Bill Caprari- Class of 1975

Bill Caprari, a four-year member of the baseball team from 1970-1975, led the team in nine different statistical categories and helped to capture two MASCAC Championships in 1973 and 1974. He was elected captain for his senior season and awarded the Louis Parisien Award in 1974. He was voted All-MASCAC in both 1973 and 1974.

Caprari earned the Bernard Bullett Scholarship in 1973 and graduated Cum Laude in 1975 with a degree in education. In 1980 he received his master's degree in education. After graduation, Caprari worked as the Sports Information Director for the College until 1979, when he moved into the Student Affairs Division and was ultimately appointed Campus Center Director. He stayed actively involved in the coaching ranks, assisting the baseball program for two seasons and eventually became the co-head coach of the baseball team in 1985. He also served nine years as the cross country coach from 1991 to 1998, and three years as the assistant softball coach from 2005 to 2008. Caprari remained active in athletics beyond coaching for several years. He managed the equipment room, oversaw and operated the Campus Center pool, and monitored the Campus Center fitness center. Caprari has been an elected member of the Alumni Association's Board of Directors since 1980 and received the Award for Outstanding Service to the College in 2005.

After retiring this past May 2009, Bill is looking forward to spending time with family and friends, traveling, journalistic ventures, and of course, catching the next Trailblazer athletic event.

Tom Cronin- Class of 1987

Tom Cronin was a four-year member of the men's basketball program. A recipient of the MASCAC's Rookie of the Year award in 1984, he went on to earn All-MASCAC first team honors three years in a row. During his career, Cronin became a member of the 1,000 point club and was elected co-captain for his last two seasons. He earned team MVP in 1985 and 1986 and led the team to a MASCAC championship and a NCAA Division III Tournament berth. At the time of his graduation in 1987, Cronin was the all-time leading scorer for the program.

Cronin graduated in 1987 with a degree in business with a concentration in finance. He returned home to Springfield, MA and began his career in sales. He married NASC alumna Gina Ferraro '86 in December of 1991. The couple has since settled down in Agawam, Massachusetts with their two daughters, Carly and Katelyn.

Cronin began his coaching career when his daughters were young. He has coached both his girls in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse since they were each 5 years old. He also coaches in the Pioneer Valley Soccer program, Suburban and CYO basketball leagues, Western Massachusetts travel lacrosse, and he is an assistant coach for the Agawam High School boys' varsity basketball team.

Dr. Sam Gomez

Dr. Sam Gomez played an instrumental role at North Adams State College as well as in the local community. With his passion for running, he founded and coached the

first NASC cross country team, a team that is still growing and active at the College today.

In 1970, Dr. Gomez founded and chaired the philosophy department at North Adams State College and remained chairman until 1982. He organized the Faculty Association and served as its President in 1979. Dr. Gomez believed that the College and the greater community are closely tied together and embodied this belief through his community service and activism. He was elected to the North Adams School Committee in 1979 and served for 12 years. He was a member of the Executive Board of the Northern Berkshire Community Action Council, a member of the Executive Board of the Berkshire County Red Cross, and a long time member and past president of the Berkshire Hills Runners.

Dr. Gomez was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts and was one of 11 children. Both of his parents were immigrants who only spoke Portuguese. He worked his way through school and went on to earn his doctorate from the University of Connecticut. Gomez passed away in January 1998 and is survived by his wife Shirley Gomez; their daughter, Melita Tindall; and four sons, Samuel Gomez, Miguel Gomez, Juan Gomez, and Simon Gomez. This year MCLA will hold the 32nd Sam Gomez Classic, the annual 5K road race celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Sam Gomez. The Sam Gomez road race attracts the best runners in the community and will be held tomorrow with a start time of 11:30 AM on Church Street.

Jim Hachey- Class of 1985

Jim Hachey was a four-year member of the men's soccer program from 1981 to 1984. Hachey's accomplishments include: two time All-MASCAC selection in his junior and senior seasons, team MVP in 1983 and 1984, and two records that still stand at the College. In 1983, he notched 13 shutouts, the single season record, and added nine more throughout the remainder of his career to bring his career record to 22 shutouts. Hachey's 1983 team qualified for the ECAC playoffs, and in 1984, the team was ranked sixth in the ISAA.

