5 Super Athletes With Ties To Ellington

Sports have a way of teaching invaluable life lessons — building character, fostering teamwork and strengthening the bonds within a community. In the Ellington area, these values have shaped some truly remarkable athletes from different eras, whose accomplishments continue to inspire.

Patch is celebrating five standout athletes whose achievements have left a lasting mark on our community. This list is just a snapshot, with countless other athletes helping shape the rich sports culture in our area.

1. Camryn Fisher (Softball)

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A senior pitcher at Ellington High School, Camryn Fisher was named Gatorade Connecticut Softball Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season after posting a 21-2 record with a 0.04 ERA and 426 strikeouts across 166 innings. She's headed to Appalachian State to continue her career on the diamond.

2. Steve Park (Auto Racing)

Before relocating to North Carolina to drive full-time for Dale Earnhardt Inc., NASCAR driver Steve Park called Ellington home during the early years of his Cup Series career. He went on to win two NASCAR Cup Series races, at Watkins Glen and Rockingham, and was later named the Craftsman Truck Series' Most Popular Driver in 2004.

3. Justin Ames (Football)

An offensive lineman at Ellington High School, Justin Ames became the first Knight in program history to play in the Connecticut 100 All-Star Game, starting the entire contest at right tackle. He went on to play college football at Western Connecticut State University.

4. Mike Massaro (Motorsports Broadcasting)

Born in Ellington, Mike Massaro built a two-decade career in motorsports media, working as a pit reporter and racing analyst for ESPN's NASCAR coverage. He became one of the most recognizable voices covering stock car racing on national television.

5. Doug Hendrix (Skydiving)

A competitive skydiver based at Connecticut Parachutists Inc. in Ellington, Doug Hendrix set the Connecticut state record for most skydiving jumps completed in a single day, touching down 100 times at Ellington Airport in June 2021. He'd already built a competitive résumé on the U.S. Parachute Association's collegiate national circuit, winning multiple medals in formation skydiving and accuracy events, before representing Team USA at the 2019 World Cup in Eloy, Arizona.

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