1998 Hall of Fame Inductees

* Regina Belford (1984)

Regina Belford has been described as an all around athlete that excelled in all sports that she played. A four-year standout for the Women’s Basketball and Softball team, she also participated in Field Hockey and Volleyball. She captained both the Women’s Basketball and Softball teams in her sophomore and junior year. A valued and respected member of both programs, she was named Most Valuable Player of the Softball teams in her sophomore and junior year. A valued and respected member of both programs, she was named Most Valuable Player of the Softball team in her sophomore year. She was honored with this same award in her junior year by the Women’s Basketball team.

In her senior year, Regina chose to add to her duties by accepting the position of Student Sports Information Director. She also split her time at The Beacon as a sports reporter for the student run newspaper. She was described in the Beacon article as the “press agent” for the Athletics Department. Her commitment to the College Athletics program earned her the Sportswoman of the Year award in 1984.

* Tony Crescitelli (1992)

Tony Crescitelli set the standard for the College’s Soccer program. An outstanding soccer player, he was the quintessential finisher for the Men’s Soccer team. Tony’s career began with a bang in 1975 when he led the Nation in scoring with a goal total of 31, a mark he would well surpass his senior year when he led the Nation again in scoring 45 goals. Throughout his career at the College he was showered with well-deserved honors. He was selected to the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference All-Star Team four consecutive seasons and honored as an All-New England team member on three separate occasions. Respected by his teammates, Tony was chosen as the team’s Most Valuable Player in 1976 and 1978. At the conclusion of his college career in 1978, he had distinguished himself as the all-time leading goal scorer in the Nation with 123 goals.

Following his stellar college career, Tony went on to participate in the Olympic Sport Festival in 1978. He was then drafted and signed by a professional Soccer team, the Washington Diplomats. His professional career lasted seven years and took him all over the United States. He played for the San Jose Earthquakes, Team America (United States National team), Ft. Lauderdale Suns, and the Buffalo Stallions.

* Joann (Adams) Deacon (1975)

When looking at Joann Deacon’s athletic resume, a shorter list could be made of the sports she did not play while at the College. A diverse athlete, Joann excelled in Field Hockey, Gymnastics, and Volleyball. She also participated in Women’s Basketball and Softball. Her Volleyball teammates and coach voted her Most Valuable Player in 1974. The Athletic Department acknowledged her athletic prowess in 1974 and 1975 by naming her Sportswoman of the Year. A much deserved award for such a dedicated athlete.

Although her commitment to the College’s Athletics program spanned numerous sports, Joann’s interest in volunteerism also started during her college career. On the weekends, Joann volunteered at the UMCA in North Adams, teaching gymnastics to area youth.

* Laura DiMeo (1981)

Laura DiMeo starred in Field Hockey and Softball from 1978-1981. She excelled on and off the field, in and out of the classroom. She was a four-year team member of the Women’s Field Hockey and Softball teams. She captained the Women’s Softball team during her junior and senior year and was recognized by her teammates and coach as Most Valuable Player in 1981. During the summers of 1978-1980, Laura participated in the U.S. Olympic Field Hockey Development program. A fitting end to her college career, she was named Sportswoman of the Year in 1981.

In the classroom, Laura did an exceptional job of balancing academics and athletics. She was a member of the Alpha Chi Society, an academic honor. She received the Bernard R. Bullett Scholarship and Helen Neel Memorial Award. In 1980, she was named to “Who’s Who In American Colleges and Universities”. She was also a sports reporter for “The Seed”, the student run newspaper, which would be changed to “The Beacon” in her senior year. She then served as Co-Sports Editor. Laura graduated Suma Cum Laude, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy.

* Hon. Paul Kujawski (1976)

Paul Kujawski compiled impressive statistics and honors during his four year Baseball career at the College. The Mohawk catcher/first baseman contributed to the success of the Baseball program in the early 1970’s. A strong hitter with a swift defensive glove, Paul was awarded the first Howard Smith Award for the 1972-73 school year. This award is given to the Most Valuable Player on the Baseball team. He was also honored that year with a selection to the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference All-Star team.

Paul was also active off the baseball diamond. He was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and was recognized his senior year by the Intramural Department with the Award for Intramural Service.