Hachey graduated from the College with a business degree. Upon leaving North Adams, he began his career working at State Street Bank. He has remained with the bank for 23 years, moving up through various positions. In 2000, he moved into a relationship management role, servicing large global fund managers. He remains in that position today and has been fortunate to travel around the country and the world throughout his career.

Hachey married Teresa Galewski '84 in February of 1987. The couple has three children, Jonathan, Patrick, and Heather. Hachey has spent much of his free time coaching his children's youth sports teams including soccer, basketball, baseball, and softball. Hachey continues to compete in recreational soccer leagues. In 2007, he founded a non-profit organization called Save the Day Goalkeeper Training. Its mission is to provide youth goalkeepers across Southeastern Massachusetts and the Metro Boston area with skills and techniques needed to be a competitive goalkeeper. It is estimated that over 1,000 kids have been through the program via camps and clinics.

Sue Plankey Leclair- Class of 2001

Sue Plankey LeClair was a four-year starter on the mound for the softball program. She is the only player in the program's history to be voted team MVP each year. She is a three-time All MASCAC team recipient, three time NFCA New England Honors recipient, NEISCA honors recipient and ECAC honors recipient. LeClair's team recorded 20 or more wins in three of her four years.

LeClair graduated in 2001 with a degree in accounting. Upon graduation, she began working at a local bank in Pittsfield. She continued with the MCLA softball team as an assistant coach for the 2002 season. In 2004, she accepted a position with Hoosac Bank in North Adams as an accountant. She continues to work there today.

In June of 2004, she married Eric LeClair. They currently reside in North Adams, with their first child, Landon who was born on June 24, 2008. LeClair continues her work in softball by working with young girls on softball and pitching techniques.

Andy Marhoffer- Class of 1983

Andy Marhoffer was a four-year member of the ice hockey program. He was the recipient of the Jim Ellingwood MVP Award and was named an ECAC Second Team All-Star after the 1981 to 1982 season. For the duration of his career, he was the first player in school history to record 1,000 saves and he graduated with the all-time saves and wins record. During each year he played, the team qualified for ECAC tournament play.

Marhoffer graduated in 1983 with a degree in sociology. Upon graduation, he was invited to the 1984 U.S. Olympic Hockey team try-out and one year later signed a professional contract with the Virginia Lancers of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League. Marhoffer served as coach for Abington High School from 1987 to 1993. From there, he took over as goalie coach for Hingham High School where he was a part of two state championships.

Marhoffer married Terry Marhoffer and now lives in Scituate, Massachusetts. The couple has five children, Grace, Gabi, Tommy, Audrey, and Nora. He currently works as a sales representative for E.O.M.S Recycling, Inc. out of West Bridgwater, MA.

Laurie (Pecoraro) Sullivan- Class of 2000

Laurie Pecoraro was a four-year member of the women's soccer team from 1996 to 1999. For three seasons she was elected captain and named team MVP. She earned All-MASCAC second team honors in her third year and All-MASCAC first team honors in her fourth year. She was awarded the highest ranking women's athletic award at the College in 1998 and 1999, the Sue Getchell Award.

Pecoraro graduated in 2000 with a degree in biology with a concentration in sports medicine. Upon graduation she began working in a sports medicine complex. She returned to school shortly thereafter for a nursing degree, earning one in 2005 from UMass-Boston. She is currently employed as an emergency room nurse at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

She has since hung up her cleats in favor of a family life. In September of 2007, she married fellow MCLA alumnus Kevin Sullivan. They currently reside in West Roxbury. The two of them enjoy traveling, most recently returning from Hawaii and Alaska.

Steve Swail- Class of 1989

Steve Swail was a three-year member of the baseball team. He was a member of two conference championship teams during his career in 1987 and 1989. In 1989, Swail was elected captain leading the team to a 19-9-1 record and was the recipient of the Louis Parisien Award. Over the course of his career, his team would record 66 wins in his three seasons.

Upon finishing his collegiate career, Swail signed professionally with the Atlanta Braves organization. Swail played professional baseball for five seasons. He had his best season in 1993, batting .263 with his only career home run while he played for the Durham Bulls out of the Carolina League. He was best known for defensive prowess behind the plate. After retiring from professional baseball he moved on to be a scout for Major League Baseball. He has done scouting for the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees