Category Archives: 2013
Steve Geryk
Steve’s volleyball career began as an outstanding player and continued as an out-standing coach. He first played volleyball at UMASS Amherst with Pat Ryan who was already a member of the team. He was named a New England All Star both years he played at the College club level and he played with various USVBA and local adult teams throughout the years.
His first coaching job was at Amherst High School in 1984 as the first Boys’ Volleyball coach. The team’s record was 11-1. His next coaching opportunity was at Glastonbury High School where he started as the girls’ assistant coach in 1990. Steve coached there until 2002, his last 6 years as the Varsity Coach.
His overall record at Glastonbury was 215-77 in those 13 years, and his varsity record was 107 and 26. Glastonbury was the CCC West Champion for 11 of those 13 years, including the last 10 in a row and won the CIAC Class L State Championship in 1993.
Steve coached numerous All-State players including Allison Baker and Missy Roy, an inductee of the Connecticut Scholastic Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame.
After taking many years off to spend more time with his children’s activities, he re-turned to coaching at East Catholic High School as the assistant girls’ volleyball coach from 2009 through 2012. This allowed him to be a part of the team while his daughter Emma played. He also coached numerous girls Junior Olympic teams for the Husky Volleyball Club, operated in central CT by Pat Ryan.
Steve credits the many people who have helped influence him as a coach but none more than his presenter Pat Ryan. Of Pat Steve said, “Pat has been there since my first day playing at UMASS and continued to be an influence on my coaching, and coaching philosophy throughout my career”.
Steve is a Mortgage Loan Originator and lives in Stafford Springs with his wife Kathy and 2 children Joey and Emma.
Joanna Weiss
Joanna Weiss had an outstanding high school career at Darien HS. From 1999 until she graduated in 2002 her team won three FCIAC championships, three Eastern Division championships and three State Championships. Her team was 89 and 9 for those four years. Her awards included being named captain in her senior year, twice to the All-FCIAC team and twice to the All-State team.
She was just getting started. She continued her career at Cornell University. To say she made a contribution to their team is an understatement to say the least. The year before she arrived on campus, Cornell had tied for last in the Ivy League. Then in her first two years, 2003 and 2004, Joanna was named the most improved player. In her last three years, Cornell was the Ivy League champions. In her junior and senior years, 2005 and 2006, they earned NCAA tournament berths. In 2005 she led her team with an attack percentage of .406, a school record and the 7th best in the nation. Her career attack percentage was .384, another school record. In her senior year, she set her 3rd school record for individual blocks and the led the team to a team school record for blocks with 562. In those two years, Joanna was First Team All-Ivy as well as All-Northeast Region.
Nancy Bond
Nancy Bond graduated from Cathedral High School in 1968. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Arnold College – University of Bridgeport in 1972. She earned her Master Degree from Southern Connecticut in Physical Education and Recreation for the Handicapped in 1978.
Nancy taught at Bassick High School in Bridgeport as a Physical Educator for almost 36 years. She coached Girls’ Volleyball from 1972- 2002, Girls’ basketball from 1972 – 1987, and Softball from 1973 to 1980. During the 80’s she officiated Girls Lacrosse and in the fall of 2002, Nancy officiated both girls’ and boys’ volleyball until 2011.
In 1989 she started the first Boys’ Volleyball team at Bassick and continued coaching the boys until 2002. Nancy served as the Sports Chair for Boys’ Volleyball in the FCIAC Conference for 10 years. Since its inception, she also served on the Boys’ Volleyball Committee for the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference. .
During her tenure, her Girls’ Volleyball Teams won four MBIAC Conference Championships, in 1973, 1977, 1981, and again in 1986. Her Girls’ Basketball Teams won three conference championships from 1979 – 1981.
Nancy has received many awards and much recognition for her accomplishments. In 1978 Nancy was awarded the MBIAC Volleyball Coach of the year. In 2009, she was inducted into the FCIAC Hall of Fame. In addition, in 1987 Nancy was awarded the Service Above Self Award from the Rotary Club and in 2002 she was the Co-Teacher of the year of the Bridgeport Public School District.
For the past 40 years in Connecticut, Nancy has supported Volleyball as a teacher, coach, and official.
Kaitlin Petrella
From 2003 to 2006, Kaitlin Petrella led Bunnell High School to three consecutive Class LL State Championships. For her career, she totaled 393 kills, 399 aces, and 725 Digs. She led her team to a 95 and 5 four year record.
In her junior year Kaitlin was named First Team All-Colonial Division and the CT Post and New Haven Register All-Area Team. In her senior year she was named the South West Conference Co-MVP and the Class LL Connecticut State Tournament MVP. She was also named to the All-SWC team and to the All-State First Team.
Kaitlin continued her volleyball career at Central Connecticut State University. She became a Libero and from her sophomore year led her team in digs with 366. Her junior year she set a career dig record with 1,216. She was named Libero of the year in both her junior and senior years. In her senior year she was also named to the First Team All-Conference.
Currently Kaitlin is teaching physical education and health in Stratford, CT. She is also the head coach of the girls’ golf team and the JV volleyball coach at her Alma Mater, Bunnell High School
Jung Park
Jung Park is a graduate of Conard HS and UCONN and currently resides in West Hartford, CT. His volleyball career began as a club player while attending UConn. After graduation even though he was a pretty good player, his teammates felt their team would be better without him and sent him into a forced retirement. When Jung was hired at UConn as the Intramural Director, he quickly realized how much help he would need if he was going to teach other students how to officiate. He became a member of the Connecticut Board of Volleyball Officials in 1997 as well as the USA Volleyball Association. He says he’s been blessed to be helped by many great mentors along the way. With help from his mentors and others in the officiating community, Jung became a dual national official (USAV in 2004 and PAVO, Professional Association of Volleyball Officials, in 2006). In 2010, he successfully completed the FIVB, Federation International de Volleyball, International Referee Course in Argentina then became a certified FIVB international referee in 2011. He currently works in ten different NCAA Division 1 conferences. He has worked numerous NCAA Women’s and Men’s conference, regional and national championships as well as several CT HS state championships and in NAIA, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Today, Jung continues to serve as the State Rules Interpreter for high school officials in CT. Nationally he also continues to work many events as a member of the USAV and PAVO national rating/training team.
Actively involved with the collegiate club volleyball, he founded and serves as the commissioner of the Northeast Women’s Volleyball Club League (which has grown to fifty college club teams in nine states). He also ventures out to the “Dark Side” of coaching in his spare time, serving as the head coach of the UConn Women’s and Men’s club teams since 1997. He was recognized by NIRSA as the Club National Coach of the Year in 2007.
Joseph Grippo
Joe Grippo is an outstanding basketball coach. His teams have played in four state championships winning two and have also won six Shoreline Championships. He has also been recognized with awards for his accomplishments.
However, it is in volleyball that Joe has really made his mark. He started coaching volleyball at Morgan High School in 1983 and will finish his 30th volleyball season this year. His teams have won 23 Shoreline Championships, including 21 in a row from 1992 to 2012.
For 29 out of his 30 seasons, his team qualified for the state tournament. They played in 18 State Championship games. They won eleven State Championships including seven in a row from 1992 to 1998, and were runner-ups seven times. Prior to this year, his career record is 553 wins and 93 losses. Joe has been recognized many times for his success. In 1997, he was awarded the Doc McInerney Coach of the Year award and was named the New Haven Area Coach of the Year. In 1996, he was named the Connecticut High School Coaches
Association’s Coach of the Year. He was also a National Coach of the Year Finalist three times, in 1999, 2001, and 2005.