Athletic Hall of Fame

Mr. John M. Daileanes '88 left his mark on Central Catholic Boys Basketball, and he now continues to support students in their own athletic pursuits.
 
During his four years at CCHS, John was a standout basketball player (Captain), playing on two MVC Championship varsity basketball teams (Sophomore, Senior), being named an MVC Basketball All-Star (Junior, Senior).
 
John also excelled playing baseball (Captain), leading MVC Baseball with a junior season batting average of .460, and senior year batting average of .330. He was an MVC Baseball All-Star (Junior, Senior).
 
During graduation, John was the recipient of the Michael Garvey Award (Best Male Athlete). He then headed to Colby College (Class of 1992), where he continued his athletic career on the Men’s Varsity Basketball serving as Captain, and he played Varsity Baseball.
 
John was a 1992 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and Basketball Times Basketball All-American, while averaging nearly 30 points per game in his senior season, leading the nation in that category. He scored over 1,700 career points for Colby in the prestigious and extremely competitive NESCAC.
 
In the 1991-1992 season, John was among the nation's top five three-point scorers in NCAA Division 3, and his team was ranked #1 in the country among NCAA Division 3 schools (1990 & 1991).
 
In his senior year, he also earned 1st team All New England Basketball honors, three New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Basketball Championships, and two Eastern College Athletic Association (ECAC) Basketball Championships.
 
Colby Basketball honored John in 1993 by hosting a ceremony to permanently retire his game jersey (#33).
 
John took his skills beyond college, and briefly played professionally with Xanthi in Greece in 1992. He ultimately opted to return home to pursue a master’s degree and begin his post-playing career.

John earned his Master’s Degree in Education from Springfield College (1995) while serving as the graduate assistant men's basketball coach.

He has served countless high school student-athletes in his 25-year career as an Athletic Director and Health Educator in various schools.

John and wife Jennifer Larsen Daileanes have two children: Sydney Daileanes and Andrew Daileanes. John’s brother, Mr. William A. Daileanes '97, also graduated from Central Catholic.

Mr. Ernest “Ernie” DiFiore is known for supporting the Central Catholic community in a variety of ways for over 30 years.
 
Most recently, he served as Athletic Director (AD) for 10 years and was instrumental in getting the turf installed on the Raider Field, making improvements to the Memorial Gymnasium, upgrades to the weight room, expanding the number of female athletic options, and supporting the CCHS athletics program in all ways possible. 
 
Additionally, many CCHS teams achieved incredible levels of success under his leadership, winning championships at the conference, sectional, and state level.
 
Previous to serving as AD, Ernie served as a teacher, and coach at Central Catholic.  

Most importantly, Ernie brought a calm and steady leadership style to CCHS athletics, and within the Merrimack Valley Conference as well. He made it a priority to support his coaches and encouraged them to care for the students we serve, allowing them to flourish. 

Ernie and his wife of 27 years Dana are the proud parents of two Raiders, their daughter Ms. Olivia DiFiore '23 and son Mr. Sam DiFiore '17.

Long before Mr. James M. "Jamie" Durkin '00 was a successful Head Coach of the Central Catholic Varsity Wrestling, he collected his own championships as a gifted student-athlete at CCHS.

Jamie was a two-sport athlete, playing football and hitting the mat as a wrestler for all four years at CCHS. 

His skills helped him achieve numerous wrestling accolades including a two-time State Champion, All-State Finalist, three-time New England Place Winner, Top 10 All-Time Wins and Pins, four-time All-Conference, three-time Eagle Tribune All-Star (Wrestling), High School Prep All-American (4th place). He was also Captain of the team his senior year.

As for football (Captain, Senior), Jamie was a three-year starter (350 career tackles/25 career sacks), a two-time MVC All-Conference, Boston Globe All-Scholastic, a two-time Eagle Tribune All-Star, and he also played on the 1997 and 1998 CCHS Super Bowl Football Teams.

After graduating from CCHS, James moved on to Clarion University (PA), where he was a two-year wrestling starter. He then transferred to Western New England University, where he was a two-year starter, two-time New England placer, and Academic All-American.

He earned a degree in political science from Western New England, and later earned an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University.

Since 2017, Jamie has served as Head Coach of CCHS Wrestling, where he has won six MVC titles, four Sectional Titles, two MIAA State Tournament titles, three Dual Meet State Tournament Titles, two-time MVC Coach-of-the-Year, Division 2 State Coach-of-the-Year, USA Wrestling Public School Coach-of-the-Year (MA), and two-time D2 North Coach-of-the-Year. His career coaching record is 113-8.

