|
Hall of Fame
New Page 1
1999 Hall of Fame Inductees
During his four-year basketball career at the
College, the name Phillip Bledsoe was synonymous with the word basketball.
After just three seasons, Phil surpassed the all time leading scoring record set
by former-teammate, Tom Cronin. Co-captain and long-time friend, Bill
Fitzgerald emphasized the accomplishment, "...for Phil to do it in three is
phenomenal." During his stellar career he scored 2,145 points for the Mohawks,
a record that still stands today. For four consecutive seasons, Phil was also
honored with a selection to the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference
All -Star Team as well as the Coaches and Sportswriters All New England Team.
As a fitting end to his career, his #10 jersey was retired.
Along with shattering the all time leading
scoring mark, Phil held the record for the most points scored in a season (667)
as well as the most points scored in a game (40). Respected by his teammates,
Phil was chosen as the recipient of the William MacKeever Award in his freshman
and junior season. This honor is awarded to the player that best demonstrates
the qualities of leadership, sacrifice, individual example, and skill that led
to the team's success. Bledsoe epitomized those qualities. He was also the
recipient of the IEP Enduring Student Scholarship.
A transfer student in the winter of 1974 from St.
Anslem College, Daniel Caritey quickly made his presence known on campus. He
excelled in both varsity hockey and varsity baseball for three consecutive
seasons. On the ice, his athletic honors included being a first team selection
to Hockey's All State College Team and the All-East Team in Division II & III in
1975, 1976, and 1977. He received the James Ellingwood Memorial Award in both
1975 and 1976. This award honors athletes whose athletic performance and
achievement on and off the ice exemplified the life of Coach Ellingwood. As
co-captain on the hockey team, he set three school records in the '76-77 season:
most goals in a season (26), most assists in a season (41), and total points
accumulated in a season (67). He was renowned for his hat trick performance.
On the diamond, he patrolled centerfield and knew
the importance of hustle and backing up his teammates. He said, "It's your
responsibility to be there, you can't let the runner have an easy base." Dan's
sense of responsibility was evident whenever and whatever he played. He was
honored with a selection to the All State College team and the All New England
First Team in 1976 and 1977. As a fitting end to a stellar career, Dan received
an Honorable mention for All- American in both hockey and baseball in his senior
year.
Dan returned to campus in 1979 to receive a
Masters of Education. A degree he pursued with honors.
A faculty member in the Department of Physical
Education for 29 years, Susan Getchell coached gymnastics, field hockey, women's
soccer, softball and cheerleading. She pioneered much of the women's athletics
programs at the College. According to Sue, "The teaching/coaching job that I
accepted in 1969 and expected to continue for a 'few years' became my lifetime's
work." Over those years, Sue accumulated some wonderful memories and was always
inspired by the enthusiasm and talent of the young women she worked with. Her
lifetime work has had an impact on innumerable athletes that have since
graduated from the College.
Coach Ron Shewcraft did not anticipate a visitor
to his classroom on a late fall day in 1986. When Brian Harlow received his
letter in the mail from the NCAA notifying him that he had been selected as an
All-American, he could barely contain his excitement. He ran five blocks from
his off campus address and burst into Coach Shewcraft's classroom exclaiming, "I
can't believe I am an All-American." In his junior season, Brian Harlow was
exactly that. Coach Shewcraft described his former player as a person of
substance and integrity both on and off the field.
Brian was an intense competitor whose leadership
qualities, effort, skill, and sacrifice demonstrated his commitment to the
success of the men's soccer team. In the fall of 1985 and 1986, his teammates
recognized his commitment to the team and honored him as the Men's Soccer Most
Valuable Player. During his stellar career, Harlow was selected as a member of
Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference All-Star team in '85, '86, '87,
an All New- England selection in '86 and '87, a Division I, II and III All Star
Team Member in '86 and '87, and Captain of the team in both '86 and '87.
Recognized by Who's Who In American Colleges and
Universities, Bev Holtsberg played varsity field hockey, varsity basketball and
varsity softball all four years at the College. She not only played, but also
was co-captain of both the field hockey and softball teams, and captain of the
basketball team. Appropriately enough she was voted Sportswoman of the Year in
1974.
After graduation in 1974, Bev continued her love
of sports by teaching Physical Education in parochial schools in the Boston area
while coaching field hockey, basketball and softball for Salem State. Bev left
Salem State to take a position as Women's Athletic Director at Franklin Pierce
College and later as Coordinator of Women's Athletics at Western New England
College.
