Bruce Baker

Bruce Baker is being honored for his years of service at Worcester State College beginning in 1983 and concluding with his retirement in 2002.  Over those 19 years Bruce served in numerous capacities from Intramural Director to Home Event Manager, to Head and Assistant Softball coach to probably most notably, Sports Information Director. 

Bruce was a veteran reporter for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette before he began his distinguished career in athletics at Nichols College.  At Nichols, he served as Head Baseball coach for three years and as an assistant for one.  Bruce was also the Nichols Sports Information Director for 12 years.

Bruce’s softball coaching career at Worcester State included three as head coach in which he twice led the team to the ECAC tournament.  Bruce continued as an assistant with the softball team for many more years.

As a Sports Information Director at Worcester State is where Bruce ultimately left his mark.  According to CoSIDA, upon his retirement, Bruce held the longest consecutive streak for Division III football games worked. From his time at Nichols through Worcester State he covered 267 straight games. Bruce also covered 3 Worcester State New England Football Conference championship seasons.

This past year Bruce was the recipient of the Joseph R. Mewhiney Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Media Award for his contributions to college football.

Since his departure from Worcester State Bruce has returned to his roots as a newspaper man as he is currently a correspondent for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.  Bruce is also serving on the Nichols College Hall of Fame Committee.

Bruce is a United States Navy/Marine Veteran.

A founding member of the Hall of Fame, it is with great pride and pleasure that we induct Bruce Baker into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Andrew J. Krustapentus ‘81

Andrew Krustapentus is one of the all-time great track and field athletes at Worcester State College.  In his career, Andy earned 8 varsity letters in indoor and outdoor track.  A stalwart in the weight events, he was highly decorated on the New England scene.

He established Worcester State College records in the hammer and weight throw and New England records in the shotput and discus.

Andrew was the New England Division III indoor shotput champion and was a two-time champion for New England Division III in the outdoor track shotput and discus.  In 1980 and 1981 he competed in the NCAA national Division III track and field championships earning top ten finishes both seasons.

In 1981 he was the Massachusetts State College’s MVP in field events.

Andy was a two-time New England All-Division athlete with top 5 finishes in 1980 and 1981 and was the first athlete named captain of the track team that participated in a weight event.

A graduate and three sport athlete at Athol High School, Andrew was a Massachusetts State High School Class C shotput champion in 1975 and 1976.

Andrew is currently a systems engineer with Apollo Consulting Services based out of Boston, MA. 

It is a great honor to induct Andrew J. Krustapentus into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Tara Tokarz ‘97

Tara is possibly the best field hockey player to ever don a Worcester State College uniform.  Tara is the all-time leading scorer in Worcester State field hockey history.  She was a 4-time MASCAC all-star.

She scored a total of 108 points in her career including 40 goals and 18 assists.

As a testament to her leadership on and off the field, Tara was named captain her junior and senior years.

A four year starter, Tara was named the MASCAC Player of the Year her sophomore and senior seasons.  She was a 1^st Team All-Star and named to the Telegram and Gazette weekly honor roll.  Her senior year she was named the Worcester State senior sportswoman of the year.

In 1996 and 1997 Tara was named to the “Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities”

Since graduation, Tara has been a volunteer intramural field hockey coach at the Sullivan elementary school as well as being involved with the college connection with inner city youth.  Tara also served as an assistant field hockey coach at WPI in 1997.

Tara is currently the Director of Behavioral Health and Recreation at Sunbridge Care and Rehabilitation at Spring Valley

It is with great pleasure to induct Tara Tokarz into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame

Bill Cronan ‘62

In an era of 10-game seasons, southpaw Bill Cronan was one of the most dominating pitchers in Worcester State College baseball history in the late 50’s and early part of the 1960’s under Head Coach and Worcester State Athletic Hall of Fame member John Mockler. 

Bill’s 13 career wins is a mark that stood the test of time in Worcester State baseball history for almost 33 years.  This record is even more impressive considering that during Bill’s 4-year career, the Lancers only participated in 40 contests.

Bill finished his career with a Worcester State College best 3.62 career ERA.  That mark still ranks him sixth all-time for Worcester State pitchers.  Bill’s 148 career strikeouts is a mark that stood almost 40 years and was just recently surpassed.

Bill was also an offensive force as he posted a .364 career batting average which ranks 20^th all-time.  Bill led the team in batting in 1960 with an impressive .400 average.

Bill was also named captain for his senior season of 1962.

It is a great honor to induct Bill Cronan into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Roland Henrie ‘95

Roland Henrie is one of the finest hockey players to ever don a Worcester State College sweater.  A four-year player for the Lancers, Roland played for both coached Marv Degon and current Coach John Guiney

Roland had a spectacular beginning to his career as he was named ECAC Rookie of the Year after his freshman campaign in 1990-91 when he scored 27 goals and handed out 21 assists.  Roland was also named the Worcester State College Freshman Male Athlete of the Year for the same season.  Roland was also an All-New England North-South-Central All Star forward.

For his career, Roland, who displayed his versatility by switching from defense to offense several times during his Worcester State Career, scored 57 goals and accumulated 67 assists. 

As a testament to his leadership, Roland was also an assistant captain for two seasons for the Lancers.

Roland currently lives in Middleboro where he runs his own painting company, R.H. Painting.

It is with great pleasure to induct Roland Henrie into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.