Class of 2023
MICHAEL G. MCMAHON, Class of 1987
Intensity, hard work, and total effort are how you would characterize the competitiveness of Durfee athlete Michael McMahon. He wore the number 1 on his football jersey like a badge of honor and helped to inspire his teammates to be champions every day. A three sport athlete in football, wrestling, and spring track, McMahon was selected as the Male Athlete of the Year in 1987 and was awarded 9 varsity letters in his high school career. On the gridiron, McMahon was a defensive standout in tackles and takeaways. He was selected as a first team all-star on defense in both his junior and senior years. Serving as a team captain during his senior year, McMahon rarely left the field playing on offense, defense, and special teams. He was an integral part of an all-star backfield that helped Durfee win seven games straight to earn a share of the SEMC championship in 1986.
Mike is perhaps best remembered for his prowess on the wrestling mat. He was a Varsity letterman all four years and earned trips to the division 1 state championships in both his junior and senior years. His best year was his senior year in which he was selected as a team MVP and captain. He was a leader of a team that finished the season 12-5-2 and were the Lex King Souter Tournament Champions. Individually, McMahon earned 108 team points his senior year, was a finalist in the Rhode Island Tournament, and went on to win the 157 lb weight class in the division 1 South Sectional Tournament championship. McMahon continued his wrestling and judo after graduation while attending Slippery Rock University and Bridgewater State College. McMahon also competed in spring track as a sprinter in the 4x100 relays and 220 yard dash. In the field events he was a discus thrower. McMahon currently lives in Fall River where he is a social studies teacher at Morton Middle School and the Varsity wrestling coach at Durfee High School.
AMY COSTAR, Class of 1990
Upon entering Durfee High School in the Fall of 1986, Amy, a 5-foot 4-inch gymnastic dynamo, began to make her mark as one of the best dual sport stars of her era. A fierce and fearless competitor, she quickly assumed her place, and as a freshman became the leading scorer on the varsity squad. Competing in all four events, she specialized in the balance beam and floor exercises, where she was the league champion and two-year Southeast Conference All-Star. As a sophomore, despite no prior experience as a diver, she transferred her athletic skill to the pool, amassing a three-year dual meet record of 32-1, and was named a three-year Southeastern Conference All-Star. As a senior Amy won the South Sectional Diving Championship and finished a close second in the All-State meet which came down to the final dive. For her efforts, she was named to the Boston Herald All-State Swimming and Diving Team. In her athletic career at Durfee, Amy was named by her coaches as a Team MVP in her 9th, 10th,11th, and 12th grades. A cheerleader and National Honor Society Student, Amy went on to a distinguished diving career as a scholarship athlete for Northeastern University
STEPHANIE VALENTE, Class of 1991
Stephanie began her Hilltopper career long before her own time at Durfee. She could often be found as a young girl chasing a volleyball around the field house, cheering on her dad’s volleyball team, or at some other Durfee athletic event. She began her official career as a Hilltopper as a member of the volleyball, basketball, and softball teams. As a sophomore, Stephanie became a key member of the volleyball team running the offense as the starting setter. She spent her winter playing travel club volleyball and joined the tennis team in the spring. Stephanie was a 3-year starter for the volleyball and tennis teams and was named captain and MVP of both teams during her senior seasons. In the 1989-90 volleyball season, Stephanie helped lead the volleyball team to their best season with a 20-3 record with only three losses at the hands of Case, who went on to win the state championship. Stephanie was named to the Boston Globe All-Scholastic, Boston Herald, Providence Journal, and Herald News All-Star teams.
She was also a multi-year conference all-star. She was selected to represent Southeastern Massachusetts as a member of the Bay State Games volleyball team. After Durfee, Stephanie went on to a 4-year division one volleyball career at the University of Vermont where she was the starting setter her sophomore through senior years. She was named to the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) All-Tournament Team and earned NAC Academic Achievement Honors. After UVM, Stephanie coached club volleyball and shared her love of the game at numerous camps and clinics. Stephane lives in Portsmouth, RI with her husband Joe, her son Jacob, and her daughter Caitlin. When not working as a physical therapist, Stephanie spends much of her time sharing her passion and love for volleyball cheering on her daughter at both indoor and beach tournaments.
