NHS Sports Hall of Fame profile: Tom Stoddard
By John Pluta
Sun Contributing Writer
EDITOR’S NOTE: Today is part four of a seven-part series profiling the 2012 Norwich Sports Hall of Fame induction class.
Tom Stoddard was a three-season athlete at Norwich, participating for four years at the varsity level in football, wrestling, and track and field. In his spare time he worked long, hard hours helping at home, picking corn and delivering topsoil. After graduation from Norwich High School in 1993, Tom attended Hartwick College where he majored in Social Sciences and played football for four years. Tom never let his hearing disability interfere with his goals and aspirations. He went on to teach Social Studies at Sherburne-Earlville, then at Norwich where he has now returned to teach at the middle school and coach football, wrestling and track and field. His contributions to the Norwich School District have continued long after his graduation.
Tom Stoddard started his varsity career in the fall of 1989 when he was brought up to the varsity football squad with fellow freshmen Keith Evans and Dan Jennings. For the next four years they would be the foundation of the Purple Tornado’s offensive and defensive lines. He made an immediate impact with his work ethic and enthusiasm, and became the starting noseguard for the season.
As a 5’11”, 200-pound freshman, Tom was already a force to be reckoned with. In his first varsity wrestling match, against a Johnson City team that was ranked number seven in New York State, he lost on a second period escape. His first victory came against Vestal in an 8-5 decision. As a varsity track and field athlete, he began to throw the shot and discus.
In the following year, Tom was the only sophomore named to the first team All-County football team with 104 tackles, five quarterback sacks, four blocked punts, and four fumble recoveries. In wrestling, he took second place in the STAC Class B tournament and fourth place in Section IV. As a discus athlete in track, he took third place in Class B and first place in the STAC tournament with a throw of 138’2.” Tom was physical, quick, and powerful, and his toughest critic was himself. He was never satisfied and always strived to be better.
As a junior, Tom was now 6’ and 215 pounds. In football he was tri-captain and a two-way starter, for the Division III championship team that went 7-2-1, giving Norwich its first league championship in 20 years. During the season, Tom blocked five punts, had five fumble recoveries, and 6 sacks. He was a Section IV Division III All-Star, and All-County All-Star and a member of the All-Metro team.
Tom wrestled in the 215-pound. weight class and was captain of his team that went 11-2-1. His team was second in the Clyde Cole Tournament, second in STAC, second in Section IV, and was the Section IV Class B Champion. He had the most wins on the team with an individual record of 30-4. He was second in the Clyde Cole Tournament, first in the STAC Tournament, first in the Class B Tournament, and a Section IV Champion.
In track and field, Tom was a STAC Division II All-Star in the discus and the shot put. He was second in Class B and third in the STAC in discus helping to lead his team to the STAC, Division II Championship.
As a senior, Tom’s accolades and accomplishments continued. He was again tri-captain of the football team that went 10-1 and was the Section IV Division II Champion. They were also the Section IV, Class B champions and the NYS Regional Champions with a 29-14 win over Section V Champion Hilton. This was as far as a football team could go in 1993. His individual awards included, for the third consecutive year, Section IV Division III All-Star and All-County. He was named to the All-Metro Team and to the Class B All-State first team. He added three more blocked punts, a fumble recovery and eight sacks to his totals.
In wrestling, Tom was again captain of a team that won the Class B Championship, the Clyde Cole Championship, and second place in Section IV. His individual record was 30-2 and earned championships at the Clyde Cole Tournament, the STAC Tournament, and the Section IV tournament. He was second in the New York State Championships to Jason Gleasman, who went on to become a member of the U.S. Olympic team.
In track and field, Tom served as captain his senior year while his team captured the Section IV, Division II Championship. He was first in Class B in the shot put with a throw of 47’2” and second in Class B in the discus with a throw of 154’3.”
Tom was a two-time selection to the Bigger, Faster, Stronger All-American Football Team, an honor based on his athletic accomplishment, academic success, and citizenship. Tom’s work ethic carried over from home and the athletic realms to the classroom when he became an honor roll student.
Tom Stoddard capped an outstanding high school career by being awarded the David Lee Memorial Trophy as the Outstanding Male Athlete by the Norwich High School coaching staff.
