Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, January 9, 2026 SPORTS | FROM PAGE 1 the essay writers for their respective coaches, extolling the mentors for the guidance, inspiration and support they were shown. Coincidentally, two of the subjects of the essays— Football Varsity Head Coach Witche Exilhomme and Gymnastics Varsity Head Coach Katie Bowdridge— were Hall of Fame inductees the same night, Exilhomme as a Class of 2012 standout student-athlete and Bowdridge as a Distinguished Service Award recipient. The three student essayists Isabella Oliveira (for Katie Bowdridge), Abigail Lee (for Dan Jurkowski) and James Hyppolite (for Witche Exilhomme), all received $1,000 cash scholarships courtesy of the Donoghue Family, in honor or their patriarch, the late Peter Sr., who spent many years supporting teams and athletes at Malden High in many ways. The coaches all received beautiful Golden Eagle Awards, a lacquered Golden Eagle. The evening got an early dose of emotion when James Hyppolite lost the battle of holding back tears as Coach Exilhomme told the story of his and James’ relationship through the years, from both of them arriving from Haiti through the Malden High years. Malden Mayor Gary Christenson, himself a Hall of Fame member and a 1986 MHS alumnus, delivered greetings from the City of Malden and stayed for the entire dinner and induction ceremony. Second-year Malden Superintendent of Schools TimoMalden Public Schools Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Health Charlie Conefrey addresses the audience. (All Advocate Photos/Henry Huang) thy Sippel, Ed.L.D. also addressed the large audience with greetings from the Malden Public Schools. MPS Director of Physical Education and Athletics Charlie Conefrey – a 1997 MHS alumnus and another Hall of Famer – was on hand to congratulate all the inductees and honorees, as was Golden Tornado Club President and Hall of Famer Steve Freker. Still another Hall of Famer, the inimitable Peter Carroll, former Varsity Basketball Head Coach and Class of 1967 alumnus, once again did a magnificent job as Master of Ceremonies, bringing a full quiver of zings and barbs to distribute equally throughout the night. Inducted into the Hall of Fame along with the Distinguished Service Award recipients and one coach with the “Class of 2025” were: —Ronald Fales (Class of 1965), a two-sport standout (Football and Baseball), who was an outstanding teammate and performer for two seaMalden High School Gymnastics Head Coach and Golden Tornado Club Treasurer Katie Bowdridge received the Golden Eagle Award and was also inducted into the Golden Tornado Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Service Award recipient. (All Advocate Photos/ Henry Huang) sons on some of Malden High’s best-ever teams, and with some of the best athletes, such as former Malden Hall of Fame great John Salmon, who was in attendance. In his acceptance Fales spoke glowingly of his teammates — including Salmon — and former coach, the late, great Bill Tighe. “I will never forget my experiences as a player for my Malden High teams,” said Fales, whose three sons all were multi-sport student-athletes at Malden High School. —Robert O’Keefe Jr. (Class of 1972), a Football and Swimming standout, who played on some of the most memorable football teams of the early 1970s along with other Hall of Famers Mike Byrne, John Lopresti and Paul DeVincentis. O’Keefe said his greatest memories from his Malden High days were his teammates and the late Coach Tighe. He said he remains close Be prepared before the next power outage. Malden High Scho ol 2024 graduate and former Gymnastics team member Isabella Oliveira reads her speech regarding her mentor, Head Coach Katie Bowdridge. (All Advocate Photos/Henry Huang) friends with his football teammates to this day, more than 50 Freker in baseball. He gave special recognition to Coach Finn’s wife, Marian, who was in attendance supporting DeBenedictis and other former Tornados that evening. “It is such an honor to be standing here tonight. Malden is a special place,” he said on induction night. “I was lucky to be able to play all three sports and have such great teammates, many of them who have remained friends all my life.” —JulAnn (Lopresti) Casaletto (Class of 1990), a multisport standout of the late 1980s and early 1990s who was best known as one of the top softball players in the Greater Boston League and area. She ALL “IN THE HALL”: The newest Golden Tornado Hall of Fame inductees, pictured from left to right, are Katie Bowdridge, Steve DeBenedictis, Darrin Smith, Witche Exilhomme, Ron Fales, Kevin Carpenito, JulAnn (Lopresti) Casaletto and Robert O’Keefe Jr. years later. “It means so much to me to have been a Malden High School athlete and most of all, for the all my teammates, most of whom became lifelong friends to this day,” said O’Keefe, noting many of them in the audience that evening. —Steven DeBenedictis Receive a free 5-year warranty with qualifying purchase* - valued at $535. Call 866-852-0221 to schedule your free quote! (Class of 1986), a three-sport All-Star in Football, Hockey and Baseball; he was one of the top players in the Greater Boston League, an All-Star in every season as a Football Defensive Back in the Fall, Hockey Goaltender in the Winter and Baseball Shortstop in the Spring. At the time, he set a school record with 7 interceptions in a season in Football and a whopping 68 saves (!!) in a 2-0 loss to the Sacco Bros. (Joe and David) Medford hockey team in 1985-86. He also expressed deep gratitude for the support of his family and to his teammates and coaches: the late Paul Finn in football, Rich Cullen in hockey and Shawn Brickman and Steve thanked the members of her well-known Malden family along with her teammates and coaches through the years for their support. She is now in a household with two Hall of Famers, as her husband, Ed Casaletto, was a key member of the 1987 MHS Football Team, which was inducted in 2019. “I always enjoyed playing all the games and supporting my teammates,” she said. “It was years I will never forget.” —Darrin Smith (Class of 1994), was another “old-school” three-sport athlete (Soccer, Wrestling, Outdoor Track) who excelled in all three and was known as one of the all-time greats on the mat in winter with several Sectional titles to his credit. He also was part of some successful Boys Soccer Teams in his time at Malden High and later came back to help coach Wrestling alongside his brother, Jeremiah Smith, former MHS Wrestling Head Coach and 20-yearplus Soccer Head Coach.
7 Publizr Home