KEVIN BRUM, Class of 1993
Kevin was a four-year varsity hockey player. One of two freshmen to make the varsity squad that year. Despite getting injured his freshman year, Kevin was able to finish his Durfee hockey career with over one hundred points. Brum achieved the Herald News All Hockey Team and state recognition as well. He was known for his speed, accuracy, and puck-handling ability, but also as a leader and great teammate. Kevin was honored as a co-captain his senior year and capitalized on his opportunities. Despite coming up short in the state tournament during his last two years at Durfee, the ice hockey program had good momentum and a positive future. Kevin married his high school sweetheart, has been in the fire service for over twenty years, and currently lives in San Diego.
BOB RAPOZA, Class of 1993
Primarily a defenseman who switched to forward when needed, Bob finished his career with 134 points (69 goals, 65 assists) in men’s hockey. Only one of seven players in the Durfee 100 career point club, Bob collected 35 goals and 27 assists during his junior season, capturing the Durfee record for most points in a season with 62. A tremendous penalty killer and an excellent team leader, Bob always represented Durfee High School Hockey with class. He held numerous accolades on the South Coast including multiple years of conference championships which landed him on an array of all-star teams. Those of you who knew Bob knew very well he wanted to make a career playing hockey (as long as his body would allow it). From Ontario, Canada to placements coast-to-coast across the United States, Bob played in various professional leagues for over a decade. A former assistant coach at Salve Regina University, Bob currently lives in Fall River finding himself gravitating back to hockey arenas and continuing to play a sport that allowed him to travel the nation doing what he loves.
KEVIN DASILVA, Class of 2003
Kevin DaSilva was a three-season athlete at Durfee playing golf, tennis and primarily ice hockey. During his high school career on the ice, with the help of his teammates, DaSilva earned an impressive record of 50 wins, 23 losses and 6 ties. By the end of his career, he totaled 63 goals scored, provided 44 assists, and accumulated 107 points. DaSilva is only one of seven players in Durfee hockey history to have surpassed 100 career scoring points. His freshman record for points in a single season (26), comprising 14 goals and 12 assists, still stands today. DaSilva’s performance on the ice played a critical part in Durfee’s record-setting season of consecutive wins (18). As a senior, he was the team’s leading scorer with 22 goals and 13 assists. DaSilva helped his team secure three Big Three Conference championships, received two Big Three Conference all-star honors, and won the Challenge Cup four times. He was also awarded MVP of the Prenda Cup for his outstanding performance his junior season.
ALEXANDRA FIOLA, Class of 2008
Alex Fiola was a four-year starter of the women’s basketball team. Her accolades include earning three Herald News All-Star and three Big 3 Conference All-Star honors. A 1,200-point career scorer, Fiola averaged 18 points per game as a junior and 17 points per game as a senior. Three-point shooting was one of the stronger points of Fiola’s game as she averaged 42% on 3s her junior year. Senior year, Fiola was team captain and also a Dave Cowens Award Nominee. In addition to basketball, Fiola was a member of the swim team for two years. Alex received a full scholarship to Division 2 Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven CT where she played basketball for all four years. She majored in nursing and later went on to get her Master’s degree to become a Nurse Anesthetist. Fiola currently resides in Madison, Wisconsin with her husband and two boys.
SOFTBALL STATE CHAMPIONS 2004
You have to start this story at the end. In the state final against a Fitchburg team that was 21-2 with only 26 runs allowed all season, Durfee won 1-0 in eight innings, with Caitlin Belanger firing a 1-hitter with 10 strikeouts and 2 walks. Ashley Mauricione's squeeze bunt scored Jenn Fitta with the winning run as Durfee finished its season 21-5. Adopting Journey's “Don't Stop Believin'”as their theme song, the Hilltoppers — after losing three of their last five regular-season games, just as the 1998 Durfee state champs had done — won their six playoff games by a combined score of 17-1. Team members included: Tina Mitsis (captain), Jenn Fitta (captain), Stephanie Bonalewicz (captain), Ashley Rodrigues, Brittany Poissant, Ashley Maucione, Sarah Golden, Maeghan Connor, Chelsea Sullivan, Amber Burns, Sarah Stack, Caitlin Belanger, Vanessa Dias, Kayla Peixoto, Ashley Saraiva, Cassandra Kerrigan, Katie Viveiros, Sarah Benjamin, head coach Steve Winarski, assistant coaches Stephanie Ponte and Jim Swanson.