Carolyn Gibbins, Class of 2012

Carolyn Gibbins was a talented two-sport varsity athlete. During her career, Carolyn played varsity soccer for four years scoring 96 career goals. She was awarded Second Team Northern Division All-Star her freshman year, First Team Northern Division All-Star her sophomore year, and Third Team All-State two years in a row as a junior and senior. Carolyn also participated in varsity track and field. She was the 2012 WAC Champion in the 100m hurdles and placed second in the long jump and third in the triple jump. After graduating from Galway High School, Carolyn attended Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) for two years majoring in engineering science. She played on the HVCC women’s soccer team for two seasons and was their leading scorer and team captain in 2013. Carolyn continued her career at The University of Buffalo, where she majored in chemistry and played on the women’s club soccer team. 

Erik Matthews, Class of 2018 

Erik Matthews was a successful three-sport athlete at Galway competing in varsity soccer, basketball, and track and field. In soccer, Erik was the league MVP, News Channel 13 Athlete of The Week, and Times Union Small School All-Star his senior year. In track and field, Erik finished in the top three at the WAC championships and/or sectionals in 4x800m, pole vault, 110m hurdles, long jump, triple jump, 1600m, and 800m. Erik continued his academic and athletic career at Daemen University, where he will complete his Doctorate of Physical Therapy Summa Cum Laude this year. At Daemen University, Erik is the record holder for five track and field events. At the East Coast Conference Indoor Championships, Erik had a top three finish in 60m hurdles and set the record in the 400m. In outdoor track and field, he was the event champion in both the 400m and 110m hurdles. During his college career, Erik earned many awards and accolades including: 
• East Coast Conference Men’s Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year three-times 
• Daemen University Men’s Track and Field MVP twice
• East Coast Conference Elite 19 Award in 2021 and 2022
• USTFCCCA NCAA Division II All-Region Honors in Heptathlon
• The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Selection for Men’s Track and Field
• Daemen University’s Alumni Senior Award in 2022

Jake Restivo, Class of 2018

During his time at Galway, Jake Restivo was a successful three-sport athlete in varsity basketball, soccer, and track and field. He was a two-time All-WAC conference first-team selection for soccer. In track and field, he was a sectional champion in the 100m dash and 4x400. Jake was a multiple-time WAC championship winner in the 100m, long jump, high jump, 4x100m, and 4x400m relay. Additionally, he earned the most total points in varsity track and field in three out of his four years participating. He still holds the Galway High School record in the 100m dash and was part of the record setting 4x400m relay. Jake earned a scholarship to Binghamton University where he was captain for three years. He was the IC4A Regional Champion in Long Jump in 2021, the America East Indoor Conference Long Jump champion in 2022, and was named to the America-East Conference team for five years. As a result of these accomplishments, Jake received the prestigious Jake Pitler Award, which is given to the graduating senior who exemplifies the best leadership, academic, and athletic qualities at Binghamton University. Jake went on to receive the highest individual honor the America East Conference has to offer – The America East Man of The Year in 2023. 

Richard P. Stokna, Class of 1941

Born in 1923, Richard grew up, attended school, and remained a resident of Galway until his graduation in 1941. He participated in high school baseball, where he began to turn heads with, to the best of our knowledge, the highest batting average Galway High School has had to date at .664. He had an opportunity to pursue professional baseball with the Boston Red Sox, but at that time, the Second World War required his presence, and off he went to serve his country. Stokna achieved the rank of Captain in the Army Air Corps as a B-29 flight instructor. In 1948, Richard’s passion for food and love of his community brought him home where he purchased his uncle’s farm property and converted it to a restaurant that many would come to know as the Colonial Inn Restaurant for the next 52 years. During that time, Richard and his wife, Charlotte, operated their restaurant; raised three children; and owned, bred, and trained their horses for harness racing “just to keep busy.”

1995-96 Varsity Wrestling Team

Team Roster:

Cliff Hoffman, Captain

Brad Nelson, Captain

Nicholas Smith, Captain

Paul Denisulk

Earl Douglas

Kevin Grupe

Gui Inacio

BJ Kozlowski

Chris Leahy

Shawn Martin

Shayna McMann

Joshua Rockwood

Kris Roser

Mike Sartin

Jon Wilson

The 1995-1996 wrestling team, coached by Varsity Coach Sean Daley and Assistant Coach Gardner were the Section II, Class C Team Champions and the Tri-Valley League Champions. The team also had many individual accomplishments: Nicholas Smith had 128 career wins, Kevin Grupe had 102 wins, Paul Denisulk had 99 wins, and Cliff Hoffman had 84 career wins and was a three-time MVP. At the Section 2 Class C Championships, Cliff "Buzzy" Hoffman tore his knee during his finals match and almost couldn't continue. He took an injury time-out, then told the coach he was ok to finish and hopped back to the mat. He then pinned his opponent in a few seconds securing their Championship win. Buzzy was taken to the hospital after winning where the team joined him later with the plaque. 

Dan Connelly, Coach

Dan Connelly was a coach and teacher at Galway for 36 years. Before his teaching career, Dan attended St. Michael’s College where he played Division II basketball. Dan and his team competed in the Division II Final Four game his senior year. After graduation, he attended the College of Saint Rose where he earned his master’s degree in education. While teaching at Galway, Dan was heavily involved in the school’s athletic programs. He started Galway’s cross-country team and led them to victory in the Tri-Valley Championship in their first season. He also created Galway’s golf team and coached Galway’s boys varsity basketball team. Under Dan’s coaching, the basketball team made sectionals for the first time in 20 years. During his time as a basketball coach, he led two students to the Capital District Foul Shooting Championships where they both finished with perfect scores. When Dan was not teaching or coaching, he spent a great deal of time traveling the East Coast to referee collegiate sports.