Ernest M. Kapatoes, your accomplishments on the baseball field are among the most memorable in Worcester State College athletic history. You still are the College's all time leading hitter with an amazing .423 career batting average. You are also the second all-time leading hitter in New England college division baseball history just 12 points behind Phil Rowe of New England College who hit .435.

Your record was achieved during the 1964, 65, 66 and 67 seasons. You hit .429 in '64, .392 in '65, ripped the cover off the ball with a .476 average in your junior year of 1966 and finished up with a .385 year in 1967. You were also a defensive stalwart in left and centerfield. Your powerful arm and tremendous range made you the catalyst for the legendary Lancer defense of the 60's and your abilities as a leader were evident as you were selected captain of the 1967 team.

You were a member of the 1964 and 1965 New England Conference championship teams which was 27 straight games, a record which still stands today. You were a four year starter and never missed a game.

You were also an outstanding baseball player in your hometown of Milford, Mass. where you were a member of the Milford High School team which captured the state title in 1960. You were a member of the Milford American Legion team that won the state and regional titles in 1959 and were state runners--up in 1962. You were later drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization of the National League. You have also coached Babe Ruth baseball and basketball in Milford.

You are currently a Project Manager at Fafand Company in Ashland, MA. Earnest M. Kapatoes, it is with great pride that we induct you into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Stephen H. Kokernak '63

Stephen H. Kokernak, as a standout in basketball your accomplishments are among the most memorable at Worcester State College. As a four year starter, you played on teams that won 65 percent of its games compiling a 55-30 record from 1960 to 1963.

Your leadership abilities were rightfully acknowledged when you were named captain of the team your senior year. You also hold the distinction of being the first Most Valuable Player for Worcester State College as selected by the Worcester Area Coaches-Sportswriters Association for 1961-1962. You were again cited by that organization as MVP for the 1962-1963 season.

You earned four varsity letters in basketball and at the time of your graduation you were the College's all time leading scorer with 1,486 points. You also held the single game scoring record with 36 points which you scored against Willimantic State (now Eastern Connecticut) and Lowell State (now University of Lowell). You were a "pure shooter" before the term became commonplace on the sports pages.

The first three years you played for a team that reached the finals of the New England State College Conference and in 1962 you played a key role in the Lancers winning the New England title with a win over Gorham, Maine State College, now the University of Southern Maine.

Your leadership qualities were also evident off the court as you were selected class Vice President in your junior and senior years and you were also the President of the Men's Athletic Association your senior year.

You were the varsity basketball coach at Clinton High School from 1963 through 1965 and you were an assistant coach at Doherty Memorial High from 1969 through 1980. You are currently serving as a teacher in the Worcester Public School System at Doherty.

Stephen H. Kokernak, it is with a great deal of pride that we induct you into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

JoAnne Medeiros '81

JoAnne Medeiros, your exceptional athletic ability and competitive drive combined to distinguish you as the most outstanding all-around female athlete in Worcester State College history.

You were instrumental in leading the College to its only National title in basketball in 1980. You were named Most Valuable Player in the regional and national Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) tournaments in 1980. You were named an AII-American in basketball in 1981 and 1982. You were selected as the Most Valuable Player of the Eastern Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (EAIAW) all-region team for four straight years from 1979 through 1982. You were also named to the EAIAW all-region softball team for four straight years.

You earned 12 varsity letters while playing field hockey and volleyball for two years and basketball and softball for four years. You showed outstanding leadership as captain of both the basketball and softball teams and you are the College's second all time leading scorer in basketball with 1,239 career points.

You were a candidate for the Pan American softball team in 1979 and were named to the ASA all-region first team in softball in 1979. You were an outstanding softball pitcher and catcher.

You were honored for your undergraduate achievements by selection to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities and you were named the Worcester State College Athlete of the Year in 1981.

You went on to join the college coaching ranks as an assistant softball coach at Clark University in 1984 and were the head coach of Clark in 1985. You also served as an assistant softball coach at Worcester State College in 1986.

You are currently a Residential Coordinator at the Evergreen Center in Milford, MA.

JoAnn Medeiros, it is with great pride that we induct you into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Robert C. Nicoletti, Jr. '65

Robert C. Nicoletti, Jr., your drive and determination not only established you as an outstanding varsity golfer, but you were instrumental in golf becoming a varsity sport at Worcester State College.