Before becoming Head Coach of Wrestling, he was Assistant Wrestling Coach at CCHS 3 years) and was Head Coach of Wrestling at Andover High School (3 years).

In addition to coaching wrestling, Jamie is the Global Head of Talent at Boston Dynamics. 

Jamie is married to wife Stephanie, and he is father of two boys, James (7) and Landon (2). 

He is part of a Raider legacy with his sister Mrs. Jocelyn (Durkin '92^SM) Petrosino, uncle Mr. William Durkin '48 (also a CCHS Hall of Famer), niece Ms. Mia L. Tarini '16, and cousin Mr. Ryan J. Delaney '22.

Atty. Timothy Hart '82 has proven to be an important figure in the storied history of Central Catholic Basketball. As a member of the Red Raiders - as they were known at the time - Hart was named a third-teamer for Central in The Eagle-Tribune's "Boys Basketball's Best" series and was two-time All-Conference. He is a proud member of the 1982 team that was the first of Coach Richard Licare’s many MVC champion teams.
 
Hart, who earned an Augustinian Fathers scholarship to Merrimack College (North Andover, MA), starred for the Warriors (1,266 points), and was named Merrimack's MVP, and first-team All-Conference as a Senior.
 
After graduating from Merrimack, Tim played a year professionally in Germany before attending the University of San Diego Law School (CA).
 
Tim worked in private equity and now runs his own corporate transactions law practice in Los Angeles.
 
He is married to wife Mrs. Jennifer Looney from Andover, and they have a 31-year-old son, and daughters ages 18 and 16.

Tim is part of a strong CCHS legacy following uncles Mr. John J. Hart III '41, the Most Rev. Daniel A. Hart '45, and Dr. William R. Hart '46. Tim's brother Mr. Joseph J. Hart '86 followed him on the hardwood, and his nephew Mr. Joseph J. Hart Jr. '24 currently plays for the Raiders. 

Mr. Ronald W. Karcz '73 had an accomplished track career at Central Catholic, participating all four years in Cross Country and Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field (high jump and hurdles).

His athletic prowess led to several accolades, including multiple League Championships in Indoor and Outdoor for the High Hurdles, first in the New England Catholics (Junior/Senior), first and placed in the Divisional State Championships. Ron won the class B hurdles his senior year and also won both the high jump and hurdles in the New England Catholics. 

Ron earned his spot as tri-captain and co-captain for Indoor and Outdoor Track, and at one point held all the hurdle records at Central Catholic at the same time, while setting track records and individual meet records on multiple occasions.

During his senior year, The Emblem alumni magazine published a story that included Ron's many accomplishments, calling him a Hall of Fame “shoo-in” (the HOF hadn’t been established yet).

After graduating from CCHS, Ron attended Lowell Technological Institute (now UMass Lowell), and held the school record in the 120 yard high hurdles. 

He moved on to work for Raytheon in Andover, MA, and is now retired from the United States Postal Service. He is a lifelong resident of Lawrence, MA and still goes to the Lawrence Reservoir, where he worked out as a member of CCHS Cross Country, to exercise. 
 
Ron's four older brothers also graduated from CCHS: Mr. Theodore J. Karcz '65, Mr. Conrad M. Karcz '66, Mr. John A. Karcz '68 (Bro. Florentius Memorial Award and Michael Garvey Outstanding Male Student-Athlete Award), and Mr. Brian R. Karcz '71.

Dr. Steven Mattheos '93 was the Valedictorian of his class and a first-generation Greek from Lowell, as the son of immigrant parents. He is the first Boys Soccer inductee into the Central Catholic Athletic Hall of Fame.
 
Steve was a four-year starter and three-year captain of the Central Catholic High School Boys Soccer team (1989-1992).

As a freshman, he started every game on the first CCHS Boys Soccer team to qualify for the State Tournament. He was named MVC All-Conference and team MVP as a sophomore, and Lowell Sun All-Star and Eagle Tribune All-Star both his junior and senior years. In addition, he was named Boston Globe All Scholastic his senior year.
 
Steve also spent two years competing on the CCHS varsity basketball team and was recognized as Unsung Hero his senior year.
 
In addition to his athletic and academic performance, Steve was involved in intramurals, Model UN, Math Club, and Campus Ministry.
 
After graduating from Central Catholic as Valedictorian in 1993, Steve attended Amherst College (MA), where he was a three-year starter for the Lord Jeffs and started as a freshman on the first Amherst Men’s Soccer team to qualify and advance in the NCAA Tournament (1993). He was named Most Improved Player as a Junior and Senior, and he was recognized as Academic All-American (1997).
 
