Donald F. Cushing '66

Donald F. Cushing, as a standout basketball player your accomplishments are among the most memorable at Worcester State College. As a four year starter you are one of only two athletes to reach the coveted 1,000 point and 1,000 rebound plateau in men's basketball.

In addition to scoring 1,013 points, you also gathered 1,001 rebounds, including a game high of 26 against Salem State in 1965. You displayed your leadership abilities by serving as a co-captain your senior year. You were selected the Most Valuable Player by the Worcester Coaches and Sportswriters Association in 1966.

Your leadership abilities were not confined to the basketball court, as you were elected president of the Worcester State College Men's Athletic Association in your senior year and you were a member and an officer of that organization for three years.

You were named head basketball coach at Bartlett High in Webster in 1966 and you have played a major role in the lives of many basketball players since that time. Your influence and outstanding qualities of sportsmanship have led your teams to be selected six times, including this past season, as recipients of the Central Massachusetts Board 26 Basketball Officials Cervini-Hardy Sportsmanship Award, a tribute to you as a coach, as well as to your teams.

Your basketball teams have won 274 games while losing just 99 and have won three District Championships, 10 league championships, three Clark Tournament titles and have qualified for the state tournament in 15 of the 16 years you were coaching. You became the first soccer coach at Bartlett, a post you held for 17 years, and your teams won 143 games while losing 87 and having 33 ties. Your team won one District Championship, six league titles and 10 of 17 years qualified for the state tournament. In addition, your soccer team has won two Central Massachusetts Sportsmanship Awards. As a coach at Bartlett you have won 417 games.

You were the head basketball coach at Nichols College for five years and also coached the Nichols tennis team for two years.

You have served as a committee member or president of many athletic associations in Central Massachusetts over the years and you are currently the Athletic Director at Bartlett High School.

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

Joseph F. Gill '74

Joseph F. Gill. tennis has played a major role in your life and you have played a major role in the development of many tennis players.

You showed your relentless desire to perform to the best of your ability while spearheading the Worcester State College men's tennis team to its first and only Massachusetts State College men's tennis championship in 1974. You did not start your tennis career until you took up the sport as a freshman at Worcester State while participating in physical education classes. You developed an instant love for the game and subsequently took tennis lessons. You competed as a varsity tennis player in your sophomore, junior and senior years and your determination drove you to become the college's number one singles player. Throughout your varsity career you inspired your teammates to reach for, and attain, their maximum potential.

You combined with Jack Either in the doubles to become one of the top MASCAC doubles teams, and you were the Massachusetts State College Tournament runner-up in singles in 1974. You were honored for your outstanding undergraduate achievements by selection to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.

You developed into a truly outstanding tennis player and you achieved the unique distinction of being the teaching professional at the Westboro Tennis Club from 1974 through 1980, you were also the teaching professional at the Greendale YMCA from 1980 to 1984.

You became a member of the New England Lawn Tennis Association and were ranked fourth in the men's "A" doubles with Tom Mott in 1980 and you were ranked 30th in the men's "A" singles in 1977. You were the number one "B" player in singles in New England in 1977.

The love for tennis you developed in those phys-ed classes has led you to your present occupation of tennis court construction and you are currently the owner of Westboro Tennis Surfaces Company.

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

Dr. John S. Hoogasian '71

Dr. John S. Hoogasian. your accomplishments and dedication to cross country and track are legendary in Worcester State and Central Massachusetts athletic annuals, for not only have you gained individual fame but you also provided inspiration and leadership to your teammates and the athletes you have coached over the years.

You ran cross country and competed in indoor and outdoor track for three years at Worcester State earning nine varsity letters, and you established yourself as the top pole vaulter in the College's history. Your leadership qualities were recognized by your selection as a co-captain of the teams for three years.

You were selected All Conference by the New England State College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) in 1971 and were the pole vault champion at the New England Conference meet in 1970 and 1971. You were also a member of the first Worcester State mile relay team to qualify for the NCAA Division II and III Regional Championships.

You set the record in cross country in 1969 of 27:33 over the College's 4.8 mile course. You also set a time of 2:52:3 in the 26 mile Atlanta Peach Bowl Marathon and finished in 12th place. As a junior you set the record in the pole vault of 13 feet and were a member of the record setting mile relay team. As a senior you set the indoor pole vault mark with a jump of 13'6 and you still hold the indoor pole vault record for the Brandeis Invitational at 13'4. You had a vault of 14' at the New England Amateur Athletic Union meet and set the Dartmouth College decathlon record with 5,664 points in 1971. You were a member of the mile relay team that set the record in the NESCAC meet in 1971 with a time of 3:28.1, a record which still stands today.

You are still ranked among New England pole vaulters and you won the New England Track Athletic Conference pole vault in 1986. In 1987 you captured the Master's Championship at the Dartmouth Relays with a vault of 12'6.

You have been the cross country coach at Worcester State for the past 10 years and the coach of our indoor and outdoor track teams for the past three years. You were also the head track coach at Southbridge High for 12 years. You are currently the coordinator of Health and Physical Education in the Southbridge Public School System.

Dr. John S. Hoogasian, it is with great pride that we induct you into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Catherine A. (Westall) Kuzmeskus '81

Catherine A. (Westall) Kuzmeskus. your exceptional athletic ability and competitive spirit as a basketball player distinguish you as the only female athlete in Worcester State College history to have reached the 1,000 plateau in both points and rebounds.

You are the College's all time leading scorer with 1,459 points and the all time leading rebounder 1,151, an average of 12.6 per game. You also established an amazing record of 447 blocked shots, an average of 4.9 per contest.

You were instrumental in leading the College to its only NCAA National Women's Basketball title in 1980 and you led the team to a third place finish nationally in 1981.

You still hold the single game scoring record of 32 points and the single game rebounding record with 25.

You were a driving force on teams which compiled an overall record of 84 wins and just 9 losses for a winning percentage of 90.3, the most successful era in the history of the College. You were the leader on a team which won 28 straight games in 1980 and 1981.

You were twice named an All-American by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) in 1980 and 1981. You were named the Women's Sports Federation Player of the Year in 1980 and twice named to the Eastern Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (EAIAW) All-Regional team and were selected to the Massachusetts State College All-Conference team three straight times.

You were honored for your outstanding undergraduate achievements by selection to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. You were an assistant basketball coach at Clark University in 1982 when the team advanced to the final four in the NCAA Tournament.

You are currently employed as a certified public accountant. Catherine A. (Westall) Kuzmeskus, it is with great pride that we induct you into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Paige Rowden '54

Paige Rowden, you have been described as an institution in local basketball first as an outstanding player at Worcester State College and later as a highly successful basketball coach at Leicester Junior College and Leicester High School.

You made your mark at Worcester State by becoming the starting center as a freshman and you averaged 13 points a game during your three year playing career. Your basketball career took a strange twist as you were appointed the head basketball coach at Leicester Junior College while you were still a sophomore at Worcester State. Your junior year you played for Worcester State while coaching Leicester Junior College. That year the two teams met on the court and you coached the Leicester Junior team and bypassed the game as a player. You did not play your senior year, devoting all of your efforts to coaching.

Your leadership qualities were recognized as you were elected captain of the basketball team your junior year. You were selected by the Senior Class as their delegate to the Swampscott English Convention. You were a member of the Glee Club for three years and a member of the Student Christian Association for four year.

Your Coaching career at Leicester Junior and Leicester High School spanned 28 years, 12 of which you coached both teams at the same time. Your Junior College teams won 10 New England titles and two regional titles in 1964 and 1966 and your team finished fifth in the nation in 1964. Your teams won more than 700 games and had a better than 80 percent winning percentage. You were named the New England Junior College Coach of the Year seven times and your junior college coaching record was 487 wins and 181 losses. At Leicester High School, your football and your basketball teams each went undefeated in 1960. Your high school team had the longest winning streak in a league nationally at one time by winning 87 consecutive games.

You also joined an elite group when you were awarded the Paul N. Johnson Memorial Award for your contributions to Worcester area basketball. You were selected by the Worcester College Coaches, Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.

You are currently the assistant principal for the Leicester School System.

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

J. Michael Staiti '65

J. Michael Staiti. your accomplishments on the baseball field are among the most memorable in Worcester State College athletic history.

You were an outstanding pitcher and were considered the "Ace" of the staff during the College's most successful baseball era. Your individual accomplishments are a tribute to your natural abilities, hard work, and determination.

You were a starting pitcher for three years and compiled a 12-2 overall record with an outstanding 2.05 career earned run average, the best of any pitcher in the College's history. You were 2-2 as a sophomore, 6-0 as a junior, on an undefeated 13-0 team, and 4-0 as a senior. Your ERA as a junior and senior was a sparkling 1.63. Your teams compiled 33 wins and just 7 loses for an amazing .825 winning percentage while you were pitching.

You could also swing the bat and finished with a .314 career batting average. As a sophomore you were the teams leading hitter with a .362 average. ..not bad for a pitcher.

Your leadership qualities were evident as you were elected captain of the 1965 team. You earned six varsity letters, three in baseball, two in basketball and one in golf.

You were a member of the 1964 and 1965 New England Conference Championship teams which won 27 straight games, a Collegiate record which still stands today. Two present Hall of Famers, Kevin Lyons and Ernie Kapatoes were also members of those outstanding teams.

You are currently the associate principal at Quabbin Regional Junior-Senior High School in Barre. You coached golf for 15 years and basketball for five years at Quabbin and also served as the athletic director for 10 years.

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