Sports

Legendary Enfield Coach Inducted Into National Hall of Fame

Cookie Bromage was elected to her sixth different Hall of Fame in recognition of her four-plus decades of excellence at Enfield High School.

For the eighth time in her career, legendary Enfield High School field hockey coach Cookie Bromage has been inducted into a Hall of Fame.

The latest honor took place June 25, when Bromage was enshrined in the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame at its annual convention in Des Moines, IA.

"It was a luncheon in a hotel ballroom and it was packed with people," Bromage said in an interview Monday. "[Her husband] Bob and I sat with people from all over the country - Illinois, Arizona, New Mexico. It was very touching, brought tears to my eyes, and was a beautiful thing to share. I was humbled to be part of it."

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The NHSACA induction marks the sixth different organization that has paid permanent tribute to Bromage's remarkable coaching career, which began at Enfield in 1967 and continues to this day. During her tenure, the Raiders have won five Class M state championships - back to back in 1983 and 1984, and a three-peat of titles from 1992 through 1994.

Her first Hall of Fame selection came in 1996, when she was a charter member of the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame. She was inducted into that Hall of Fame twice more - in 1999 with the 1992-93-94 teams, and in 2007 with the 1983-84 squads.

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She has also been elected to the New Agenda: Northeast Women's Hall of Fame, the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame (1999), the Suffield Athletic Hall of Fame (2003) and the Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame (2007).

"Every one of the inductions is so special," Bromage said. "It lets me reflect back on how fortunate I am and who helped me get there. Things like this happen because wonderful people make it happen - the kids, the parents, my family, special friends."

Two of her former players, Shelly Turgeon Folsom and Kate Mullen, decided to recognize Bromage's latest honor with a surprise reception at Folsom's home in Somers two days after their mentor returned from the Midwest.

Among the several dozen guests were players from Bromage's state championship teams; nearly a dozen fellow members of the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame; and several former teaching and coaching colleagues, including retired Enfield High School principal Tom Duffy, who was wearing a custom-made "I Love Cookie" T-shirt.

"That was the culmination of an incredible week, that was so special," Bromage said.

And she's not done yet - at the end of August, she will begin season number 46 at the helm of the Raiders. 


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