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09/05/2023 01:44 PMThe North Haven High School (NHHS) Sports Hall of Fame will be officially inducting the members of its Class of 2023 in October. The ceremony will be held as a banquet at Wallingford Country Club on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 11 a.m. This year’s inductees are Amanda Genovese, Ann Greenwald, Marc Celmer, Charles Aftosmis, Istvan Kanyo, and Joseph Mattei.
Amanda Mally Genovese (Class of 2011)
Amanda Mally Genovese is a 2011 graduate of North Haven High School. She boasts many remarkable accolades as a student, as an athlete, and as a dedicated volunteer. A recipient of the Wellesley Book Award, an AP Scholar with Distinction, a two-year National Honor Society member, and a Latin Honor Society officer, Amanda exceeded academic expectations and enjoyed the process of learning. Amanda was an FPS member and earned second place honors in the Individual Future Problem Solving State Competition. Furthermore, Amanda was awarded the Indian Service Award for going above and beyond volunteer hour requirements.
Elected as the coed fencing team’s captain her senior year, Amanda led by example. She was a First-Team All-State foil fencer, the team’s Most Valuable Player, and she placed fourth in Individual States and third in Team States. Amanda also earned a myriad of awards on the softball diamond. She was captain her senior year, and as both a junior and senior, Amanda was an All-League pitcher and infielder and an Honorable Mention athlete. She was selected for the Senior All-Star Game and CIAC Scholar Athlete Classic.
As a freshman, Amanda’s team won the state championship. Amanda continued her studies at Brandeis University and received a bachelor of science in neuroscience with a minor in religious studies. She was a varsity softball player for four years and was the second All-American in program history. Currently, Amanda works at InnerCity Weightlifting as the director of development, a nonprofit on a mission to amplify the voice and agency of those most impacted by systemic racism and mass incarceration.
Ann E. Greenwald (Class of 1983)
Ann Erickson Greenwald was both a scholar and an athlete for North Haven High School. Graduating in 1983, she was 13/290 and the president of the National Honor Society. Throughout her days at NHHS, Ann demonstrated her service to the community through her many volunteer efforts with the swim team, Girl Scouts, and Youth Group Forum at Church of the Redeemer in New Haven.
From 1979-’82, Ann was an integral member of the girls’ varsity swimming team. She was the team’s MVP for each of those four years and also earned All-State Class L honors and selection to the All-Housatonic teams all four years. As the co-captain her senior year, Ann placed second in the 50 yard freestyle and the 100 yard butterfly in Class L finals. She then went on to place fourth in the 100 butterfly and sixth in the 50 freestyle at the State Open meet.
Ann studied at Tufts University from 1983-’87 and received her bachelor of science in electrical engineering. She continued her studies at The University of Vermont from 1987-’91, earning her master’s in biomedical engineering. At Tufts, Ann was again a principal member of the women’s swimming team. She was elected co-captain her senior year and was named Division III Academic All-American all four years.
Self-employed for AGIFT Movement Coaching for Healthy Aging, Ann enjoys her role as a personal trainer and movement coach for the chronologically enriched members of the community. With a background in biomechanics and human physiology, she uses the latest research in physical movement science to help her clients achieve their goals.
Marc A. Celmer (Coach Inductee)
A resident of North Haven for 40 years, Marc Celmer graduated from North Haven High School in 1977 and both works and coaches in a place he calls home. Marc has been employed by North Haven Public Schools as an In-School Suspension (ISS) officer for the past nine years.
In 1993-’94, Marc started his coaching career at NHHS when he was brought in as a volunteer coach for outdoor track and field. A year later, he was hired as the assistant coach for outdoor track and field, and he has remained the assistant coach for the past 28 years. His teams have impressive records, including numerous boys’ and girls’ division titles and two state girls’ Class MM Championships in 1997 and 2005. For Individual Championships, Marc has coached 27 division champions, 18 sectional champions, 12 SCC Conference champions — All-Conference Honors, 23 state class champions — All-State Honors, one State Open champion- All-State Honors, and one New England champion — All New England Honors. This past year, the NHHS boys’ shot putters for both the indoor and outdoor track and field teams earned First and Second Team All-SCC honors.
