Hall of Fame: Class of 2004

John A. Holwill 1929
J. Frederic Requardt 1939
Eugene L. Cleaves 1949
James F. Ferguson 1959
Peter R. Murray 1959
John D. Semler 1964
Christina Poole Thomas 1974
Paul A. Stevenson 1974
Virginia H. Armstrong 1979
David W. Quinn 1984
Helen F. McDermid 1989

Coach - Edward F. de Villafranca (Hon) 1959

Team

The 1959 Soccer Team

John A. Holwill 1929

Jack Holwill was born in Qinwangdao, China in 1908 and made his first visit to the United States when he enrolled in Kent School. In the 1929 yearbook he is described as "one of the greatest athletes Kent has known". Captain of hockey and baseball, winner of ten varsity letters, Jack had few equals in his day. For four years straight, Jack was the leading scorer on the hockey team. In his 6th Form year, he and his brother, Claude, were part of a smooth-working first line, backed up by a powerful defense. The team won 10 out of 12 games that season. On the gridiron Jack's speed and agility brought the football team great success. The 1928 team was described as "one of the best in the annals of Kent history". Four years on the varsity baseball team, Jack led the team in hitting in his 6th Form year. That same year on Prize Day, he was awarded Pater's Mug as the best all-around athlete in his class. Jack's son, Richard, remembers his father's account of his try-out with the New York Rangers in the 1930s: apparently he decided to quit while he still had a few teeth left. Jack enjoyed sports as long as he lived; he continued to play golf with a single-digit handicap until his death in 1971.

J. Frederic Requardt 1939

It wasn't long after arriving from Baltimore in the fall of 1933 that Fred Requardt distinguished himself as an outstanding three sport athlete. During his Kent career he earned three letters in football, two in hockey and three in crew. Fred earned a seat in the first boat as a 4th Former - the only 4th Former in the boat. In his 5th Form year Fred was a member of the 1938 Henley Crew that won the Thames Challenge Cup, one of four Kent crews to do so. That same year he was awarded the Bishop Oar in recognition of his spirit and excellence on the river. The following year Fred was Captain and stroke of the 1939 Crew that made it to the finals at Henley. Although he did not row after Kent, Fred's love of being on the water continued. Following graduation, he served in the Merchant Marines, and for the past thirty years he has lived on a boat that he built, currently docked on the Chesapeake Bay.

Eugene L. Cleaves 1949

As the 1949 yearbook wrote: "Athletic enthusiasts at Kent welcomed Jinx with open arms." Jinx brought his talents to the varsity football and baseball teams, but his athletic gifts were most apparent in ice hockey. Not only did Jinx play four years on the Varsity Hockey Team, but four years on the first line, an accomplishment matched by few. A prolific goal-getter, Jinx was elected Captain in his Sixth Form year. Jinx went on to play hockey at Princeton University, where he earned three varsity letters. In his senior year, the hockey team won the Pentagonal League Championship, one of only three league championships the Princeton hockey team has won in its history.

James F. Ferguson 1959

Jim Ferguson was one of Kent's best wrestlers, and arguably the very best. For three years straight Jim was undefeated in competition. In his 5th Form year Jim led the team to a New England Championship and its best record ever. Jim was both Connecticut and New England Champion in his weight class that year. In his 6th Form year, Jim was again Connecticut and New England Champion and was voted Best Wrestler at the New England Tournament. That year he also served as Captain and was awarded the Wing Trophy as the outstanding wrestler on the team. In football, Jim's combination of speed, agility and strength made him an outstanding player. In recognition of his proficiency and sportsmanship on the field, he was co-recipient of the Mitchell Trophy in his 6th Form year. At Wesleyan University, Jim continued to rule the mat, finishing either first or second in New England each of his four years there. One of his teammates described him as "the most outstanding, most dominant athlete I have ever seen."

Peter R. Murray 1959

Peter Murray is the model of the scholar-athlete, as accomplished in the classroom as he was on the soccer field and on the ice. At Kent, four letters in soccer and four in hockey; two undefeated soccer seasons; one League Championship in soccer; winning seasons, including one undefeated season, in hockey for three years. In recognition of his leadership and skill, Peter was elected Captain of the soccer team for both his 5th and 6th Form years. As if his athletic accomplishments weren't enough, Peter won the Chemistry Prize in his 5th Form year, the Mosteller Prize for Probability and Statistics in his 6th Form year, and was also a member of the Guild and the Cum Laude Society. At Cornell University, Peter continued to excel on the soccer field and on the ice, but ultimately focused solely on soccer, where he earned three varsity letters and served as Captain in his senior year. As a defenseman in both soccer and hockey, Peter was big, strong, speedy, highly coordinated and intimidating - a great combination of skills for a top-notch defenseman

