New Electees Announced For Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame

ENFIELD, CT — Four former Enfield High School athletic standouts will join a pair of ex-Fermi stars, a highly successful team and a group of pioneering women as the Class of 2018 of the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame.

This year's electees are Ryan Aiken, Rob Burns, Raphael Cerrato, Kristin Karat, Mike Linehan and Freddie Medina. The 1987 Enfield High School boys soccer team will also be inducted, and the Enfield Eagles girls ice hockey program of the mid-1970s to early 1980s will receive the George Daly Special Recognition Award.

The 23rd induction dinner is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 29 at 5:30 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Country Club in Feeding Hills, Mass. Tickets are $40, and may be reserved by contacting Lisa Carrara at LisaMCarrara@gmail.com or 860-301-6871, or via PayPal on the Hall of Fame's web site, www.enfieldathletichof.org.

Family and friends will be able to celebrate the Hall of Fame all weekend, as the 22nd annual Celebrity Golf Classic will take place the day following the induction, on Sunday, Sept. 30, also at Oak Ridge. Past celebrity participants include baseball's Bill Lee, Gary Waslewski, Ron Diorio, Billy Jo Robidoux, Mike Laga and the late Dick McAuliffe; NFL stars Steve Nelson, Barry Pearson and Roger LeClerc; hockey players Doug Roberts, Mike Corrigan and Garry Swain; Olympic wrestling bronze medalist Rodney Smith; and actor Paul D'Amato, a perennial favorite who starred in "Slap Shot" and had a memorable performance in "The Deer Hunter."

More information about the golf outing may be obtained from Joe Andrychowski at 860-745-8156 or Tim Jensen at 860-394-5091.

Here is a brief look at the Class of 2018:

• Ryan Aiken: 2003 graduate of Fermi High School was All-CCC East baseball four times, batting .589 in 2001 and .486 in 2002. Played at University of New Haven, making All-NYCAC three times. Ranks in top 6 in UNH history in single season hits, single season hit by pitch, career hit by pitch, career RBI, career hits, home runs and total bases.
• Rob Burns: 1990 graduate of Fermi High School holds school records for single season yards passing, and career passing touchdowns, passing yards and completions. Two-time All-CCC quarterback/punter, also made All-CCC in baseball. Played football at Southern Connecticut State University; concluded career with school records in career, season and single-game passing yards, and career and season pass attempts.
• Raphael Cerrato: 1989 graduate of Enfield High School was All-Atlantic 10 player in baseball at University of Rhode Island, where he has served as head coach since 2014. Head baseball coach at University of New Haven from 2006 to 2011; assistant coach at Rhode Island, UMass and Brown University from 1995 to 2006 and 2012 to 2014.
• Kristin Karat: 2003 graduate of Enfield High School is one of the few females to score 1,000 points as a Raider. Two-time All-North Atlantic Conference basketball player at Becker College, making WABCA first team by averaging 14.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game as a senior. Assistant coach at Tufts University when team played in NCAA Division III Final Four. Current head coach at Cedar Crest College.
• Mike Linehan: 1978 graduate of Enfield High School made Class LL All-State first team in 1977. Played four years of soccer at University of Hartford, captaining the Hawks as a senior. Was instrumental in the organization of the Kevin Barmak Memorial Soccer Tournament.
• Freddie Medina: 2003 graduate of Enfield High School holds the Raider record with 38 victories as a pitcher. As a sophomore, was MVP of team that went to 2001 Class L finals. Made All-State two times and All-NCCC four times. Earned a scholarship to American International College, later transferred to University of Bridgeport, making All-East Coast Conference with 4-1 record and 2.78 ERA in 2007.
• 1987 Enfield High School boys soccer: Ranked third in Class L with 11-1-2 regular season record. Defeated Wethersfield, Foran and Wilton in state tournament before losing to Bethel in championship match at Post College.
• Enfield Eagles girls ice hockey program: In the mid-1970s, they were pioneers of girls ice hockey in Enfield, which finally became a varsity sport in 2017. Started as a broomball team, but quickly converted to hockey and won five Western New England titles against established Massachusetts teams.

Photo credits: Tim Jensen

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