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Where are they now? Catch up with the 1999 Quabbin boys basketball team

Cait Kemp, The Gardner News
·4 min read

BARRE ― At halftime of the Quabbin boys basketball game against Tyngsboro on the Friday, some familiar faces were honored as they stepped back onto their home court for the first time in 25 years.

The 1999 Quabbin boys basketball team, which were Central Mass. and Clark Tournament champions as well as state finalists, reunited to celebrate their achievements from their high school days.

Eight of the 12 varsity team members were in attendance for the festivities. Here's a look at who those players are and where they are now 25 years after their storied season.

The Quabbin bench looks on in the final moments of their game against East Boston in the state championship in 1999. The former players were honored at a 25 year reunion celebration at a game on February 2, 2024.
The Quabbin bench looks on in the final moments of their game against East Boston in the state championship in 1999. The former players were honored at a 25 year reunion celebration at a game on February 2, 2024.

The roster

Jason Granlund

Granlund, a 6-1 senior guard for the Panthers that season, was one of the leading scorers, averaging 23.4 points per game. He set the school record for points in a game (45) and 3-pointers in a game (10) in a game against Westboro in the 1999 season.

Now, Granlund resides in Massachusetts and owns a small business.

Josh Perez

After his big senior season for Quabbin basketball, Perez attended Quinsigamond Community College and played hoops there for a season before entering into the workforce and exploring different job paths. Today, he lives in Connecticut and is a lineman for Eversource Energy.

More: Looking back at Quabbin's run as a small school to the 1999 boys basketball state finals

Ben Wallace

Wallace was a two-sport athlete -- basketball and baseball -- and his talent in baseball took him professional after high school. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1999 and pitched four seasons in their minor league system. After his playing days, Wallace attended the University of Wisconsin Platteville. He now works in agriculture and resides in Wisconsin with his wife and three children.

Rob Skowyra

After high school, Skowyra played basketball at Clark University, helping the team to two Elite Eight appearances in 2002 and 2003. Currently, he is working in software sales in New Hampshire with his wife and two kids.

Larry McGee, Josh Perez and Rob Skowyra gather after losing the state final to East Boston in 1999. Perez and Skowyra reunited to celebrate that season at a game in Quabbin on February 2, 2024.
Larry McGee, Josh Perez and Rob Skowyra gather after losing the state final to East Boston in 1999. Perez and Skowyra reunited to celebrate that season at a game in Quabbin on February 2, 2024.

Adam Thompson

Thompson attended Boston College for finance and accounting, which led him to his current position as a CFO for a bank in Boston. A junior on the 1999 team, he was also a multi-sport athlete and noted his main sport was golf which he still plays now.

Rob Ward

After graduating at Quabbin in 2000, Ward went to Westfield State University. He then worked for Verizon for a while before getting into custom cabinetry and now lives with his wife and two daughters in Massachusetts.

Ryan Lichwell

Lichwell was a junior during the 1999 season. After graduating in 2000, he attended Bentley University and got into public accounting. Now he is the CEO of New England Appliance Group and lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two kids.

More: Former Gardner High hoops star Elliot Erickson is excelling at prep level for Cushing

Adam Kotsopoulos

Kotsopoulos, another junior from the title-run team, got into the car business upon graduating from Quabbin. He is the general sales manager of the Patrick Mazda car dealership in Auburn. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two children.

Other 1999 team alumni included Jehan Jourson, Larry McGee, Tom Baker and James Zalneraitis, all of whom were unable to make it for the celebreation.

Dennis Dextradeur

'Coach Dex' is still coaching the Quabbin boys basketball team. In his 32nd year as head boys coach, he has 44 years total at Quabbin after coaching the girls program for 12 seasons. He has amassed 400 wins and continues to lead the basketball program with dedication and passion for the game.

Sarah McDougall-Sherblom

Sara McDougall sang the National Anthem at Quabbin's game against East Boston in the state finals in 1999. She sang once again at a game that celebrated the 1999 team and its members on February 2, 2024.
Sara McDougall sang the National Anthem at Quabbin's game against East Boston in the state finals in 1999. She sang once again at a game that celebrated the 1999 team and its members on February 2, 2024.

Sherblom had the honor of singing the National Anthem 25 years ago at the state final game at the Worcester Centrum. Quabbin welcomed her back to sing once again for the reunion game. Sherblom still lives locally, as she had the chance to watch her son, Evan, play in the JV game before she grabbed the mic to sing for the varsity game.

Sara McDougall Sherblom sings the National Anthem at a Quabbin boys basketball game on February 2, 2024 in honor of her singing at the state championship game in 1999. Members of the 1999 team were recognized at halftime of the game.
Sara McDougall Sherblom sings the National Anthem at a Quabbin boys basketball game on February 2, 2024 in honor of her singing at the state championship game in 1999. Members of the 1999 team were recognized at halftime of the game.

Ted Gumula

Gumula served as the Dean of Students during the time of the 1999 team's run. He was highly involved in athletics and the students. He also served as athletic director at Quabbin for a period of time and is currently a part of the Clark Tournament committee as co-president.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Where are they now? The 1999 Quabbin boys basketball team