GUS HAITA 

Gus was a 1954 graduate of Watervliet High School where he was a multi-year letterman who played on championship teams in baseball, basketball and soccer and was a two-way starter in football his senior year.

He then attended Orange County Community College on a soccer scholarship where he was a member of two national soccer championship teams in 1959 and 1960 and was also selected to the All-American soccer team both years, graduating in 1961. He later attended the University of Bridgeport where he was a soccer co-captain in his senior year when the team finished their season with a 10-1 record. 
He finally returned to his roots and began working for Watervliet High School as a physical education teacher. His students lovingly called him “Prof,” and he taught them not only how to play sports, but also disco and square dancing. He started the “Dixie Cup” intramural floor hockey tournament that became a huge success and is still often talked about amongst the alumni of that era. He also coached girls’ basketball, soccer, tennis, and softball, as well as boys’ soccer. During the 1982-83 season, the girls’ basketball team won the Colonial Council Championship with a 17-1 record. He finally retired in 1995 after 21 years of teaching.
In 2011, Gus was inducted into the Watervliet High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

In his spare time, he was active in many fast-pitch softball leagues and teams playing third base and pitcher.