Narragansett Regional announces next Athletic Hall of Fame Class for Oct. 15 induction

Mike Richard

October 13, 2022 at 5:02 AM·5 min read

BALDWINVILLE — The Narragansett Regional High School Athletic Hall of Fame has announced its next class of hall of famers to be inducted on Saturday, Oct. 15 at a banquet being held at the Baldwinville American Legion beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Three former Narragansett athletic standouts, an outstanding contributor, the 1987 Clark Tournament champion boys basketball team, and an individual being honored as both a Warrior athlete and coach will be among the 10th induction group.

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This will be the first induction since 2017, as COVID intervened with plans over the past three years.

Those Narragansett alumni selected for induction are as follows:

A 1968 Narragansett Regional graduate, Ken Knowlton will be inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame as both an athlete and coach on Saturday, Oct. 15.

Ken Knowlton (Class of 1968)

A three-year varsity soccer and basketball player and twice named the Warriors’ most valuable player in both sports, Knowlton will be inducted as both an athlete and coach.

As an athlete, Knowlton became the all-time leading scorer of the Warrior soccer teams and, on the track, he was a member of the school’s record-setting mile and half-mile relay teams.

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As a cross-country coach at Narragansett, his boys teams won 13 Wachusett League championships, 10 Wachusett Invitational championships and captured four state titles.

He also coached the girls cross-country teams to 11 Wachusett League titles, 10 Nashoba Invitational championships and three times placed second in the districts. He also coached the Warrior girls basketball team for several seasons, making a number of district appearances.

A two-sport star at Narragansett Regional in the 1970s, Frank Dembek will be inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 15.

Frank Dembek (Class of 1973)

A standout baseball and basketball player for the Warriors, Dembek was a Wachusett League all-star in both sports during his senior year of 1973. He was a key contributor to the district champion Narragansett boys basketball team in 1971 as a sophomore.

He also once held the single-game scoring record for ‘Gansett basketball when he poured in 37 points against Gardner in a 1973 victory. He was also a smooth-fielding infielder and top hitter for the Warrior baseball team.

Rebecca (Manca) Mexico is the winningest pitcher in Warrior postseason softball history and once pitched three straight no-hitters.

Rebecca (Manca) Mexico (Class of 1997)

Over the course of her four-year pitching career, Mexico became the winningest playoff pitcher in Warrior history with seven tournament victories. While official records for the school are incomplete, she may also be the all-time winningest pitcher in ‘Gansett history.

She pitched an amazing three straight no-hitters, manufacturing a streak of 30 straight hitless innings over six games as a junior in 1996. She finished the season with a near-spotless 0.98 earned run average and was second on the team in batting with a .452 average.

Where Are They Now?: This former Narragansett athlete now calls outdoor sports haven Homer, Alaska home

All four years of high school, Mexico pitched the Warriors into the playoffs, advancing to the finals her last three years. She was named Most Improved Player as a freshman, won the Coaches Award as a junior, and in 1995 and 1997 was named the team MVP.

Aside from her prowess in the softball pitching circle, she was also a standout player with the 1996 district championship field hockey team. Then, as a member of the Warrior indoor track team, she was part of a foursome that broke the school record in the two-mile relay.

Kelsie Miller (Class of 2012)

A member of four varsity sports teams in field hockey, basketball, softball and track, Miller was a two-time captain and three-time Mid-Wach League All-Star for field hockey, where she also won the Coaches Award and Defensive Player award. She was also named to the Best of 60 Field Hockey All-Star game.

In basketball, she was a captain and Coaches Award winner, and also captain of the track team her senior year. There, she was a member of the shot put winning team in the league relays. She was also a member of several district qualifying teams in field hockey and basketball.

Where Are They Now?: In building Hilltop, this former high school pugilist began a BMX revolution in Templeton

Matt Lehtonen (Class of 1992) Outstanding Contributor

Throughout his high school years, Lehtonen was manager of the Narragansett football, basketball and baseball teams. He was particularly important with the 1990 Division 3 Super Bowl champions and the 1991 state Division 3 baseball champions.

After high school, he was instrumental in the formation of the Narragansett Regional Athletic Hall of Fame which he has overseen since its first induction in 2002. He has already been inducted as a member of both aforementioned championship teams, and now he is going in as a contributor.

A stunned John Jasinski receives a pat on the head from assistant coach Pete Duprey following the Warriors' 1987 Clark Tournament championship victory over Leicester.

1986-87 Narragansett boys basketball team

The only Narragansett boys basketball team to win both the Wachusett League title and a Clark Tournament championship in the same season, the squad was coached by John Jasinski and led by 6-foot-8 senior center Chris Haley and 6-4 junior power forward Matt Mahon.

The rest of the Warriors starting five consisted of six-foot senior twins Steve and Rich Bernard, and 5-6 senior guard Bruce Coffin. Others contributing to the squad were seniors Tom Smith and Mike Benbenek; juniors Don Dragon, Chris Murphy, Mike Banas, Chad Hill, Rich Spallone, Barry Johnson and Dan Padula; and sophomore John Flynn.

The team was co-Wachusett League champs with Littleton. They later beat Bromfield (78-75), Tahanto (58-55 in overtime) and Leicester (60-59) to win the Clark tourney championship.

Hall of Fame induction ceremony tickets

Tickets for Saturday’s induction ceremony are available at Narragansett Regional High School, as well as Huhtala Oil in Templeton.

Comments and suggestions for The Gardner Scene can be sent to Mike Richard at mikerichard0725@gmail.com or in writing to Mike Richard, 92 Boardley Road, Sandwich, MA 02563.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Narragansett Regional Athletic Hall of Fame announced its 10th class

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