Connecticut Sports Media Alliance To Host 83rd Gold Key Dinner Next Month

CONNECTICUT — The Connecticut Sports Media Alliance will be hosting its 83rd Gold Key Dinner on May 17 at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington.

Festivities are to begin at 2 p.m.

The Gold Key is presented to athletes, coaches and administrators who have made noteworthy career contributions to Connecticut's rich athletic heritage. Receiving a Gold Key is comparable to being inducted into a state hall of fame.

This year, the CSMA honors five distinguished Gold Key recipients: Rachele Fico, Masuk and Louisiana
State softball; Nick Giaqunito, Stratford, UConn football, Washington Super Bowl champion; James Jones, head basketball coach at Yale; Dave Wallace, Sacred Heart-Waterbury graduate and pitching coach of 2004 World Series champion Boston Red Sox; Kara Wolters, UConn All-
American, WNBA champion and Olympic gold medalist.

Other award recipients include:

• PRESIDENT’S AWARD: Peter King, Enfield, former Sports Illustrated writer
• HANK O’DONNELL FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Brooke Strauss, Glastonbury High cross country and track and field
• BILL LEE MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Magnus Manley, Ridgefield High cross country and track and field
• DOC MCINERNEY HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR (female sport): Anne Burrows, Bloomfield girls track and field
• DOC MCINERNEY HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR (male sport): John Reiser, Manchester High boys basketball
• JOHN WENTWORTH GOOD SPORT AWARD: Rick Evangelisti and Bill Neller (Litchfield Hills Road Race); Ray DaCosta, (CT Northstars youth basketball founder); Skip Falcone (West Haven Twilight League), Alex Palluzzi (Branford Parks and Recreation, Hall of Fame) and Bruce Wilhelm (Enfield and regional youth soccer administrator)
• HAL LEVY HIGH SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Fred Williams, Northwestern Regional
• BOB CASEY COURAGE AWARD: Matt Buckler, long-time sports journalist and auto racing announcer
• BO KOLINSKY SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD: Dolores Sawchuk, Colchester
• BOB BARTON EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA AWARD: Wayne Norman, WELI
• BO KOLINSKY MEMORIAL SPORTS MEDIA SCHOLARSHIP: Kyle Clark, Rockville High and the 2026 scholarship winner

____

Tickets for the 83rd Gold Key dinner are now on sale for $80. Checks can be made payable to the Connecticut Sports Media Alliance and who you are there to see to the following address:
CT Sports Media Alliance, P.O. Box 3234, Enfield, CT, 06083
For more information or to pay through Venmo, contact John Holt at JohnDHolt@yahoo.com or at 508-740-4738.