Dr. Winnie Hamilton

Posted on September 1, 2015November 22, 2016

Winnie began her sports career as an outstanding athlete at Laurelton Hall High School. There she participated on the field hockey, basketball, softball and tennis teams. Upon graduation, she continued her education at SCSC where she majored in physical education. It was at SCSC that Winnie had her first experience of being cut from a sports team when she tried out for the volleyball team. They were looking for a middle blocker and Winnie, at 5’2”, did not fit the bill for the Owls. Winnie really believed that she could have been successful on that team. Thus, upon graduation from Southern, when the opportunity arose to coach volleyball at Westhill, Winnie took the position. There she coached using her philosophy, formed by her experience at Southern, which was and is “you can be anything you believe you can be- and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t.”

From that start of her 14-year volleyball coaching career at Westhill, her teams qualified for every state tournament and always achieved a minimum of a quarterfinal appearance. During her tenure as coach, her tems accumulated 10 league championships, 2 state titles with 7 appearances in the finals. These accomplishments coming from a team whose tallest player during those years was 5’9”.

Winnie was recognized for her achievements by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association as the Volleyball Coach of the Year in 1977 and the New England HS Coaches Assoc. as the Volleyball Coach of the Year in 1984. She was elected as the second woman to serve as president of the CHSCA in 1985. Winnie received the Stamford YWCA You Make a Difference Award for all her work with the children of Stamford.

Winnie is presently serving as principal of Dolan Middle School in Stamford.

Jill Tomasello

Posted on September 1, 2008November 22, 2016

Jill was an outstanding and versatile athlete at Westhill. She was a 3-sport standout, earning recognition in volleyball, basketball and softball. A three year starter for Hall of Fame coach Winnie Hamilton, she was an outside hitter her junior and senior years. By her own admission, at 5’6” Jull was not the tallest hitter but she made up for her lack of stature with tremendous power and skill. During her junior year, Westhill started the season without the services of 5 of 6 starters from a 26-0 season and she was the tallest player. With dedication and drive, that team lost only 3 matches. Jill was a big part of that success. She was named the team’s Best Offensive Player and selected to the All-City team. As a senior, Jill was team captain and her leadership and aggressive play was instrumental in bringing Westhill to the CIAC Class LL finals. It would be the team’s only loss that season. Jill was named her team’s MVP for the third time and she was an All-City selection again. She was also selected to the All-County and All-State teams. Jill was also a 3-year starter in basketball at Westhill. She was team captain and All-City her senior year. She was a 4-year start in softball. She was captain, All-City for 2 years and an All-County and All-State selection her senior year. In 1983, Jill received Westhill’s award for Most Athletic Female.

After graduation Jill spent one year at UConn where she played softball. Her sophomore year she transferred to Quinnipiac College where she was instrumental in starting their varsity volleyball program. She was setter for 2 years and was team captain. Jill received a softball scholarship at Quinnipiac and started 3 years at first base. She was team captain and named to the All-ECAC team.

Jill is still actively involved with sports. She was a volunteer volleyball coach at Westhill from 2000-04 and a volunteer coach at Darien High School’s summer volleyball camp. From 1986-89 she played touch football in the North American Women’s Touch Football League. She was quarterback for three years, leading her team to three Super Bowl wins and she was named Super Bowl MVP three times. Jill played fast pitch softball for the Stamford Flames Class A Fast Pitch Travel team from 1980-89, her team taking 5^th place at the National Tournament. In 1990 Jill started to play slow pitch softball. She played for 6 years, ending her career after her team won a 2^nd national championship. Then in 1996 Jill joined the Stamford Storm Women’s ice hockey team. She has played goalie for 12 years, earning numerous team gold medals and MVP awards in USA and Canadian tournaments. She has been team captain for 19 years.

Peg Scofield

Posted on September 1, 1998November 22, 2016

Peg started her volleyball career in 1976 at Westhill High School in Stamford where she was coached by Winnie Hamilton. She competed on the varsity level for three years and was selected as team captain in her senior season. While playing for Westhill, they enjoyed county championships and the team was the Class LL runner-up. She was selected to the All-FCAIC team. She also lettered in basketball and was county and state champion in the high jump while on a member of the Westhill track and field team.

Peg was honored by becoming the first female athlete to have her number retired in Stamford (#10).

After graduation from Westhill, Peg continued her academic and volleyball carer at Rutgers University where she received the Scholar-Athlete award, was a two-time MVP, and was selected to the all-conference team four times. While Peg played for Rutgers, they won the Atlantic-10 conference championship. Her squad also qualified for the NCAA Championship tournament.

Presently, Peg is the Head volleyball coach at Yale University where her teams have compiled a 227-128 record during her 13-year tenure, including six 20-win seasons. She serves on the editorial board of Coaching Volleyball magazine and still competes on a USVBA/USA women’s AA club team.

Yale Daily News: Scofield reaches 300-win plateau