Warwick Girls Varsity Basketball 1982 NYSPHSAA State Champions
Warwick Athletics and the Warwick Valley Central School District will celebrate the 1982 Girls’ Basketball New York State Champion Team on Friday, January 31, 2020, prior to the Girls Varsity Basketball Team taking on Minisink Valley. Coach Fran Higgins and 10 of the 12 players are expected to make the return to campus 37 years after their state title run. Attendance is encouraged for what should be a fun night in Wildcat Country.
Fran Higgins (Coach): Fran Higgins (Ithaca College Graduate) taught physical education in the Warwick School District for over 30 years and was a pioneer in developing the footprint for women’s sports in Warwick, New York. Coach Higgins was at the ground level of the beginning of soccer, softball and the modernization of girls basketball in Wildcat Country.
Steve Hagerdon (Asst. Coach): Steve Hagerdon was JV Coach and Varsity Assistant for 10 years. He taught Social Studies for the Warwick School District for 21 years. Best Memories include hearing girls sing “We Will Rock You” and “We are the Champions” on the bus ride to Queensbury for the state title game.
Janet Daly (Point Guard): Janet Daily played at the University of Tampa, Florida. She works for the city of Las Vegas, municipal court, Mother of two children and four grandchildren. Memory: “All the hard work, yelling and suicide runs (shuttles) all paid off” “I couldn’t have asked for a better coach. I learned many life lessons from her, which I carried on to adulthood.”
Beverly Hagerdon: Bev Hagerdon played for Dartmouth University as a Government major. Earned a Masters in International Affairs. Worked overseas for 22 years and now works in Washington DC for the International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Memory: “I remember boosting our guards into Fran Higgins Office window to access the gym on Saturdays for practice. Also snowball fights until a custodian arrived to let us in! Also Pre-game cheers and singing on the bus to Supertramp, Hall and Oats Billy Squire
Wendy Trone Warnock: Wendy Warnock studied and ran at East Carolina University. Raised three children while working in the finance and accounting field. She has one grandchild. Wendy also coached track for 20 years and officiated track 10 years. Memory: “The bus ride with Bill Lemin and singing the 80’s songs” and “ 5 months of intense basketball training”
Caroll Ferguson (Capt): Caroll Ferguson played at SUNY Cortland and became certified to be a PE teacher and coach. She earned a master’s at Brooklyn College. Works as a PE teacher and coach at Minisink Valley while raising four children. Has one grandchild. Refereed basketball as well. Memory: Fran Higgins loving and guiding us like we were her own children, on the court and off. Also the support of the town and our fans. The Varsity Jackets gifted to us from the Fire Department and the firetruck escort back into town after our championship!
Linda Harrison: Linda Harrison played Basketball at OCC. Worked as a Tennis Pro in Franklin Lakes NJ for 20 years. Returned to school to study Health and Physical Education at Montclair State. Currently Teaches elementary PE in Teaneck, NJ, where she was Teacher of the Year in 2018! Memory: “Parade into town after the championship” “singing on the long bus rides and hanging out in Fran Higgins office”
Becky Hagerdon Filipowski (Capt/ MVP): Becky Filipowski played at Long Beach, California. She Earned a Physical Education and Athletic Training degree at SUNY Cortland , Becky Has worked as an Athletic Trainer, Coach, PE and Health Teacher while raising four Boys! Memory: “Winning each weekend to move on in the State tournament”
Sharon Scherman Martino: Sharon studied at Ithaca and Hunter College to be a Physical Therapist. Sharon received a Masters in Education from Stony Brook University, Long Island, and a Ph.D. from Nova Southeastern in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sharon Is an associate professor at Stony Brook University in the Physical Therapy Department and co-owner of Martino Physical Therapy in Holtsville LI. She Raised two children and one grandchild. Memory:” How tight we were on the court”
Alison Moran Martin: Alison attended College in Austin Texas and works as a Hospice nurse. She raised four children in Pflugerville, Tx.and has four grandchildren. Memory: “Being part of an awesome team and singing on the bus to Supertramp and Billy Squire”
Patty Daly Cavanaugh: Patty Daly Cavanaugh moved to Las Vegas soon after HS and was one of only three women to work as a dealer on the Las Vegas Strip. She entered the medical field and managed multiple offices for 25 years while raising her daughter. She also has a granddaughter. Currently, She is a manager of food and beverage at a Marina in a National Park. Memory: “Team comradery.. WE WERE A TEAM!!!! Looked out for each other, and no clicks! The singing on the bus was the best!! Those 80’s songs!!”
Shelley Carr: Shelley Carr earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from East Stroudsburg University. She has gone on to a successful career as a middle school teacher at her alma mater, Warwick Valley. In her 25 years, she has served the Warwick School District as a trainer in CPR/ AED and First Aid.
Dawn Kleeshulte: Dawn Kleeshulte attended Ithaca College and SUNY Binghamton to earn a master’s in Education. Has lived in the Finger Lakes raising her two children and working in education/employment non-profit field as well as teaching aqua aerobics for 22 years at Ithaca YMCA. Memory: “singing on the bus to J. Giles Band, Billy Squire, SuperTramp” pizza eating contest at Shelley’s house” the dreaded bleacher runs two elderly gentlemen who always showed up for us and the bus driver Mr. Bill with sheets hanging out the window exclaiming our win, and shuttle runs I strangely liked those” Good times great team!
Dianne Riccarelli : Dianne applied the many skills she learned from Coach Higgins and applied them to her successful professional life. She lives with her family in Alabama. She loves yoga. Memory: Fran Higgins yelling “Riccarelli!” Fran had nicknames for many of us.