During this time, Bev not only continued to coach
volleyball, basketball, softball and tennis, but she continued to play softball,
basketball and field hockey. As a member of the Northeast Field Hockey
Association, Bev brought a team to Denmark on tour and served as a player/coach.
In 1986, Bev changed careers. Completing a
master's degree in Counseling with a concentration in Addiction from Springfield
College, Bev worked as a recreation therapist at mental health agencies and at a
drug rehabilitation hospital. This work led Bev to the public school system
where she served as a counselor for alcohol and other drug issues.
George Jarck has a 47-year association with the
College. The former Dean of Students, faculty member for 25 years, soccer
coach, basketball coach, player and student, George has left an indelible mark
at the College. In the face of opposition to soccer at the College, George
argued that football was not the sport for the small rural college, but rather
soccer was the right fit. George not only instituted the program, he coached
the first three years of the soccer team's existence. George said it was a very
exciting and interesting time in the life of the athletic department.
George's career as a college student and
basketball player was just as exciting and interesting. George averaged 21
points per basketball game all four seasons. Over the course of those years, he
scored over 1000 points. George not only led his team in scoring but as captain
in 1953 and 1954 as well.
George's coaching at the College was not limited
to the soccer field. George coached the Mohawks baseball team for six years as
well. During his tenure as coach, the Mohawks won the State College Conference
Championship and had three seasons with more than 20 wins. He is very proud of
the men he coached at the College. "They always gave 100% and in life they have
more than made their mark."
There is an old saying that "When the going gets
tough, the tough get going." That's exactly what Mark Kasperovich did in 1979
as he led the Mohawks tennis team to the State College Championship. Coach
Ellingwood said "We have a very strong team this year. With Kasperovich winning
the first match, it allows other players to play on their own level. Otherwise,
a number two or three player would have to move up to play number one, and would
find himself in a tough position. The number one player is the secret to a
successful team and Mark Kasperovich certainly plays to those standards." This
number one player was rewarded for his efforts by being named Most Valuable
Player of the men's tennis team for four consecutive seasons.
Mark carried those standards not only in his
athletic pursuits, but in his academic pursuits as well. Mark's excellence was
not limited to the tennis court, but was also recognized academically as well.
Mark received the Louis Parisien Memorial Award in 1978-79. This award is given
annually to the outstanding student athlete who demonstrates excellence in
academics as well as athletics. During his senior year, Mark was also
recognized as a Who's Who Among American Colleges and Universities .
- Pamela (Messinger) Knight (1992)
"We worked the ball well in deep and all of our
starting front line was able to score. We also had a solid defense which did
not allow Bridgewater's offense to be effective." Those words reflect Tri
Captain Pamela (Messinger) Knight's confidence, enthusiasm, and sense of
competitive and cooperative spirit she shared with her team about the College's
big win over New England's 10th ranked team, Bridgewater State.
Pam carried that spirit with her during her four
years at the College as she captained both the soccer and softball teams. Pam
was selected as the MASCAC "Player of the Week" several times for her ability to
take the ball up the field, beat the defense, and kick the ball into the lower
right corner. The aggressive forward led her team in scoring during her freshman
and junior seasons.
On the diamond, Pam's teammates elected to honor
her with the Women's Softball MVP Award during the 1989-1990 school year. The
recipient of this award is given to the player who best contributes greatly to
team leadership; exemplifies a constant effort to earn a victory; gives 100%
both offensively and defensively; and offers an undue amount of spirit and
concern for the team and the College. The player selected should also display
the utmost integrity on and off the field towards opponents, officials,
spectators, coaches, and teammates, and above all dedication to the sport.
Pam's teammates felt that she was the one who best exemplified those attributes.
After graduation, Pam pursued her love of soccer
to the professional ranks. She plays two years for the Boston Braves in one of
the first professional women's soccer leagues.
The Howard C. Smith Baseball MVP Award is awarded
annually to a member of the baseball team who displays leadership,
responsibility, and cooperation; coupled with a desire to excel, not as an
individual, but as a contributor to the efforts of the team as a whole. This is
how Robert Zanetti's peers and coaches viewed him when they selected him as the
Most Valuable player in 1977.
Robert played both hockey and baseball during all
four years of his college career. During that time he was selected to the
Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference All New England team for hockey and
played in the first New England College All Star game in 1975. His
accomplishments on the diamond are just as impressive. He was a member of the
American Legion Post 120 state champions in 1975, the 1975 MVP of the State
Legion tournament, and was selected as the All Massachusetts State conference
catcher in 1977.
|
