UMass Dartmouth Corsair Hall of Fame to Induct Class of 1994 at Homecoming
Representing four decades of athletic competition at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and its predecessor institutions, seven former athletes and one team are among the 1994 inductees into the UMass Dartmouth Corsair Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremonies will kick off the 1994 Homecoming Weekend, Friday, October 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Resident's Dining Room.
The UMass Dartmouth Corsair Hall of Fame Class of 1994 includes: Richard Bachand (New Bedford Textile Institute-football, baseball '53), Leonard Alves (Bradford Durfee College of Technolgy-basketball, baseball, '59), Peter Smith (Southeastern Massachusetts University-track, cross country, '77) Greg O'Neil (Southeastern Massachusetts University-swimming, '83), Jane (Sullivan) Fitch (Southeastern Massachusetts University-tennis, '86), Nancy (Boucher) Quintin (Southeastern Massachusetts University-field hockey, basketball, softball, '88) and Kevin Kolek (Southeastern Massachusetts University-basketball, '89).
In the team category, the UMass Dartmouth Corsair Hall of Fame's Class of 1994 will include 1967 tennis team from Southeastern Massachusetts Technological Institute. Among the team members to be honored are: Coach Jerry Aillery '38, Harold Bannister '35, '68, Jack Beardsworth '69, Bob Carvalho '67, Dave Hall '69, Cliff Lincoln '70, John Sherman '68, Jake Twarog '70, Herb Moskowitz '67 and Bob Plourde '69.
The inductees:
Richard Bachand (NBTI '53 football, baseball) - A two-sport athlete for New Bedford Textile Institute, Bachand was a member of the 1952 Southern New England Coastal Conference championship baseball team coached by Clarry Haskell. Although they had a 5-5 overall record, NBTI defeated rival Durfee Tech twice during the regular season and defeated Stonehill College, 2-0 in a playoff to win the conference championship.
Bachand was a utility player in the truest sense, playing second base, third base, outfield and pitching. Listed as a fullback on the football roster, Bachand was the quarterback in NBTI's spread formation and played safety on defense.
Leonard Alves (Bradford Durfee College of Technology '59 baseball, basketball) During his four years at Bradford Durfee College of Technology, Alves played baseball for four years and basketball for three, serving as team captain for both in his senior season. Playing for Coach Abe White's basketball squad, Alves was a play-making guard who averaged in double figures during his junior and senior years.
It was on the baseball field where Alves stood apart. In his four years of baseball, Alves finished with a .475 career batting average, including an incredible sophomore season in which he batted .750. Alves was a freshman third baseman for Coach Everett Arnold's team which finished in a tie with New Bedford Technology Institute for the 1956 Southern New England Coastal Conference baseball championship. Alves capped his athletic career by receiving the 1959 Outstanding Athlete Award as a senior.
Peter Smith (SMU '77 cross country, track) - A four-year letter winner in both cross country and track, Smith was the first cross country All-American at Southeastern Massachusetts University. Competing in SMU's first NCAA national cross country championship, Coach Bob Dowd's Corsairs placed fifth in the 1975 NCAA Division III national championship meet held in Boston and Smith placed 10th overall to earn All-American honors.
In his four years running cross country, Smith's teammates compiled a 51-6 record. During his junior and senior seasons, Smith served as the cross country team captain. As a sophomore in 1973, Smith competed on the Corsairs' team which placed 10th in the NAIA Nationals in Salinas, Kansas. He was also a member of the 1974 team which finished 15th in the NAIA's. In track and field, Smith competed for four seasons on teams which posted a 47-4 record. When he graduated in 1977, Smith held school records in the six-mile and 10,000 meters.
Greg O'Neil (SMU '83 swimming) A four-year letter winner for Coach Jim Filippo's swimming team at SMU, O'Neil was a national Division III qualifier in 1982 and 1983 in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke. In 1983, O'Neil finished 13th nationally in the 200-yard backstroke. Competing against schools from Divisions I, II and III at the All New Englands in 1982 and 1983, O'Neil placed fourth in the 100-yard backstroke and sixth in the 200 yard backstroke. In 1983, he placed sixth in the 1650-yard freestyle.