After graduation, Paul taught and coached in the Oxford school system. He was an active member of the Webster School Committee, serving as chairman for twelve years. A life long resident of Webster, Paul was elected State Representative to the 8th Worcester District in 1994. He is presently serving his third term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

A long time supporter of the College, Paul sponsored and won enactment of legislation renaming the College’s Athletic Complex after fellow inductee, Joseph Zavattaro. He also co-sponsored legislation renaming the College to the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

* John Pasquale (1987)

John Pasquale was the College’s top netminder for all four years of his college career. His goaltending has been described as “challenging to shooters”, “possessing inner confidence” as well as “outstanding”. He played for the Mohawks from 1982-1986. During his tenure, coach and teammates honored him three seasons in a row with the James Ellingwood Memorial Award. This award is given to the Most Valuable Player on the Hockey team in honor of their former coach, James Ellingwood. John played under Coach Ellingwood’s leadership his freshman season. He was honored with the award his sophomore, junior, and senior year.

His senior year was especially rewarding when his team won the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference Championship outright, for the first time in school history. He was also selected to the All – MASCAC team that year.

Following his stellar college career, John was invited to the Minnesota North Stars Hockey Camp. Over thirty free agents were invited and John made the cut, down to the last five. Unfortunately, the North Stars had an abundance of goaltenders so John was sent to North Carolina to play with the North Carolina Thunderbirds of the Atlantic Coast League.

* Richard Syriac (1971)

A literal big man on campus, Dick Syriac towered over his opponents on the basketball hardcourt. A four-year team member of the Men’s Basketball team, he also played on the Golf team during his sophomore and junior years. As center for the Basketball team, Dick once held the College’s record for most number of rebounds in a single game (31). He set his mark his junior year, by breaking his own record (30) set his sophomore year. Dick was selected to Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference All-Star team three of his four seasons on the court. During his sophomore campaign, he was chosen to the All-New England Team. During the 1965-66 and 1967-68 school year he was chosen as the team’s Most Valuable Player and presented with the William McKeever Award.

At the end of his basketball career at the College, Dick had accumulated enough points to be distinguished as the College’s all time career scoring leader, a record he held until the mid 1980’s.

* Susan (Giangrande) Wilson (1988)

Sue Wilson was once described by a former teammate as “a great player and…(having) a great attitude towards the game”. Susan excelled at every sport she played at the College. A standout in Women’s Soccer and Softball, she also played Basketball, contributing greatly to her team. A goaltender for the Soccer team, Sue captained and led the team to the East Coast Athletic Conference Championship her senior year. That wasn’t before she was recognized as an All-New England player and selected to the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference All-Star team.

From goalkeeper on the soccer team to shortstop on the Softball team, Sue stepped up to the challenge of leadership positions as she captained the Softball team her junior and senior year. A strong hitter with a powerful arm at shortstop, Sue was twice selected to the All New England team. She coupled that with two selections to the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference All-Star team.

* Joseph Zavattaro (1961)

Joe Zavattaro has become synonymous with the North Adams State Athletics. A pioneer of the College Athletics program, Joe player the first sports offered here at the College and then went on to coach and finally lead the department at Athletic Director.

A lifelong baseball enthusiast, Joe was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates shortly after graduating from Pittsfield High School. His professional career propelled him to the Triple A level. From there he enrolled as a student at the College, starring in both Men’s Basketball and Baseball. During the school years, 1957-58 and 1958-59, Joe was the recipient of the Louis Parisien Memorial Award. This award is presented to a student athlete that excels on the playing field and in the classroom. As a student, Joe was president of the Men’s Athletic Association, the Science Club, and served on the Student Council.

After graduation, he returned to Pittsfield to coach Pittsfield High School to the Western Massachusetts Baseball Finals in 1963. A year later, he took over the helm at his alma mater. There he would stay for thirty-three years. Coupled with his duties as Athletic Director, Joe also coached Soccer, Basketball, and of course, Baseball.

Coaching baseball has allowed Joe to travel all over the world. He has taught and coached the sport in countries such as Zimbabwe, Italy, Canada and Japan. He has published his ideas on Baseball in numerous publications; “New England Baseball Monthly”, “Hit-Hit-Hit”, and “The Tools of Intelligence”. His service on committees is unparalleled in New England. He has served on the NCAA Rules Committee, Chair of the NCAA Baseball Committee, ECAC Softball and Baseball Committee, U.S. Baseball Federation’s International Relations Committee, and as President of the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference.

As the Baseball Coach, Joe has coached countless numbers of All-MASCAC, All-New England, and All-American players. His teams have won 11 Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference titles and have been invited to the ECAC and NCAA tournament numerous times. Joe’s final season at NASC was capped with the MASCAC title and an invitation to the NCAA tournament. A fitting end to a career at his alma mater that ended with 493 wins.