- Sanford “Sam” Izzo
- Joe Izzo (son of Sam)
- Kevin Connors
- Bob Fortune
- Mike Raucci
- Girls Softball Three-peat NYSPHSAA State Champions
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- Jim “BoomBaa” Keniry
Sanford (Sam) Louis Izzo Sr
Sanford (Sam) Louis Izzo Sr. was born on November 17, 1916 in Round Lake, NY, but grew up in Mechanicville, where he was a standout athlete in the three sports offered — basketball, football and track. With regard to the latter, Sam ran the 100 yard dash in under 10 seconds, a significant accomplishment at that time. He also held the sectional record for the 220 yard dash on a curve. Sam attended Arnold College, now a division of the School of Education at the University of Bridgeport, which had an outstanding athletics program. At Arnold, Sam earned a letter for a his three year participation on the track team, having excelled as a sprinter in both the 100 and 220 yard dash. He also played football for three years at the College, gaining recognition for his strategic part as a halfback in the triple reverse combination, a play resulting in many wins for the varsity team. Sam’s performance in college baseball was even more impressive. In his very first game on the varsity team as a left-handed pitcher, he struck out 16 batters, gave up only six hits, and as a batter, he had two singles and a grand slam homerun. His outstanding pitching and hitting throughout that and subsequent college baseball seasons led to his recruitment to the New York Giants farm team. Even when bursitis in his left shoulder forced Sam to give up pitching and play first base, his stellar performance made him a draft choice for the Major League Giants team. However, Sam decided to give up professional baseball and pursue the career as a physical education instructor for which he had trained. In 1953 Sam assumed the position of varsity basketball coach at Mechanicville High School. Previous to that appointment, he had taught physical education and coached varsity athletic teams in both the St. Regis Falls and Manchester NY school systems. His MHS basketball teams were very successful, and the 1954 team was runner-up in the sectionals held at Convention Hall in Saratoga Springs. In the late 1950s he coached varsity baseball and football at Mechanicville High School, leading the baseball team to the championships of the then Western Conference and the sectionals in 1960. In addition, he coached the cross country team, which achieved a remarkable Colonial Council record, and the multi-championship winning MHS bowling team. It should also be mentioned that Sam was himself an outstanding bowler, having scored four 700 triples at Bowlero Lanes. Indeed worthy of note among Sam’s many accomplishments is the role he played in establishing opportunities for women to participate in athletics at Mechanicville High School. Specifically, he established not only a girls’ intramural sports program, but also a coeducational gymnastics program. Sam’s career in athletics is archived in detail in an article entitled “Sam Izzo – A coach to remember in Mechanicville,” written by James Keniry and Hal Sheehan, and published in The Saratogian newspaper shortly after Sam’s passing on November 11, 1971. As the article indicates, Sam made a lasting impression on his teammates as well as the athletes he coached. His legacy as an athlete, physical education instructor and coach is undeniably inspirational
Joseph (Joe) Anthony Izzo
Joseph (Joe) Anthony Izzo was born on February 6, 1948, in Troy NY, to Sanford Izzo and Carmella Sgambati Izzo. He grew up in Mechanicville, where he was an honor student and standout athlete in baseball, basketball, and football. Throughout his athletic career, he was mentored and supported by his father, a well known athlete and coach. From the age of eight to twelve, Joe played Little League baseball. He was an outstanding pitcher and strong batter for the Rotary Club. He had a very powerful fastball, described by his teammates as intimidating. In fact, he allowed only one hit in the game that decided the championship for the major division of the Mechanicville-Stillwater Little League. He was chosen to be on the All Star Team each year. He then excelled as a pitcher and hitter for the Babe Ruth League until he entered high school. In high school, Joe continued to be a standout pitcher and hitter, helping MHS to win some close games the four years he played varsity baseball. With regard to basketball, Joe played on the CYO team in junior high school, and then on the MHS varsity basketball team for three years. According to a reliable source, the buzzer was about to sound to end one of the games when Joe made a basket from midcourt, resulting in a one-point win for MHS. Joe was a stellar lineman on defense and offense, and a place kicker for the MHS varsity football team. In addition, in his senior year, he was co-captain of the first undefeated team since 1942. His incredible performance and recognition by many high school coaches as the best tackle in the area resulted in his being offered athletic scholarships to Columbia, Cornell, Lehigh, Princeton, Purdue, Rutgers, and other well known colleges. Joe was also the winner of the Booster Club athletic scholarship as well as the Class of 1956 Memorial Award to an outstanding scholar athlete. His remarkable academic performance was also recognized by the Sons of Italy who awarded him their regional scholarship, and he won a New York State Regents scholarship. Joe decided to study civil engineering at Princeton University, where he played on the Princeton Tigers football team as a tackle. After graduating from college, Joe continued his sports career by playing semi-pro football for the Albany Metro Mallers and semi-pro baseball for the Mechanicville Merchants. He also played golf, lacrosse, racquetball and softball for many years. Joe was an avid fan of the NY Yankees and the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. His passion for sports was shared by his family – Helene, Cailin and Aaron – who accompanied him to innumerable Yankee games and other athletic events.
