University of Massachusets Athletics
2015 Hall of Fame Class Announced
December 11, 2015 | General
AMHERST, Mass. -- The University of Massachusetts Department of Athletics has announced five new members will be inducted into the George "Trigger" Burke UMass Athletics Hall of Fame as the Class of 2015. The official ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 16, at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom.
The Class of 2015 includes Doug Clark (baseball, 1995-98), Lisa Griswold (women's lacrosse, 1983-87), Emma Kurowski (women's soccer, 1996-99), Kelly Liljeblad-Shedleur (women's cross country and track and field, 1990-95) and Robert "Bubba" Pena (football, 1969-70).
Doug Clark (baseball, 1995-98; football, 1995-97)
In his three seasons with Massachusetts baseball, Clark compiled a career .366 batting average -- the fourth-highest average in program history. He is also third all-time in UMass history with 137 RBI. In 1996, he helped the Minutemen to an Atlantic-10 Championship and a school-record 40 wins, including three victories in the NCAA Regional Championships. A two-time team captain, Clark had a banner season in 1997 when he broke into the single-season record lists in hits (second all-time, 76), RBI (third, 60), total bases (third, 123) and batting average (fourth, .415).
After his collegiate career, Clark was drafted by San Francisco in the seventh round of the 1998 MLB draft. He played in 14 games with the Giants and the Oakland A's. From 1998 to 2007, he played Minor League Baseball in the Giants, A's and Atlanta Braves organizations where he had a batting average of .289. Clark also played in Japan, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico and South Korea. In 2008, he was a Korean All-Star. He is currently working with the Giants as a hitting instructor in the minor leagues.
Lisa Griswold (women's lacrosse, 1986-87; field hockey, 1985-86)
During her tenure at UMass, Griswold was an accomplished two-sport athlete and a two-time All-American in both lacrosse (1986, 1987) and field hockey (1985, 1986). She was also a 1986-87 Honda Award nominee in field hockey.
In field hockey, Massachusetts' teams went 29-9-3 in her two seasons, making appearances at the NCAA Championships both years. She ranks No. 9 all-time for points in a season with 44 in 1986. In lacrosse, her teams went 15-9 and were the ECAC runners-up in 1987. Griswold scored 49 career points with 36 goals and 13 assists.
Following her collegiate career, Griswold was a graduate assistant at UMass (1988-89) before working as an assistant coach at Yale (1992-93). She was also a member of the U.S. Lacrosse Team from 1987 to 1992 and, in 1989, she led the squad to a gold at the World Championship.
She is currently the head coach at Darien High School in Connecticut, where she is one of the most decorated coaches in Connecticut high school lacrosse history. Griswold has guided her teams to 14 FCIAC Championships and 14 state titles while amassing six Connecticut Coach of the Year awards. She is also the Girls' Lacrosse Director at Sono Field House in Norwalk, Conn.
Emma Kurowski (women's soccer, 1996-99)
The all-time leading scorer in program history, Kurowski guided Massachusetts women's soccer to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and the 1997 Atlantic 10 Championship. To this day, she remains one of only three players to eclipse the 100-point barrier with her program-record 124 points in 82 games.
The native of Sutton, Mass., Kurowski was an All-Atlantic 10 First-Team selection in each of her four years as a Minutewoman, one of just three players in program history to accomplish that feat. She was a two-time NSCAA All-Region pick in 1997 and 1999 and was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year as a senior when she scored 14 goals in 17 games. In her first year with the Maroon and White, she was named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year as she helped the Minutewomen reach the NCAA Sweet 16. As prolific as she was on the field, Kurowski was equally adept in the classroom as she earned conference all-academic honors as a sophomore, junior and senior.
She still holds the program record for career goals (47), is tied for career game-winning goals (12) and ranks second in assists (30). Kurowski also continues to hold two spots on both the program single-season points and goals lists. Her 35 points scored during the 1997 season ranks fifth-best, while her 32 points in 1999 ranks ninth. Her 14 goals in 1999 is tied for fourth all-time, while her 13 goals in 1997 is tied for seventh.
Following her collegiate career, Kurowski worked for ESPN/ABC as a freelance production and talent coordinator and field producer. She was also an assistant coach at Holy Cross from 2006-08.
Kelly Liljeblad-Shedleur (women's cross country and track and field, 1990-95)
Liljeblad-Shedleur was a three-time All-Atlantic 10 performer in cross country from 1990-92. In the 1992 A-10 Championship meet, she helped the Minutewomen capture the title with her runner-up finish.
One of the greatest distance runners in Massachusetts history, Liljeblad-Shedleur was a 1995 All-American after finishing fifth in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships as a senior. She was also an NCAA Indoor Championships qualifier, a New England Champion and an Atlantic 10 Champion during her career. She still holds the school record for the indoor 3,000-meter run (9:35.67). By the of her career, she held records in the indoor mile, the indoor 3,000 meters, the indoor 5,000 meters, the 10,000 meters and as part of the of the 4x800-meter relay team.
After graduation, Liljeblad-Shedleur became an accomplished professional runner, marathoner and Ironman triathlete. Her accomplishments include 2008 Miami Marathon Champion, 2005 Houston Marathon Champion, 2003 World Championship Marathon Team (one of five Americans selected) and the 1999 World Champion Half Marathon Team (one of five Americans). She was also a 2000 and 2004 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier. Liljeblad-Shedleur was also a member of Fila Discovery USA 2002 (one of five Americans selected) and represented the USA at the 2004 Chiba Ekiden in Japan. She has been sponsored by New Balance and K Swiss.
Robert "Bubba" Pena (football, 1969-70)
One of the all-time great offensive linemen in Massachusetts football history, Pena helped the then-Redmen win the Yankee Conference Championship in 1969 with a 6-3 overall record and a 5-0 mark in conference play. That season, Pena was part of an offensive line that blocked for the Redmen offense which rushed for 2,162 yards. A two-time All-New England selection, he was the 1970 Massachusetts MVP and twice named first-team All-Yankee Conference.
Pena was selected in the fourth round of the 1971 NFL draft by Cleveland and went on to spend four seasons with the Browns. He earned starting rolls on the offensive line in both 1972 and 1973. Pena played in seven games, making four starts during the 1972 season as the Browns finished 10-4 and second in the AFC Central Division. He was slotted as a replacement for Pro Football Hall of Fame guard Gene Hickerson by the Browns.
Pena is the fourth highest NFL draft pick in program history behind Milt Morin (first round), Greg Landry (first round) and Vladimir Ducasse (second round).
Tickets for the events are $50 per person and can be purchased by contacting Jason Germain with the Minutemen Club (413-577-0267).
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