Jane (Sullivan) Fitch (SMU '86 tennis) The most successful women's tennis player in SMU history, she finished her four-year career with a 27-4 record at first doubles and a first singles record of 38-5 against inter-divisional competition. In 1984 and 1986, Fitch teamed with partner Sue LaFleur to win the Massachusetts State Doubles Championship, finishing as New England runners up in 1984. During her senior season, Fitch and LaFleur captured the New England Women's College Doubles Championship. Fitch was also a runner up for three years in the Massachusetts State Singles Championship.
In her four years with Coach Bob Gilkey's Corsairs as SMU's first singles player, Fitch had won-loss records of 9-4, 12-1, 11-0 and 6-0. Her first doubles record was equally impressive, with records of 6-3, 6-1, 10-0 and 5-0. Fitch closed out her senior season with a perfect 11-0 record.
Nancy Boucher-Quintin ( SMU '88 field hockey, basketball, softball) Competing in three sports for four years is a significant accomplishment in itself, however, Boucher-Quintin's outstanding achievements in each sport make her one of the most versatile athletes to compete in SMU history.
Playing for Coach Marilyn Ritz's field hockey team in 1987, Boucher-Quintin was the first SMU field hockey player to receive All American honors. She was also a two-time regional All-American and was named team captain as a sophomore. During the winter months, Boucher-Quintin was a member of Coach Judy Sullivan's basketball team, earning Little East Conference, New England Coaches' and ECAC All-Star honors. She was also elected team captain in her junior season. In softball, Boucher-Quintin started as a catcher in her freshman season for Coach Ritz and played for four seasons. She was elected team captain as a junior and selected to the New England All-Star softball team as a senior.
Kevin Kolek (SMU '89 basketball) In four seasons with Coach Brian Baptiste's Corsairs' basketball team, Kolek played in every game, finishing third on the all-time career scoring list with 2,027 points. In his four years, Kolek's teams played in three consecutive NCAA Division III tournaments.
As a sophomore, he was named to the NCAA Regional Tournament MVP and was named the New England Basketball Coaches Association Unsung Hero Award. In 1986-87, Kolek was the Little East Conference Player of the Year and was named to the LEC All Tournament team for the 27-1 Corsairs. For the second year in a row, he made the NCAA Regional Tournament All-Tournament team, and was named ECAC Regional Player of the Year.
Kolek capped his career as the Corsairs' co-captain during his senior season, earning LEC Co-Player of the Year and LEC Tournament MVP honors. He was selected to the UPI First Team All-New England, and was named a Converse Second Team All-American. He also made the NCAA Regional All-Tournament team for a third consecutive season. In four seasons as SMU's shooting guard, Kolek averaged 19 points a game with a 51% field goal and three-point shot percentage.
1967 SMTI Tennis Team
Coach Jerry Aillery, Team members Harold Bannister '35, '68, Jack Beardsworth '69, Bob Carvalho '67, Dave Hall '69, Cliff Lincoln '70, John Sherman '68, Jake Twarog '70, Herb Moskowitz '67 and Bob Plourde '69. While the brand new SMTI campus was still under construction, tennis coach Jerry Aillery (New Bedford Textile '39) was in the process of putting together a championship tennis program. Aillery coached tennis at SMTI and SMU for seven years, but his best team was his first in 1967.
The Corsairs finished the 1967 regular season unbeaten at 12-0 and were invited to participate in the NAIA National Tennis Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri. From a field of 40 teams representing colleges and universities from across the country, the Corsairs placed ninth to become the first athletic team at SMTI to garner national attention. With its first NAIA District 32 championship in 1967, Aillery's program began a streak of five consecutive NAIA District 32 titles.
