Members of the Nashua Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025 gather after the induction ceremony. Front row, from left, Caitlin Ackerman, Diane Keene, George Noucas, Chrissy Harrington. Back row from left, Matt Sheehan, Aaron Gureckis, Sara Neville Guadiano, Joe Harrington, and Jaime Franks. Absent were Shalyn Johnson and Bill Hardy. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – They are now officially honored integral parts of Nashua’s athletic history.

Yes, the Nashua Athletics Hall of Fame has 10 new members after its 13th induction ceremony on Sunday at the Courtyard Mariott, all of whom were key components of either Nashua High School North, South, or the one Nashua’s sports success and development – either on or off the field.

“The number of people chose to be here acknowledges the importance of education -based athletics, and what an integral part of the school district it is,” Nashua Athletic Director and Hall of Fame Committe co-chair Lisa Gingras said.

Inducted yesterday were late former longtime Nashua athletic director Al Harrington, the first Nashua South athletics administrative assistant Diane Keene, Nashua High football coach Bill Hardy and boys basketball coach George Noucas, Nashua South three-sport athlete Caitlin Ackerman,former Nashua North track and field standout Shalyn Johnson, Nashua three-sport athletes Jaime Franks and Sarah Neville Guadiano; Nashua High three sport (football, basketball, baseball) standout Aaron Gureckis, and Nashua High football and track star Matt Sheehan.

Harrington’s longevity and ability to bring in new ideas were his strengths, as he got summer camps going through Park-Recreation, helped organize the Friends of Nashua Athletics booster group and pushed for a new weight room. He also was an integral part in starting the original Hall of Fame while presiding over a period of big success for Nashua High athletics after succeeding another legend, Buzz Harvey.

He passed away nearly two months ago after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, but his daughter Chrissy said in a video tribute, “He definitely built a legacy, for sure.”

Keene was immensely popular during her time at South, integral in getting the athletic department up and running after the split, and drew a loud ovation during her induction. She retired in 2016, and said “I am so grateful, I’m humbled, I just feel like all I did was come to work every day and do the best job that I could. … I felt valued in my job. I guess I did an OK job. This is an honor I never, ever expected.”

Hardy was ill and could not attend, but plenty of his former players and assistant coaches were in attendance. He guided the pre-split Panthers to a state title in 1997, one of three Division I championship games Nashua played in during his tenure from 1994-2022. He’s always been known for his ability to go out of his way for his players.

“Winning was how you kept your job in this city back then,” he said in his video interview. “The kids were the real heroes.

“It’s getting harder and harder (to coach). I hope coaches don’t let that deter them.”

Noucas coached Nashua to two titles, the famous 1986 upset of Bishop Guertin and then another win over Merrimack in 1991. His other finals appearance was a loss at the hands of Concord.

“Lot of great memories being in Nashua and being part of the history of Nashua,” he said.

Ackerman was the first career 1,000-point basketball scorer for Nashua South, and her other two sports that she also excelled at were volleyball and lacrosse. She was a senior for all three her senior year (2010-11), and went on to a basketball career at Assumption. “Scoring 1,000 points to me was pretty huge,” she said, “especially since it hadn’t been done since the two schools (North-South) were formed.”

Meanwhile Shaelyn Johnson at one point held 17 track and field records at Nashua North, some of which are still hers today, and she put Nashua North girls track on the map. She was termed “The definitiion of a student athlete” by her coach, Russ Cardin, Jr. in a video tribute. “Shayln helped usher in a new era of track and field at Nashua North,” he said.

Franks, a member of the Nashua class of 1999, was a standout in volleyball, basketball, indoor and outdoor track. But in her senior year she didn’t lose a single game – her volleyball team went 19-0 and won the state title and she helped lead the John Fagula-coached Panthers to a 26-0 state title mark.

“If I had one message to give to student athletes, it would be to diversify yourselves,” she said.

Neville Guadiano was another Fagula disciple, staring in soccer, basketball and track, and was so successful she went on to enjoy an athletic career at the U.S. Naval Academy. Her best sport at Nashua was track – she was a multiple point scorer for two Class L title teams – but she cited both the late Fagula and Pauline Albert for how they molded her.

Her message to coaches Sunday was “Don’t underestimate the difference you’re making.”

A Nashua sports legacy was continued with the induction of Gureckis, who joins his late father Adam and his uncle John in the Hall of Fame. Guerickis graduated in 1999 but his biggest feat was quarterbacking the Panthers his junior year to the state title. He was a two-time First Team All-State in football and baseball. He cherishes the memories.

“Enjoy your time here,” was his message to today’s student athletes. “It goes by fast.”

Sheehan was a member of the last unified Nashua High football team, a top lineman in the Divison I runnerup 2003 team, and won several individual track titles as a thrower. He still holds the Division I shot put record of 58-5.5. He was also the New England champ in 2004 in the discus.

“Make the absolute most of your time as an athlete,” said Sheehan, now a police officer in Yarmouth, Mass., “because when it’s done, it’s done. It goes by quick.”

(Sunday’s ceremony will air on Nashua ETV on Friday at 9 p.m. Also, Telegraph Staff Writer Tom King is a member of the Nashua Athletics Hall of Fame Committee.)