Your relentless desire to perform to the best of your ability resulted in your being a co-captain of the golf team for three straight years. You also played two years of basketball for the lancers.

You were extremely active in your undergraduate days by being a member of the Student Council, now known as the Student Government Association, the school newspaper, then called the "Acorn/Student Voice," and the yearbook staff. You were Vice President of the Debating team and President of your class.

You became the club champion in golf at the Whitinsville Country Club in 1979 and again in 1982 and your dedication to golf and the youth of the community led you to develop the junior golf program at the club.

You are currently a teacher-coach at Millbury high School and since the 1976,77 season, your leadership has led to a combined 360,189 (66 percent) record in girls' and boys' cross country, girls' and boys' basketball, and girls' track. Your girls' cross country teams have won four Southern Worcester County League championships, three league meet titles and the District III championship in 1980 and runners-up in 1981. Your girls' track teams have been the Southern Worcester County League season and League meet winners a total of 10 times, District III champions twice and runners-up four times. In 1976- 77, your boys basketball team went 16-1 and your girls' track team was 13-1 for a combined 29-2 record. While in 1980-81, your girls' cross country team finished 16-1, girls' track was undefeated at 15-0 and boys' basketball was 13-3 for a combined record of 44 wins and 4 losses.

Robert C. Nicoletti, Jr., it is with great pride that we induct you into Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

John A. RegeIe '56

John A. RegeIe, as an outstanding baseball and basketball player you are considered by many as one of the best two sport standouts in Worcester State College history. You also demonstrated your leadership abilities by being a captain in both sports.

Your defensive capabilities at shortstop were phenomenal. You were a strong, yet quiet, leader with your actions speaking for your leadership capabilities. Another amazing fact is that you never missed a game in four years. Your hitting was timely and once you were on the base you always had the green light since you were an excellent base stealer. In basketball you were an outstanding playmaker, a defensive standout and a solid scorer. You were a member of the Lancer basketball team that captured the conference title in the 1955-56 season. The hoop team had a 46~20 record during your career.

Jack, your talent, drive and determination in athletics led you to being named the first varsity soccer coach at Worcester State College in the late 1960's. Not only were you instrumental in starting the Lancer soccer program you also started the soccer and football programs at Holy Name Central Catholic High School in Worcester where you were the head coach in both sports. You continued coaching football at Holy Name until four years ago.

You have been a physical education teacher in the Worcester Public School System for the past 21 years and are currently at Doherty Memorial High School. Your dedication and commitment as a player, and then as a teacher and a coach has touched many lives. You have been a model for others to follow, and you continue to be a positive influence on your students, your peers and your friends.

John A. Regele, it is with a great deal of pride that we induct you into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Richard F. Riley, Jr. '76

Richard F. Riley, Jr., your accomplishments in cross country and track are a tribute to your athletic ability, desire, and total dedication to the sport. Your long hours of practice produced not only individual records for you, but fame for Worcester State College as well. Your track exploits are truly legendary.

You were the New England College champion in the 440 yard dash in 1974, the New England Athletic Conference 440 yard champion in 1971, the New England State College Athletic Conference champion in the 220 and 440 in 1971, the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association (ECAC) 600 yard champion in 1974 and 1975, the Massachusetts State College Conference champion in the 440 in 1972 and the 880 in 1975.

You earned 11 varsity letters while competing in outdoor track for four years, basketball for three years and cross country and indoor track for two years. Your leadership resulted in your being selected captain of both indoor and outdoor track in 1975.

You set school records in indoor track in the 440 at 49.9 seconds and in the 600 at 1:11.8 and were a member of the two-mile relay team that established a record time of 8:05.4. In outdoor track you established the record for the 440 at 48.8 seconds, the 400 meters standard at 48.5 seconds and you were a member of the mile relay team which ran 3:16.0 Those records still stand.

Following your graduation, you went on to become a highly successful track and cross country coach at Marlboro High School where your teams have compiled an amazing 234-51 (81.1 %) overall record. Your cross country teams have a 104-18 record, including seven Midland League championships, one District "E" title in 1978 and five Central Mass Division I titles. Your indoor track team has a 50-17 record including one District "E" championship and one Central Mass League championship. Your outdoor track team has a record of 80-16 and has won five Midland League titles, and four District "E" Division titles.

You are currently a teacher in the Physical Education-Health department at Marlboro High School where you also served as JV basketball coach from 1980 to 1986 before joining the Worcester State men's basketball staff this past season.