Marc is the head coach for the indoor track and field program. From 2005 to the present, Marc has coached team championships that include boys’ division titles in 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2011. He has additionally coached numerous division, sectional, and conference champions, including 12 state class champions — All-State Honors. In 2014, Marc was honored with the C.H.S.C.A. Outdoor Track and Field “Assistant Coach of the Year” Award.
Charles Aftosmis (Class of 1957)
A NHHS graduate of 1957, Charles Aftosmis excelled academically and athletically and was involved in numerous clubs: co-chairman of The Penny Crusade, Student Senate, Honor Guard, president of the Varsity Club, Sachem Yearbook Staff, vice-president of his class for three years, and president as a senior. At graduation, he was the proud class speaker and received a Savitt Jeweler’s Athletic Sportsman financial award.
Charles played basketball for two years and baseball for four. He was elected the captain of the baseball team his senior year, and was the recipient of the team’s Sportsmanship Award. Charles was also a member of the Rifle Club his freshman year. Charles enjoyed his service to the community as a baseball team coach for North Haven’s minor league.
Continuing his education at The University of Connecticut, Charles earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education and taught physical education at J.M. Wright Regional Technical School in Stamford, where he was also the school’s varsity baseball coach. He enlisted into the Air Force in June 1962 and became the physical training officer for his class, a second lieutenant, and an air weapons controller. Charles spent 30 years in the Air Force and retired with the rank of colonel. He was the director of the command and control organization responsible for the air defense of the Northeast United States for two years. Charles is honored to be inducted into the Air Force Air Weapons Controller Hall of Fame.
Istvan Kanyo (Class of 2011)
Istvan Kanyo excelled in the classroom and on the soccer field and tennis court. Ranking ninth in his class, he earned honor roll status 12 times and was a member of National Honor Society, as well as Math Honor Society. While in high school, Istvan demonstrated his commitment to the community through his involvement as a coach and volunteer with the North Haven Soccer Club and as a tutor and mentor for Elm City Internationals.
According to Hall of Fame Coach Federico Fiondella, “In my tenure as the head coach of the NHHS boys’ soccer team, I consider Istvan as one of the most talented players that I have ever worked with. Istvan served his varsity years with distinction, both as an athlete and student. As a senior captain in 2010, he helped lead the team to an undefeated divisional record, winning the Oronoque Division. Istvan also received numerous awards and was selected to the All-Oronoque First Team (ranked No. 1), CSCA All-State Team, CSCA Senior Bowl, New Haven Register All-Area Team, and became the first and only player under my tenure to be named as a CSCA All-New England Athlete. Furthermore, Istvan received the CSCA Valerio Moretti Scholar Athlete Award and was named as the Toni DeNegri Connecticut Outstanding Male Soccer Player of the Year.” In addition, Istvan earned All-Conference honors while playing on his high school tennis team.
Continuing his studies from 2011-’15 at the University of Connecticut, Istvan pursued chemistry and biological sSciences. As a Husky, Istvan was a stand-out soccer player. He then attended the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine from 2017-’21, attaining his MD. Istvan resides in New York City and is a pediatrician at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Joseph M. Mattei (Service Award)
To say that Joseph M. Mattei has been involved with many sports, holding numerous titles and earning a myriad of awards is an understatement. For more than 30 years, Coach Mattei provided a place for North Haven student-athletes to play baseball all summer, continuing to improve their baseball skills. Joe coached the American Legion baseball team for those 30 years, starting in 1967, and while on the diamond, his team won seven zone titles and a state title in 1972. He even coached a team that advanced to the Legion World Series, finishing fourth in the country. According to legendary Hall of Fame Coach Bob DeMayo, “Joe is the ultimate baseball person. He loves and understands this great game while teaching kids to have fun and enjoy playing baseball. His tenure at the head of our American Legion program kept North Haven baseball at a high level.”
Joe’s generosity was demonstrated through both his time and the financial support of his teams. He supported the athletes he coached by being a member of the now Booster Club, and all payments were used to fund his Legion team; there was no pay-to-play fee charged to the players. From 1987-2001, Joe coached Quinnipiac baseball and was head coach for the last five of those years. In 1997, he was named the Coach of the Year in the NE-10 Conference. Joe boasts awards from the North Haven Knights of Columbus Marian Chair in 1977, the Greater New Haven Diamond Club Hall of Fame in 1989, and the CT Legion Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018.
For tickets to this year’s ceremony, email Caren Genovese at caren.genovese@yahoo.com.