Seven inducted to Andover Athletics Hall of Honor

Phillips Academy has inducted seven new members to the Athletics Hall of Honor. The individuals were honored for accomplishments in athletics and for the exceptional ways in which each continued to lead lives that embodied the values of Phillips Academy and Abbot Academy. The Hall of Honor induction ceremony took place in Kemper Auditorium on Saturday, June 9, during Reunion Weekend.

Jon Coleman ’93

A four-year varsity hockey player, Jon Coleman was team captain his senior year. His numerous hockey honors include all-conference and team Massachusetts selections, and—thanks to 47 points earned his senior year as a defenseman—New England Prep Defenseman of the Year. Additionally, Coleman was Andover’s varsity baseball team catcher for four years. He and classmate Gus Quattlebaum cocaptained the 1993 team, and both received all-conference and All–New England honors that year.

Coleman attended Boston University, where he was a four-year hockey letterman, National Champion in 1995, a two-time All-American selection, and a member of the Hockey East Regular Season and Tournament Teams in 1996 and 1997. While at BU, he also was selected to play for Team USA in the 1994 U-20 World Championships in the Czech Republic. Additionally, he played for the U.S. National team at the 1995 Tampere Cup in Finland. In 1993, he was drafted in the second round by the Detroit Red Wings. He completed his professional career in 2012 after five years in the American Hockey League and International Hockey League followed by 10 years with multiple European teams. While abroad, he assisted with several community hockey programs and led the youth hockey program in Eppan, Italy, for three years.

Taking special pride in helping young hockey players develop a strong work ethic and perseverance, Coleman continues to coach and instruct. He coached youth in Medford and Canton, Mass., prior to his current full-time role as assistant coach for Babson College’s men’s hockey team.

Heather Gotha ’98

Heather Gotha earned 12 varsity letters at Andover in four different sports: soccer, hockey, softball, and lacrosse. In 1996 and again in 1997, she was elected a Boston Globe NEPSAC All-Star in soccer and selected for the all-state soccer team. An Honorable Mention All-American in lacrosse in 1997, Gotha earned All-American accolades in 1998 and was named Athlete of the Year by The Phillipian.

At Harvard, Gotha played soccer and lacrosse. She was a member of the 2000 Crimson Ivy League Championship soccer team as well as the 2001 team that made it to the NCAA soccer round of 16. In lacrosse, she was both an Academic All-American and an All-Ivy Honorable Mention in 2002.

After graduating cum laude from Harvard, Gotha pursued a career in medicine at Cornell Medical School. She attended Brown University for her orthopaedic surgery residency and an orthopaedic trauma fellowship, and went to Baylor University to complete a foot and ankle surgery fellowship. In addition to winning the Connie M. Guion Scholarship in 2009, awarded annually to the most outstanding fourth-year medical student, she won the John Metcalf Polk Prize in medical school, which is awarded to three students who are at the top of their class for scholastic performance throughout medical school.

Gotha is currently the orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon for University of Delaware Athletics, Wilmington University Athletics, and other local area colleges. Recently, she was selected by her peers and Delaware Magazine as a 2017 “Top Doc” in orthopaedic surgery.

Bruce Hearey ’68

Bruce Hearey played soccer, basketball, and baseball at Andover, earning eight varsity letters. A two-year basketball team captain, Hearey averaged 19 points per game his senior year, long before the three-point shot was established. In his final home game, a victory over Exeter, he tallied a career high of 35 points. He received the Schubert Key Award, given annually to a senior athlete and leader who “excelled in athletics, and exemplified sound character, cheerfulness, and good sportsmanship.”

Following Andover, Hearey attended Wesleyan University, earning five varsity letters in basketball and soccer. In a three-year period—including his senior year as cocaptain—Hearey helped lead the basketball team to a 46–16 record, until this year the winningest three-year record in Wesleyan history. Additionally, he was chosen for the Morningstar Award, given to the varsity basketball player best exemplifying sportsmanship, leadership, determination, and selflessness.

A graduate of Fordham Law School, Hearey is currently a shareholder and labor and employment attorney with Ogletree Deakins. In dedicating his time and resources to his community and others in need, he has continued to embody the qualities of leadership, determination, cheerfulness, and selflessness noted by his many awards. Specifically, Hearey served as president of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Cleveland and is currently president of the Hattie Larlham Foundation, a nonprofit that provides medical, residential, and work training services to more than 1,800 children and adults with developmental disabilities. He has served Phillips Academy as an Alumni Council member, class secretary, reunion cochair, class co-agent, and admissions interviewer.

Bill Kaplan ’73

Bill Kaplan was a four-year standout in both tennis and squash. When just a lower, he was awarded the school’s Langley C. Keyes honor for being his class’s outstanding scholar-athlete. In tennis, Kaplan played number one doubles with Jeb Bush ’71 his lower year and captained and played number one on the team his senior year. In squash, he was a two-year captain and played number one on the team his upper and senior years. Senior year, Kaplan won the New England Interscholastic Squash Championships.

