Northeast-10 Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2007

Thursday, February 15, 2007

For Immediate Release:

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South Easton, Mass. – The Northeast-10 Conference has announced the Hall of Fame class of 2007. Fourteen student-athletes, one coach, one administrator and one team will be recognized. The Hall of Fame inductees have been chosen by a vote of the Northeast-10 Hall of Fame committee.

The inductees will be honored at the Northeast-10 Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Banquet held at the Colonnade Hotel in downtown Boston on June 4, 2007. The ceremony will include the presentation of the Northeast-10 Scholar-Athletes of the Year, as well as the awarding of the President’s Cup.

“The Northeast-10 Conference continues to be the model of excellence in Division II,” said                2006 Inductees: Dick Lipe, Leon Drury, Andy Laska,
                                                                                    Al Shields, Bob Burke

Northeast-10 commissioner David Brunk. “This event provides the opportunity to honor and say ‘Thank you’ to those so instrumental in our storied history and tradition.”

The former student athletes include: Drew Adderly (Basketball: 1988-1992) of Assumption College, Maria Bras-Benitez (Volleyball: 1991-1995) of Bryant University, Jen Bunce (Field Hockey: 1996-1999) of Bentley College, David French (Golf: 1985-1989) of Bryant, Juana Garcia (Basketball: 1992-1996) of American International College, James Hector (Basketball: 1990-1994) of American International, Michael Hill (Baseball: 1993-1997) of Bentley, Lucas Jaramillo (Soccer: 1992-1996) of Bentley, Stephanie Martin (Soccer & Softball: 1996-2000) of Assumption, Carolyn McGowan (Softball: 1995-1999) of American International, Gary Mello (Cross Country: 1997-2001) of Bentley, Mary Naughton (Basketball: 1985-1989) of Stonehill College, Sue Plante (Soccer: 1986-1990) of Merrimack College, Hassan Robinson (Basketball & Baseball: 1991-1995) of Springfield College.

Other inductees include Donna Guimont, who will be inducted for her service as the Saint Anselm Women’s Basketball Head Coach. Guimont currently serves as the Associate Athletic Director at Saint Anselm. Ed Markey, a former administrator at Saint Michael’s will also be inducted.

In addition to these individual inductions, this year the Northeast-10 will induct a team for the first time. The 1994 Merrimack Softball team, the Northeast-10’s first NCAA Division II national championship winner, will be recognized for their outstanding accomplishment. These 16 players sparked the national recognition of the Northeast-10. Currently, the Northeast-10 holds seven NCAA Division II National Championship titles. Kim Page Ducharme, the starting pitcher for the 1994 Merrimack softball team, was inducted into the Northeast-10 Hall of Fame class of 2006.

The Northeast-10 Conference, which was established in 1980 as the Northeast-7 Conference, found instant credibility in its membership, which led to continued expansion through the years. The admittance of Saint Anselm in 1981 created the Northeast-8. In 1984, Hartford exited the league but was immediately replaced by Merrimack.

The “Northeast-10” name came about when Saint Michael’s and Quinnipiac joined the league in 1987. The conference remained stable until 1995 when Springfield left for Division III. The league stayed at 10 members as Le Moyne joined the league in 1996 from the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) and briefly expanded to 11 when Pace joined in 1998 from the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC). Quinnipiac elevated to the Division I Northeast Conference (NEC) to again return to the foundation of 10 until the last major expansion took place prior to 2000 when five new schools joined the fold. Franklin Pierce, Southern New Hampshire University (formerly New Hampshire College), the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Southern Connecticut State University and The College of Saint Rose gave the NE-10 the 15 members it has today.

The Northeast-10 is one of the largest and is the most diverse NCAA Division II playing conference in the nation. It sponsors 23 championship sports including baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, football, field hockey, men’s golf, men’s ice hockey, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s indoor track and field, women’s indoor track and field, men’s outdoor track and field, women’s outdoor track and field, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, softball, women’s volleyball, men’s swimming and diving, and women’s swimming and diving.

Current members of the Northeast-10 include American International College, Assumption College, Bentley College, Bryant University, Franklin Pierce, Le Moyne College, The University of Massachusetts Lowell, Merrimack College, Pace University, Saint Anselm College, Saint Michael’s College, The College of Saint Rose, Southern Connecticut State University, Southern New Hampshire University, and Stonehill College.