Westerly Athletic Hall of Fame Awards 2023
The Westerly Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1998 by Mr. James E. Murano, the former principle of the high school. This year’s class consists of eight highly deserving individuals, each having made a unique and outstanding contribution to the fame and proud reputation of Westerly High School.
You can watch the award ceremony here >> Westerly Athletic Hall of Fame
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A selection committee representing the school has chosen each inductee based on his or her distinction and achievement as a student athlete, former coach or contributor, within the athletic program.
Each recipient received a citation and an engraved Lucite desktop award. Along with a class photograph, each inductee will have his or her name inscribed on a permanent Westerly High School Athletic Hall of Fame plaque mounted in the lobby of the Frederico Gymnasium.
Austin Cilley
Class of 2013
Cilley earned All-State honors in basketball twice and was the all-time leading scorer in program history when he graduated. His 1,523 points surpassed a record that had stood for 63 years. That mark was later exceeded by Jacee Hamelin with 1,689 points. Cilley led the state in scoring his senior year, averaging 24.5 points per game. He still holds the school record for 3-pointers in a game with nine and in a season with 97.Cilley was first-team All-Division his final two seasons.
Cilley later played at Rhode Island College where he led the team in scoring his freshman season as the team won the Little East Conference championship. Cilley injured a vertebrae in his spine that season ending his career. Cilley also played golf at RIC, winning three tournaments and earning team MVP honors twice. He received the John E. Hetherman Award given to a student athlete that overcomes adversity.
Kevin Conway
Class of 2012
Conway was an All-American, All-New England and All-State performer for the boys track program. Conway finished sixth in the indoor weight throw at the New Balance National and was All-New England (second) in the shot put. He was the 2012 outdoor state champion in the shot put and earned All-New England in the shot put (fourth) and discus (third). He was All-State five times in the shot put, discus and hammer throw. He won four Southern Division championships outdoors and was a three-time class and division champion indoors.
Conway later competed at the University of Mississippi where he still ranks in the top 10 in the shot put and weight throw indoors and shot put, discus and hammer outdoors. Conway lives in Dedham, Massachusetts, where he works as a physical therapist.
Debra Godbout
Class of 1998
Godbout played four years on the soccer team and later at the University of Rhode Island. She was the head coach at Newbury College and an assistant at Salve Regina and Providence College. She helped raise $50,000 to bring soccer opportunities and equipment to children in Boston through the Touches for C.H.A.N.G.E. Program with the New England Revolution.
Godbout works as the manager of operations and administration for the New England Revolution Academy in the community engagement department. She has also coached Special Olympics teams. She lives in Milton, Massachusetts, with her spouse, Deidre Nestor. and has a son, Maddox.
Elizabeth Harrington Ayala
Class of 2007
Ayala earned All-State recognition in both tennis and softball. In her senior year, she finished runner-up in the state singles tennis tournament. Ayala was first-team All-State twice and second-team All-State as a sophomore. She played No. 1 singles for three seasons. She earned second-team All-State recognition as a second baseman for the softball team in her junior and
senior seasons.
Ayala later played four years of tennis at Division I Sacred Heart where she was All-NEC second team her sophomore year. She played both singles and doubles. Ayala lives in Westerly with her husband, Daniel, and works at the Marine Science Magnet High School in Groton where she is a math teacher. She is also a tennis instructor at Weekapaug Tennis Club and
Pondview Racquet Club in Westerly.
Charles Holdredge
Contributor
Holdredge served as public address announcer for the school’s football games for 32 years and the WCCU Holiday Basketball Tournament for 29 years. Holdredge has served on the Westerly Hall of Fame committee and was instrumental, along with his wife Jane, in raising funds for lights at the school’s athletic field.
Holdredge is a member of the Providence Gridiron Hall of Fame. He served as the organization’s president for two years and received the Lawrence P. Gallogly Humanitarian award. He has also received the outstanding citizen in support of education award in Westerly. Holdredge retired after a 40-year career at Electric Boat and lives in Westerly with his wife.
Jeremy Octeau
Class of 2012
Octeau was an All-New England and All-State performer in track and field. He was a three-time outdoor state champion in the discus, and won the state title in the shot put his junior year. He finished second in the discus at the New England’s his junior and senior seasons. He was All-State seven times in indoor and outdoor track. He won three Class and four division championships outdoors. Octeau competed for LSU in college. He lives in Westerly and works as a botanical extractor.
Trish Rosso
Class of 1983
Rosso was an All-Division basketball and softball player. She earned first-team honors in both sports her senior year and was second team in both sports twice. Rosso was a captain of both teams her senior year. Westerly won three division titles in basketball during her time with the team.
Rosso played basketball at Mitchell College and played in the Westerly Women’s Softball League for 35 years. She also also coached youth softball. Rosso lives in Westerly and works as an IT application services manager for Mohegan Sun.
John Wulforst
Class of 1984
Wulforst was an All-State linebacker and twice named the most outstanding defensive player in the Thanksgiving Day game with Stonington. Wulforst was unanimous All-Division his junior and senior seasons when he led the team in tackles.
In his senior year, he had 11 solo tackles and a safety against Narragansett. He had 13 solo tackles and two sacks against Stonington. Wulforst worked for Cherenzia and Associates before his death in November 2017.
What a great story.
First of all, thank you to Charles Holdrege for being such a great contributor @ WHS from raising money, to broadcasting games, to coaching track. The world needs more positive people like you out there.
Secondly, congratulations to all of you being chosen one of eight into The Westerly Hall of Fame. All of your dedication, discipline, and determination equaled distinction.. Way to go.