ROCKY HILL, Conn. - Over 200 people packed into the Rocky Hill Marriott last week as Hartford men's golf coach Pete Stankevich was among those inducted into the Wethersfield High School Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2010. Stankevich, who has led the Hawks program since the 2008-09 season, was honored alongside his high school coach, the legendary Roderick Cyr, and PGA Tour executive Henry Hughes.

In three seasons, Stankevich has revitalized the Hartford men's golf program, helping several of his student athletes achieve lofty status. Coming into this season under Stankevich, Hartford has produced three All-New England selections, two PING All-Region Selections, the 2008-09 America Sky Conference Individual Champion (Brian Albertazzi), the 2010 New England Division I Individual Champion (Maki Kobayashi), a two-time Vermont Amateur Champion (Albertazzi), the 2010 New Hampshire Amateur Champion (Nick MacDonald) and a USGA Amateur Championship Qualifier (MacDonald). Already this year, the Hawks have added to that impressive list as D.J. Lantz claimed the Hartford Hawks Invitational Individual Championship, and Matt Smith was victorious at the Classic at Shelter Harbor.

Wethersfield High School honored Stankevich not only because of his success as the head coach of the Hawks, but also because of his illustrious career prior to returning to his collegiate alma mater. While a student-athlete at Hartford, Stankevich was one of five team members to represent the Hawks at the 1988 NCAA Division I Championships. He contributed several key victories for teh team, including the New England Golf Championship and the NCAA Division I District 1 Championship. At the 1988 Championships, Stankevich placed fifth in the NCAA Long Drive Championship, finishing ahead of several future PGA Tour Players. Stankevich made his mark on the 1987-88 team as well, the only Hartford squad to feature PGA Tour players Jerry Kelly, Tim Petrovic and Patric Sheehan.

After graduating from Hartford with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree, majoring in Economics and Finance, Stankevich turned pro in 1989 and competed in tournaments while working as a golf professional at various clubs such as Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., Wampanoag Country Club, Clinton Country Club, Glastonbury Hills Country Club and Elmridge Golf Club. By 1993, Stankevich was elected to PGA Membership as a Class A member.

Stankevich, who was born in Hartford and raised in Wethersfield, Conn., returned to the University to study for his Masters degree. He earned a Master of Arts in Economics in September, 1995, writing a thesis titled “The Economics of Golf Course Development.”

With a keen interest in golf course design and architecture, Stankevich was brought on as a design assistant for British golf course architect Roy Case, where he was given opportunities to contribute to several design projects. Over the past 10 years, he has done a considerable amount of independent golf course design work, from original designs and master plans to consulting on various golf course projects.

In 1997, Stankevich was brought on as a teaching professional for Golf Quest Family Sports Center in Brookfield, Conn. Shortly thereafter, he was named the Head Golf Professional and Director of Instruction. Over the past 13 years, Stankevich has helped build Golf Quest Academy into one of the top golf academies in the Northeast, seeing it voted in the top 100 driving ranges/practice facilities in the United States every year by Golf Range Magazine. It was voted “Best in Connecticut” by CTGolfer.com since the inception of the website's online poll.

While a student at Wethersfield, Stankevich competed for Coach Cyr, who shared the dais with him at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Cyr, the men's golf coach at Wethersfield for 37 years, was the winningest high school golf coach in the United States upon his retirement in 1999. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony last week.

Stankevich's Hawks close out the fall season this weekend when they travel to Powells Point, N.C. for the Old Dominion/OBX College Invitational at Kilmarlic Golf Course. Play begins Sunday, October 24 and concludes Tuesday, the 26th.