WILLIAM HASSELL

1993 INDUCTION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AQUATIC HALL OF FAME

Bill passed the Rhode Island Senior Life Saving in April 1963 at the age of 16 and began giving Red Cross swim courses, lifeguarding, waterfront directing and heading up athletic programs for 20 of the next 22 summers.

In age-group swimming Bill set New England AAU records for the 13 and 14 year age group in the 100 yard butterfly and the 200 yard medley relay  .His Cranston East high school swimming accomplishments include a first place finish in the 200 yard medley relay and 100 yard butterfly at the New England Interscholastic championships in 1965. Also, in 1965, he captained the Cranston East High School team, assisting them in winning the Brown Interscholastic Swimming Championship and the New England Championship. Bill was named to the Rhode Island All State Interscholastic team for three years and was named the Rhode Island Male Swimmer of the Year for 1965 and 1966.

Bill was captain of the 1969 University of Connecticut swim team. He received a B.S. degree from UCONN in 1969 and a M.S. from Eastern CT in 1974. At present he is a Mathematics teacher and girls swim team coach at Windham High School in Willimantic, CT.

He has been the assistant coach or head coach for the Windham High school boys and girls’ teams for six years and is presently in his fourth year as head coach of the girls team.

As an official, Bill served 21 years as a member of the Connecticut Officials Association, 15 of them as assignment secretary for the Hartford Branch of the CT S.O.A. He also served as starter for such meets as: Connecticut Divisions High School Championships, Big East College Championships, and the Ivy League Championships. This year he officiated at the Division I Men’s New England College Championship at the UCONN pool, and at the Prep School New England Championships.