Press release from Bill O'Brien

The Branford Sports Hall of Fame inducted 10 new members and two state championship teams at its 29th annual dinner at Woodwinds on Nov. 18. This year’s inductees are Brittney Carfora, Bob Dikranian, Gary Dunn, Jeff Klarman, Michele Leddy, Fran Lee, Bob Mason, Michael Riccitelli, Artie Roy, and Paul Santacroce. In addition, Branford’s 1991 and 1992 state championship boys’ swimming teams were inducted.

Brittney Carfora

Brittney Carfora graduated from Branford High School in 2004. Carfora was the New Haven Register Female Athlete of the Year, excelling in basketball and volleyball. She scored 1,980 career points and had 929 rebounds for the Hornets’ girls’ basketball team while earning All-State honors for three-straight years and also being named Honorable Mention for the McDonald’s All American Team. Carfora, who was also an All-State player in volleyball, attended Columbia University, where she received a bachelor of arts degree in political science. Carfora also excelled for the Lady Lions basketball team and, in 2007, she led all NCAA divisions in three-point shooting percentage with a 51.9 average.

Armand “Bob” Dikranian

Bob Dikranian is a native of Long Island and longtime Branford resident who was an All-American soccer player at the University of Bridgeport. He founded the soccer program at Southern Connecticut State University in 1966 and was named head coach in 1968, beginning a 21-year career that catapulted Southern onto the national soccer map. Dikranian led the Owls to a career record of 227-94-21 record and 14 NCAA Division II tournaments, winning the national championship in 1987. He was inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame in 1999 and the National Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2013.

Gary A. Dunn

Gary Dunn graduated in 1971 from Branford, where he excelled in football, baseball, and basketball while playing for Hall of Fame coaches Joe Farina, Gerry Crotty, and Tom Murray. In his senior year, Dunn recorded 58 receptions for 1,050 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Hornets’ football team, earning All-Housatonic and All-State honors. Dunn was captain of both the baseball and basketball teams at Branford. After high school, Dunn attended Milford Prep and was a member of the New England Prep School championship squad. He later attended Brown University, where he played football for two years as a starting receiver and the team’s punter.

Jeffrey S. Klarman

Jeff Klarman graduated from Branford High School in 1979 after playing football and baseball for all four years. He was a member of the 8-2 football team in his senior year, scoring the only touchdown in a 7-0 win over East Haven. Later in life, Klarman became interested in Olympic weightlifting and won several events at competitions. Klarman’s family business, W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, is well-known for its community support. Klarman coached youth sports while his children were growing up and continues to be a loyal and strong supporter of Branford sports at all levels, sponsoring many teams. His activities include the Knights of Columbus, the Branford Chamber, and the St Mary’s Parish Council.

Michele Leddy

Michele Leddy graduated from Branford in 1992 and was a member of four state championship field hockey teams for Head Coach Cathy McGuirk. The Hornets’ record during Leddy’s four years was a remarkable 67-3-5. During her varsity years, Leddy scored 36 goals and had 50 assists, earning both All-Housatonic and All-State honors in her junior and senior seasons. She was also selected as the New Haven Register Field Hockey Player of the Year in her senior year. Additionally, Leddy played softball for the Hornets and was selected as an All-Housatonic player. Leddy attended Dartmouth College, where she played field hockey before moving to France for her studies.

Francis M. Lee

Fran Lee grew up in New Haven before moving to Branford in 1955. He excelled in football, basketball, and track at Hillhouse, from where he graduated in 1936. Lee was selected as an All-District football player in his senior year, when he played for legendary coach Emmons “Chick” Bowen as a halfback, defensive back, and punter. After a year at Choate, Lee attended Harvard University and continued his football career. Lee holds the record for a 78-yard punt return at the Yale Bowl in 1940 and was elected a captain for Harvard in 1941. Lee was contacted by the Philadelphia Eagles, but when the war intervened, Lee enlisted and served as a Military Intelligence Officer. Lee passed away in 2012.

Bob Mason

Bob Mason graduated in 1952 from Branford, where he played football and baseball, being a captain of both. A highly regarded member of coach Warren Sampson’s baseball teams, Mason was known as a speedster and a hitter. He joined the legendary Branford Townies in 1951. In football, Mason scored all four touchdowns in the Hornets’ 25-0 win over Derby, including a 64-yard touchdown run. He also threw a touchdown to Joe Paul to lead Branford to a 7-6 win against an undefeated East Haven team that had been unscored upon. After serving in the Air Force, Mason he worked for MIF and Easter Seals.

Michael Riccitelli

Michael Riccitelli is a 1994 graduate of Branford High School. A former Branford Stingray, Riccitelli was an All-State swimmer all four years, setting records in the 100 freestyle and several relays, along with winning state championships in the 200 and 500 freestyles. He was a member of the Hornets’ 1991 and 1992 state championship teams. Riccitelli is a graduate of the University of Delaware with a degree in civil engineering. In college, Riccitelli was a top swimmer in the 200 and 500 freestyles, plus the one-mile swim. After college, he competed in the Chesapeake Bay Bridge 4.4 Open Water swim. Riccitelli now lives in Oregon, where he participates in underwater hockey.

Artie Roy

Artie Roy has been the head athletic trainer at Branford since 1995 and has guided hundreds of Hornets’ athletes in injury prevention since he arrived. Roy was a champion wrestler and outstanding baseball player at Berlin High School. In his senior year, Roy was the Class S state runner-up in the 126-pound weight class and led Redcoats to the Northwest Conference championship. He also led the baseball team to its league championship. Roy attended Southern Connecticut State University and played baseball for four years. He became the career leader in triples and home runs in 1990. Roy has been employed by Star Physical Therapy/CT Orthopedics since 1996.

Paul Santacroce

Paul Santacroce has been a dedicated mentor, teacher, and coach in Branford for 28 years. A 1962 graduate of Amity High School, Santacroce was a three-year starter on the baseball team, earning All-District honors on the Spartans’ district league championship squad. He later played for legendary coach Porky Vieira at the University of New Haven. Santacroce has been involved in Little League and American Legion baseball as a coach for nearly three decades. After coaching in Little League, Santacroce coached the Branford American Legion Post 83 baseball team for 14 years, building a program that qualified for the State Tournament on a regular basis.

1991 and 1992 Branford Boys’ Swimming Teams

Every year since 2005, the Branford Sports Hall of Fame honors state championship teams from the past. This year, the Hornets’ 1991 and 1992 boys’ swimming teams were honored for winning state titles. The 1991 team scored 246 points to upset top-ranked Naugatuck and Ridgefield and to win the Class L state title. The team finished with an 11-3 record and had five All-State swimmers. The 1992 team outscored defending state champion Darien 278-256 to win the Class M state title. The squad also finished with an 11-3 record and had eight All-State swimmers. Both teams were led by Hall of Fame coach John O’Connor.