Sun Contributing Writer
EDITOR’S NOTE: Today is part four of a seven-part series profiling the 2012 Norwich Sports Hall of Fame induction class.
Tom Stoddard was a three-season athlete at Norwich, participating for four years at the varsity level in football, wrestling, and track and field. In his spare time he worked long, hard hours helping at home, picking corn and delivering topsoil. After graduation from Norwich High School in 1993, Tom attended Hartwick College where he majored in Social Sciences and played football for four years. Tom never let his hearing disability interfere with his goals and aspirations. He went on to teach Social Studies at Sherburne-Earlville, then at Norwich where he has now returned to teach at the middle school and coach football, wrestling and track and field. His contributions to the Norwich School District have continued long after his graduation.
Tom Stoddard started his varsity career in the fall of 1989 when he was brought up to the varsity football squad with fellow freshmen Keith Evans and Dan Jennings. For the next four years they would be the foundation of the Purple Tornado’s offensive and defensive lines. He made an immediate impact with his work ethic and enthusiasm, and became the starting noseguard for the season.
As a 5’11”, 200-pound freshman, Tom was already a force to be reckoned with. In his first varsity wrestling match, against a Johnson City team that was ranked number seven in New York State, he lost on a second period escape. His first victory came against Vestal in an 8-5 decision. As a varsity track and field athlete, he began to throw the shot and discus.
In the following year, Tom was the only sophomore named to the first team All-County football team with 104 tackles, five quarterback sacks, four blocked punts, and four fumble recoveries. In wrestling, he took second place in the STAC Class B tournament and fourth place in Section IV. As a discus athlete in track, he took third place in Class B and first place in the STAC tournament with a throw of 138’2.” Tom was physical, quick, and powerful, and his toughest critic was himself. He was never satisfied and always strived to be better.
As a junior, Tom was now 6’ and 215 pounds. In football he was tri-captain and a two-way starter, for the Division III championship team that went 7-2-1, giving Norwich its first league championship in 20 years. During the season, Tom blocked five punts, had five fumble recoveries, and 6 sacks. He was a Section IV Division III All-Star, and All-County All-Star and a member of the All-Metro team.
Tom wrestled in the 215-pound. weight class and was captain of his team that went 11-2-1. His team was second in the Clyde Cole Tournament, second in STAC, second in Section IV, and was the Section IV Class B Champion. He had the most wins on the team with an individual record of 30-4. He was second in the Clyde Cole Tournament, first in the STAC Tournament, first in the Class B Tournament, and a Section IV Champion.
In track and field, Tom was a STAC Division II All-Star in the discus and the shot put. He was second in Class B and third in the STAC in discus helping to lead his team to the STAC, Division II Championship.
As a senior, Tom’s accolades and accomplishments continued. He was again tri-captain of the football team that went 10-1 and was the Section IV Division II Champion. They were also the Section IV, Class B champions and the NYS Regional Champions with a 29-14 win over Section V Champion Hilton. This was as far as a football team could go in 1993. His individual awards included, for the third consecutive year, Section IV Division III All-Star and All-County. He was named to the All-Metro Team and to the Class B All-State first team. He added three more blocked punts, a fumble recovery and eight sacks to his totals.
In wrestling, Tom was again captain of a team that won the Class B Championship, the Clyde Cole Championship, and second place in Section IV. His individual record was 30-2 and earned championships at the Clyde Cole Tournament, the STAC Tournament, and the Section IV tournament. He was second in the New York State Championships to Jason Gleasman, who went on to become a member of the U.S. Olympic team.
In track and field, Tom served as captain his senior year while his team captured the Section IV, Division II Championship. He was first in Class B in the shot put with a throw of 47’2” and second in Class B in the discus with a throw of 154’3.”
Tom was a two-time selection to the Bigger, Faster, Stronger All-American Football Team, an honor based on his athletic accomplishment, academic success, and citizenship. Tom’s work ethic carried over from home and the athletic realms to the classroom when he became an honor roll student.
Tom Stoddard capped an outstanding high school career by being awarded the David Lee Memorial Trophy as the Outstanding Male Athlete by the Norwich High School coaching staff.
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