Janet Demars

Janet Demars, dedicated a major part of her life

to the athletes at Worcester State College. She started

the field hockey and women's lacrosse programs at the College.

She coached field hockey for more than 10 years and

was the most successful coach in the history of WSC. She was an associate professor of physical education at Worcester State College from 1970 until the time of her death this

year. At WSC she was a member of the Curriculum and Academic Affairs Committees. She was previously a

teacher at Chandler Junior High and Burncoat Senior High

School.

For 20 years she was a member and former official of the United States Women's Lacrosse Association. She played on the U.S. Women's Lacrosse team that toured Britain and Ireland in 1964 and in Australia and around the world in 1969. She was selected to numerous Northeast Sectional Field Hockey teams. She was a member of the Central Massachusetts Basketball Board of Officials. She coached varsity lacrosse at Holy Cross College in 1977 and 1978.

She was inducted into the Boston University Athletic

Hall of Fame in 1988 and was inducted into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Tonight we formally honor Janet Demars extraordinary life with her posthumous induction into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame, and, in doing so, we are deeply honored.

Francis Dyson

Francis Dyson, you worked at Worcester State College in the physical education and health sciences department from 1959 until your retirement this past Spring and were the head coach of three varsity teams.

Your dedication to WSC Athletics is well documented and your contributions will be missed.

You coached baseball from 1970 to 1981 and basketball from 1959 to 1970. Your basketball teams had a 108-97 record for a .527 winning percentage. You are the only basketball coach to have won more than 100 games in Worcester State history. Your team won the New England State College Championship in 1962 and played in the Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament in 1978. You also coached golf for two years.

You were involved in the Intramural Program from 959 to 1970 and in 1970 you assumed the athletic training duties and established the athletic training facilities at WSC. You were also a member of the Academic Policies Committee for four years.

You played basketball and baseball in your undergraduate days at Holy Cross College and were a starter for the 1952 baseball team which won the National Baseball Championship.

Francis Dyson, it is with great pride that we induct

you into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Terrance O'Hara '61

Terrance O'Hara, your accomplishments on the baseball

diamond were truly remarkable as you played in every inning of every game for four straight years as a centerfielder. An "ironman" performance to say the least.

You broke onto the college scene by hitting a lofty .393 as a freshman and closed out your career as a senior with a .381 performance. You career batting averaged was an outstanding .354. You were well known for your base stealing ability. Your leadership qualities were recognized as you were elected captain of the 1961 team:

You and your teammates were instrumental in starting a winning baseball tradition at Worcester State which lasted for 10 years.

You graduated from North High School in Worcester and were named to a New England High School Baseball team selected by the St. Louis Cardinals. You spent playing in the Cardinals

organization but decided to attend college giving up a shot at pro ball. You also played in the Blackstone Valley League and were selected the most valuable player in that league.

You were an avid golfer and qualified for the Massachusetts Amateur Championships four times. At Worcester State you were the vice-president of your class and were active in the Newman Club and participated in numerous Intramural Athletic events.

You have been a teacher and principal in the Northborough School system since 1961.

Terrance O'Hara, it is with great pride that we induct you into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Heather Putnam-Graham '76

Heather Putnam-Graham, your talent, drive and determination have distinguished you as one of the most versatile athletes to ever wear a Worcester State uniform.

You earned 12 varsity letters while playing field hockey, basketball, softball and lacrosse and your leadership qualities were evident as you were a captain in field hockey, basketball and lacrosse.

You were one of the early pioneers of the women's sports program at Worcester State College. You were a key member of teams that won four straight Massachusetts State College Conference (MASCAC) in field hockey and basketball. You scored 18 goals in field hockey but set up your teammates for many others and

you scored 503 points in basketball and had an unstoppable "hook shot".

You were selected to represent New England in the

1st National Woman's Lacrosse Championships held by the United States Women's Lacrosse Association in 1975. This was after participating in the sport for only two years which was an outstanding accomplishment.

You were honored for your undergraduate achievements by selection to the Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.

You went on to serve as an assistant basketball coach at Worcester State College in 1977.

Heather Putnam-Graham, it is with great pride that

we induct you into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

James Ridick '74

James Ridick, you were an outstanding basketball

player for four years and set the school record which still stands today with 1,086 rebounds. You scored 1,102 career points.

Your gave WSC an "ironman" performance by playing in every game during your career. You started 92 of the 93 games during that span. You had a career high 23 rebounds against Fitchburg State and scored an individual high 29 points against Stonehill College.

You and your teammates were part of the most successful four years in WSC history compiling a 64-29 reCOI1 for a .689 winning percentage. Your leadership qualities were recognized as you were a co-captain of the 1973-74 team.

You were named to the Worcester Jaycee Holiday Christmas All Tournament team and you were selected an Outstanding College Athlete in 1974. You have remained extremely active in community and athletic circles. You have been a Christian Doctrine Teacher at St. Stephen's Church for 14 years and have been involved in the CYC program for 5 years. You were a former Little League coach and a volunteer referee and assistant president for the Sacred Heart Youth Basketball League. You are currently a volunteer basketball official for the Special Olympics. You have been a basketball referee for the past 8 years with the Central Mass. Board and also referee lacrosse and field hockey.

You are a firefighter with the Worcester Fire Department.

James Ridick, it is with great pride that we induct you

into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Sandra Robichaud '81

Sandra Robichaud, you were an outstanding field hockey player and set a school record which still stands today by scoring five goals in a game and were selected to the New England College Field Hockey All Star Team three times.

You earned 10 varsity letters while playing field hockey for four years, softball for four years and basketball for two years. Your leadership qualities were recognized as you were selected a captain off field hockey in 1979 and 1980 and softball in 1981. You were selected to the Mass. State College Conference All Star team in softball.

In 1982 you were selected to the Boston Field Hockey League All Star team and were named to the New England Field Hockey Association third team that same season.

You became an assistant field hockey coach at Westborough High in 1990 and the team reached the State Finals after winning the District 1 title. You were also an assistant softball coach at Holy Name High School from 1989 through 1991 and the team won the Division 1 District Championship each year and

reached the State playoffs three straight times, including two championship games.

You received your master's degree from Worcester State College in 1991 and are employed as a physical education teacher at Westborough High School.

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

Mark Williams '78

Mark Williams, you were an outstanding basketball player and captain of the 1976-77 team which participated in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) national tournament, the only WSC team ever selected to compete in the NCAA's.

Your 1976-77 team finished with a 17-10 record which tied the school record for most wins in a season. No Lancer team has ever won more than 17 games.

You were a four year starter and your leadership qualities were evident as you became the only three time captain in Worcester State basketball history leading the squad in 1976, 1977 and 1978. A tremendous tribute to you. You scored 1,405 points which was the fourth highest career total at WSC at the time of your graduation. You still rank as the 6th all time leading scorer.

You were named the most valuable player of the 1977-78 team and were selected to the Massachusetts State College Conference (MASCAC) All Star team that same season. You were also selected the MASCAC "Player of the Week" on numerous occasions.

You were named to the Dean's List at Worcester State. You were in charge of the Vernon Hill Basketball League from 1974 to 1984. You worked as the junior varsity basketball coach at Auburn High School in 1978-80 and was an assistant coach at Anna Maria College from 1981 to 1983.

You are a teacher in the Worcester Public School system.

Mark Williams, it is with great pride that we induct

you into the Worcester State College Athletic Hall of Fame.