Wareham athletics Hall of Fame welcomes new members

Nov 26, 2017

A basketball coach with 300-plus wins, former NFL player and athlete with 16 varsity letters to her name were among those inducted into the Wareham athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday night. Held at the Rosebrook Event Center, the ceremony honored seven individuals and one team.

Former basketball coach Kevin Brogioli, Class of 1979, said he was humbled to be inducted as both a coach and former athlete.

“Wareham athletics has meant a lot to me,” he said. “Being recognized as both coach and athlete truly means a lot.”

Brogioli was hired to lead the varsity team in 1998 after coaching junior varsity for 13 years. He celebrated his 300th win in January 2015. He stepped down as head coach in May of that year. When he joined his father Jim in the 300-win club (Jim has 404 career wins), they became one of the most winningest father-son coaching duos in state history.

As an athlete, Brogioli was an all-star in cross country, basketball and track, earning nine varsity letters. While on the basketball team, he was named MVP each year and averaged 19.2 points per game in his senior year.

Brogioli’s sister, Ann, was also inducted Saturday. A member of the Class of 1985, she was recognized for being an all-star all four years that she ran cross country. In her junior year, she broke the school’s mile record as a track athlete with a time of 5:35.

Kara Ames, Class of 1990, returned to Wareham from her home in Texas for the event. During high school, she earned 16 varsity letters for cross country, field hockey, basketball, track and tennis.

Joining Ames at the ceremony were her two daughters, Allie, 11, and Katie, 8.

“Tonight is very special to me, in large part because my daughters are here to celebrate with me,” she said.

Ames noted that the perseverance, dedication and commitment she learned on the field are useful life lessons she hopes to instill in her daughters, who are following in their mother’s footsteps athletically and academically, she said.

Stephen Cooper, Class of 1997, ended up playing for the San Diego Chargers from 2003 to 2012. With the team, he won six division championships and played in one American Football Conference championship.

In Wareham, he was an all-star football and basketball player in the 1995-96 season and was on the team that won the state Super Bowl in 1995.

Cooper was unable to attend Saturday’s event. He is currently coaching at San Diego High School and for the Balboa Raiders Youth Organization.

Other inductees include:

Ronnie Cardoza, Class of 1956

basketball, baseball, football and track

Anthony Lopes, Class of 1959

basketball, football and baseball

Alan Bosari, Class of 1964

basketball and baseball

Members of the 1950 football team