Kevin Connors
Kevin Connors, a graduate of the Class of 1975, was the Quarterback, Defensive Safety and Co-Captain on the 1974 Colonial Council undefeated Red Raiders Football Team, the team that broke the All Time School Record for most points scored in a single season. In the summer of 1974, he attended Notre Dame Football camp where he was Coached by Tom Pagna, the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame, and was ranked 3rd out of 47 Quarterbacks nationwide at the Camp. As a defensive safety, he led the Colonial Council in Interceptions his Junior year and was the Section II leader in interceptions his Senior year. In 1974, he led Section II in passing yardage, touchdown passes and completion % and was named 1st Team Quarterback by the Times Union, Troy Record, Schenectady Gazette, and Saratogian newspapers, and was named 1st team Quarterback by Section 2 Coaches to the All Metroland Team. He was also named to the All-State Team and was the Colonial Council Most Valuable Player in 1974. In 1977, Kevin began Coaching Football at MHS and came in as the youngest Coach in the School, and left Coaching in 2013 as the oldest Coach. During his many years of Coaching, he had the honor of Coaching 2 of his sons, Eric and Sam, both Quarterbacks at MHS who also wore the #7. In his 5 decades of Coaching Football, he was the only person to Coach under Dick Stipano, John Taglione and Kevin Collins. In addition to Football, he Coached Little League Baseball for 25 years and CYO Basketball for 17 years. In 1995, he helped to organize and start the Junior Red Raider Football program and helped to lead them to their first ever Super Bowl win. He was also instrumental in starting the Modified Baseball Team at Mechanicville in 1997. Kevin’s support for the surrounding communities extends far beyond athletics. He is a 36 year member of the Mechanicville-Stillwater Elks Club, was a longtime board member and past president of The Mechanicville Area Community Services Center, served on the Board of Directors of the Mechanicville-Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, and was the founder of the Run if you D.A.R.E. 5K road race, which raised funds for over 25 years for the DARE Program in the Mechanicville, Stillwater and Shenedehowa School District. He is also the President of his family owned business, The Connors Insurance Agency and has helped to grow the family business from a 2 person operation into one of the area’s largest Property and Casualty Insurance Agencies, now licensed to do business in 13 states nationwide. Together with his wife Wendy, they managed to raise 5 sons, Kevin, Eric, Dustin, Josh and Sam, all of whom graduated from Mechanicville High School, and is the proud grandparent of Max, Greta, Jane, Frances, Simon, Jackson, Lucy and Amelie Connors.
Bob Fortune
Athletics and participation in sports began at a very early age for me growing up in Mechanicville. It was really a natural love for sports and the competition that seemed to attract me. It was a very important part of my life then and remains so after all these years. At around 10 years old I began playing Little League Baseball and informally played football and basketball with others in my age group. When I reached high school, my sports were basketball and football. My skills in both improved significantly thanks to excellent mentoring and coaching. Football coaching was led by Chuck Brady with assistants including coaches Turi, Cocozzo, Keith, and Maru – they definitely enhanced my skills and facilitated my desire to excel. Coach Martone was my mentor and basketball coach and likewise taught me a great deal about the game. He even recruited Bob Tassi for me to practice against to further develop my skills. Although I never played for coach Izzo in high school, because of my close relationship with Joe Izzo, coach was really a significant influence on me because of his strong desire to see young athletes develop. I owe so much to these mentors for the success I achieved with athletics. All of this good experience at MHS prepared me for what was yet to come in college and beyond. I was recruited by Father Dan Nolan to attend Lehigh to play football but chose to play basketball. My Lehigh basketball career was rewarding with many records established and recently honored by induction into the Roger Penske Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame (alongside Father Dan Nolan). After graduation I was asked to play semi-professionally for two years with the great Barry Kramer and the Schaefer Brewers. In 2018 I was honored with induction into the Upstate NY Basketball Hall of Fame. All of this success is the result of my early years of interest, dedication and mentoring while at Mechanicville.
