The premier recipients of Hamden Hall’s inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame are an impressive lot – four outstanding athletes, all of whom played college ball, a coach whose overall record garnered 252 wins and 60 losses, and the first team ever invited to play in a post-season tournament.

Leonard Fasano 1977, Alexis Highsmith Smith1997, Alphonse Ippolito 1975, Chris Kuselias 1980, former Hamden Hall basketball coach David Beckerman, and the 1962-’63 basketball team will be honored for their contributions both on the field and in the community at the Athletic Hall of Fame induction dinner April 12, 2014.

“This inaugural class truly reflects the values and standards of excellence representative of a Hamden Hall education,” said Head of School Bob Izzo. “The four individuals were stellar students and athletes, coach Beckerman and his record are legendary, and the 1963 basketball team established a legacy for our entire athletic program.”

Hamden Hall established the Athletic Hall of Fame to acknowledge and celebrate exceptional coaches, players, teams, and supporters of the school’s premier athletic program.

The following is a synopsis of each recipient:

Leonard Fasano 1977: current state senator, Hamden Hall past parent and former trustee; president and founder of Fasano, Ippolito and Lee L.L.C., where he focuses on land transactions and zoning matters. Len attended Yale University and earned his bachelor of science degree in 1981. He also played halfback for the Yale football team under legendary coach Carmen Cozza. Len earned his Juris Doctorate from Quinnipiac Law School in 1984 and graduated from Boston University Law School a year later with an L.L.M. degree in taxation. At Hamden Hall, Len served as co-captain of the Varsity football team in his senior year and played Varsity basketball.

“Playing football at Hamden Hall was a dream come true for me as a teenage boy, and the experience taught me the importance of teamwork, leadership, and being part of something bigger than myself. This recognition brings back a lot of good memories about coach Jim Bean, his assistants, and the teammates who have impacted my life. I am deeply grateful to be inducted into the new Athletic Hall of Fame,” said Len.

Alexis Highsmith Smith 1997: deputy director, New Haven Legal Assistance Association; serves as a director on the Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (Conncat) board. Alexis earned a bachelor of arts in history from Duke University and was a member and captain of the Duke Women’s Varsity Soccer Team. While at Duke she was a four-year Varsity letter winner. She went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin in 2005. At Hamden Hall, Alexis set a school soccer record in 1996 for amassing 46 goals in one season. She was co-captain of the Varsity Girls’ Soccer Team her senior year, was co-captain of the Girls’ Varsity Basketball Team (a 1,000-point scorer), and played Varsity lacrosse. For both soccer and basketball, Alexis earned recognition as New Haven Register All Area and was the Greater New Haven Soccer Officials’ Association Female Player of the Year in her senior year. In her senior year, Alexis served as student body president.

“I am so humbled to be considered as an inductee into the Hamden Hall Athletic Hall of Fame. Hamden Hall carries such a rich tradition of producing talented students, responsible citizens, and strong leaders. I have tried to embody that tradition throughout my life. Go Hornets!” said Alexis.

Alphonse Ippolito 1975: Hamden Hall past parent and former trustee; attorney at Fasano, Ippolito & Lee L.L.C. Al graduated cum laude in 1979 from Harvard College with a degree in applied mathematics – economics. In 1982 he graduated cum laude from the Boston University School of Law. While at Harvard, Al played freshman football in 1975 and then lettered in Varsity in 1977 and 1978. At Hamden Hall, Al started every game for Varsity football, basketball and baseball from freshman through senior years. He captained all three teams in his junior and senior years and set a school record at that time as the leading scorer in basketball. He was also valedictorian for the Class of 1975 and in his senior year was named as a scholar athlete by the National Football Foundation and was named New Haven Register Youth of the Year.

“There have been many good athletes who came before me and certainly after me so this was unexpected. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play early and often with extraordinary support from family, coaches, and teammates. Without that opportunity and support, we would surely be talking about another worthy honoree,” said Al.

Chris Kuselias 1980: current Hamden Hall parent; social entrepreneur and founder of Career T.E.A.M., workforce consultant, author, and media personality – on a mission to assist one million Americans find gainful employment through his campaign, The Great American Career Calling. Upon graduation from Hamden Hall, Chris became the school’s first Division I Baseball Scholarship player after accepting a partial scholarship to the University of Connecticut. Chris majored in finance with a minor in English and proceeded to be named 1st Team All Big East as a senior, was selected to play in All New England All Star events in Fenway Park and Shea Stadium, and was named as an alternate for the 1984 Pre-Olympic Baseball Team. At Hamden Hall, Chris was the All-Fairchester League baseball shortstop for three years, the All-Fairchester League Quarterback two years, and the All-Fairchester League Basketball Point Guard for two years. Chris was ranked in the top 15 in his senior class and was inducted into the National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Hall of Fame.

“I am honored to be recognized by Hamden Hall, a community of friends and associates who have always been, and will always be, a major part of my life,” said Chris.

David Beckerman: former Hamden Hall Varsity Basketball coach and past Hamden Hall grandparent; founder and Chairman of the Board, Acorn Group, a corporate real estate management and development company, head coach of the Varsity Boys’ Basketball Team at The Pine Crest School in Florida. David coached basketball at Hamden Hall for more than a decade – from 1993 through 2004 – and garnered 10 consecutive years of 22 wins or more. During that time, Hamden Hall won eight New England Championships including six consecutive wins from 1998 through 2004. Hamden Hall also amassed six Fairchester Championships and seven Hornet Holiday Championships under David. He also produced nearly 20 college-bound players during his tenure. In 1971, David founded Starter, a sports apparel company that grew to be the world’s largest, licensed apparel company. Currently, David serves as chairman of GFour Productions, a theatrical company, and is a trustee of the Basketball Hall of Fame. He graduated from the University of New Haven in 1965 and is the namesake of Hamden Hall’s Beckerman Athletic Center at the Skiff Street Athletic Complex.

“The success of any coach comes from his players. I was blessed with so many great student-athletes who understood the mission both in the classroom and on the basketball court,” said David.

1962-1963 Varsity Basketball Team: Went 16-0 during its regular season and earned the squad the coveted title of Tri-County League Champions. The team also earned a berth in the New England Prep School Basketball Tournament – a first for Hamden Hall in its then 50-year history. No other athletic team had garnered an invitation to post-season play. The tournament game pitted Hamden Hall against Kingswood School of West Hartford.

Arnold Rosenfield 1963, co-captain of the ’63 team, said this of his squad: “It seems like coming full circle to honor the 1962-’63 basketball team in that we really helped put Hamden Hall on the Connecticut high school athletic map for the first time. It is a fitting remembrance for the whole team and the school as it was then and is now.”