Brewster Celebrates the Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2025
By Suzanne Morrissey
On Saturday, August 2, members of the Brewster community gathered for one of its most treasured traditions—the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The 2025 celebration honored seven individual inductees and one unforgettable team whose achievements and character have left a lasting imprint on the school.
Head of School Kristy Kerin opened the ceremony, extending a warm welcome to alumni, families, friends, and special guests—among them former Head of School Dr. Michael Cooper and his wife Andrea, Board Chair Roy Ballentine, trustees Jean Regnier and Ronn Bronzetti, and the faculty, staff, and coaches who shaped the journeys of this year’s honorees.
“I absolutely love Hall of Fame ceremonies,” Kerin began. “There’s something really special about pausing to honor the people who have left an undeniable mark on a place we all care so deeply about. I love the stories. The standout moments. The victories. The failures. And the lessons learned along the way.”
She reminded the audience that Hall of Fame status can sound immense—after all, inductees are memorialized in the history of the school in perpetuity. “But today’s honorees are the kind of people who made greatness feel...human. They worked hard, they lifted others, and they engaged fully in our community.”
The Baxters: A Love Story on Skis
The ceremony began with a tribute to Harry Baxter, Class of 1950, and Martha White Baxter, Class of 1952—a couple whose shared passion for skiing took them from Wolfeboro’s local slopes to the peaks of international acclaim.
Born and raised in the Wolfeboro area, both Harry and Martha first made their mark skiing and winning races at Abenaki before joining Brewster’s ski team. After serving in Korea, Harry built his reputation as a racer and instructor with the Hannes Schneider Ski School in North Conway. By 1959, he was Ski School Director at Whittier Ski Area in Ossipee, N.H., with Martha—also a certified instructor—by his side as mentor and organizer.
Their talents soon carried them to Sugarloaf in Maine, where from 1964 to 1974 they transformed the fledgling resort, making the sport fun and accessible to all. Together, they pioneered programs for blind skiers and amputee veterans—initiatives ahead of their time in adaptive sports.
Harry later served as marketing director at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming, with Martha managing guest services and ski school operations. Over 21 years, they helped establish Jackson Hole as a world-class destination, bringing World Cup events to the slopes and fostering a culture of inclusion and joy.
Harry, who skied until age 92, was inducted into multiple ski halls of fame and earned the U.S. Recreation Ski and Sport Pioneer Award. Martha, who retired from the sport at 87, joined the Maine Ski Hall of Fame in 2023. Harry passed away in January 2025, but their story remains a testament to dedication—to sport, to community, and to each other.
Accepting on their behalf, Board Chair Roy Ballentine spoke as a longtime friend. “The Baxters were married for 72 years—a romance that began when they were both students at Brewster,” he said, adding that Harry taught all five of the Ballentine kids, including himself, how to ski. He recalled Harry skiing from the daunting top of Mount Whittier. “Mount Whittier had no snow making and had a main slope that was so intimidating that when seen from the highway, most people drove right past it to someplace that was easier,” he recalled. Smiling, he shared a lighter memory: “The legend goes that Martha never shopped for meat or fish at a grocery store—she became a master chef of whatever Harry brought home.” His personal reflections on an amazing couple who helped bring the sport of skiing to new heights set the tone for a heartfelt, emotional afternoon of sharing stories and gratitude.
Dodie Dunson II: Perseverance and Purpose
From Bloomington, Illinois, Dodie Dunson arrived at Brewster in 2005 as a postgraduate basketball player with a gift for the game and a drive to succeed. Under Coach Jason Smith, he became an All-NEPSAC Class A selection before moving on to Division I basketball at Iowa State University and later Bradley University.
Dunson’s early years in college presented academic challenges, but his persistence paid off. Earning a place on Bradley’s Athletic Director’s Honor Roll his first semester, he repeated the achievement every term thereafter. On the court, his senior season brought honors including MVC Scholar Athlete First Team and selection as a Lowe’s Senior CLASS All-American.
After college, Dunson dedicated himself to coaching and community service, founding the Dodie Dunson II Foundation and, in 2024, becoming head coach of women’s basketball at Lewis University in Illinois.
Taking the podium, Dunson began with gratitude. “First, I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—without Him I would not be where I am today.” Turning to Coach Smith, he admitted, “I’m going to hold back tears. You took a chance on me, a kid from a small town in Illinois, sight unseen. A lot of the things you taught me about high character, integrity, values, discipline, resilience—I’m teaching my daughters now.”
He thanked his parents for instilling the belief that he could achieve anything through hard work, and closed by acknowledging his wife of 10 years.
Ryder Garnsey: Hometown Hero
Few names in lacrosse are as recognizable as Ryder Garnsey, Class of 2014. A native of Wolfeboro and the son of longtime Brewster staff member Fred Garnsey, Ryder was a multi-sport athlete at Brewster, playing lacrosse, hockey, and golf. By graduation, he was the school’s all-time leading scorer in lacrosse.
At the University of Notre Dame, Garnsey’s achievements included ACC Freshman of the Year and multiple All-American honors. Professionally, he plays for the PLL’s California Redwoods, earning All-Pro and All-Star recognition, and serves on Notre Dame’s coaching staff, helping guide the team to back-to-back NCAA Division I titles in 2023 and 2024.