John D. Semler 1964

Jack Semler was one of three brothers (George '62, Jack '64, and Derrick '67) who made a great impact on Kent athletics in the 1960s. Jack excelled in hockey and baseball, earning four letters in each. After earning a letter in football, Jack switched to soccer, where he picked up another two varsity letters. In recognition of his all-around excellence, Jack was awarded Pater's Mug on Prize Day of his 6th Form year. At the University of Vermont, Jack continued to improve and excel: varsity letters in soccer and hockey; All-State in both sports for three years; #33 on the all-time scoring list for hockey; Captain of the hockey team. In 1982 UVM recognized Jack's athletic accomplishments when they inducted him into their Athletic Hall of Fame. Bringing his knowledge of the game to coaching, Jack worked at Princeton University and the University of Maine, where he brought the team from Division II to Division I and where in 1981 he was voted New England Division I Hockey Coach of the Year by New England Sportswriters

Christina Poole Thomas 1974

In the emerging years of girls' prep school athletics, Tina Poole was a dominating force in three sports for three years. In field hockey, her teams amassed a record of 22 wins, 3 losses and 2 ties over the span of 1972-1974, including an undefeated 13-0-0 record in 1973. In basketball, her 1972 and 1973 teams were also undefeated. Tina's senior year found her with a broken ankle for almost the entire season, and her captainship had to be from the sidelines. She was able to play in the last game of the season, and she scored 25 points in a 80-29 drubbing of Choate-Rosemary Hall. Tina never played in a losing basketball game at Kent. In lacrosse, her 1972 team was undefeated. At Prize Day in 1974, Tina was awarded the Class of '31 Bowl as the outstanding female athlete in the Sixth Form. Strong, resilient, spirited, and gracious, Tina was a spectacular ambassador for Kent throughout her entire career.

Tina went on to Trinity College in Hartford, CT to a fine athletic career, where she played varsity basketball in her freshman year and three years each of varsity field hockey and lacrosse. Her coach remembers Tina in much the same way we do; at Trinity she embodied all the finest attributes of the student-athlete, just as she did at Kent.

Paul Stevenson 1974

In an era of unparalleled Kent successes on the fields, rink, and river, a number of individuals shared credit for the School's supremacy. Paul Stevenson combined incredible natural skills, leadership, and selfless team play to dominate three sports, soccer, hockey and baseball, in his three years at Kent.
Both Varsity Soccer Teams on which he played were undefeated WNEPPSA Champions. Paul was selected to the All-League Team each year and, in his Sixth Form year, was named an All-American. Fittingly, he was awarded the Winlaw Trophy in recognition of his indefatigable spirit and aggressive play.

Paul was a standout on two Housatonic Valley League champion hockey teams at a time when that league was as formidable as any in the country (Kent was ranked second in 1974 to Edina, Minnesota, in US scholastic hockey). At the Milton/Nobles Christmas Invitational, Paul was named to the All-Tournament Team and selected as MVP in both his Fifth and Sixth Form years. Paul was a tough, respected captain in his senior year and was credited for bringing together a varied group of individuals who became champions. That year he scored thirty-six goals and had forty-six assists.
In baseball, again two varsity letters, Paul was MVP in his Sixth Form year, batting .397. In the field his play was flawless.

Paul went on to Brown University, where he played both soccer and hockey, continuing to excel in both. He was a member of the Brown Hockey Team that won the Ivy League Championship in 1976 and made it to the NCAA Final Four. He was drafted by the New England Whalers in the WHA Amateur draft. Paul was both All-Ivy and All New England in soccer, and following his graduation from Brown, he played professional soccer with a number of teams in both the United States and England. Tragically, Paul died in 1995.

Paul epitomized what is special about Kent athletics and raised the bar to a magnificent height.

Virginia Armstrong 1979

Virginia Armstrong came to Kent as a new Fourth Former in September, 1976 and burst upon the athletic scene, becoming a key varsity player each season, first in field hockey, then in basketball and finally in lacrosse. Her athleticism, her endurance and her spirit made her into an instant star. Virginia continued to be a central player each season of her Kent career, earning the maximum nine varsity letters. In her senior year, she was elected Captain of both the basketball and lacrosse teams, was MVP of the field hockey and basketball teams, and high scorer in field hockey and lacrosse. At graduation she was honored with the Class of '31 Bowl as the outstanding female athlete in her class. Throughout her career, Virginia embodied the best of Kent athletics - high skill, extreme dedication and genuine sportsmanship.

Virginia went on to Denison University and had a solid athletic career in two sports, field hockey and lacrosse, at that fine institution.

David W. Quinn 1984

In his three years at Kent, David established himself as an outstanding athlete and leader. Senior Prefect, two-year Co-Captain of the ice hockey team, Co-Captain of the football team, M.V.P. of the Marr Christmas Tournament in his 6th Form year, winner of two Housatonic Valley League Championships in Hockey, first round draft pick by the Minnesota North Stars - these are but a sampling of David's accomplishments at Kent.