Kaplan went on to Harvard. He was the first-ever freshman to start on the men’s varsity squash team, receiving All-Ivy nominations 1974 through 1977 and All-American honors in 1975, 1976, and 1977.

Additionally, Kaplan was awarded the Francis H. Burr award his senior year for being the college’s outstanding scholar-athlete. In 1980, the same year he earned an MBA degree from Harvard Business School, Kaplan became a world-ranked professional squash player and remained so until 1987. He played on the U.S. Squash team at the Maccabiah Games in Israel in 1977, 1981, and 1985 in the Open Division, captaining and playing number one on the team in 1981 and 1985 and earning silver medals for the team in each competition.

Kaplan is currently the number one ranked squash player in the U.S. 60+ age group. The CEO and cofounder of FreshAddress, Inc., a leading email database services provider, Kaplan also founded and led the MIT Blackjack Team, brought to fame in the bestseller Bringing Down the House and the blockbuster movie 21.

Alison Wheeler Kennedy ’93

During her three years at Andover, Alison Wheeler “Wheels” Kennedy earned nine varsity letters across ice hockey, soccer, and lacrosse. She was awarded MVP and Athlete of the Term in both ice hockey and lacrosse her lower and senior years. As a hockey cocaptain her senior year, she received All-Prep accolades for tallying 46 goals and 35 assists across 17 games and leading her team to their winningest season ever. Wheels also played for the Assabet Valley Girls Hockey club team, which won national championship titles in 1992 and 1993.

On defense for soccer, she helped Big Blue reach the New England tournament twice. Upper year she posted three goals and three assists in an 8–0–2 season. On offense for lacrosse, Wheels earned Rookie of the Year as a lower and All–New England and First Team All-American Honors as a senior. Tallying 31 goals and 31 assists (62 points) across 16 games her senior year, she also earned a spot on the New England School Girls lacrosse team and played at Junior Nationals.

At Providence College (Division 1), Wheels was second on her ice hockey team in scoring during her rookie year (48 points) and scored the game-winning goal both freshman and sophomore years that earned the team national championship titles in 1994 and 1995. She ranks seventh on the college’s all-time scoring list with 184 points.

Wheels earned an MBA degree in finance from New York University and has a career in private equity. She and her husband have two daughters, Peyton and Lauren. Wheels volunteers as a coach for their lacrosse and ice hockey teams.

Barbara Trafton ’78

Barbara Trafton was the first female to win Andover’s Yale Bowl, awarded to the member of the senior class who has attained the highest proficiency in academics and athletics. Trafton entered Andover as a lower, joined varsity crew, and rowed in the four and eight first boats. Upper and senior year, she led the team to first and second place, respectively, in Interschols. After graduation, Trafton competed for Andover crew at the National Women’s Rowing Association National Championships, earning a gold medal in the pair event. Trafton later raced for the United States in the eight at the Junior World Championships in Yugoslavia. In addition, Trafton was a three-year varsity swimmer, setting records in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle and captaining the team her senior year.

At Princeton, Trafton rowed for four years in the first varsity boat, winning the Eastern Sprints her senior year. She was selected to the U.S. Under-23 Team in 1983 and went on to win a silver medal at the FISA World Championships in 1984 as the lightweight single sculler. In 1985, she finished fourth at the World Championships with the USA double. Trafton served on the U.S. Rowing National Lightweight Committee for many years, pushing to get lightweight women’s rowing into the Olympics—which finally occurred in 1992.

Trafton currently teaches rowing to high school and masters athletes on Bainbridge Island in Washington, where she is also executive director of the Bainbridge Island Parks Found-ation. She enjoys open-water rowing on Puget Sound and backpacking with her family.

Jack Whitehouse ’58

Jack Whitehouse was an athletic force during his time at Andover. He played varsity basketball for three years, captaining and leading the team in points his senior year. Traditionally a guard, he was switched to forward his senior year because he was such a versatile and strong player anywhere on the court.

Additionally, Whitehouse played varsity baseball for three years at shortstop and was the leading hitter his senior year. He also played varsity soccer his senior year and was the starting goalie until injured. A student member of the athletic advisory board, he was the runner up for the Yale Bowl as a senior.

Following graduation from Andover, Whitehouse attended Princeton University, where he played basketball and baseball. He was a starter for the basketball team for three years and led the team to two Ivy League championships and appearances in the NCAA tournament. He was also a three-year starter at shortstop for the Tigers’ varsity baseball team, and captained and led the team in hitting his senior year.

Signed out of Princeton by the Detroit Tigers, Whitehouse played one year in their minor league system before pursuing a career in business.

Whitehouse’s varied career includes NYSE stock broker, founder of a software company and a craft company, and current owner and operator of an apparel company. He is married and has two daughters, two sons, and three grandchildren.

An avid tennis player and skier, Whitehouse still enjoys an occasional pickup basketball game.