University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Athletics Inducts Five-Member 2014 Hall Of Fame Class
May 01, 2015 | Baseball
The University of Massachusetts Department of the Athletics has inducted five new members into the George "Trigger" Burke UMass Athletics Hall of Fame as the Class of 2014 as the official ceremony was held on Friday evening on campus at the Student Union Ballroom.
The Class of 2014 includes Kole Ayi (Football, 1997-00), Carl Boteze (Baseball, 1965-67), Billy Brown (Men's Swimming, 1997-01), Monty Mack (Men's Basketball, 1997-01) and Thomas Poeck (Ice Hockey, 2001-04).
Kole Ayi - Football - 1997-00
A two-time first-team All-American, Kole Ayi set the standard by which all UMass linebackers are judged. To this day, he remains as UMass' all-time leader in solo tackles with 330 and ranks third in career total tackles with 478. In addition to his All-America honors, Ayi was a two-time finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is given to the top defensive player in FCS football, and he was honored with the George "Bulger" Lowe Award as the top defensive player in New England from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston in 2000.
Ayi, a native of Nashua, New Hampshire, will always be remembered for his standout performance in the 1998 NCAA National Championship game where he recorded a game-high 16 tackles, had three fumble recoveries and forced two fumbles. He even scored a touchdown by returning a fumble recovery leading the Minutemen to their first-ever national title.
Beginning his career at UMass as a walk-on, Ayi finished his time in Amherst as one of the best players ever. He was an All-Atlantic 10 first team pick in 1999 and 2000 and was a second-team selection in 1998. He led UMass in tackles as a sophomore, junior and senior. His 116 tackles during the 1998 campaign still stand as the school record for single-season tackles.
Following his time at UMass, Ayi signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Rams. He was a member of the New England Patriots during the 2002 Super Bowl Championship season as well.
Carl Boteze - Baseball - 1965-67
One of the all-time great pitchers for the UMass baseball team, Carl Boteze helped the Redmen to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 1966 and 1967. In each of those years, Boteze pitched UMass to Yankee Conference Championships as well. With him as the team captain, the 1967 club was one of the best in program history as the Redmen fell just shy of the College World Series after losing a three-game series to Boston College.
Boteze was primarily a pitcher, but also played third base for UMass. He was a three-time All-Yankee Conference selection (1965, 1966, 1967) and was named to the 1966 All-New England Second Team as a pitcher. In 1965 and 1966 he was awarded the E. Joseph Thompson Memorial MVP Trophy, while in 1967 he was honored with the Dennis DellaPiana Memorial Award and served as team captain.
The Pittsfield, Massachusetts, native still ranks among the all-time leaders in UMass baseball. He is tied for 1st in career strikeouts (234), 4th in innings pitched (244.0), tied for 4th in wins (20), tied for 5th in complete games (17) and 8th in lowest earned run average (2.40). He also continues to hold the best single-season win performance (10, 1966) in program history and ranks 4th in strikeouts (94, 1966) and innings pitched (91.0, 1966).
At the plate, he was a career .296 hitter in 41 games. He posted 40 career hits, 15 RBI and scored 16 runs.
After the 1967 season, he signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox and spent three seasons in the minor leagues.
Billy Brown - Men's Swimming - 1997-01
An Atlantic 10 Champion, ECAC Champion, NCAA Championship competitor and U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier, Billy Brown helped set the standard for UMass swimming.
As a freshman, Brown burst onto the scene by winning the ECAC Championship in the 200 breaststroke and placing third and fourth place in the 200 and 100 breaststroke events, respectively.
In the 1998-99 season, he placed second in the 100 and 200 breaststroke at the Atlantic 10 Championships while setting school records in those categories. He also placed fourth in the 400 individual medley at the A-10 Championships.
The Fullerton, California, native set school records in the 100 and 200 breaststroke when he became the A-10 champion in both events in the 1999-2000 season while placing second in the 400 individual medley. He qualified for the US Olympic Trials that year as well.
Brown was named the A-10 Championships Swimmer of the Meet in the 2000-01 season after placing first in the 200 breaststroke, first in the 400 individual medley and second in the 100 breaststroke. His 1:58.66 time in the 200 breaststroke was an NCAA qualifying mark as well as a school record. He placed 39th in the 100 meter breaststroke and 33rd in the 200 meter breaststroke at the NCAA Championships. To date, he is the only UMass men's swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Upon graduation, Brown held school records in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes, 400 individual medley and 400 medley relay. He also established the Atlantic 10 record in the 200 breaststroke which stood for 14 years until being broken this past season.
According to head coach Russ Yarworth in his nomination letter, "Billy helped establish the UMass swimming and diving program's tradition of excellence which has continued through the past decade. His NCAA Qualifying performance was the single most impressive feat of that generation of UMass swimmers and still stands as the best performance in UMass swimming history."
