Robert Devlin

Robert Devlin devoted 42 years of his life to athletics as a competitor, coach and athletic director. As an athlete and coach, Bob displayed a fiery competitive spirit and influenced the lives of many student-athletes.

Bob was the athletic director at WSC for 18 years before retiring in 1988. For 19 years he coached baseball. basketball and football at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury. During his tenure as athletic director, the teams racked up more than 800 victories and six undefeated seasons, three each in football and basketball. Under Bob's direction the teams won the state baseball championship and many titles in the New England Catholic Tournament.

At WSC, Bob served as the head coach for men's and women's basketball, tennis and golf. The 1984 golf team won the New England Championship, finished second in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and fourth in the NCAA national tournament in Division III. In 1983 and 1984, Bob was named the NCAA Golf Coach of the Year. In addition, Bob coached tennis and men's basket- ball for five years at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Bob has received many prestigious awards including the Paul N. Johnson Memorial Award for basketball and was inducted into the Massachusetts Coaches Hall of Fame for football and basketball. He was the first Little League commissioner for the City of Worcester, past president of the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference and a member of numerous ECAC selection committees.

Bob is enjoying his retirement playing golf in Worcester and in sunny Florida.

Robert Eramo '83

Robert Eramo's accomplishments in ice hockey and baseball for four years are well documented. He not only gained individual recognition but provided inspiration and leadership to teammates. Bob led the hockey team in winning the ECAC title in the 1973-1974 and 1976-1977 hockey seasons. His outstanding leadership and dedication helped Bob secure the captain position during the 1976-1977 championship season. He played more minutes as a goaltender than any other hockey goalie in Lancer history. Bob logged 3,659 minutes or more than 61 hours guarding the net and had 1,856 career saves. He was a key player during the College's most memorable hockey years when the team won 53 games and clinched its only ECAC championships. The team won the 1973-1974 championship game with an 11-5 victory over Wesleyan University and captured the 1976-1977 crown with an emotional 7- 6 overtime win over Framingham State College.

Under Bob's guidance, the team finished the 1975-1976 season as the ECAC . runner-up and reached the tournament's semifinals in the 1974-1975 season. The team also competed in the ECAC tournament four years straight, a rare feat! Additionally, Bob was an outstanding baseball shortstop and third baseman. He compiled a .291 career batting average.

Bob transferred his athletic skills and sports knowledge to the coaching ranks and worked at Assumption College and WSC as a goal tending instructor and coach.

Today, Bob is the director of sales at Anixter Company in Methuen.

Arthur S. Gazal '73

Arthur's exceptional athletic ability and competitive spirit in basketball, cross country and outdoor track during his impressive four-year career at Worcester State College are well documented.

He was a four year starter during one of the most successful eras in Lancer basketball history. The team compiled a 57-36 record for a .613 winning percentage. Artie reached a personal high of 39 points in a single game and scored 1,186 career points which ranks him as the 11th all time leading scorer. He received All- New England Honorable mention in 1971-1972 and selected third team All New England in 1970-1971. He was also named to the New England State College Athletic All Conference team twice. During the 1970-1971 season, Artie was named the most valuable player and the following season was co-most valuable player. He also served as a team captain.

In 1970, Artie established the WSC track record of 19' 11" in the long jump. Additionally, he competed in the 220 yard dash and was a member of the 440 yard relay team.

After graduation, Artie joined the coaching ranks. He was an assistant coach at the 1979 Youth Games and for five years was the assistant varsity coach in women's basketball and men's baseball at Becker College in Leicester.

Artie is a member of the East Side Improvement Club, the Italian American Victory Club and is employed as a correctional officer at the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction.

 Kevin M. Morrissey '90

Kevin arrived at Worcester State College the year varsity football was introduced, and made an immediate impact on the program. He helped to establish the football team as one to be reckoned with in Division III.

His physical size, quickness, keen athletic ability and desire made Kevin one' of the most feared defensive linemen in the New England Football Conference throughout his four years. He is the all time leading tackler and maintains the career record for quarterback sacks at WSC. In 1988, Kevin set the single season record for quarterback sacks with 12 1/2 and also set the single game record with five quarterback sacks against Framingham State College.

Kevin's leadership ability was recognized in 1988 when he was elected a captain of the football team. He was instrumental in leading the team to an undefeated 5-0 record in the first varsity season. Kevin also played a key role in 1987 and 1988 when the team won the South Division title of the New England Football Conference (NEFC) with 7-2 and 7-3 records respectively. The team's overall record. was 23-10 during Kevin's tenure and ranked in the top 10 in New England three of his four years. In 1987 Kevin was selected the ECAC Defensive Player of the Week and later in 1988 Kevin made first team All East by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). He was named to the NEFC All Star team in his junior and senior years. Kevin also played on the ice hockey team during his senior year.

After graduation Kevin played defensive line for the Marlboro Shamrocks semi-pro football team for six years. He is employed as an athletic trainer at the Occupational Health and Rehabilitation Inc. in Waltham.

Sandra Nelson '72 

Sandra enthusiastically pioneered the women's athletic program at Worcester State College and willingly served on the College' s Athletic Association committee. Her exceptional athletic ability and competitive spirit have distinguished Sandy as one of the most versatile athletes in Lancer history.

Sandy played basketball and softball for three years and was named a captain of both teams in her senior year. She also played volleyball and club lacrosse for the Lancers. Sandy was the center and leading rebounder on the basketball team and a member of 1971 state championship team. That same year, she played on the first WSC softball team and finished the season with a 4-0 record and later in 1972 finished with an impressive 8-1 record. She even helped to pick out the team's first uniform from the College bookstore. Sandy scored 315 points in basketball and had a .367 career batting average in softball. Later she joined the coaching ranks and for more than 20 years she coached basketball at two area high schools.

Under her direction, in 1977 and 1983 the Leicester High School teams won the Division III District titles. Sandy has been a coach at the David Prouty High School for the past four years and each season the basketball team won the Western Worcester County Tournament. During Sandy's career, the basketball teams have won the district title twice and reached the finals three other times. The teams have an overall record of 298-112, an amazing 73 winning percentage. The 1993-1994 David Prouty High School team won the Central Massachusetts Officials Sportsmanship Award. Sandy also coached girl’s tennis at both schools.

 Gayle Wallace '90 

Gayle's talent, drive and determination helped make her one of the top all time players in the history of Worcester State College athletics. She was an outstanding athlete who played field hockey, basketball and softball.

Gayle played two years of field hockey and was the leading scorer both years scoring 19 total goals and having seven assists for 26 points. In basketball, she scored 784 points in three years and was selected a Massachusetts State College Conference (MASCAC) All Star her junior and senior years. Gayle was a captain of the 1990 team that competed in the ECAC tournament. Gayle played softball for three years and was named the All New England shortstop in her junior and senior year and was selected to the MASCAC All Star team both years. Gayle hit .433 her senior year and led the Lancers to the ECAC North Championship as the team won 25 games that year, the most wins in a single season in College history. She was the team captain. Gayle finished her career with a lofty .391 batting aver- age and set the College all time record with 15 triples. She was a member of the 1988 team which hit .396 and won the national NCAA team batting title.

For four years, Gayle worked at the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston on the traumatic spinal cord injury unit before her career took a sudden swing with aspirations of becoming a professional golfer. She still works in occupational therapy and also at the PGA National Golf Course at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida and is hoping to qualify for the U.S. Women's Amateur Golf Open. Her ultimate ambition is to make the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour.