Hall of Fame Inductees 2015

John “The Dude” Brundage
Is considered one of the best running backs in Plainville High School Football history, and an extremely versatile Track Athlete who amassed 973 yds. on 164 carries for an average of 6 yards per carry in his senior season . He scored 15 Touchdowns and eight 2 point conversions for a total of 106 points for an offensive that scored 277 total points. The 106 points scored in a season matched fellow Hall of Famer John Gacek in 1958. His versatility was used in the offensive backfield as well as the punter and kicker for the team that went 7-2.

As a member of the 1970 team that still holds four school records and was voted by the Connecticut High School Coaches as Class M Merit Champions. At that time there were no playoff series but, this team could compete with anyone, having played in the Central Valley Conference with many Class AA and Class A schools . John’s breakout game came Oct. 17, 1970 when he rushed for 238 yds on 25 carries, and scored 5 touchdowns in a 32-6 win @ Bloomfield.

A compact 5’9”, 198 lb combination of power,& speed and piston like drive as a running back was unequaled in any era.

John’s track career was a Coach’s dream. He ran the 100 yd dash, 110yd high hurdles, 220 low hurdles, and threw the shot put. Coach George Grasso loved having an athlete so versatile that was so willing to participate in any event necessary to help the team win. John is retired and has been living with his wife Joanne in Maine for the last 8 yrs with his 2 Newfoundland dogs.

Coach Randy Doucette
Graduated from Plainville High School in 1966 as a two sport athlete in football and baseball. He later returned to Plainville High School and spent 35 years as a Physical Education teacher. It was coaching swimming where he left his mark on Plainville Athletics. Coach Doucette spent 34 years coaching Boys swimming. He is credited for creating both a High School Girls swim team in 1978 and a Middle School swim team in 2001, for which he spent 21 and 14 years coaching, respectively.

Coach Doucette’s accomplishments include having won over 300 swim meets in his career as well as a Boys swim team record of 147-47-1 over a fifteen year span from 1973-1988. His teams won 9 League titles and were State Runner-up in 1988.

Coach Doucette is also responsible for having coached 2 All Americans, 27 All-State and 61 All-League swimmers and divers. There are currently 7 of those former athletes in The Plainville Sports Hall of Fame.

On the State level he spent 23 years as a tournament director for the State of Connecticut boys swimming committee, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award in 2007. Coach Doucette also received the C.I.A.C. Connecticut Boys Swimming Coach of the Year in 2008-2009.

Robert Dalke
As a lifelong Plainville resident grew up learning sports from the town’s best. He excelled in football, basketball, and track at Plainville High School in the late 1950’s under the tutelage of Hall of Fame Coaches Charles Palmer, Pat Riera and Dino Iorli.

His true dominance was on the gridiron. He was a three year starter at offensive end and defensive linebacker. During his senior year Bob was named captain while leading the team in offensive receptions, was third in scoring and second in defensive tackles. Bob set a school record for offensive receptions in one game with 7 catches. Coach Palmer described him as “a lethal blocker and one of the best tight ends in the state”. Bob was elected to and participated in the 1960 Nutmeg State Bowl Game that featured the best high school players in the State of Connecticut.

In basketball under Coach Riera, he was a significant contributor on a dominate team that posted an 18-5 record. He set a school record for field goal percentage during that successful season and led the team in scoring with a 16 point effort during a State Tournament Quarter Final loss to Fitch. Coach Riera described Bob as “dominate offensive threat” on an offensively minded team.

In Track and Field, Bob excelled in the javelin and high jump. Following graduation Bob received a football scholarship to Garden City College in Garden City, Kansas and later served our country in the United States Air Force. Today, he is an avid golfer and remains very competitive in the sport today!

Jill Giannini
Attended PHS from 1995 to 1999 and proceeded to rewrite the track records. By the time she graduated in 1999, Jill had developed a reputation of being one of the most feared and respected track competitors in the state. During her track career, Jill had been ALL STATE in 11 events, All Conference in 21 events and won New England titles in both the long jump and 55 meter hurdles. She also held 8 school records in track when she graduated PHS. To top it all off, Jill closed out her high school career by winning the girls outdoor heptathlon championship. The heptathlon is a two day competition that consists of 7 events. No small feat.