Monty Mack - Men's Basketball - 1997-01
One of the all-time great players in program history and one of UMass fans' favorite players, Monty Mack was the best long-range shooter in program history. A three-time NABC All-District selection (1999, 2000, 2001), Mack is the second leading scorer in program history behind Jim McCoy with 2,183 points.
Mack, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, was a key fixture in the rotation from his first days on campus as a freshman in 1997-98. He concluded his freshman season as a member of the All-Atlantic 10 Rookie Team and helped UMass reach its seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament.
From there, he led the Minutemen in scoring each of his following three seasons and was named to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team in 2000 and 2001 after being a second-team pick in 1999.
Mack continues to remain No. 1 all-time in three-pointers made and attempted (331-910) and also in minutes played (4,391). He ranks fifth in career scoring average at 17.7 points per game, is second in field goals (766) and third in steals (154). He averaged a career-best 19.9 points per game as a junior in 1999-00 when he helped UMass reach the Atlantic 10 Championship game. Mack also still shares the program record for most three-pointers in a game with eight made which he did in the Atlantic 10 Tournament against St. Bonaventure in 2001.
Following his UMass career, Mack played professionally overseas for many years including in the FIBA Europe League, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Belgium, Romania and the Balkan League. In 2005, he was named MVP of the Biv 10K Streetball Classic in Boston.
Thomas Poeck - Ice Hockey - 2001-04
Thomas Poeck is regarded as one of the most highly accomplished members of the ice hockey program in UMass history. The native of Klagenfurt, Austria, was the Minutemen's first-ever Hobey Baker finalist and an All-American selection in 2004. That same year he was named as the InsideCollegeHockey.com National Defenseman of the Year. Over his final two seasons, he led UMass to a 38-29-7 record and a pair of appearances in the Hockey East Championship Semifinals. In 2004, Poeck guided UMass to the Hockey East Championship game in what is considered one of the greatest title games in league history as the Minutemen fought 2nd-ranked Maine through three overtime periods before falling 2-1. That year he became the Minutemen's first-ever Hockey East First Team All-Conference selection after being named to the second team in 2003.
The converted forward was the seventh player in program history to eclipse the 100-point barrier finishing his career with 102 points on 44 goals and 58 assists in 130 games. As a senior, he had a career-best 41 points with 16 goals and 25 assists.
To date, Poeck ranks 10th in program history for career points, 11th in career goals and 15th in career assists. He also ranks 4th in game-winning goals (7), 5th in power play goals (17) and 4th in power play points (44). His 10 power play goals in 2003-04 is tied as the second-most for a single-season in program history as are his 20 power play points that year. Additionally, he still holds program records for a defenseman including season goals (17, 2003-04), career goals (44), season points (41, 2003-04) and career points (102).
Poeck also played for the Austrian National Team making Olympic appearances in 2002 (while a sophomore at UMass) and again in 2014. Prior to his time at UMass, Poeck won a World Championship (C-Pool) with the Austria Under-20 National Team in Nagano, Japan. In international competition, Poeck has played in five World Championships (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2013).
Professionally, Poeck signed a free agent contract with the New York Rangers after the 2004 season ended and scored his first NHL goal that same day. All told, he spent 11 years playing hockey professionally between the NHL, the AHL and in Europe. In the NHL logging minutes in 118 games between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders. He also played in 257 AHL games with 34 goals and 111 assists to his credit. Poeck's career also took him back to Europe where he has played professionally in Switzerland, Sweden and Austria. He is currently playing for Klagenfurt AC in Austria.
