Uxbridge High School Announces Class of 2024 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

UXBRIDGE — The Uxbridge High School Athletic Hall of Fame will induct its Class of 2024 in a ceremony scheduled for Nov. 9. 

This year’s class features six standout student-athletes and one coach.

While connecting the storied athletic past of UHS to its present, the Hall of Fame strives to recognize and honor deserving athletes, coaches, teams and contributors for their impact and accomplishments.

The induction of the Class of 2024 will take place at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Blissful Meadows Country Club, located at 801 Chocolog Road in Uxbridge.

Individual tickets, priced at $50 each, will go on sale in September for the event.

Inquiries regarding the event can be directed via email to uhshalloffame@uxbridge.k12.ma.us, or to the Secretary of the Committee, Chuck Paszkewicz, at cpuhshof@gmail.com. 

This year’s induction class includes:

Damian Bonaventura, Class of 1994

Damian’s talent, energy, enthusiasm and leadership on Uxbridge High championship teams in every sport in which he participated left a lasting legacy. Bonaventura was a key member as an offensive lineman that anchored Super Bowl victories in 1991 and 1992. He only experienced two losses on the gridiron during his varsity football career and never lost to arch-rival Northbridge. Coach Ernie Richards could always rely on his steady play on both sides of the ball but most importantly, he opened many holes for record-breaking offenses and offensive players. His physical presence in basketball was noteworthy on both ends of the floor as his team finished the season with a 23-1 record in 1992-1993 (his junior year). Bonaventura and the Spartans under Hall of Fame Coach Mark Donahue won the SWCL, District, and Clark Tournament crowns that year, only to fall in the state semi-finals. During the spring, the starting first baseman was a leading hitter for his team and won 16 consecutive games as he captained the 1994 baseball team that battled all the way to the state finals. Bonaventura passed away suddenly in 2018 at the age of 42.

Justine Burgess, Class of 2005

One of the most dynamic softball players ever to play at Uxbridge High, Justine Burgess helped pitch and bat her teams to District Tournament playoff appearances four consecutive years as well as a District Title in 2005 under Coach Joe McCourt. The star pitcher registered 17 victories on the mound in her senior campaign (ranks 3rd all-time) and amassed 44 career wins during her four years (ranks 3rd all-time). She recorded 506 strikeouts during her varsity career (2nd all-time) with an amazing 327 K’s during her junior and senior seasons. Burgess shut out opponent hitters 29 times (ranks 1st) as well as an incredible 11 shutouts (2nd all-time) during her senior season of 2005. She recorded three no-hitters during her career. The right-hander also excelled at the plate as she pounded 117 hits during her varsity career (3rd all-time). Her teams accomplished an astonishing 45 victories in back-to-back seasons of 2002 and 2003. In addition to softball, Burgess lettered in varsity soccer (4 years), basketball (2 years), and Winter Track and Field (1 year). The softball captain worked tirelessly year round honing her softball skills as she went on to play collegiately at Rhode Island College, as the second baseman’s team was inducted into the Rhode Island College Hall of Fame for its Elite 8 appearance.

Andrew Groth, Class of 2008

Groth becomes the fifth 1000-point boys basketball player to join the UHS Athletic Hall of Fame. The 6’3” 210 pound forward attained 1,069 career points during his four-year varsity career as he led the 2007-2008 Spartan squad to a SWCL title. The team eventually lost in both the District championship title game and the Clark Tournament championship game. Over his illustrious career, Groth garnered 749 rebounds (2nd all-time) as well as a season-high 285 rebounds during his season senior campaign (2nd all-time). His 31 points versus Auburn as a sophomore ranks 6th all-time. In the UHS record books. Groth managed to average 10.4 rebounds per game with a career-high 19 rebounds versus Tantasqua during his senior year (6th all-time). Andrew led a team of mostly guards to success as a dominant big man. Groth also lettered in baseball (3 years), golf (1 year), and football (2 years). He went on to play collegiate basketball at Bridgewater State University.

