University of Massachusets Athletics
Class of 2000 Announced
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June 26, 2000
By Charles Bare & Susan CoscioneThe Maroon & WhiteThe Hall of Fame Selection Committee took on the difficult task of sorting through the accomplishments of a distinguished group of nominees, and when all was said and done the committee voted to induct six new members to the UMass Athletic Hall of Fame presented by George "Trigger" Burke. The new members are: Kristen Bowsher (women's soccer), Mike Flanagan (baseball), Bruce Kimball (football), Sal LaCascio (men's lacrosse), Jeff Reardon (baseball) and Anne Vexler (women's gymnastics).
"This is just an outstanding group of individuals, truly one of our finest classes," said UMass Athletic Director Bob Marcum. "Once again, this is a class that will bring added honor and distinction to this Hall of Fame, the athletic department and the University of Massachusetts. We are very proud to be associated with such accomplished athletes and such accomplished people."
Kristen Bowsher was a four-year letterwinner for the UMass women's soccer team from 1984-87, earning National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-America honors as a midfielder in each of her four seasons. She helped lead the Minutewomen to four consecutive NCAA Tournament final four appearances from 1984-87, including 1987 when the team lost to North Carolina, 2-0 in the national championship game, and won a school record 20 games. Bowsher was a three time NCAA All-Tournament team selection from 1985-87, leading UMass to an overall record of 65-9-4 during her four years. Bowsher scored 66 career points on 22 goals and 22 assists, which ranked fifth in school history at the time of graduation. An All-New England selection in each of her four seasons, Bowsher served as the team captain as a junior and was a two-time ISAA Academic All-American. She also played on the 1983 and 1986 Olympic Festival teams. A native of Maplewood, N.J., Bowsher received her degree in Engineering from UMass in 1988. She now resides in Montgomery Village, Md., and is a Biomedical Engineer for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
"It is a great honor to be inducted into the UMass Hall of Fame," Bowser said. "And I owe a lot of my success to my teammates, especially those teammates that spent all four years with me, including Debbie Belkin, Carolyn Micheel, Christine Schmitt, Monica Seta and Cathy Spence."
Mike Flanagan lettered for the UMass baseball team in 1972 and 1973, earning first team All-Yankee Conference and first team All-New England honors in 1973 before turning professional. Flanagan went 9-1 with a 1.52 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 1973, to lead the team in all three categories. His nine wins and .900 winning percentage set school single season records at the time. He received the E. Joseph Thompson Memorial Trophy as the team's MVP in 1973, after leading the team to an overall record of 21-9-1, including a trip to the NCAA Tournament and the Yankee Conference championship. Flanagan had a career ERA of 1.19 and a career winning percentage of .923 (12-1), which are both still the best marks in school history. He also played in the outfield while at UMass, hitting .320 with six homers and 29 RBIs in 128 career at-bats. After he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1973, Flanagan went on to pitch 18 seasons in the major leagues with the Orioles (1975-1987, 1991-1992) and Toronto Blue Jays (1987-1990). He had a career record of 167-143 with 1,491 strikeouts and a 3.89 ERA in 2,770 innings pitched, and won the 1979 American League Cy Young Award for the Orioles, going 23-9 with 190 strikeouts and a 3.08 ERA in 265-2/3 innings. Flanagan pitched over 200 innings seven times in his major league career, including four straight years from 1977-1980. He won 12 or more games in a season eight times during his major league career, struck out 100 or more batters six times, and was a member of the Baltimore Orioles 1983 World Championship team. A native of Manchester, N.H., Flanagan received his degree from the UMass School of Education in 1975. He now resides in Sparks, Md., and serves as a television analyst for Home Team Sports.
Bruce Kimball earned three letters as a member of the UMass football team from 1976-78, and earned first team All-America honors at guard in both 1977 and 1978. Kimball anchored the UMass line that helped the Minutemen rush for over 3,000 yards in 1978 (a school single season record at the time) en route to the NCAA Division I-AA national championship game. Three different players on that 1978 team rushed for over 500 yards, including 1000-yard rusher Dennis Dent. Kimball served as captain in 1978, and earned All-Yankee Conference honors in both 1977 and 1978 when the team won back-to-back conference titles. A member of the 50th Anniversary Yankee Conference team, Kimball also helped UMass to the 1977 NCAA Division II playoffs. Following the conclusion of his UMass career, Kimball was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the 1979 National Football League Draft. He played for two seasons in the Canadian Football League for the Toronto Argonauts, before moving on to the NFL in 1982. Kimball played for the New York Giants in 1982 and the Washington Redskins in 1983 and 1984, and was part of the Redskins' 1984 Super Bowl championship team. A native of Rowley, Mass., he received his degree from UMass in Physical Education in 1979. Kimball now resides in Rye, N.H.
"I feel very lucky to be inducted into the UMass Athletic Hall of Fame," Bruce Kimball said. "It is a great honor, and I was fortunate enough to play with a lot of great players in my three seasons at UMass."