UMASS ATHLETICS GEORGE "TRIGGER" BURKE HALL OF FAME MEMBERS
Marjorie Anderson `82 - Women's Lacrosse
Holly Aprile `93 - Softball
Kalekeni Banda '75 - Soccer Coach
Tony Barbee '93 - Men's Basketball
David Bartley `56 - Basketball, Special Service
Debbie Belkin '88 - Women's Soccer
Dick Bergquist '57 - Baseball Coach
Tom Bishko - Special Service
Kristen Bowsher '88 - Women's Soccer
Dick Bresciani, '60 - Sports Information Director
Jeannine Burger '75 - Women's Gymnastics
George "Trigger" Burke '56 - Basketball
Lou Bush '34 - Baseball, Basketball, Football
Pam Bustin `91 - Field Hockey
George "Sugar" Cain '33 - Baseball, Ice Hockey
John Calipari - Men's Basketball Coach
Marcus Camby - Men's Basketball
Jack Canniff - Ice Hockey Coach Tony Chambers '54 - Football
Thomas Coburn `76 - Men's Soccer
Bernie Dallas '66 - Football
Ned Deane '75 - Football
Bill DeFlavio `73 - Football
Gary DiSarcina `88 - Baseball
Joe DiSarcina '69 - Baseball, Men's Basketball
Rebecca Donaghue '98 - Cross Country, Track & Field
Dorothy Donnelly '41 - Women's Swimming & Diving
Megan Donnelly '86 - Field Hockey
Ray Ellerbrook '70 - Baseball, Basketball
Frederick "Fritz" Ellert '30 - Baseball, Men's Basketball, Football, Track & Field
Jack Foley `57 - Men's Basketball
Julius Erving '72 - Men's Basketball
Patrick Flaherty `72 - Ice Hockey
Mike Flanagan '75 - Baseball
Vic Fusia - Football Coach
Bob Foote `62 - Football
Dick Garber - Lacrosse Coach
Jackie Gaw '83 - Women's Soccer, Softball
Bill Gillin `75 - Cross Country, Track & Field
Harold "Kid" Gore '13 - Football, Baseball, Basketball & Football coach
Emory Grayson '17 - Baseball, Men's Basketball, Football
Doug Grutchfield, '61 - Men's Basketball
Danielle Henderson `99 - Softball
Scott E. Hiller `90 - Men's Lacrosse
Pam Hixon - Field Hockey Coach
Bob "Squeaky" Horn `56 - Cross country, Track & Field
Dick Hoss '62 - Football, Men's Lacrosse
Rene Ingoglia `96 - Football
Sarah Jones - Women's Rowing
April Kater, '91 - Women's Soccer
Patrick Keenan '73 - Ice Hockey
Russ Kidd '56 - Football, Ice Hockey, Men's Lacrosse
Bruce Kimball '79 - Football
Greg Landry '68 - Football
Edward "Ned" Larkin '59 - Baseball, Men's Basketball
Jack Leaman - Basketball Coach
Michele Leary `90 - Women's Swimming
Charles Leverone `60 - Men's Gymnastics, Men's Soccer, Swimming, Track & Field
Sal LoCascio '89 - Men's Lacrosse
Joseph Lojko '34 - Baseball, Men's Basketball, Football
Earl Lorden - Baseball Coach
Cari Nickerson Lovejoy `80 - Women's Lacrosse
Bill MacConnell '41 - Skiing Coach
Dick MacPherson - Football Coach
Bob Marcum - Administrator
Tammy Marshall '93 - Women's Gymnastics
Ed McAleney '76 - Football
Justin "Jerry" McCarthy '21 - Baseball, Ice Hockey
Jim McCoy, '92 - Men's Basketball
Edward McGrath `49, `51 - Men's Soccer, Basketball, Baseball
Warren McGuirk - Administrator
Brian McIver, '91 - Swimming & Diving, Water Polo
Joe McLaughlin `79 - Football
Bob Meers '66 - Football
Greg Menton - Men's Swimming, Water Polo
Mark Millon `94 - Men's Lacrosse
Clifton Morey '39 - Baseball, Football, Ice Hockey
Milt Morin '66 - Football, Men's Lacrosse, Wrestling
Laura O'Neil '81 - Field Hockey, Women's Lacrosse
Garry Pearson '83 - Football
Sue Peters '80 - Women's Basketball, Softball
Bob Pickett - Football Coach, Administrator
Bill Prevey '52 - Men's Basketball
Carol Progulske '84 - Field Hockey, Women's Lacrosse
Granville Pruyne '33 - Men's Soccer
Michael Quinn `79 - Track and Field
Dr. James Ralph - Team Physician
Julie Ready-Mulvey '81 - Women's Basketball
Jeff Reardon '77 - Baseball
Noel Reebenacker '53 - Football
George Richason, Jr. '37 - Athletic Council
Allyson Rioux, '84 - Softball
Lou Roe `95 - Men's Basketball
Joseph Rogers - Swimming & Diving Coach
Hilary Rose `98 - Field Hockey
Khari Mitchell-Samuel `98 - Football
Steve Schubert `73 - Football
Briana Scurry `93 - Women's Soccer
Marcel Shipp `09 - Football
Al Skinner '74 - Men's Basketball
Elaine Sortino - Softball Coach
Tim Soudan `90 - Men's Lacrosse
Jeff Spooner '77 - Men's Lacrosse
John Stewart '36 - Baseball, Men's Basketball, Football
Judy Strong '81 - Field Hockey, Women's Lacrosse
Brian Sullivan `72 - Ice Hockey
Brooks Sweet `80 - Men's Lacrosse
Phil Tarpey '55 - Baseball
John Thomas '75 - Cross Country, Track & Field
Octavia Thomas `96 - Women's Basketball
Billy Tindall '68 - Men's Basketball, Track & Field
Rodger Twitchell '64 - Men's Basketball, Tennis
Phil Vandersea `65 - Football
Anne Vexler '74 - Women's Gymnastics
Ron Villone `93 - Baseball, Football
Ron Wayne `71 - Cross Country, Track & Field
Doug Welenc '79 - Baseball
Jim Weller '82 - Men's Lacrosse
Paul Wennik `62 - Baseball
Jerry Whelchel `64 - Football
Paula Wilkins `94 - Women's Soccer
Harper Williams `93 - Men's Basketball
Raymond Yando `66 - Soccer