The Naugatuck Hall of Fame is holding its 41st-annual induction ceremony Oct. 20th at the Continental Room in Naugatuck.
This years honorees are Jessica Mudry, Eric Mudry, Bud Klimaszewski, Dan Freddino, Cindy Adamski, and Ed Rossi. Former UCONN Womens basketball ALL American and present University of Hartford Women's coach Jen Rizzotti will be the guest speaker for the evening.
Dinner begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are $40.00. Money raised from the evening will go to the organizations scholarship fund.Tickets may be purchased by calling Ray Rossi Jr. at 203-729-4865 or Gordon Rossi at 203-723-7893. Tickets are also available at the Tax Collector's office at the Town Hall or from the inductees. No tickets will be sold at the door. Anyone wishing to purchase a booster ad or an individual ad can call Kim Pruchnicki at 203-808-6776 by Sept. 28th.
For the next six days, Naugatuck Patch will be highlighting each of the inductees with brief bios and photos. Today, we select a Naugatuck High School swimmer who has set many pool records at Naugy and in the area.
Dan Freddino
Information compiled by Fred Scheithe
The Naugatuck High School record board, along with the banners and plaques adorning the pool area serve as a tribute to the outstanding swimming career of Dan Freddino. Virtually ever record ever set at the high school pool belongs to Dan. Many of them still belong to him 18 years after his graduation, a fete not accomplished by many.
Dan earned All NVL honors all four years and All State honors all four years in all the events he was able to swim. He was awarded the John Reardon Top Performer in the NVL Championship Meet all four years and was named the Swimmer of the Meet for Class L or LL all four years. Dan helped lead his team to the NVL title all four years. In the State meet for L or LL, he led the team to a title in 1992,Runner Up in 1991 and 1994, and a third place finish in 1993.In addition, he led to team to a top 10 finish in the State Open meet in 1991,a fourth place finish in 1992 and 1993 and a third place finish in 1994. No other NVL team ever finished this high in the State Opens!
All -American honors do not come easy, except for maybe Dan. He earned All –American status in the 100 free as a sophomore, and the 100 and 200 free as a junior. As a senior, he earned all- American status in the 200 IM, 100 fly,100 free and 50 free and was a member of the 200 and 400 free relays that also were All-American.
Dan still holds records set in 1993 and 1994 in the 200 free,200 IM,50 free,100 fly,100 free, 500 free and 100 back. His relay team records still stand in the 200 medley,200 free and 400 free relays. Coach Jim McKee keeps an “All-Time Best” list of times in all individual events. Dan still holds the Number One spot in every event except the 100 breast stroke and diving.
Dan went on the swim at the University of South Carolina for 2 years and at UCONN for 2 years. During that time, he qualified for the US Olympic Trials, won the big East Title in the 100 free, was second in the 50 free and set a record in the 100 free at UCONN that still stands today.
Other Bios to Date:
- Jessica Mudry
- Eric Mudry
