South Windsor High School Sweethearts, Now Married with Children, Inducted Into Athletic Hall of Fame Together

Editor’s Note: The South Windsor High School Athletic Hall of Fame inducted its third class with its annual dinner ceremony. We will highlight each inductee with profiles (but will break them into parts). The inductees are Jack Longo, Jill Biancucci Kolinsky, Priscilla Collins Snow, Brett Burnham, Cristi Carbone Burnham, Karen Rossi, Dorothy Blozie Morrill, Deborah Dillon-Lightfoot and the State Champion Boys’ Soccer Team of 1979.

Below is Part I:

Brett Burnham

Brett Burnham is a 1999 graduate of South Windsor High School who overcame cancer at age 13. As a 13 year old, Brett was an All-American, Gold Medalist and MVP at the AAU National Games in Iowa.

At South Windsor High School, Brett played Varsity Baseball and Football. He started and played in every Varsity Baseball Game all four years where he was recognized as All-State his Sophomore and Senior years and All-Conference all four years. Brett batted .484 (freshman year), .474 (sophomore year), .400 (junior year), and .649 (senior year). He was rated as one of the “Top 10 Best East Coast Baseball Players” in the United States.

In Football, he was All-Conference Sophomore and Junior years and was the first Sophomore to rush for over 1,000 yards in school history (1,132 yards). Brett received a Division 1 NCAA Scholarship to play Baseball at Auburn University where he played from 1999-2001 and participated in two NCAA Tournament appearances. Transferred to the University of Connecticut in 2001 where he starred on the Baseball Team. He was named Big East Player of the Week (twice), All Conference, All New England and All Region. Served as Team Captain and led UConn in RBI’s and Homeruns his Senior year. Led the country in “Hit by Pitches” (34), an NCAA record at the time. A 21st Round Draft pick of the San Diego Padres he led the Idaho Falls Padres in on base percentage and doubles while hitting .291 and committing only one error all season at second base. Broke his hand in second season Triple A Spring Training Game and retired from Professional Baseball in 2004. Played in the Greater Hartford Twilight League where he was named Player of the Decade (2000-2011), All Star (every year), Batting Champion (3 times), Triple Crown Winner (2010), Home Run Champion (3 times), Stolen Base Champion (4 times), League MVP (4 times), Player of the Year (5 times) and RBI Champion (7 times).

Has trained and motivated numerous youth baseball players to be the best they can be in sports and life. Real Estate Investor and Director of Centric Business Systems Tyson’s Corner, Virginia office. Married to high school sweetheart and fellow Hall of Famer Cristi Carbone Burnham. They have three children and reside in Virginia.

Cristi Carbone Burnham

Cristi Carbone Burnham is a 1997 Graduate of South Windsor High School where she played Varsity Basketball, Volleyball and Track. She served as Captain of all three teams and all teams achieved CCC East Conference Championships. In her senior year she was named All- Conference in all three sports.

In Basketball, Cristi was named All-State her junior and senior years and All-Conference Sophomore, Junior and Senior years. She led the team in scoring and rebounding all four years. She led the team to two Conference Championships, two Class LL semi-finals and one quarter-final appearance in the State Tournament. She was MVP of the Ellington Basketball Tournament her senior year and a three time member of the All-Tournament Team.

She played in the CHSCA Class LL Senior All-Star Game and the JCC Schoolgirl Classic All-Star Game. Cristi is the South Windsor High School Girls’ Basketball Career Scoring Leader (1,386 points) and Rebounder (836 rebounds). She was ranked in the USA Today Top 12 Basketball Players in Connecticut her senior year. Cristi led her Volleyball Team to two Conference Championships and two Class LL State Tournament appearances. She was an Honor Roll student every quarter of her High School career, a six-time student of the month and two time Hartford Courant Student Athlete. She also was a member of the band (flute) and orchestra (violin).

Cristi earned a full four year NCAA Division 1 College Basketball Scholarship to Saint Peter’s University in New Jersey. She received a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education (2001) and a Master’s in Administration and Supervision (2003) graduating Magna Cum Laude for each degree. She played four years of college basketball where the team was two-time NCAA Division 1 College Basketball Tournament participants and two-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament Champions. Cristi was a four-time member of the MAAC All-Academic Team.

She was the St. Peter’s University “Senior Student-Athlete of the Year” and selected New Jersey Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women “Woman of the Year” for involvement in sports, academics and community service (2001). She received the Cross Keys Award for Academics, Athletics, Community Service and Strength of Character and was named St. Peter’s College “Woman of the Year” (2001). She organized and participated in college missionary trips to Mexico City and Honduras and volunteered at blood drives, soup kitchens and numerous other community support initiatives.

Cristi is an International Health and Empowerment Coach at HERBALIFE and previously served as a Sales Rep in the Pharmaceutical Industry. Married to high school sweetheart and fellow South Windsor High School Hall of Famer, Brett Burnham. They have three children and reside in Virginia.