Submitted by Christine Patterson.
Dennis Reed (KES Principal)Team Captain Dennis Reed has been preparing for his big break for many years as he has been dominating the Park & Rec Circuit in Clinton, CT. He looks forward to leading the HK Hoopsters to victory and to handing the Wizards their first loss!
Becky Rodbourn and Jessica DeAngelo “THE WONDER TWINS” (HKIS)
B-Rod (Becky Rodbourn) and JJ McDunkin (Jessica DeAngelo) are thrilled to showcase their lack of basketball prowess! They have a long and storied history of demonstrating their inabilities in multiple arenas. On September 29th, the Harlem Wizards should be prepared to be dazzled by nothing they do. However, despite this lack of skill, they are still better than Matt Thomas at basketball!
Sean Collins (School Psychologist-KES)
Sean’s confidence in his ability to take on the Harlem Wizards stems from one glorious day in college when he made a half-court shot at Madison Square Garden to win free American Eagle jeans for a year.
Paige Callahan (Literacy Coach at HKMS)
Her basketball accolades started when she played shooting guard at Dodd Junior High School and Cheshire High School and continued when she was named All-League Honorable Mention in Mary Washington College’s Intramurals.
She graduated valedictorian from Slam Dunk U and was Coach of the Year NBA2K
While her love of literacy drew her away from her promising basketball career, she’s eager to get back on the court and show the Harlem Wizards how it’s done!
Kevin White (HKMS)
Kevin White is in his 26th year of teaching, and currently teaches 7th grade History at HKMS. In a recent interview, Mr. White said, “I’m excited to represent the teachers and the communities of Haddam and Killingworth vs the Harlem Wizards. I don’t think the Wizards know what they’re getting into. They are messing with some of the best teachers and hoopsters this side of the Connecticut River! I hope to see students, parents and community members come out and support us as we ball and represent with Cougar pride!!! ”
The Harlem Wizards have not commented on his remarks, but have said they will make a quick visit to HKMS prior to the big game to respond to Mr. White’s trash talking!
Matt Thomas (HKMS)
Matt Thomas teaches Family and Consumer Science at HKMS. He also coaches soccer, wrestling, and baseball.
While he likely absorbed some of the basketball culture as an undergrad at UConn, he admits that his wife and two daughters are all better than him at basketball. His family has started their training workouts with him so he will be ready to take on the Harlem Wizards on Sept 29.
Georganna Munz (2nd Grade, KES)
In a recent interview, Mrs. Munz gloated, “Teaching has been my passion for 20 years, but wait until you see my basketball skills! As a KES teacher I am very excited to participate in the Wizards basketball game and represent this wonderful district! While attending Mount St. Mary College, I minored in Free Throws. There I met Larry Bird. He said I had amazing talent!!
I am looking forward to showing off my Alley OOPS!”
Hopefully Larry didn’t tell too many people so that Georganna can remain our secret weapon.
Robert Fagan (HKIS/HKMS)
Rob Fagan teaches Health and PE at both HKMS and HKIS. He attended Springfield College where he played lacrosse. He also coaches the Girls Basketball team at HKMS and lacrosse at Glastonbury High School.
He also wanted to be sure that it was mentioned that he plays basketball better than Matt Thomas (see 9/9 profile).
Ladies and gentlemen, it would appear that there is some locker room drama for the HK Hoopsters! One more reason to buy your tickets now so you can watch all this drama unfold on Sunday, Sept 29th.
Brienne “The High Heel Wizarding” Whidden (Burr Principal)
They say she can do anything in heels but who ever thought playing basketball would be one of them? On her high school team, Brienne was one of the best bench warmers you’ve ever witnessed “play” the game. Here’s hoping a good pair of heels is the key to her success against the Wizards.
Chris Snow (BES)
No bio
Sabrina Simpkins (HKMS)
Sabrina Simpkins has been ballin’ with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls since 1998 at the age of 3. Her skills were so amazing she was forced to retire from in the league in 2013 and pursue a more “realistic career” as an educator. She graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in 2018 with a BS in Physical Education. This is her second year working at HKMS and feels right at home. When she is not on the hardwood doing dunks, she is coaching a variety of middle school sports such as soccer, wrestling, and softball.
Eric Larson (Principal HKIS)
5’ 7” (with 2 pairs of socks), HKIS Freshman. Fantasy Basketball Weekly says, “Eric is a master of the game. His teams compete for the league championship every year. A true student of the game, he has an excellent eye for every player on the court. … Wait, you want him to actually PLAY basketball??? I don’t think he even owns a pair of sneakers. Can he play in his hiking boots?” Scouts report, “He has a devastating outside shot. Unfortunately, that’s his golf game. Eric is so acquainted with the net, he carries one with him every time he goes fishing.”
Michele Ouellette (HKMS and HKIS)
At 5’ 2¼”, Michele can run circles around (the legs of) the best of them. Though short in stature she is devastating on the boards, paddleboards, that is! As a high school point guard at HK she was the coach on the court and could often be seen calling plays and dishing out assists to her teammates. Since trading in her basketball shoes for golf shoes she now requires an assist to find her lost golf balls on the course and the only dishes she does are the ones her kids leave in the sink.
Holly Hageman (Interim Superintendent)
Holly Hageman is an avid athlete and fan of basketball, although admittedly not an accomplished player of basketball. While she’s been with RSD-17 for 16+years, this is her first real opportunity to show off her athleticism. In a recent interview, she said, “Happy to support this effort with whatever skills I can muster”.
We are sure she will bring down the house against the Harlem Wizards! Come cheer her on!
Leo Lomuntad (HKIS)
Leo Lomuntad attended Hogwarts School of Wizardry where he was a 4 year starter in both basketball and quidditch for House Hufflepuff.
We can’t wait to see what kind of spell he will cast on the Wizards of Harlem!
