Members of the current Conard wrestling as well as alumni honored former coach George Beaudry on Saturday, and announced the first student to be honored with a scholarship in Beaudry’s name.

From left: Chris Glowacki, Brad Beaudry, Beverly Beadry, and Julio Duarte. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By Ronni Newton

Former Conard wrestling coach George Beaudry was honored Saturday morning in a ceremony attended by nearly 100 alumni, friends, and family, who were also on hand to witness the awarding of the first annual scholarship given in the esteemed coach’s honor.

“It was more than just winning, it was about how he affected our lives,” current Conard coach Chris Glowacki told the audience on Saturday. Beaudry, who was Conard’s head wrestling’s coach from 1968-1986, guided the team to an amazing 235-30-2 record during those year – a .880 winning percentage that remains a record to this day.

“He would be a rich man if he had copyrighted the phrase before Nike got it. ‘Just do it.’ That’s what he always said,” said Glowacki.

Beaudry’s children Brad – a former state champion wrestler – and Beverly, presented Conard with the jacket and plaque received when George Beaudry was posthumously inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004. George Beaudry passed away in June 1999.

Conard principal Julio Duarte, who was an All State wrestler at Newington High School and former head wrestling coach at Hall before he joined the Conard administration, accepted the items on behalf of the school.

Rob Cersosimo, who currently serves as one of Conard’s assistant wrestling coaches, first worked with Beaudry when he was a new student teacher at Conard. “I know one thing, I was mentored properly,” Cersosimo said. “I owe a lot to a lot of people, but coach Beaudry was the best of the best. He was one of the  greatest men I have had the opportunity to know, and that includes my dad,” Cersosimo said.

At Saturday’s ceremony, Glowacki also announced the first recipient of the George Beaudry Memorial Scholarship. Senior Eddie Bello, who plans to attend either Johnson & Wales or Bridgewater State, will be the recipient of the $500 award. His name has been engraved on a plaque which will hang in Conard’s trophy case. The scholarship, which will be awarded every year, goes to the college-bound wrestler who has earned at least three varsity letters and has the highest winning percentage in the program.

Following the ceremony, the Conard wrestlers competed against East Hartford. Conard won the match, 62-18.

Conard wrestlers line up before the ceremony honoring former coach George Beaudry. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard wrestlers line up before the ceremony honoring former coach George Beaudry. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard senior wrestler Eddie Bello will receive the first scholarship in honor of former wrestling coach George Beaudry. Bello (left) is pictured with Beaudry’s children Brad and Beverly. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Rob Cersosimo speaks about former coach George Beaudry. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Brad Beaudry, son of former Conard coach George Beaudry, presents his father’s Hall of Fame plaque to Conard. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard wrestling coach Chris Glowacki speaks to the audience at a ceremony honoring former coach George Beaudry. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Alumni, friends, and family gathered at a ceremony to honor former Conard wrestling coach George Beaudry. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

From left: Chris Glowacki, Brad Beaudry, Beverly Beuadry, and Julio Duarte. Photo credit: Ronni Newton