Ponaganset High School Athletic Hall of Fame
Induction Class of 2016
Stephen Whelan Ph.D
Athlete
Class of 1990
Soccer, Basketball, Outdoor Track & Field
As a 1990 graduate of Ponaganset High School, Stephen Whelan was a three sport athlete, excelling in soccer, basketball, and track. On the soccer field, Steve proved to be an excellent goalie; resulting in him being a three year varsity starter and earning second team all-division honors for his senior year. In track, Stephen competed in the high jump, long jump and triple jump. Using his natural athletic ability, he obtained the school high jump record in his senior year.
Where Steve truly excelled was on the basketball court. From the third grade playing for Mr. Whelan and Mr. DiGiacomo, Steve set the bar for his team mates. His competitiveness drove him to dominate in the low post on both offense and defense. Always assigned to guard the largest opponents, Steve would use his skills to stifle his opposition while creating offensive opportunities for both himself and teammates. During his senior year he averaged 19.6 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocked shots per game. With an amazing 1,388 points scored and 682 rebounds in his high school career, Steve displayed his skills and determination every time he stepped on the court. With Stephen as the anchor of the team, Ponaganset won two division titles in addition to a state title, in which he was crowned MVP for the tournament. This title came in Steve’s senior year when he also earned First team all-state honors.
After graduating from Ponaganset as the President of the Class of 1990, Stephen continued to play two years of basketball at Wheaton College, where he graduated with a BA in Bio-Chemistry. Steve continued his education at University of South Florida, earning his PH D in the Department of Chemistry. Steve then was accepted into the post-doctorate program in BioChemistry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. After completing that program, Steve accepted a position as a research professor at UCLA. He worked in the Department of Surgery conducting breast cancer research. Stephen then moved back East. He accepted a position at Boston University School of Medicine, Department of BioChemistry, researching metabolic cardiovascular disease. He continues to perform important research today.