Mike Raucci
On October 19, Michael Raucci, General Manager of Toyota of Clifton Park, will be inducted into the Mechanicville High School Athletic Hall of Fame as a Community Contributor. Mike’s contributions to the young athletes of all ages in this community have been many and are ongoing. Mike has lived in the Mechanicville community all his life. The son of John and Marjorie Rose Raucci, he graduated from Mechanicville High School in 1990 after excelling in sports from Little League and Babe Ruth baseball right on up through his senior year of high school. He made the varsity wrestling team as an 8 thgrader and was on the Colonial Council and Class C champion teams, which got him into the state qualifier matches at RPI. He also made varsity baseball as an 8 thgrader, and would become a Colonial Council All Star in baseball as he continued his five year varsity career in multiple sports. He excelled at football as well, being named Mr. Red Raider in 1988.Because he loved sports, upon graduation Mike went into coaching and coached Little League baseball and youth football for a number of years, teaching kids how to play the games he himself so enjoyed. Mike, his brothers John and Scott and his sister Tara grew up in a working class family, and that strong work ethic was instilled in them early on by their hardworking parents. His mother worked two jobs while raising four kids. Mike became a salesman for Jack Byrne at his Ford and Mercury dealership and worked for Jack for more than ten years. He was so successful at that position that he was offered the MECHANICVILLE Athletic Hall of Fame opportunity to become the General Manager of Toyota of Clifton Park in March, 2005. His skills as a businessman, and his rapport with the customers he so capably served, has enabled his dealership to become one of the top Toyota dealerships in the whole country. He has led his company to 14 Presidential Awards, which is Toyota’s highest honor, and two Best in Town Awards for Toyota Motor Sales USA.In 2007, when Mechanicville Public Schools failed to pass its budget, putting the school’s sports programs in jeopardy, Mike’s Toyota of Clifton Park donated a car to raise money to fund the programs, raising $60,000. He has also contributed funding for the Park Avenue playground and its basketball courts; given to refurbish the Paul N. Luther Playground on South Main Street; contributed to the renovation the historic XO Tower at Depot Square; helped with the replacement of the bandstand in Tallmadge Park; and provided a new scoreboard for Mechanicville/Stillwater Little League. He has provided helmets for Junior Red Raider football and has supported Revolution Lacrosse. He has long been a sponsor with the Mechanicville/Stillwater Youth Soccer League. For Mechanicville school’s athletics, Mike has provided uniforms for Red Raider volleyball, boys and girls basketball and warm-ups for the school’s golf team. He has contributed to softball, the Football Booster Club and the Wrestling Booster Club. He has provided athletic scholarships for athletes who excel.Mike Raucci, Community Contributor to Hall of Fame Mike has from the beginning been a big supporter of the Mechanicville/Stillwater Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness, putting in one of the largest groups of walkers each year. And when the Red Raider soccer teams made it their mission each year to support that walk, he provided them with special T-shirts.He is one of the organizers of the local Thanksgiving Food Drive that annually provides a bountiful holiday dinner to more than 900 families in our area. Toyota has given a vehicle to the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center, and also provides cell phones for the center’s Domestic Violence Prevention program. Mike also supports the All Saints on the Hudson Youth Council.Married to Marcy Pahl Raucci, Mike has three children, Dylan, Isabella and Ethan, and is proud to say that he has chosen to raise his family here in his hometown area. Mike has been a member of the Mechanicville School District Board of Education since 2014. A firm believer in investing in his community, Mike gives back in many ways.Mike credits his mother, Marj Raucci, for instilling in him and his brothers and sister a sense of respect and gratitude for all the people who were there for them as they grew up . . . teachers, school nurses, lunch ladies, bus drivers, and many others within the community who give so much to our community in many ways. Says Mike, “I love the Mechanicville School District and the City of Mechanicville and will always advocate for it and do everything I can to make it a better place to live, work and raise a family. We are Mechanicville! Remember, we all rise when we lift up others!”
Jim “BoomBaa” Keniry
Jim “BoomBaa” Keniry will be inducted into the Mechanicville High School Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 19 in honor of his status as a true Legend in local sports history. And for anyone who was involved in sports in Mechanicville in the 1940’s through the 1980’s, BoomBaa truly was legendary!A lifelong resident of Mechanicville, Jim was born in 1915. He was involved in all sports while growing up here in town in the 1920’s and 1930’s, a passion that continued and grew over his adult life. He wrote thousands of articles and took many, many photographs of athletes for area newspapers primarily the Saratogian, but also for the Troy Record and the Schenectady Gazette from the 1940’s well into the 1970’s. His coverage and his sports photography not only included high school sports, but also CYO and other youth athletics. He loved sports, and he loved the kids!With his passion for sports, he was one of the motivators who convinced the school district to build the new, large gymnasium behind the former high school building on North Main Street which is now part of the Arts Center on the Hudson. Jim had dubbed the existing tiny gym in the building the “band box”, which in the days of the great Whiz Kids basketball team in 1951-1953 was quickly proven to be way too small for such a sizeable and popular team. Because of his determination and drive to get the new gym built which could hold hundreds of spectators as well as provide a substantial court for the players to play on, a plaque was installed in the press box above the new gym designating it as the “James BoomBaa Keniry Gymnasium”. Jim “BoomBaa” Keniry to Hall of Fame as a LegendIt is also said that Jim was the man who had given that state champion basketball team the nickname “Whiz Kids”. Jim was employed for many years at the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company that was a mainstay of Mechanicville back in the mid-20 thcentury. He served as Union President for a time while working there. He later worked for the city school district in their custodial department, and also served two terms as Commissioner of Finance for the City of Mechanicville in the 1950’s. Jim “Boom Baa” Keniry throughout his life was an ardent follower of Mechanicville High School sports programs, and he touched the hearts of many local athletes while preserving for them memories of their achievements on the fields and courts of Mechanicville and beyond. Jim passed away in November of 1988. His legacy and his memory will be honored as he becomes a member in the Legends category of this year’s fourth class of inductees in the Hall of Fame.
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