Steve graduated with honors from Amherst College with a B.A. in Biology and returned "home" to Central Catholic to teach science and math. He also served as Assistant Coach for the Varsity Boys Soccer and Varsity Boys Basketball teams (1997-99).
 
In 2003, he received his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School (MA). He then completed his orthopedic surgery training at the Harvard Combined Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program, which included Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, as well as professional sports team coverage of the New England Patriots, Boston Bruins, and Boston Red Sox (2003-08). He then continued his training with a fellowship in Sports Medicine at New England Baptist Hospital, where he was involved in caring for the Boston Celtics (2007-2009).
 
In 2009, he established his Orthopedic Surgery practice in Newburyport, MA, and was named to the Best Doctors of the North Shore in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

He remains involved on campus as he serves as the Central Catholic team physician. He also participates in the Career Explorations Series, where CCHS alumni share their professional experience with current students.
 
Steve and his wife Regina Tarquinio live on Plum Island (MA).

As a three-sport athlete at Central Catholic, Mr. Nelson Ovalles '97 successfully dominated the football field, basketball court and baseball diamond. 

His finely-tuned athletic skills were recognized through several awards including, for football: Defensive MVP (1996), Boston Herald All-State, All-Conference, Eagle-Tribune All-Star, Recorded 7 Interceptions Senior Year; for baseball: Team MVP (1997), All-Conference, All-State, Eagle-Tribune All-Star, MVC Champion (1996); and for asketball: D1 North Finalist, Eagle-Tribune All-Star (1996), and Defense MVP.

At graduation, Nelson was honored with the Michael Garvey Male Student-Athlete Award, and he moved on to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (MA), where he played football, winning a Division 1-AA National Championship (1998) and an Atlantic 10 Conference Championship (1999). The 1998 Football Team was recently inducted into the UMass Hall of Fame.

From 2012 to the present, Nelson has served as an CCHS Assistant Football Coach. In this position, he helped the 2013 CCHS Varsity Football Team win the MA Division 1 Superbowl (2015 and 2021 Runners-up), and the team has accumulated multiple MVC Titles.

Nelson is part of a strong Raider legacy with brother Mr. Daniel Ovalles '04, sister Ms. Carmen Ovalles '03, nephew Mr. Ezais Ovalles '21, step-son Mr. Kevin J. Acosta '24, niece Ms. Amelia D. Ovalles ' 25, and cousin Mr. Elias D. Ynoa '25.

Off the field, Nelson is a Realtor and a CSA Agent for Delta Airlines. He is married to wife Micole Borges, and has children Kevin Acosta, Alyna Ovalles, Hillary Ovalles, and a baby expected in April. 

During her time at Central Catholic, Ms. Courtney R. Walsh '14 played four years of CCHS Girls Varsity Basketball and Girls Varsity Soccer (Co-Captain/Senior). She also participated in Outdoor Track and Field. Her passion and dedication amounted to nine varsity letters throughout her Raider athletics career.
 
Throughout those years, she contributed to winning two state titles, one in soccer and one in basketball. As a Freshman, Courtney worked her way to become the starting forward of the Girls Varsity Soccer Team that won the 2010 State Championship.

As a Junior, she started as point guard for the Girls Varsity Basketball Team (Co-Captain) that won the 2013 D1 MA State Championship.

Courtney’s senior year, she joined Track & Field and participated in the 4x400m team, helping set the school record in the event followed by making it to All New England’s. She was also a member of the MVC Championship and Div. 2 MA State Championship Outdoor Track team. 

Throughout her high school athletic career, she accumulated an abundance of awards including: Merrimack Valley Conference MVP in Girls Soccer & Girls Basketball, Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic in Girls Basketball & Girls Soccer, MVC All-Conference in Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, and Outdoor Track, and Eagle Tribune All-Star in Soccer and Basketball.

Beyond athletics, Courtney participated in Central Catholic's Camp Champagnat Leadership Institute, Student Ambassadors, and other activities. 

After graduation, where Courtney was honored with the Mary I. Kilcoyne Outstanding Female Student-Athlete Award, she attended Stonehill College (Class of 2018) on full athletic-scholarship. At Stonehill, she was a two-year captain on the Women’s Basketball Team and made it to the Elite Eight of the D2 NCAA Tournament her Senior year.
 
Courtney took her love of basketball beyond the U.S., traveling to Ireland, where she completed her athletic career overseas after playing one final year of semi-professional basketball.
 
Most recently, she has shifted pursuing her love of sports to that of newborns, as she is now working as a nurse in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Elliott Hospital in Manchester, NH.
 
Courtney follows a CCHS legacy after her brothers Mr. Brendan P. Walsh '09 and Mr. Cameron R. Walsh '11 also graduated from Central Catholic.