SALEM — The Salem High School Athletic Hall of Fame inducted 14 new members this past weekend at a ceremony at the Moose Hall.
The Class of 2009 inductees bring the number of total Salem High Athletic Hall of Famers to 193 members.
The honorees, in alphabetical order, were:
JIMMY BRITTON (Class of 1967) was a fullback and co-captain of the 1966 Salem High football team, earning Essex County League all-star honors after rushing for 11 touchdowns and finishing with 78 total points. He was the second person to receive the Keech Memorial Trophy given to the outstanding player in the annual Salem-Peabody football game. Jimmy had 183 yards on 40 carries in a 14-8 triumph over Saugus that season.
DEREK CARLSON (Class of 1987) was a three-year baseball standout and captain as a senior. He hit over .300 as both a junior and a senior and threw out 20 runners from behind the plate. A two-time Salem News and Northeastern Conference all-star, Derek's teams went 38-25 under his leadership. He went on to play for four years at Brandeis and is now the head coach at Roger Williams University.
SEAN T. GALLAGHER (Class of 1987) was a star in football, wrestling and baseball during his time at Salem High, and later went on to coach at his alma mater for 14 years (1990-2003) and also serving as the school's athletic director. A three-year starter in football, Sean was captain of the 1986 NEC champion football team, part of the league's stingiest defense (only 54 points allowed). He led the team in tackles, holds both the season and career record for quarterback sacks, was an NEC all-star and was named team MVP. He was also a two-time Defensive MVP of the Beverly-Salem football game. A two-time captain and four-year letterwinner in wrestling, Sean posted two undefeated seasons and was a Salem News all-star. He was also a letterwinner in baseball. As a coach, Sean brought the school's wrestling program to unprecedented heights, going 148-71 and winning Division 2 North championships in 1994, '95 and '98 and going to the North finals three other times. His 1999 squad was also a state finalist. He coached 27 tournament champions, a dozen Division 2 North sectional champs, six state champions, one New England champion and had 57 sectional placewinners, 22 state placers and eight All-State placers. He was a four-time Division 2 North Coach of the Year in wrestling. In football, he guided the Witches to their only Super Bowl championship in 1999, as well as the NEC title. He is currently the principal at Beverly High School.
STAN FRONKI (Class of 1945) was a standout offensive lineman and linebacker on the unbeaten 1944 Witches' football team. His devastating blocking was a solid contribution to the team offensively, and he was a talented tackler on the defensive side of the football.
SCOTT GARABEDIAN (Class of 1978) played both football and baseball for the Witches. A two-year starter at quarterback and captain of the 1977 SHS football club, he had over 1,200 yards of offense as a senior, with eight rushing TDs and seven more passing. He helped lead his team to a 7-6 upset over Saugus by throwing a TD pass with just 19 seconds remaining, the Sachems' lone loss of the season. Twice he was named Offensive Player of the Year on Thanksgiving, and he was an NEC all-star as a senior after completing 68 percent of his passes with just one interception. As a baseball player, Scott was second on the team in RBI and blasted a grand slam over Saugus. He also graduated in the top 10 percent of his class and went on to Williams College, serving as a two-year starter at QB. He received his Masters degree from NYU.
ROCCO GIARDI (Class of 1957) also played football and baseball, captaining both teams as a senior. A 165-pound guard and linebacker, he was a four-year starter and played in the inaugural Agganis Football All-Star Game in 1956, as well as the first Polio Bowl in 1957. An Essex County League all-star, Rocco was twice named the most valuable player by the Beverly Sports Club. He has long been known as an avid supporter of Salem High athletics.
CRAIG D. MIELCARZ (Class of 1999) was one of the greatest track and field athletes in Salem High history. A four-year letterwinner in both indoor and outdoor track, he captained both sports as a senior (winning NEC MVP in both) and was a two-time winner of the Moynihan Lumber Student-Athlete of the Year program. He holds the NEC records in both the indoor and outdoor high jump as well as the 300 meter hurdles outdoors. Craig was a three-time Class B state champion, a four-time All-State champion, two-time New England champion, two-time Dartmouth Relay champion and placed third at the Penn Relays. He won the Indoor National high jump title in 1998 (6 feet 9 3/4 inches) and was an All-American selection as a junior. Twice he captured the State Pentathlon crowns, as well as the State Decathlon as a senior while finishing second in the National Pentathlon. Craig is the school record holder in the high jump (6-10), 50 yard high hurdles (6.6), 300m hurdles (38.7) and 110m hurdles (14.8). He went on to achieve Division 3 All-American status while at MIT.