Unable to attend in person, Garnsey sent a video message filled with heartfelt thanks. He recognized his teachers, advisors, and coaches. He spoke warmly of his teammates, lifelong friends who remain in daily contact.
His words for his family brought smiles and laughter: “Mom, my former teammates still talk about the thousands of batches of cookies you made—usually fresh before games because you knew everyone liked them better that way. You were the team mom without the title, and you dominated that role.” Then, to his father: “You were an average lacrosse coach, but a hell of a dad and an incredible person.”
Fred Garnsey took the stage to share his pride. Joking about Ryder’s BMPs, he spoke seriously about the special role Brewster played in shaping his son’s life, assuring everyone that Ryder is an incredible young man making his dreams come true today. “Anyone who has gone to school here or worked here understands how special this place is, and on behalf of my family, I say thank you.”
Devonte’ Graham: From Wolfeboro to the World Stage
In 2013, Devonte’ Graham left his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, to spend a postgraduate year at Brewster—a decision that would propel him to national championships and an NBA career.
At Brewster, Graham earned First Team All-NEPSAC honors and led the Bobcats to both a NEPSAC Class AAA Championship and a National Prep Championship. At the University of Kansas, he collected a staggering list of honors, including Big-12 Player of the Year and consensus First Team All-American.
Drafted into the NBA in 2018, Graham has played for the Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Pelicans, and San Antonio Spurs, and will now take his talents to Serbia’s Euroleague.
In a video message, Graham said, “That year at Brewster was an adjustment for me, but it helped me a lot in the future. For me and my family, it is a very big honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.” He offered “shout outs” to friends and mentors, noting that his enduring relationship with Coach Smith speaks to the bonds formed at Brewster. With a grin he added, “Shout out Lake Winnipesaukee! I wish I could be there.”
Donovan Mitchell Jr.: More Than Basketball
When Donovan Mitchell transferred to Brewster in 2013, he was seeking growth—on the court and in life. Over two years, he became a two-time NEPSAC and National Prep champion, team MVP, and, notably, Senior Prefect, a role he still calls his proudest achievement.
After two standout seasons at the University of Louisville, Mitchell entered the NBA in 2017 as the 13th overall draft pick. Now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he is a six-time NBA All-Star, an All-NBA First Team selection, and one of the league’s most dynamic scorers.
Mitchell returned to Wolfeboro for the first time in a decade to accept his Hall of Fame honor. Joking that he wanted Connor Wells to introduce him at every event after the Director of Athletics shared a long list of the former Bobcat’s achievements, Mitchell got another laugh when he said he’s upset “this place wasn’t here when I was here,” motioning to the renovated and now-modern Rogers building where the ceremony was held. He shared that he felt a wave of nostalgia after seeing local favorites like Three Sisters Country Store, Huck’s Hoagies, and the exact spot where he and his mom decided Brewster would be the place for him even though it was the farthest he had ever been from home. “It reminded me of the kid who was a baseball player,” he said. “I didn’t think I was capable of playing at the level of Devonte’ Graham” and other basketball players at that time. But with his coaches’ encouragement, he found that he excelled on the court. Mitchell thanked his parents for allowing him to go to Brewster, where he said Coach Smith's lessons on discipline helped him not only as a player but as a man.
“I tell my fiancée every day that our kids are going to boarding school—it prepares you for not only college but life,” he said, thanking teachers, coaches, and friends for shaping his Brewster experience.
Even with his professional accolades, Mitchell told the audience, “Being able to be class prefect is what I really model my life around. Even with all the basketball accolades, it’s being class prefect that means the most to me and it’s definitely the one I brag about the most because this experience is much bigger than basketball.”
Mitchell closed his speech by acknowledging his fiancee of one month. “This is the first time I’m giving a speech where I can call you my fiancee, so that’s very special,” he said.
The 2015 Prep Basketball Team: A Brotherhood of Champions
The 2015 team dominated its season, winning the NEPSAC Class AAA regular season title, the championship, and the National Prep Championship—marking back-to-back national titles for the program. Five players went on to the NBA, with others finding success in the G League and overseas.
Representing the team, Donovan Mitchell returned to the podium. “Coming off a national championship, it’s easy for guys to come in relaxed, but this team wanted to work, wanted to be the best. That’s what made this crew special.” He highlighted the leadership of Coach Lee, whose message was simple: whether up by 40 or down by 40, play with the same mindset.
Mitchell offered a special nod to teammate Sam Kiley, “the energy guy” who brought positivity to every 5 a.m. practice, even in freezing weather.
Closing Reflections
As the ceremony drew to a close, Director of Athletics Connor Wells addressed the inductees: “Please know that you have impacted all of us in this community—YOUR community—and thousands of Brewster students who will read your inscriptions in the Turner Hall of Fame Room.”
Director of Advancement John Northrop summed up the day: “I was struck by the words of each inductee, who spoke about the special people and place that made Brewster the school it was when they attended, and is today. What a great group of athlete scholars in our Hall of Fame Class of 2025.”
To see photos of the Hall of Fame induction, click here.
To read about all of the Brewster Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, current and past, click here.
