New Group Of Honorees Elected To Enfield Athletic Hall Of Fame

ENFIELD, CT — Four outstanding athletes, an award-winning sportscaster, a highly successful youth coach and a pair of championship teams will be feted at the 26th annual Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony this fall.

The new class of inductees includes Jack Griffin, Steve Jones, Mike Little, Justine Lombardi and Stacy (Wilhelm) Lyver. Neil Beaulieu will receive the George Daly Special Recognition award, and inductees into the team category are the 1961 Enfield High School football team and the 1984-85 Fermi High School cheerleading squad.

The dinner is slated for Friday, Sept. 15 at the Oak Ridge Country Club in Feeding Hills, Mass. Tickets are $45, and may be reserved online at www.enfieldathletichof.org.

Here is a brief look at the members of the Class of 2023.

JACK GRIFFIN
Graduated from Enfield High School in 0024, University of Maryland in 2008. First-team All-State on both offensive and defensive lines, led Raiders to 10-2 record and berth in Class M semifinals. An All-New England selection by SuperPrep, rated as the 12th-best player in the region. MVP of Enfield's 2004 Division IV basketball championship team. Earned full football scholarship to Maryland, playing 42 games on both offensive and defensive lines. Played in three bowl games, and as a senior, earned the team's Dr. John E. Faber ‘Iron Man’ Award.

STEVE JONES
Graduated Enfield High School in 1976, Penn State University in 1980. Joined Penn State basketball radio network in 1981 and added football two yeas later. He has called 16 bowl games, including three Rose Bowls, and the 1986 football national championship, as well as basketball NIT championshis in 2009 and 2018. The Steve Jones Student Sports Broadcasting Complex at Penn State was named in his honor in 2012. Won the 2017 Warner Fusselle Award as a top minor league baseball play-by-play announcer for his work with the State College Spikes Class-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

MIKE LITTLE
Graduated from Fermi High School in 2005, American International College in 2011. Member of 2003 CCC championship team, senior year tri-captain, CCC East All-Conference and first team All-State defenseman. Played junior hockey with the Springfield Junior Pics, and won back-to-back championships. Played four years at AIC, was 2010-11 AIC Student-Athlete of the Year. Started pro hockey career in 2011 with the Reading Royals of the East Coast Hockey League. Played professionally for 13 years, including American Hockey League stints with Norfolk, Charlotte and Springfield. Played last eight seasons in pro leagues in Germany, Austria and Denmark.

JUSTINE LOMBARDI
Graduated from Fermi High School in 2006, Quinnipiac University in 2010. Four-year starter on the varsity soccer team, captain in her junior and senior years. Led the team to the Connecticut Class L semifinals against Wilton as a junior and Farmington as a senior. Earned All-Conference honors four times and made All-State as a junior and senior. Earned full Division I scholarship to Quinnipiac, earned Rookie of the Year honors as a freshman, then served as a captain during her sophomore, junior and senior years. Held assistant coach positions at Bridgeport and Quinnipiac. In 2019, started Division I women's soccer program at St. Francis College.

STACY (WILHELM) LYVER
Graduated from Enfield High School in 1997, Duquesne University in 2001. Three-time All-CCC East player, selected to the Class M All-State and All-New England teams in 1996, as well as the CGSCA Senior Bowl game. Six-year player in Connecticut's Olympic Development Program. Played for World Class Soccer Premier Club from 1992 to 2000, winning seven Connecticut State Cup championships and two Region I titles. Four-year starter at Duquesne, team captain as junior and senior. Coached girls’ soccer at Somers High School from 2002-2008, leading team to Class S finals in 2007 and semifinals in 2008.

NEIL BEAULIEU
Graduated Enfield High School in 1983, Central Connecticut State University in 1987. Captain at both schools during senior seasons. Head coach of Enfield Dolphins swim team from 1987 to 1998, posting undefeated seasons each year from 1994 to 1998. Many of his swimmers went on to great success in leading their respective high schools in breaking records, winning their league or state titles and participating in Nationals and Olympic qualifiers. Head USA Coach of the Windsor Water Rats swim team since 1998.

1961 ENFIELD HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Coached by inaugural Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Carl Angelica, the Raiders won the first Suburban League championship with a 7-1 record, including 6-0 in the conference.

1984-85 FERMI HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADING
Won the Grand Champion trophy at the International Cheerleading Foundation camp, and ranked No. 13 in the nation by the ICF.