Introducing the New Bedford High School Hall of Fame Class of 2022

New Bedford High inducted seven members into its Hall of Fame on May 7.

Here's a look at the 2022 inductees and their accomplishments.

Thomas Eck, Coach/Athletic Director

Thomas Eck showed early signs of determination and desire to reach goals he set for himself as a high school student when he managed to become the only student from his high school in Allentown, Pennsylvania not only to graduate, but also the only student to go on to college.  

For those who know the historically poor economic conditions of that area of the state, this feat is very much a minor miracle. He attended Colgate University, where he played football for three years (1935-1937) and later graduated in 1938.

He began his high school coaching career at Northampton High School after graduating from college and led his team to the school’s first football championship in 1939. This was another first for his accomplishments.

In 1945, he served as the head coach at Massachusetts State College. This later became known as the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1947.  In 1945 and from 1947-1951, he compiled a record of 17-23-4. Coach Eck coached the then “Redmen” (later changed to Minutemen in 1972.) to their first official football conference, the Yankee Conference, in 1947.

It should also be mentioned that between the time of coaching high school and college teams, he also served as a special projects officer in the US Army Air Forces during World War II.

Returning to his love of coaching football, he decided to accept the position of head coach at Thornton Academy in Saco, Maine. During his time there (1952-1955), the team’s record was an impressive (33-4-2) and produced a 24-game winning streak. He left Thornton Academy in 1956 for a position at New Bedford High School.

His position at New Bedford was as the “first official Athletic Director.” With this title came additional duties along with the role of football coach. He became a strong advocate for women’s sports and added teams in various areas to accommodate female athletes with softball, field hockey, etc. He started the junior varsity high school football programs, the NBHS Gridiron Club, the introduction of facemasks, football films, scouting reports, and most importantly, the resources of college scholarships.

Arriving in 1956, he was taking over a program that didn’t win a game in 1955. By 1959, he produced a team that was undefeated throughout the entire season, which was a rare feat in the history of the school’s football program. He finished his time at New Bedford High School with a team record of 24-13-3. Coach Eck has already been inducted into the NBHS Gridiron Hall of Fame. 

Helen Gomes Ackah, 1974

What do you do when you enter New Bedford High School your first year and your name is already a household name known to most people you meet? 

While the family members played a variety of sports, there is one sport that is synonymous with the name “Gomes,” and that is basketball. 

While Helen Gomes watched every move of her older siblings, she also played for the delight of her younger sister.  At this time very little space in the daily newspaper was allotted to female athletics, but Helen’s talent and positive attitudes captured the attention of one keen reporter on the Standard-Times staff who recognized her adeptness at scoring points and her gifted talents in all phases of the game. Reporter Jim Curry noted that Helen, just a 15-year-old sophomore, had scored 246 points in 12 games. 

Her coach, Pauline Amaral, crowned her the best she’d seen in her five years at New Bedford High. One of Helen’s best efforts was against Dighton-Rehoboth when she scored 32 points. She held the role of co-captain or tri-captain throughout her four years of playing varsity.  

Considered an outstanding rebounder with an average of 13-14 rebounds per game, she was also known for her consistency in making free throws. Teamed with sister, Regina, and Diane (Leitao) Pina, they went on to lead the team to an impressive 11-4 overall record. She also captained the team to an 8-1 League Competition record. She was chosen by the S-T for Player of the Week as “Tops in Sports.” 

Beyond the sports arena, Helen Gomes was respected by her classmates as well when they chose her as senior vice-president for the Class of 1974.

It should be pointed out that the officials always commended her for her fine attitude and being a good sport on and off the court. These positive comments explain her popularity not only with sports, but throughout all her dealings with others. 

It is important to also mention that Helen played two years of varsity volleyball when she came to New Bedford High and played softball in the summers. She was a powerhouse of energy year-round.

After graduating from New Bedford, Gomes attended Liberty University in Virginia, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree. She later worked for the Department of Corrections and 32 years later retired from her position of Sergeant. Throughout her career, she received many commendations for her outstanding handling of many sensitive issues arising on the job site.

It is now time for her to join her sister, Reggie (’07), son, Sam (’16), brother, Jake (’16), and daughter, Christina (’17), as a proud member of the New Bedford High School Hall of Fame.

Mickey Gonsalves, Coach

Before he became a coach, Gonsalves established himself as quite a player during his own high school and college years, including being named to the Standard Times All-Star Team and then at Boston State College, playing one year for Jim Loscutoff, a legendary Boston Celtic player, before transferring to Framingham State College where he scored over 1,000 points in two seasons. He was named MVP, All Conference Team, All New England, and All-American Candidate in 1978-1979.

