Mustang Monthly



IMMACULATE HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATES HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES


Mustang pride was abundant at Immaculate High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame event held on Saturday, October 16 at the Ethan Allen Hotel. Eight athletes and one team who have made remarkable contributions to the school’s athletic program were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Congratulations to Alex Asencio ‘89, Jonathan Fenaroli '87, Moira (Kenny) Howley '09, Zachary Long '04, Lauren (MacKay) Neeley '05, Anthony Simone '01, Lindsay (Brown) Smith '06, Walter "Dusty" Thompson '71 and the 1995 Girls Champion Soccer Team! More than 170 guests came out to celebrate our newest inductees and the tradition of athletic excellence that is synonymous with Immaculate. In addition, a Mustang Athletic Appreciation Award was presented to Michael Szabocsan, a local Danbury resident known to our school community as “Big Mike” and IHS’ #1 fan.

After a cheerful cocktail reception where alumni, friends and family perused IHS athletic memorabilia, reconnected, caught up and shared memories, guests moved into the Regency Ballroom for dinner and the induction ceremony. IHS president, Mary Maloney and principal, Wendy Neil welcomed everyone and introduced our Master of Ceremonies, Bart Busterna, broadcaster, sports director and program director for WLAD. Current Hall of Famers were introduced by IHS Athletic Director, Nelson Mingachos and they gathered together for a great photo and received Hall of Fame pins. Then the 2021 class of inductees were introduced individually. Each inductee delivered inspirational and heartwarming acceptance speeches where they thanked friends, teammates, coaches, family members and faculty/staff and recalled memories from their days at IHS.

This year’s inductees included the 1995 SWC and CT State girls soccer team champions; four-year all-conference baseball player who held the record for most wins and innings pitched in the early ‘70s and lettered Class M basketball player, Walter “Dusty” Thompson ‘71; captain of the 1986 undefeated WCC league and Class S championship football team, offensive guard and middle linebacker, Jonathan Fenaroli’ 87; starter on the undefeated 1985 freshman basketball team, member of the 1986 championship basketball team, three-time defending WCC All Conference long jump champion, All-State Track and Field and Class M 100M State Championship winner, Alex Ascensio, ‘89; multiple SWC, All New England and MVP championship indoor track, Moira (Kenny) Howly ‘09; three-time All-State running back, defensive back player and record holder of the school’s Most Interceptions in a Career award, Zach Long ‘04; three-sport athlete who set a single season baseball record with 30 stolen bases and leading the team to the school’s first ever state championship, Anthony SImone, ‘01; starting point guard and two-time SWC honors recipient and four-year All SWC singles tennis player with a four-year record of playing in the CT State Open quarterfinals, Lauren (MacKay) Neeley; two-time All-State basketball player, four-time All SWC Conference team, four-time News Times All Area team member named in the “Top 25 Best Athletes of the Decade” and 1,176 point career scorer, Lindsay (Brown) Smith ‘06. To read more about this year’s inductees, please see their bios in the electronic program book below.

 HALL OF FAME PROGRAM BOOK

Team captains, Carie (Pluff) Koehler ‘96 and Andrea (Behling) Thoennessen ‘96 and assistant coach, Anthony Xavier paid tribute to Head Coach Roger Custodio who passed away in 2014 and read a beautiful poem written by Hall of Famer, Mike Pascuzzi ‘70 about the 1995 State and SWC Championship Girls Soccer Team.

Thank you to everyone who came out in support of this year’s inductees. A special thank you goes out to our sponsors, the Simone Family for their Mustang Pride and MVP Table Sponsorships and Jeff Deldin and the IHS 1986 Class S Football Champions for their MVP Table sponsorship. It was a great night to be a Mustang! Congratulations again to all of this year’s amazing class of inductees!

 

GOLDEN MUSTANGS CELEBRATE THEIR 50TH REUNION!


Immaculate High School’s Class of 1971 celebrated their 50th reunion on the weekend of October 22 and 23. Friday, October 22 was a fun evening of pizza. music and friendship at the home of Jan Maria Jagush ‘71. Then on Saturday morning, Golden Mustangs came back to Immaculate to enjoy a school tour and breakfast. Later that evening they celebrated with a lovely dinner dance and cocktail hour at the Ridgewood Country Club. A wonderful weekend was had by all!

 

Reunions

Your reunion year is an occasion to renew ties with classmates and reflect on what Immaculate means to you. Reunion spirit is alive and well at IHS, with events ranging from informal to formal, spring or fall, one day or full weekend, etc. We look forward to working with alumni in classes ending in 1,2,6 and 7 to hold reunions in 2022. We will assist our committees to make the planning easy for all involved, while helping to create a memorable event! Please contact our Alumni and Events Director, Jeannie (Coleman) Demko ‘88 - jdemko@myimmaculatehs.org or (203) 744-1510 ext. 158.
 

Reunion Updates:
Class of 1972 - Golden Mustang 50th Reunion tentatively scheduled for June 4, 2022
Class of 1991 - 30th Reunion scheduled for December 11, 2021 at Del Primo Restaurant
Class of 1992 - 30th Reunion in planning stages - date TBD

If you would like to receive information about upcoming reunions, please make sure that we have your current contact information by completing the Alumni Update form below:

ALUMNI UPDATE FORM