Josh Bender
Class of 1997
Click Here to View Josh Bender's 2015 Induction Banquet Speech
Josh could be the most sucessful track and field athlete ever to attend ORRHS. Few can argue the following records he accomplished at ORR.
- Old Rochester and Greater New Bedford Record Holder in the shot put -59 ft 8 1/2 inches
- Chosen Southcoast Conference Champion Indoor and outdoor 7 times in High School
- Eastern Mass. Class D Shot Put Champ 6 Times
- New England Champ Jr. Yr. Runner up Sr. Yr.
- Boston Globe Track All Star 4 times
- Boston Herald Track All Star 4 times
- New Bedford Standard Times All Star 7 times
- Massachusetts All State Champ 3 times ( 1 indoor, 2 outdoor)
- Glenn Louch's Invitational Champ Jr. Yr. ( White Plains, N.Y.)
- 7th Place Sr.Yr. Indoor National Scholastic Meet
Josh was undefeated in grades 10,11,and 12 in dual meet competition in the Shot Put. He was 42-0. Josh also threw the discuss 156 ft. and ran a 10.8 100 yd. dash
At ORR in 4 years of football, Josh lettered 3 years.
- He played guard and linebacker junior year and played some fullback also in his senior year.
- He was chosen as a tackle and as a linebacker All Star in the New Bedford Standard Times both 2 times.
- He was chosen a SSC All Star twice.
- He was a Captain on the ORR football team in his senior year.
- Josh was an Otto Graham Award nominee in his senior year in Football.
At Penn State, Josh lettered 4 years on the track team
- Threw the 16 lb shot put 52ft. 8in.
- Threw the 16 lb. Hammer 177ft.
- Inducted into the Penn State Varsity Club