Panthers Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From Masuk High School

Sports run deep in Monroe, and Masuk High School has long been at the heart of it. It’s no surprise some standout talent once wore the Panthers uniform. Today we're celebrating five unforgettable athletes from Masuk High School who made a name for themselves well beyond the hometown field.

1. Michael Gminski - Former NBA Player

Michael Gminski was a standout multi-sport athlete at Masuk High School, earning varsity letters in football, baseball and basketball before leaving high school after his junior year to begin his collegiate career early at Duke University. In basketball, he was All-State twice and set a Connecticut record by averaging over 40 points per game in a season and was named among the Top 25 Boys High School Basketball Players in Connecticut for the 20th century. In Gminski’s four-year career, he eclipsed 2,000 points, won two ACC titles and made it to the NCAA championship game before being drafted in the first round of the 1980 NBA Draft, where he had a 14-year professional career with many organizations. (Sources: GoDuke.com, NBA.com, MHS.Monroeps.org)

2. Paul R. Fenaroli - Former NFL/AFL Offensive Lineman

Paul R. Fenaroli was another three-sport athlete, earning nine varsity letters as a Panther in football, wrestling and baseball, but primarily excelling in football and wrestling. An All-State performer in both football and wrestling, a league champion and a State Open Champion in wrestling, Fenaroli had an exceptional high school career. He continued his play on the Stony Brook University football team, where he was a four-year starter, team captain and played in two Big South Championships before starting his professional career in the NFL and AFL, where he played for multiple franchises. (Sources: StonyBrookAthletics.com, ESPN.com, MHS.Monroeps.org)

3. Ann Odoy - Connecticut/New England Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer

At Masuk, Ann Odoy earned 12 varsity letters across four sports, achieving All State multiple times in both basketball and field hockey. She continued her basketball career at Boston College, becoming the women’s program’s all-time leader in points, assists and steals by the time she graduated. She was honored as an ACC Legend and received several other accolades, including Kodak All-American, and continued playing professionally in Sweden briefly. Odoy has been inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the Boston College Hall of Fame and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame and most recently the Masuk Athletics Hall of Fame. (Sources: BCEagles.com, MHS.Monroeps.org)

4. Michelle Florin Custis - Connecticut Women’s Hall of Famer

Another dominant three-sport athlete at Masuk High School, Custis earned letters in softball, soccer and basketball, including four varsity letters each in basketball and soccer. In basketball, she was a four-year starter, a two-time All-State selection, and a Street & Smith Honorable Mention All-American as a senior. During her Masuk career, she scored over 1,800 points, becoming the second-leading scorer in school history; she also led the Panthers to win three league championships, including an unforgettable undefeated state championship season in 1995. Her basketball career continued at the University of Richmond, where she earned multiple in-season tournament MVP honors and was selected to several All-Tournament teams. Curtis was inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame and the Masuk Athletics Hall of Fame. (Sources: CTWomensBasketballHallofFame.com, MHS.Monroeps.org)

5. Jeffrey “Jeff” Hourigan - Former Gatorade Connecticut Player of the Year

Hourigan was a three-sport athlete at Masuk, playing soccer, basketball and baseball. However, it was in baseball where he excelled most as a three All-State selection, Gatorade Connecticut Player of the Year, Connecticut Post Player of the Year and New Haven Register Player of the Year, as well as Third-Team All-American honors in 2001. Hourigan continued his baseball success at the University of Connecticut, where he was a team MVP and NECBL All-Star, and competed in the College World Series. Following graduation, he transitioned into coaching, spending time at the University of New Haven and, over the last decade, as a coach on the Huskies’ staff. (Sources: UConnHuskies.com, MHS.Monroeps.org)

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