PAMELA MYRIE (Meritorious service) was a member of the Salem Booster Clubs in soccer, basketball and track from 1994-2003, working hard at all the games to raise funds for the various teams. She stayed on with the programs even after her children graduated from Salem High, and the "Pam Myrie Spirit Award" is now presented to a member of the SHS girls track team each year. Pam was awarded the NEC 2004 Community Award, giving to a person who greatly contributes to a member school's athletic program.
KEISHA MYRIE (Class of 1998) played soccer, basketball and ran spring track for the Witches. She won the individual achievement award in soccer as a sophomore, the Coaches Hall of Fame award as a junior, and was team MVP and played in the Agganis All-Star Game as a senior. Keisha was also a Coaches Hall of Fame winner and Defensive Player award recipient in basketball. On the track, she was NEC MVP as a senior and broke school records in the 100 meters (which still stands), 400 and triple jump. Both a Lifetime Achievement Award and Coaches Hall of Fame winner in track, Keisha was also a member of the 4x100 and sprint medley record setting relay teams, and was the Class B state champion in 1998 in the 100 meters.
CHRISTINE O'DONNELL (Class of 1999) also played soccer, basketball and ran spring track, letting in all three sports for four years. She was a three-sport captain as a senior and a two-time basketball captain. A two-time NEC all-star in soccer, she was also an Eastern Mass. all-star her senior year. Christine led the girls basketball team to NEC titles as a junior and senior and was a two-time NEC all-star as well as Salem reached the EMass. title game in Boston. As a track star, Christine competed in All-States twice, New Englands twice and the Nationals in the 800 meters and sprint medley relay, discus medley relay and 4x800 relay. She went on to play two sports at Colby College, finishing as the school's all-time leading scorer in women's soccer.
GARRETT R. PARSONS (Class of 1997) played football, wrestled, ran track and played baseball at Salem High. He won three letters with the football team, captaining the 1996 squad and winning team MVP honors. A Salem News all-star, he was a two-time NEC all-star linebacker and played in the Agganis All-Star Football Classic and Shriner's All-Star Game. He was also a four-year letterwinner in wrestling, winning the Division 2 North sectional crown as a senior. His teams won Division 2 North sectional titles his sophomore and junior years. He lettered twice in baseball and once in spring track as well.
ADAM J. SCHROEDER (Class of 1999) played football and wrestled at Salem High. He was a rare four-time letterwinner in football, winning team MVP honors as both a junior and senior and serving as team captain as a senior. A two-time NEC MVP, he was also the conference's Defensive MVP in 1998. A Salem News all-star, Adam also played in the Agganis All-Star Football Classic. As a 215-pound wrestler, he won the Division 2 North sectional crown and Division 2 North state championship. A three-year letterwinner, he placed third at All-States and qualified for the New England championships.
STEVE SADOSKI (Class of 1989) was a baseball and football standout for the Witches. A two-year starter at catcher, he helped guide the Witches to the 1989 Division 2 state title, handling fellow Hall of Famer Jeff Juden and the rest of the pitching staff flawlessly. As a captain on the football team, he caught 39 passes in one season, nine in one game and 49 for his career (the last two of which are SHS records). An NEC all-star in football and Agganis All-Star, Steve went on to Harvard and played three seasons of varsity baseball. He is now a CPA for the Deloitte and Touche Accounting Firm.
BILL WILLIS (Class of 1952) was co-captain of the 1951-52 basketball team that won the Essex County title at 13-1 (going 19-3 overall). He was the second-leading scorer on the club behind Hall of Famer Mo Theberge. A two-year starter and Essex County all-star, he was also a two-year starter on the baseball team at first base.
