TAUNTON— After months of planning, nominations and decisions, the inaugural Class of 2024 of the Taunton High Athletic Hall of Fame was announced Friday.
Student athletes David Arieta, Eric DeMoura, Jeff Gallagher, Kendra Lund (Drake), Katlyn Mallette (Gauthier), Scott Mitchell, Erin Wade (Hernandez) and Bonnie Yuen (Belfield), as well as the 1967 football team and longtime softball coach Dave Lewry were all chosen as the first inductees.
"The committee was truly impressed by the outstanding achievements of these student-athletes, team and coach," Taunton High Athletic Hall of Fame Committee Chairman Mike Fox said. "Their dedication to their respective sports has left a lasting impact on the Taunton High athletic community, and we are proud to honor them as our first inductees."
All were nominated by members of the public before the Hall of Fame Committee voted on the final list of inductees, while those not selected remain eligible for the next four years before needing to be re-nominated.
An induction ceremony will be held on Nov. 9 at Taunton High School at a time to be announced. The Hall of Fame will be located in the hallway between the Joseph Rabouin Field House and the athletics wing of the building, with plaques honoring each individual inductee.
"On behalf of the Taunton Public Schools, I want to congratulate the inductees for their tremendous achievements and well-deserved recognition," Taunton Public Schools Superintendent John Cabral said. "I’d also like to thank retiring Athletic Director Mark Ottavianelli and the entire Hall of Fame committee for their time, dedication and hard work to bring this first class to fruition."
Here's a look at the inaugural class of Tigers that are set to enter the Hall of Fame:
David Arieta '81 (Football)
A wide receiver and cornerback who was a key part of the undefeated 1980 Eastern Mass. Division 2 Super Bowl champions, Arieta hauled in 20 passes for 520 yards and seven touchdowns while also recording 13 interceptions his senior year. Following the season, he was chosen as the 1980 Boston Globe Division 2 Player of the Year.
Eric DeMoura '92 (Baseball)
A three-year member of the varsity baseball team, DeMoura helped lead the Tigers to the 1991 Old Colony League title. As a senior, the shortstop was named the 1992 Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year by the United States Baseball Federation and Topps and was invited to the US Junior Olympic Team Trials. Drafted in the 44th round of the 1992 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox, DeMoura went on to play four years of college baseball for Clemson.
Jeff Gallagher '94 (Hockey)
Despite an injury-shortened sophomore year, Gallagher put together one of the most dominant offensive careers of any Taunton hockey player, averaging two points per game for a grand total of 139. He's the Tigers' all-time leader in goals (36), assists (103), assists in a season (42) and points in a season (64). He was named a two time All-Scholastic by both the Taunton Daily Gazette and The Enterprise .
Kendra Lund (Drake) '99, Basketball
The top scorer in Taunton girls basketball history with 1,437 points, Lund dominated the court for the Tigers. An Old Colony League All-Star in all four of her varsity seasons, she was named the 1999 OCL MVP and was a four-time All Scholastic for both the Taunton Daily Gazette and The Enterprise . While best remembered athletically for her efforts on the parquet, Lund was also a member of the 1997 Division 1 champion softball team.
Katlyn Mallette (Gauthier) '03, Softball
The 2003 Mass. Gatorade Softball Player of the Year, the pitcher was a key part of the Tigers back-to-back Division 1 titles in 2002 and 2003. In a program that has seen its fair share of success in the circle, she still holds the career record for lowest ERA (0.19), fewest runs allowed (19) and perfect games (5). She won four Old Colony League titles, three South Sectional Championships and two City Championships in addition to the two state titles before a four year college career at Ohio University.
Scott Mitchell '85 (Basketball)
The all-time leading scorer in Taunton basketball history (1,615), Mitchell was a dominant force for the Tigers in his four years on the court. A two-time All-Scholastic for both the Taunton Daily Gazette and The Enterprise , as well as a Bsoton Globe Second Team All-Scholastic, he was a perennial Old Colony League All-Star.
Erin Wade (Hernandez) '08 (Softball)
Another dominant figure in the circle for the Tigers, Wade holds the program records for wins (67), strikeouts (942), no-hitters (12) and innings pitched (588). She also came through at the plate, batting .388 with 11 doubles, 14 triples, four home runs and 61 RBIs. A 2007 Division 1 champion , she also helped lead Taunton to a South Sectional title, four Old Colony League titles and four City Championship crowns before going on to a four-year college career at Hofstra University. The 2007 and 2008 Boston Globe Player of the Year, she was also named the 2007 and 2008 Enterprise Player of the Year and had 12 total All-Scholastic honors between the Globe , Enterprise , Taunton Daily Gazette and Boston Herald .
Bonnie Yuen (Belfield) '85 (Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track)
One of the most prolific runners in Taunton history, Yuen holds the indoor program records for the 600 meter, 800 meter, 1000 meter and mile and the outdoor program records for the 500 meter, 1500 meter and mile. It was in the indoor 800 meter that she was the most dominant, going undefeated for three straight years with three straight title wins at the Class A, All-State and New England levels. She also placed second in the event at the 1985 US Junior Nationals, qualifying her for the US Junior Team before going on to four year college career with the University of Missouri. A six time Boston Globe All-Scholastic, she was also a 2015 Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association (MSTCA) Coaches Hall of Fame inductee and
The 1967 Taunton High Varsity Football Team
While many believed the 1980 Eastern Mass. Division 2 Super Bowl were the only Tiger football team to finish on top, a search through the state records found that Taunton's first state title came in 1967. That year, the Tigers went undefeated, outscoring opponents 221-81 in nine games while capturing the City Championship, Bristol County League Championship and the Class C Championship under head coach George Hemond.
Dave Lewry, Softball Coach (2000-2019)
For 20 seasons, Lewry helmed the Tiger softball squad, building on the success of his predecessor Jack Tripp in turning the program into one of the best in the state. Under his leadership, Taunton made the playoffs in all 20 seasons while capturing the Division 1 title in 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2018 , as well as numerous South Sectional, Old Colony League and Hockomock Kelley-Rex titles. He finished his coaching-career with a program-best 407 wins while also taking home numerous Coach of the Year honors from the Boston Globe (2001, Division 1), the National Federation of State High School Associations (2003, Northeast Sectional), the Enterprise (2003), Taunton Daily Gazette (2007) and Hockomock Sports (2014 and 2015).
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Taunton High announces inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame inductee class
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