Sal LoCascio was a four-year letterwinner on the UMass lacrosse team from 1986-89, earning United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association All-America honors at goalie in each of his four seasons. A three-time New England Player of the Year selection and four-time All-New England honoree, LoCascio, holds the all-time NCAA record for career saves with 931. He was the starting goalie on four consecutive NCAA Tournament and New England Championship teams from 1986-89, including the 1989 team that was the first UMass team to advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. LoCascio led the team in saves all four seasons, and his four single season save totals are the four best in UMass history, including a record 271in 1987. He served as team co-captain as a senior, and set an NCAA record with 29 saves in an NCAA Tournament first round game against Johns Hopkins in 1986. LoCascio started all 54 games he played in his four year career, and as a senior participated in the North South All-Star game. Following the completion of his UMass career, LoCascio has been a three-time member of Team USA, winning three world championships (1990, 94, 98). He was named MVP of the World Games in 1990 and was named to the All-World team in 1994. He has never lost a game in international competition. LoCascio has also played in the Major Indoor and National Lacrosse leagues as well as in the club lacrosse league since finishing his collegiate career. Has played nine years for New York Saints in the Indoor League, and is the active career leader in saves. He earned All-Pro honors six times (1991-94, 1998-99), and was chosen as the Saints' MVP four times (1991-94). A native of Islip, N.Y., LoCascio earned his degree in Economics from UMass in 1989 and currently works as a sales representative for Baxter Healthcare.
"It's truly an honor," Sal LoCascio said. "UMass has a special place in my heart. I am really looking forward to my induction, and I am honored to be going in with some of the caliber of folks who are going in with me or are already in the hall of fame."
Jeff Reardon lettered four times on the UMass baseball team from 1974-77, and still holds the all-time UMass record for career strikeouts with 234. He pitched 253-1/3 innings during his UMass career, setting a record which stood until the 1999 season. Reardon also led the team in strikeouts all four years, and had the lowest ERA on the team as a freshman in 1974. He set a school record with 37 starts on the mound during his career, including 13 complete games, and led the team to a 24-13 record as a junior in 1976, setting a then-team record for single season victories. Reardon went 5-3 with a 2.95 ERA as a senior in 1977, and was drafted by the New York Mets following the completion of the season. He went on to pitch 16 years in the major leagues with the Mets (1979-1981), Montreal Expos (1981-1986), Boston Red Sox (1990-1992), Atlanta Braves (1992), Cincinnati Reds (1993) and New York Yankees (1994). Reardon had a major league career record of 73-77 with 367 saves, 877 strikeouts and a 3.15 ERA in 1,132-1/3 innings pitched. His 367 career saves set a major league record at the time (he currently ranks fourth), and he had 20 or more saves 11 straight seasons from 1982-1992. Reardon pitched in 880 career games, a mark which still ranks 13th in major league history, and led the majors with 41 saves in 1985. He is still the all-time save leader in Expos history with 152 during his career, and was a member of the Minnesota Twins 1987 World Championship team. A native of Dalton, Mass., Reardon received his degree from UMass in Humanities and Fine Arts in 1978. He currently resides in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
"I'm very excited to be elected into the Hall of Fame," Jeff Reardon said. "I always felt that if it wasn't for UMass, I wouldn't have made it into the big leagues."
Anne Vexler earned four letters as a member of the UMass women's gymnastics team from 1971-74, earning All-America honors in 1973. She was a member of the 1973 team that captured the AIAW Intercollegiate Gymnastics National Championship, and tied for first in the all-around at the Eastern Regional in 1972. Vexler was a finalist on balance beam at both Nationals and Easterns in 1972, with UMass finishing fourth as a team in the 1972 AIAW National Championship. Vexler finished fourth in the all-around at the 1973 AIAW National Championship (team best) and finished fourth on the floor exercise, seventh on the balance beam and ninth on the uneven bars. In 1974, Vexler led UMass to the Eastern Championship and a third place finish at the AIAW National Championship. At the 1974 Eastern Championship meet, Vexler finished second in the all around, first on the balance beam, second on floor exercise and fifth on the uneven bars. A co-captain as a senior, Vexler was also invited to participate at the 1973 World University Games held in Moscow.
The Class of 2000 will be honored at a dinner on the UMass campus in early January, preceded by satellite events at each of the inductees' hometowns or current places of residence. This is the fourth class UMass has honored since the resurrection of the Hall of Fame after a 15-year period of dormancy.
The nine-member Hall of Fame Committee includes: Dick Bresciani, V.P. Public Affairs, Boston Red Sox, Atty. George "Trigger" Burke, Hall of Fame Member, Bob Goodhue, UMass Alumni Association, Peter Lewenberg, University Trustee, Bob Marcum, UMass Athletic Director, James Mulcahy, Co-Founder Varsity "M" Club, John Nitardy, Associate Athletic Director for Development, Elaine Sortino, Associate Athletic Director for Sports Programs and Student Services, and Bill Strickland, Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs. Nominations are now being accepted for the Class of 2001. Call the UMass Media Relations office for nominating procedures and criteria at (413) 545-2439.