These are the credentials that he brought to New Bedford High School, after coaching at both Holy Family High School and Coyle-Cassidy High School. Mickey’s coaching career at the New Bedford High spanned 24 years with 13 spent with the girls basketball JV program and the other 11 with the varsity. His overall varsity record was 168 wins and 76 losses.

The Whalers gave him two South Sectional Championships (2008 and 2011) and five Big Three Championships. A major highlight for them and their coach was from the 2011 team by attaining an undefeated season with a record 20-0 record. This stands as the best record in the program’s history. The accomplishments of this well-coached team earned them the rank of No. 1 in the state and No. 13 in the country — East Coast. (It should be noted that coach Gonsalves had previously coached two undefeated JV teams.)

Achieving such success for his teams brought many accolades for coach Gonsalves also. In 2008 he was named the Boston Globe Coach of the Year, the Massachusetts Coaches Association Coach of the Year and the Boston Celtic Award 3 C’s of Excellence in Community, Classroom and Court. Additionally, there was a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition Office of Barney Frank (2011).

In 2008, the New Bedford City Council gave him a Resolution Honoring the Division I South Champions and again in 2011 with a Resolution Honoring the Division I South Champs. In 2008 he was named Cape Verdean Man of the Year. In 2011, he received a Resolution from the Cape Verdean American Veterans Association and Auxiliary Civic Award from councilor Brian Gomes. He also received an official Resolution from the City of New Bedford from the mayor of the city.

Mickey retired two years ago from his school position, and now works at Sail, an assisted-living program for adults with disabilities.

Amy Rodriguez-Vujovich, 1994

Rodriguez-Vujovich was described as a hard-working young lady who had a strong determination to succeed at anything she attempted. This attitude extended beyond the classroom onto the area of athletics. She didn’t just participate in a sport. She approached her role in the athletic arena as a major challenge to her abilities and always gave it her best efforts. Her efforts made her shine in the sport of track and field throughout her high school years.

At some point in her high school sports career, Rodriguez-Vujovich had the distinction of being the first girl at New Bedford High to throw 40 feet in the shot put. During her junior year with her indoor track coach Steve Gardiner, she placed second in the Class A Championship (shot put) and third place (shot put) in the State Championship.

Under the direction of outdoor track coach Tony Rolfe, Rodriguez-Vujovich took first place in the Class A Championship (shot put), third place in the All-State Championship (shot put), and amazingly first place in the New England Championship (shot put).

During her senior year with her indoor coach Tom Giasson, she once again showed herself to be a worthy competitor. Rodriguez-Vujovich placed first in the Class A Championship (shot put), first place All State Championship (shot put) and fifth place in the New England Championship.

In her senior spring season, Rodriguez-Vujovich once again recorded first place in the Class A Championship (shot put), first place All State Championship (shot put) and third place in the New England Championship (shot put).

After high school, Rodriguez-Vujovich wanted to attend a Division I school, and she was accepted at Boston College. After two years, she decided she needed a change. After meeting with family members, she decided to make a move to Liberty University in Virginia. The move was the right one for Rodriguez-Vujovich, who felt better suited to her new location and once again felt comfortable with participating in the athletics programs. She became a “spark plug” on the team and settled in nicely.

Rodriguez-Vujovich finished her degree programs with a BA in Psychology (’99) and then (’04) her Master’s in Counseling. She currently lives in Florida with her husband, Bori.

Chante Soares, 2000

Soares was quite well-known early on for her amazing abilities in both track and field. It was interesting to watch her development from sophomore year to senior year. In the spring of 1998, under head coach Tony Rolfe, she participated in the 55 meter dash, finishing third. (There was no long jump contested indoors until 1999). Moving to her junior year under head coach Tom Giasson, in the winter of 1999 indoors, she participated in the All-State long jump and came in third. In the Class A long jump, she took second, losing by a mere ¼ of an inch. In the spring of 1999, she finished fourth in All-State long jump.

Unknown to most of those following her development was a secret goal of breaking the school record she set for herself and worked hard to accomplish. She carried the thought from the very beginning and was now nearer to the possibility of reaching it. She was going into her senior year and now working with head coach Giasson (indoors) and coach Rezendes (outdoors).

In the winter of her senior year, she became the indoor State Champion in the long jump and the Class A long jump champion with a school record of 17-9.25. Moving into the spring outdoors competitions, she again was the Class A long jump champion, and finally, her secret goal showed its head at the New England Championships at Portland, Maine. The school record was 18-6 and Soares jumped 18-7 and fouled on her second jump. Soares did not realize, nor did most people there, that she had broken the school record. Thinking everything was on this third jump, she put her whole mind and body on the attempt. It ended up being a full foot (18-10) better than her next competitor. It was her second time beating the school record in the same meet. 

