific scorer. She also led the lacrosse team in scoring her Sixth Form year, and was a key playmaker in field hockey.
 
At Harvard, Ms. Joslin played field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse, earning All-Ivy during all 12 seasons. She received All-American honors twice in field hockey and twice in lacrosse. In ice hockey, she was named Player of the Year twice (All-American honors were not awarded in the sport of women’s ice hockey until after she graduated). She played on the 1990 National Champion Lacrosse team.
 
Ms. Joslin won Harvard’s Radcliffe College Alumni Association Award as top female athlete in her class, and was chosen as a member of the Ivy League Silver Anniversary Team, which celebrated 25 years of Ivy League women’s athletics.

Margaret Metz was a three-sport athlete at Groton, earning 12 varsity letters over her four years at the School. She was a two-time captain in field hockey and captained the ice hockey and lacrosse teams her Sixth Form year. Ms. Metz led the 1994 field hockey team to a 15-1-2 season that included a NEPSAC championship.
 
At Wesleyan University, Ms. Metz was the only tri-sport varsity letter winner in 1995-96. She was a three-time First Team Regional All-American in both field hockey and lacrosse, and a Second Team National All-American in field hockey in 1998. She captained the field hockey team her senior year and received the Wesleyan University Jones Award in field hockey and lacrosse, recognized as each team’s most valuable player. A record breaker, she scored the most goals ever in a single Wesleyan game (seven) and is number-seven on the all-time career points list, with 110 in the Wesleyan lacrosse program.

Henry Nuzum began rowing in the fifth boat as a Third Former. Two years later, after a year away from Groton, he rowed for Coach John Niles in the undefeated first boat, which won the NEIRA championship and competed at Henley (under Coach Andy Anderson). The following year, the first boat suffered one blemish, a second-place finish by a split second at NEIRAs, but won the National Championship Regatta in Cincinnati, where Mr. Nuzum, the captain, joined fellow Sixth Formers Andrew Caspersen, Topher Watts, and Nathan Brown, and Fifth Former Nancy Kim. Mr. Nuzum also earned four letters in football (1993 ISL co-champion) and basketball (1995 captain).
 
Inspired by Cui Servire Est Regnare, Mr. Nuzum earned an NROTC scholarship and attended Harvard. He rowed three years under Harry Parker in the varsity boat, twice defeating Yale in the four-miler. His junior year, the boat won all dual races and the Ladies Challenge Plate at Henley. He was captain his senior year at Harvard. Mr. Nuzum also won silver medals in the U.S. Under-23 8+ at the 1997 and 1998 Nations Cups.
 
In 2000, Mr. Nuzum won U.S. Olympic Trials with Mike Ferry in the double; they placed eighth at the Sydney Games. Between Olympic Games, he served aboard the destroyer U.S.S. John S. McCain on successive Arabian Gulf deployments, leading boarding parties and Tomahawk strikes. In 2004, he won rowing trials with Aquil Abdullah and placed sixth in the Athens Olympics, the first U.S. double to reach the finals since 1984 (setting an American record of 6:14.69 in the semifinal). He also rowed in the U.S. quad at the 2001 and 2003 World Championships.

Jake Congleton taught at Groton School for 38 years. He was the varsity football coach for 34 years, following one year as assistant coach in 1957. During his years as head coach, Groton had three undefeated seasons and won or shared in 10 league championships. The team’s record against other independent schools during his tenure was 144 wins, 68 losses, and nine ties. Mr. Congleton coached an estimated 500-plus Groton football players.
 
He also coached varsity boys basketball for 19 years and was the head coach from 1962 to 1977. During that time, Groton shared three league championships, was undefeated in 1962, and went 17-1 in 1977, Mr. Congleton’s last year as boys head coach. He also coached a winning girls varsity basketball team in 1990.
 
In the spring, Mr. Congleton also coached freshman baseball for many years, and after coaching varsity basketball, he coached both thirds boys and girls basketball and had at least one undefeated season with each team. He started the thirds girls program, which he coached until his retirement.
 
Mr. Congleton was elected to the Massachusetts Football Hall of Fame as a Head Coach in 1995.

The Reverend Endicott Peabody was an imposing physical presence at Groton School. Standing six feet tall and weighing 210 pounds, the School’s founder was nearly impossible to tackle on the football field. It was said that once Mr. Peabody received the football, he scored a touchdown. So dominant was he that after Groton handily won the first Groton-St. Mark’s football game, a rule was instated preventing masters weighing more than 165 pounds from playing.
 
While a schoolboy at Cheltenham College, Mr. Peabody won the school championships in racquets and in fives. At Groton, Henry Richards called Mr. Peabody, “The best fives doubles player the School had ever seen.” Additionally, Mr. Peabody rowed college crew at Trinity College, Cambridge and excelled at single sculling.
 
Mr. Peabody’s influence in sport reached beyond the Circle to a national front. In 1905, after a series of brutal injuries in college football, he petitioned then President Theodore Roosevelt to convene a group to discuss rule changes that would make the game safer. The resulting conference brought together representatives from Princeton, Harvard, and Yale, and the resulting rules made play less risky for athletes.