Local papers wrote “She’s a poster child for “Athlete of the week” recognition for area scholastic sports”. Her track coach Jeff Sorel compares Jill to another Hall of Fame member, Tom Graney as both were great track athletes, undefeated as seniors with school and state records. Jill epitomized being a scholar athlete playing three sports for all four years earning the title of captain in each sport as a senior while maintaining academic standards that allowed her to attend Sacred Heart University where she continued her track career.

Jill was also a wonderfully talented soccer player who continually stretched the playing field with her speed and endurance as a four year member of the team. Jill earned the respect of her teammates, coaches, school administrators and competition not simply because of her natural talents, but for her hard work to maximize her talents. Jill never took anything for granted and worked hard for all that she has accomplished. And as we all know now, she accomplished more in four years at PHS than most of us will ever witness in a lifetime.

Jim Kaine
Is considered by some to be Forest Gump before anyone knew about Forest Gump. Jim was a runner from the day he set foot in PHS and never stopped. He may have slowed to a walk on a golf course, but he is still the same energetic person.

Coach Grasso shared that “I can still remember the first time I saw Jimmy run. He took 2 steps when most others only had to take one, but he never stopped and was never intimidated or afraid to go after anyone. He was an outstanding distance runner, one of my best ever, and an absolute pleasure to coach. He wasn’t afraid of any distance or any runner or any course.”

Jim was a four year letterman and star in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track earning the captain’s title in cross country as a senior. “Little” Jim Kaine as he was called by Coach Grasso as a freshman was the #4 man on 11-2 team that was #2 in state. As a sophomore he was 3rd in the conference meet and 5th in class B state meet. Jim was the leader of 11-1 team, finished 16th in state meet as a junior and as a seniorhe was 2nd in CVC meet, 3rd in state meet and 13th in state open.

Jim’s consistency was his trademark in track where he dominated the 2 mile event losing only twice as a senior. He also doubled as a pole vaulter scoring valuable points for his team.

Jim has traded his running shoes for golf shoes and can be found on almost any course in New England, another testament to his dedication to a sport.

Jim Silva
Graduated from Plainville High School in 1977 as a three sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball. In conjunction with his Hall of Fame brother Buddy, Jim is considered as graceful a ball player that has ever donned the PHSuniform. In football he was a starting defensive back and running back and a point guard on the Basketball team. However it was baseball where Jim truly excelled.

In baseball,he started and earned a letter all four years at the varsity level under Coach Ron Jones. He was the captain his senior year and earned All-Conference and All-State honors. In his senior year he had batted .405 and led the team with 30 hit, 31 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. Jim was considered one of the most feared hitters and base runners in the Colonial Conference.

After graduating from Plainville High School,Jim attended Eastern Connecticut State University where he continued his mastery of the baseball diamond under Bill Holowaty, the winningest baseball coach in New England history at all levels. Jim parlayed the rare combination of speed and power into a four-year baseball career which netted him the New England Division III career record for hits and culminated in first-team NCAA Division III All-America honors in his senior season. Jim was a four-year starter in center field and a member of four NCAA Division III tournament qualifier teams.

During a 176-game career which produced a .323 average, Silva amassed program records of 223 hits, 67 stolen bases, 159 runs, 691 at-bats and tied the record for games played. Through 1998, Silva’s program records for hits and at-bats have not been equaled, while his New England record for hits stood through 1992. Jim became the program’s third 1st team All-America selection in 1981. This versatile 5-foot-10 inch, 160-pound right-hand hitter batted a career-high .337 while leading the team with 20 stolen bases and sharing the team lead with nine home runs.

In 1978, the Silva brothers constituted two-thirds of the team’s starting outfield, with older brother Buddy alongside Jim in left field. Today, that brother combination remains the only All-America combination in program history and is now both in the Hall of Fame. After his illustrious career at ECSU, Jim played for the New York Yankees Gulf Coast team in 1982.

Ronald J. Serakas
Graduated from Plainville High School in 1966 after a very successful athletic career. He excelled as a football lineman, culminating with an All-State selection in 1965. Ron was very successful as a track and field competitor and served as a co-captain of the track team. He also competed with basketball program for a year. After graduating from Plainville High, Ron attended Kings Point Military Academy on a football scholarship and graduated with a Marine Engineering Degree. He sailed the globe after college in conjunction with his training. Ron entered the food service industry becoming involved with a wine and cheese restaurant as well as other restaurant ventures in the New York City area. He has been in Floridafor more than 20 years working in the banking industry.