After Kent, David played with Boston University as a defenseman, serving as Co-Captain in his senior year. In his sophomore year, he earned All-Hockey East and All-New England honors. That same year David was a member of the U.S. National Junior Team that captured a bronze medal at the 1986 World Junior Championship. It proved to be his final collegiate season, as Christmas Disease, a blood disorder, forced an end to his collegiate playing career. But after medication enabled him to gain control of Christmas Disease, David played in both the American and International Hockey Leagues, and was a candidate for the U.S. Olympic Men's Hockey Team in 1988 and 1992.

After coaching at Northeastern University and the University of Nebraska-Omaha, David served as Head Coach of the U.S. National Under-17 Team, where he was named USA Hockey's Developmental Coach of the Year in 2003. Starting this summer, David will return to Boston University as an Associate Head Coach

Helen F. McDermid 1989

In her three years at Kent, Fran McDermid earned the maximum nine varsity letters, playing on the soccer team in the fall, swim team in the winter, and lacrosse team in the spring. She was Captain of the 1988 and the 1989 swim teams and set many individual records that still stand. She holds five School records, four Kent pool records and one New England record to this day. Fran was named the Outstanding Performer at the 1989 New England Swimming Championships, the year that she was also awarded the Class of '31 Bowl on Prize Day. Fran was named High School All-American in two swimming events in 1988 and three in 1989.

Following her graduation from Kent, Fran went on to Penn State University and to an illustrious college swimming career. She earned the Elizabeth McCoy Outstanding Swimmer Award each of her four years there. Fran won several Eastern championships; she was Penn State's first individual Big Ten champion in any sport, winning in four events; and in both 1992 and 1993, she was a finalist for the Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year Award. She was an Olympic Trial qualifier in 1992 and a participant in the World University Games in 1993. Penn State has established a Fran McDermid Leadership Award, presented each year to the student-athlete who best reflects the qualities that made Fran McDermid an outstanding swimmer and individual: spirit, athleticism, leadership, performance and dedication.

Edward F. deVillafranca (Hon) 1959

Edward "Coe" deVillafranca arrived on campus in the early years of Kent soccer and by 1958 the Varsity Soccer Team was undefeated League Champion. Many of the members of that team had never played soccer before Kent, yet under Coe's guidance they became champion soccer players and some went on to successful college soccer careers. The same year that the soccer team was League Champion, Coe also coached the Varsity Basketball Team and the Varsity Tennis Team, which was also League Champion that year.

During his Kent career, Coe had many roles at Kent: science teacher, Director of Studies, college counselor, coach, to name a few. In all areas, he was known for his commitment to his students and to doing his job well. From the fall of 1955 until he retired from coaching in the 1980s, Coe coached hundreds, perhaps thousands, of young men in soccer, basketball and tennis, and young women in tennis. His students and players alike speak of his patience and dedication. From Coe they learned not only skills and strategy that served them well during their athletic careers, but they also learned about fair play and good sportsmanship, values that would support them well after the games and matches were over.

1958 Soccer Team

Expectations were high for the 1958 Soccer Team, following an undefeated season the previous year and stocked with seven returning players. Under the direction of coaches Coe deVillafranca and Bob Partridge, this squad met all pre-season predictions and then some, compiling a 10 - 0 - 0 record and capturing Kent's first Western New England Prep School Soccer Association League Title.
Displaying outstanding individual talent and, more importantly, an understanding and use of team play, Kent outscored the opposition by a margin of 41 - 7, while extending the streak of games without a loss to 20 (the 1957 squad had 9 victories and 1 tie). Returning lettermen who formed the backbone of the team were Peter Murray (Captain), Robin Wilkins, Craig Vrooman, Dates Fryberger, Lou Buck, Grant Rudnicki and Bob Pagano.

Season highlights included: a 3 - 0 win over a previously undefeated Taft squad, led off by a long goal by Byron Miller only 30 seconds into the game; overcoming an early 1 - 0 deficit to a strong Cranwell team with 2 goals by Tom Stanton and a third by Bruce Morrison in a 3 - 1 victory; a thrilling win at Loomis with Dates Fryberger tallying the tying and winning goals with just minutes remaining in the contest; and, a goal by Craig Vrooman with a little over a minute to play, securing a 4 - 3 win over Hotchkiss in the season finale, assuring an undefeated season and league championship.

In addition to the returning players, the other members of the team were: Breck Alexander, Peter Alford, John Ashby, John Brooks, Hugh Hardcastle, Dave Kepner, Ken Korfmann, Whit McClelland, Fred McPhail, Byron Miller, John Morris, Bruce Morrison, Charlie Preusse, Ned Ruckner, Charlie Stainback, Tom Stanton, Gurney Williams, Bob Yahng and managers Lawrence Casserley and Peter Sowerby. The Captain's Trophy was awarded to Lou Buck and the Winlaw Trophy to Byron Miller.