Although most of the spotlight was in the areas of the long jump, Soares was a major factor for the high school on the track as well. She held the area bests in the 100 (12.4 seconds) and the 200 meters (26.5). Her coach recalled that the team could always count on her to bring victories in both of those events along with the long jump.

It is easy to see why she became the Standard-Times’ Girls Track Co-Players of the Year for the second straight season with Beth Smith of Apponequet. It also showed why UMass Amherst was eager to offer her a scholarship. She was named Atlantic 10 Athlete of the Week during her sophomore year. While at UMass Amherst, Soares received many honors both at the school and in areas throughout New England.

After completing her four years at UMass Amherst, she held the position of assistant coach at Emmanuel College from 2011 to 2017. She currently holds the position of Co-Manufacturing Coordinator in Roxbury with Commonwealth Kitchen, which is an incubator for small minority-owned local food companies.

Ryan W. Walsh, 2002

If a person were to look at Walsh’s sports schedule, they would see that he was a man for all seasons. 

He played football for four years, baseball for four years, basketball for three years and track for one year.

Beginning with the sport of football, Walsh was a varsity player for four years and held the position of quarterback and safety for two of those years and captain his senior year. During his years with football, Walsh gathered many skills in his position and that earned him many accolades from many sources. He had six touchdown passes in one game against Barnstable. This was part of his career record of 23 touchdown passes. Walsh was a key player for coach Wayne Hamlet as he stated, “Ryan Walsh was who we depended on. If Ryan was having a good game, the whole team was.” This shows why he would be named MVP his senior year. 

During his junior year, Walsh was selected as Outstanding Offensive Player. He played in the Shriners All-Star Game and had the role of team captain his senior year and All-Big Three (junior and and senior years). He was selected for the Standard-Times Super Team both junior and senior years as well as the Boston Globe All-Star Team and the Boston Herald All-Star Team senior year.

In baseball, Walsh played varsity for three years, both as a pitcher and a third baseman along with the role of captain his senior year. Coach John Seed described him as a hard-throwing righthander who was always willing to take the ball. He had a very good breaking ball and always went right after hitters. His record for his senior year was 5-2 with a 2.77 ERA.. After a mediocre junior year for the team, their fortunes changed his senior year, leading Ryan and the team back to the state tournament by winning five games and saving three others. As a position player, Walsh was a very good defensive third baseman with a good glove and a strong arm. Seed best described Ryan “as a player, in whatever sport he played, Ryan was the ultimate competitor – he would do whatever it took to give his team a win.”  

Walsh also played All Big Three his junior and senior years and was named Big Three Co-MVP his senior year, selected for the Agganis All-Star Baseball Game and, additionally earned a spot on the Standard Times Super Team his junior and senior years, 

As one looks at these honors and accolades in so many facets of the sports in which he participated, it is easy to understand why this young man was selected for the Otto Graham Award and also received one of the most prized awards for the high school by being selected as “New Bedford High School Athlete of the Year.”

Walsh went on to UMass Dartmouth and played football for two years. He also played with Whaling City Clippers, semi-pro football for three years, and the Middleboro Cobras.

Stephen Yates, 2002

Those that watched Yates play volleyball, were amazed by his skills. Some of his fans felt he was one of the most dominant players to wear the Whaler uniform, while others argued that he was the most dominant all-around individual player in the history of New Bedford High’s Boys Volleyball program. 

His career numbers seem to support that opinion.

Yates graduated from NBHS in 2002 holding four individual records: most career kills (629) with a kill percentage of .438; most career serve receptions (730) and a quality serve receive percentage of .706; most service points (357) and most dig saves (466).

Other records achieved were in a single match: most kills (28) and most digs (26) and in a single season were most kills (293) and most digs (189).

Recognizing the talents of this young man, The Boston Globe selected him as a member of the newspaper’s “Super Team” followed by his selection for the same honor with The Boston Herald.

He finished his senior year at New Bedford High School with another honor for his hard work in perfecting his skills at volleyball by being selected by The Standard Times as their “Player of the Year.” In making this decision, the paper used terms calling him “a total player,” “a team leader” and at times, “a player-coach.”

Perhaps the person who knows best of his unlimited abilities and of his importance to the success of the team was his coach who truly appreciated what his talents brought to the whole team. The team managed to win 17 regular season games, and two tournament games. In all, the Whaler Boys Volleyball Team brought much prestige and credibility to our school in all areas in their 2002 season.

In honoring Yates’ induction to the Hall of Fame, coach Steve DeRossi congratulated him with the title of “Whaler Volleyball’s Most Productive Offensive Player.”

To Yates’ credit, he carried his love of volleyball into his future by going on to be an assistant coach at both UConn and the University of Maryland.