Head of the Class: Hall of Fame Celebrates New Members in October
By Sarah E. Murphy
The Lawrence High School /Falmouth High School Athletics Hall of Fame will officially welcome two teams, two coaches, and ten individuals to its esteemed ranks with a formal induction ceremony on Saturday, October 4. The event will be held at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in North Falmouth.
The headline-making, record-breaking 2025 HOF class features: Eleanor Demello-Wheeler - LHS 1962 Basketball/Softball; Rick Gumbert - FHS 1982 Baseball; Ramona Pinho - FHS 1977 Field Hockey/Softball; Dominique Roberts - FHS 1992 Winter/Spring Track; Amy Guiliano-Bruce - FHS 1988 Volleyball/Basketball/Softball; Jenna Rabesa-Noelte - FHS 2004 Soccer, Basketball, Softball; Willie Ford - FHS 1997 Football, Basketball; Maddison Haberl - FHS 2015 Field Hockey/Hockey/Lacrosse; Colin Reposa - FHS 2004 - Football/Hockey/Lacrosse; Kristy McIntyre-Balla - FHS 2001 Volleyball/Winter Track/Spring Track.
Honored for their teamwork are the 1996 FHS Men’s Hockey State Champions and the 2015 FHS Women’s Hockey State Champions, and this year’s coaches include Gregory Gilbert - FHS Women’s Soccer/Men’s Lacrosse; Janey Norton - FHS Field Hockey; and Bob Buscher, FHS Girls' Basketball.
Established in 1997, the Hall of Fame (HOF) honors distinguished athletes and coaches who have graduated or coached at Lawrence High School (the former Falmouth High School) and/or Falmouth High School for their contributions to the athletic reputation and legacy of Falmouth Public Schools.
Stephen Kapulka, who began his new role as Teaticket Elementary School Principal in July 2025, leads the Hall of Fame organizing committee with Vice-President Bill Kulis, who formerly served as the boys’ track and field coach at FHS, and FHS Athletic Trainer Tim Wakefield.
A 1988 graduate of Falmouth High School, Mr. Kapulka has fond and lasting memories of being a student athlete at Falmouth High School and the camaraderie and excitement those memories fostered among both students and staff. Although he wasn’t an athlete, he was a fan in the stands, cheering for maroon and white and rooting for his fellow Clippers at Guv Fuller Field and Falmouth Ice Arena, taking the bus to Boston Garden for championship hockey games. He also witnessed the camaraderie and excitement those memories fostered among students and staff.
Later, in the early 2000s, Mr. Kapulka served as the assistant men’s lacrosse coach at FHS with Greg Gilbert, one of this year’s inductees.
Mr. Kapulka joined the Hall of Fame committee in 2023, when it was reforming after a ten-year hiatus due to several factors, including lack of committee members as a result of the pandemic.
“I wanted to stay involved in the town and I also wanted to give back,” he said. Discovering the committee needed someone to
Mr. Kapulka credited former Athletic Director Kathleen Burke for her assistance in the reformation of the organizing committee, assisting him with securing meeting space and offering institutional knowledge she gleaned from her long tenure. Since reassembling, the committee has not only focused on inducting new members, it has fine-tuned the nomination process and clearly defined its mission, while also updating the process and digitizing it for convenience and preservation purposes.
“We created a rubric that requires statistics and other qualifications when nominating an athlete or coach. We also scanned all the documents into PDFs, so everything is electronic now,” Mr. Kapulka said.
The organizing committee includes members with longtime affiliation and new members, in addition to athletes and coaches who have been inducted to the HOF.
“It’s a great mix of folks from past and present, and everyone brings so much to the table,” Mr. Kapulka said.
He recalled the commitment of the late Jim “Kalpy” Kalperis, former FHS assistant principal, who was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a track coach in 1999. (The James T. Kalperis Track at Falmouth High School, funded by the Falmouth Road Race, is named in his honor.)
Mr. Kalperis began his storied career in athletics in 1959, a few years after he began teaching biology at Lawrence High School, with no coaching experience. His teams went on to win 64 titles, including 14 state titles, boasting eight in a row, and the BAA Championship in 1970. He later served on the Hall of Fame organizing committee, contributing to its efforts until his death in 2024, shortly after he turned 95.
“He was extremely dedicated. He attended every meeting and would send emails from his iPad late at night. He was so enthusiastic about all the athletes, not just the ones he knew or coached,” Mr. Kapulka said.
“Kalpy was a treasure, not just to the Hall of Fame. He was also a legend in the running community.”
Mr. Kapulka credited the Falmouth Road Race for its continued support of the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, providing complimentary tickets for all honorees in addition to other funds, including a grant for a commemorative plaque.
Mr. Kapulka underscored the need to continue the longstanding tradition of the Hall of Fame.
“It’s so important to recognize the amount of work it takes to become an athlete at that exceptional level, at such a young age and to recognize their contributions to Falmouth,” he said.
“Athletics are such a big part of the culture of Falmouth High School and the town of Falmouth. We have a very respected reputation, and there are so many people who contribute to that, especially coaches, along with the parents of the athletes.”
Superintendent Lori S. Duerr agreed.
“I’m so impressed and inspired by this year’s inductees to the Lawrence High School/Falmouth High School Athletics Hall of Fame, and I’m grateful to the organizing committee for all their efforts making sure they receive their due credit,” Dr. Duerr said.
“The dedication, perseverance, and teamwork of these athletes and coaches is illustrative of what makes Clipper country special. As a district, we are extremely proud of the lessons and legacy of their athletic careers in Falmouth Public Schools.”
Visit https://www.falmouth.k12.ma.us/community/athletics_hall_of_fame for tickets to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony and information about joining the committee and nominating athletes and coaches. You can also follow on Facebook.