Norwich Rifle Coach Jim Sergio, 1971-88. (Submitted Photo)

The Norwich High School Sports Hall of Fame has announce the 2024 class, which includes athletes Dr. Meyer “Sol” Bloom, Doug Grzibowski, Dave Lewis, Richard “Dick” Mattice & Bryn Loomis, Rifle Team Coach Jim Sergio & the 1965 Football Team. An in-depth biography of the inductees will run Fridays in The Evening Sun.

This year’s event will be held at the Canasawacta Country Club on October 5, where a buffet dinner, will commence at 5:30 p.m., followed by the induction ceremonies at approximately 6:30 p.m. Tickets to attend are $35 and can be purchased at the front desk of the Norwich YMCA or the Norwich High School by phoning 607-334-1600, Ext 1439. Those wishing to attend just the ceremony may do so free of charge.

Rifle Coach Jim Sergio, 1971-88

By Nate Lull

For most mainstream sports, one can find a book at the local library that would detail how to become a successful coach in that athletic endeavor. It is doubtful that such a book exists for the sport of rifle, but if it did, Jim Sergio could be the author.

Jim took the helm of the Norwich rifle team in 1971 and went on an unprecedented 17-year run until he retired in 1988. During that time, he amassed a career record of 166-61, which included a run of eight straight Section IV championships from 1981-88. It is because of this high level of achievement that Jim is being inducted into the Norwich High School Sports Hall of Fame with the Class of 2024.

When asked what his secret sauce was for his athletes maintaining such consistency over the years, Jim had a simple answer.

“If you can’t hold it steady, re-adjust, take a breath and shoot. That not only applies to rifle but also to life,” said Sergio.

This easy mantra worked well for many seasons of NHS athletes that were clamoring to join the popular rifle squad. “Lots of kids wanted to come out and do it,” said Jim. “Every year it seemed like more and more kids would sign up. It made me proud to be the head of the team.”

Jim also credits a cool nature to his teams’ triumphs over the years.

“It’s not like coaching other sports where you yell and try to pump the kids up,” said Jim. “It’s the opposite. I wanted everyone to stay relaxed, take it one shot at a time, and our teams always seemed to excel in that mindset.”

It only took Jim a few years to get the team into top shape. The NHS overall record from 1975 to 1988 was 141-30, and the Tornado’s overall mark in the Algonkin League was 154-44 during Sergio’s tenure.

Even more impressive was the squads’ performance on the big stage at the state tournament. Norwich finished second in 1982; third in 1981, 1986 and 1987; fourth in 1983; fifth in 1985 and sixth in 1988.

The runner-up finish in ‘82 was the real heartbreaker for Jim and his shooters as they fell by one point to East Meadow (1144-1143).

“I challenged that last shot,” said Sergio. “We were so close. I honestly thought we had a chance by rule to overturn it and we would have won on the tiebreaker system at the time. It was a really tough break.”

Despite being so close to the ultimate glory of a state title, Sergio says it is the other memories of the sport that he holds closest to his heart.

“All the athletes that I became close with, some that I still see and speak with today, that is what was most rewarding to me,” said Jim. “I play golf with a few of them regularly and it means the world to me.”

The NHS rifle teams were also early pioneers in the world of women’s sports.

“We had some very good girls on those teams,” said Sergio. “That never gets pointed out and they deserve more credit. It was rare in those days. We were one of the only teams at the time that had girls on the roster.”

Over the years, there were many more highlights that show the dominance of this Purple and White team. There was an undefeated 10-0 record in 1979-80, including breaking the league record for team average in a season. Then, there was the 40-match league win streak from 1984-88, and year-after-year close battles with state powerhouse Central Square.

The rifle team was never going to get the headlines or parades that other sports were always getting, but that didn’t matter to Sergio and his shooters.

“We just had a great thing going,” he said. “All the families supported the kids and each year we were able to handle the pressure of the success we were finding. It was all I could ask for as a coach.”

This outstanding commitment to NHS athletes, as well as a record of success on all levels, is why Jim Sergio is being inducted into this year’s class of the Norwich High School Sports Hall of Fame. Congratulations to Jim and thank you for all your years of hard work and dedication.