Banner Night for Former Wildcats

Three of the best basketball players in Wilmington High School history returned Tuesday night to the court where they made many memories throughout their four years in a Wildcat uniform.

During halftime of the boys basketball season finale, the school honored its 1,000-point scorers with a banner on the wall of the gymnasium and a plaque for each of them.

In addition, the school acknowledged current senior Vinny Scifo by congratulating him for a career that would have landed him on the banner as well if not for a shoulder injury early this season.

“It brought back a lot of memories entering the building and the gymnasium where I spent a great four years,” said Winston Fairfield, Jr., Class of 1959. “It was quite an honor.”

Fairfield is one of the best athletes to ever sport a Wilmington jersey. During his senior campaign, he averaged an eye-popping 40 points per game, and went on to earn a full scholarship to play at Indiana University.

The Wilmington alumni was joined by Eric Swiezinski, Class of 2001, and Ashley Vitale, Class of 2007, on the evening. While Mike Lombard’s name is also on the banner, the member of the Class of 1988 was unable to attend the ceremony because the Littleton High School team he coaches was playing in a tournament on Tuesday.

“I love it here. It’s home,” said Vitale, who finished 1,137 points in her four-year career and is the only female to reach the milestone. “You still get that excited feeling when you walk back into the gym. I wish I could do it all over again.”

This is not the first 1,000-point banner ceremony Vitale has been a part of. Her name is also in the Endicott College record books as she accomplished the feat with the Gulls last year.

Swiezinski received his plaque from current head coach Joe Maiella, who was an assistant when he played more than a decade ago.

“The coaching staff here cares not just about basketball, but about how their kids do in school, and I think that’s pretty rare in a lot of high school programs,” said Swiezinski. “They have a vested interest in the community as well, and that shows.”

As a four-year player and starter for the Wildcats from 1998-2001, Swiezinski was a key cog in Wilmington’s first ever Cape Ann League championship team. In his junior and senior season, he was named the league’s Player of the Year and led his team to the Division 3 North quarterfinals. 

Swiezinski ended his stellar career with 1,188 points and a spot in Wilmington history.

“It’s pretty crazy how quickly time flies,” said Siezinski. “I see that they left a lot of room up there, so hopefully we’ll get some more people up there.”