NMHS Athletic Hall of Fame

Athletic ability, impressive brainpower, inclination for leadership and plenty of competitive spirit… those seem to be all the fixings necessary for one destined for her high school’s athletic hall of fame. Lo and behold, those qualities were all possessed by Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Miller McAdam, a Class of ’92 standout in volleyball, basketball and softball, and an inductee of the New Milford High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2024.

 

Liz’ Green Wave experiences ranged from volleyball teams amongst the elite in the state to basketball and softball squads which struggled for wins. Yet never throughout her high school career did Liz offer anything less than her best efforts and exemplary performances.

 

A memorable volleyball career for coach Bill Kraft’s powerhouse Green Wave started with freshman Liz as captain of a 16-1 junior varsity squad and valued reserve for the 15-4 varsity.

 

It didn’t take long for coach Kraft to appreciate the versatile talents that Liz brought to the program. A fixture by her sophomore season on the varsity, Liz was frequently praised by her coach for “setting the tone” and for her savvy floor play.

 

Her contributions helped the Green Wave to the Western Connecticut Conference playoff semifinals before eventual UConn basketball legend Jen Rizzotti and her New Fairfield teammates outdueled Liz and Co., 15-8, 15-13, 15-13.The Green Wave bounced back to win two state class ‘L’ tournament matches before bowing out to powerful Westport Staples in the quarterfinals. That busy post-season was to prove a telling portend of better things to come for Liz and the Green Wave.

 

Coach Kraft and his court crew emerged in Liz’ junior season as a dominant force, blessed as it was both with strong net players, and the setting, defensive and passing skills of Liz. The Green Wave raced to an 18-0 regular season, cruising to the Briggs Division title, and then dispatched a New Fairfield team minus the ubiquitous Rizzotti in the WCC championship playoff match.

 

As the top seed in the state ‘L’ tournament, the Green Wave appeared primed for a state title run. Liz and her teammates did their part in a 3-0 rout of Rockville and a 3-1 victory over quarterfinal opponent Maloney of Meriden. However, a potent Fitch of Groton squad outplayed Liz and the Green Wave in the state semifinals to put a cap on their brilliant 22-1 campaign.

 

Back as a senior, for the second time serving as team co-captain, Liz again played veritable coach on the court in sparking the Green Wave to a 17-1 regular season, a Briggs Division co-championship, and to playoff sweeps of Bethel and the Rizzotti-led New Fairfield Rebels to claim a second straight WCC title.

 

The Green Wave then eased past Hamden in a state ‘L’ match before suffering elimination at the hands of Fairfield in the quarterfinals. The defeat ended a 20-2 season (including a stunning 62-9 games won/lost ledger), bettered only in NMHS volleyball annals by what the Green Wave had achieved the previous autumn.

 

Days later, Liz was honored with a spot on the West all-stars in the inaugural state coaches’ seniors match. Coach Kraft credited Liz with a “super job” as the West outplayed their East counterparts, 4-1.That experience closed the books on Liz’ NMHS volleyball career, which featured an overall team record of 72-14 and earned Liz back-to-back WCC first-team laurels.

 

Come wintertime, Liz brought the same diversity of athletic skills, but Green Wave basketball during those years didn’t have the same breadth of talent as had her volleyball squads. Liz often needed to do more than her share to get the team’s job done.

 

Nevertheless, she distinguished herself sufficiently to earn all-Briggs Division honors as both a junior and senior, and likely would have been an all-WCC selection if the Green Wave had produced more victories. As a sophomore, Liz averaged 8.3 points per game for a team scoring at a 35.6 clip, and she ripped the cords for 12.9 points per game as a junior for a Green Wave managing just 30.2.

 

A senior season shy of many team wins still resulted in Liz scoring 10.5 points and hauling in 6.7 rebounds per game, adding 39 steals and 48 assists. In other words, Liz did her job on defense, and as a rebounder, playmaker and leader.

 

When the weather turned warmer, Liz’ athletic game heated up as a key player for the Green Wave softball team. She excelled as standout defensive catcher while a sophomore and junior, displaying a strong arm and once again showing that same leadership she had brought to the volleyball and basketball courts.

 

Come time for Liz’ senior diamond campaign, first-year coach Joe Neff asked Liz to make the switch to shortstop. The result? Liz “did a heckuva defensive job” and, for a second straight season, captured first-team all-WCC honors.Throughout her Green Wave softball career, Liz proved every bit as formidable at the plate as she did as a defensive ace.

 

For a team which batted a cumulative .225 during her junior year, Liz hit .316, with 18 hits and 11 runs scored. She then exploded offensively as a senior with 23 hits and numerous bases on balls, 26 runs scored, 21 RBIs and a .426 batting average. Aptly, the Green Wave’s MVP drove in six runs during a career-ending 22-11 win over New Fairfield.

 

For her athletic and academic achievements, Liz was accorded the school’s prestigious female Scholar-Athlete award. She also was the Class of ’92’s ‘Most Athletic’ honoree, all the while earning distinction as a National Honor Society member.

 

Following NMHS graduation, Liz headed to the Boston area to study and play four years of college volleyball at Brandeis University, leaving for posterity a proud legacy as a quintessential, three-sport Green Wave athlete.