Joe McCourt, Coach

McCourt becomes the fourth coach inducted into the UHS Athletic Hall of Fame as he joins mentor Joe Mahoney as the second softball coach inducted. With a career record of 200-62 spanning twelve seasons (1997-2008), McCourt’s softball teams captured six SWCL titles as well as two District Championships. The 2002 and 2003 teams went 45-2 in consecutive seasons and his 2005 softball team were Div. 2 State finalists. McCourt was also an assistant coach to Hall of Fame coach Joe Mahoney for six seasons, capturing five SWCL titles and two District Championships for a total coaching career of 18 seasons of softball at UHS. In addition to softball, McCourt led the Girl’s varsity programs at Uxbridge in soccer (1995-2007) and Girl’s Tennis (1979-1983 and 2016–2023) attaining 422 varsity career wins in the combined three sports spanning 25 years. He was the first coach in the history of both the Girl’s soccer and Girl’s tennis programs, leading both teams to multiple SWCL titles. McCourt retired after 35 years teaching Technology Education at UHS, where he was also the Student Council advisor for many years.

Sarah Paul O’Toole, Class of 1990

A dominant field hockey player, Sarah Paul O’Toole joins the UHS Hall of Fame as one of its premier female athletes of the late 1980s. A true team leader under field hockey Coach Bonnie Dimmick, her perseverance and allegiance to the Uxbridge High sports program was top level. Excelling in both academics and sports, the unanimous all-star in field hockey was selected by the four area newspapers. Sarah was the top scorer in the SWCL in 1989. She earned a silver medal in the 1989 Bay State Games while being named Spartanette Athlete of the Year in 1990. The talented midfielder was awarded the 1990 Field Hockey Coaches Award and participated in The Best of 24 Field Hockey Senior Classic. In college, O’Toole helped capture an Ivy League Championship for the Brown University Field Hockey team in 1991. In addition to field hockey, Sarah played varsity basketball for 2 years under Coach Joan St. Andre and softball 3 years for Hall of Fame Coach Joe Mahoney, leading the 18-2 Spartans to the 1988 State finals as well as earning Blackstone Valley Tribune all-star status.

Stephanie Seagrave Johnson, Class of 2011

Arguably the best soccer player in the history of UHS Athletics, Stephanie holds the school record for most goals in a career (113) in addition to most points in a career (157). She further holds the single-season record of most goals in a season with 36 goals (sophomore year as she broke her own record from the previous year of 31 goals) as well as the most points in a season with 50 (breaking her own mark of 39). A four-year starter and two-time captain for Coach Joe McCourt and Pam Seagrave, Johnson’s strength was obviously as an offensive striker, but could play every position on the pitch and excelled defensively playing midfield, sweeper, and stopper. Johnson led her soccer team to the 2007 SWCL title and 2008 CMASS Div. II crown, the first in Spartan history.  In addition, the two-time soccer Coaches Award recipient earned 12 varsity letters, participating in softball, basketball, and Indoor Track and Field.  On the softball diamond, she led her teams to two SWCL championships and earned the SWCL All-Star and Coaches award twice. The 2011 Spartanette Athlete of the Year was also a member of the Girls Mass State Relay champion 4×400 relay team her junior year, as her squad captured the 2010 SWCL championship and went undefeated (15-0) in dual meets. She went on to play collegiate soccer at East Carolina University, finishing her career with 9 goals and 7 assists for the Pirates.

Daniel Tessier, Class of 2011

Tessier joined the elite 1,000-point basketball club as the 2nd highest scorer in Spartan boys basketball with 1161 career points during his four-year varsity playing days. A dominant player under Hall of Fame Coach Mark Donahue, Tessier captained the 2010-11 squad to a Clark University Tournament Small Schools Championship. Tessier appears in the UHS record books (ranked 8th all-time) with a 19.1 points per game average in a season (senior year 440 points in 23 games). Not only successful on the hardwood, Tessier excelled in both football and baseball. On the gridiron, the talented quarterback was named a Central Mass All-Star in his junior year while earning Offensive Player of the Year recognition for his team. On the baseball diamond, the lanky shortstop was the captain of Head Coach Peter Rice’s squad. Tessier went on to play four years of collegiate basketball at Westfield State University.

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