Stonehill Inducts Six into Athletic Hall of Fame

Stonehill Inducts Six into Athletic Hall of Fame

College kicks off Alumni Weekend with 21st annual Hall of Fame ceremony

EASTON, Mass. (October 24, 2009) - Stonehill College kicked off its Alumni Weekend festivities by inducting six former student-athletes into its Athletic Hall of Fame in Alumni Hall last night.

Stonehill's 21st annual Hall of Fame class includes Tom Graham, Class of 1962, a former baseball player for his contributions to the area community, Ken Michel, Class of 1968, a former basketball player for his contributions to the athletic department and basketball program, Peter Miller, Class of 1975, a former tennis player and longtime tennis coach, Kathy Girard-Iacovelli, Class of 1995, an All-Conference volleyball player, Tony Dello Iacono, Class of 1995, a standout football player and Allie Riccio-LaFratta, Class of 2000, an All-Conference field hockey and lacrosse player.

Tom Graham, ‘62, enjoyed a long and respected career as both a coach and teacher in the south shore region. Graham was a relief pitcher and utility player over his four-years at the College.

Graham went on to a tremendous 38-year career as a teacher and coach in the area. He coached baseball at Abington, Rockland and Cardinal Spellman High Schools for 38 years and was an assistant football coach at Abington High for 22 years and at East Bridgewater High for 15. He was assistant director of the Abington Youth Baseball League for ten years and coached the town's American Legion team for 15. In 2006, the Town of Abington dedicated their field in his honor to Thomas Graham Diamond at Memorial Field. He was inducted into the Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.

Graham was also an accomplished history teacher, earning the Quincy Patriot Ledger Golden Apple Award for Teaching and the Plymouth County Teacher's Association Award for Excellence over his career. Active in the community, Graham was a member of the Abington Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent DePaul. He also taught CCD in the community for a number of years.

Ken Michel, ‘68, has enjoyed an association with his alma mater dating back to his student days 40-plus years ago. Michel has been an active alumnus of the men's basketball program and has also served the College in many other valuable roles.

Michel, who was a member of the freshman basketball team at Stonehill, maintained his relationship with the program beyond that time, serving as Chair of the Friends of Stonehill Basketball Alumni Group. He has served as a mentor to countless Stonehill basketball players during their respective careers not only during their playing days, but after graduation as well.

Michel's relationship with Stonehill has extended beyond the athletic department. He served as Class Agent for the Class of 1968 for 30 years, was a member of the Alumni Council for three years and was a member of the Board of Fellows, serving as Chairman for three years. Michel is currently in his fifth year as Chairman of the Stonehill College Fund. He and his wife, Janet, were the recipient of the 2001 Stonehill College Alumni Service Award for their "steadfast commitment to making the College and the Alumni Association stronger - academically, spiritually and fiscally."

Peter Miller, ‘75, has enjoyed an association with his alma mater for over 30 years as a player and then coach of the men's tennis program. His 30-years as head coach of the men's program make him the longest tenured coach in College history.

A three-year letterwinner with the Stonehill tennis program, Miller helped guide the Skyhawks to a 26-19 record from 1972-75, including an 8-2 mark during his senior season. He returned to his alma mater in 1979 to take over the fledgling women's tennis program at the College, as he col­lected 13 dual-match victories on the women's side in four seasons before concentrating solely on the men's team after the 1982 season.

Success has been a trademark of Miller's program throughout his long tenure, as he has posted 257 dual-match victories to rank as the winningest coach in the 54-year history of Stonehill men's tennis. The 2004 season saw the Skyhawks earn their first-ever NCAA tournament ap­pearance and they have gone on to earn five NCAA Tournament bids in all - including each of the last four seasons. Stonehill is coming off its best season in program history, posting a program record 22 wins and capturing both the Northeast-10 regular season and tourna­ment championships. Miller earned NE-10 Coach of the Year honors following the 2004 campaign.

Kathy Girard-Iacovelli, ‘95, is regarded as one of the best volleyball players the College has ever produced. She was a four-year letterwinner, serving as team captain as a junior and senior, starting every match of her collegiate career. Girard went on to serve as assistant coach in 1995-96.

Girard earned All-Northeast-10 honors for the first time with her selection to the second team as a sophomore. Girard was selected to the All-NE-10 second team again as a junior before earning first team All-Conference honors her senior year when she compiled 459 kills and a .368 hitting percentage to go with 135 blocks and 34 service aces.

Girard led Stonehill to its first 20-win season in four years in 1994, posting the program's first ever win over traditional Conference power Bryant. The team reached the semifinal round of the NE-10 Tournament for just the second time in program history in 1994. Girard led the way by earning All-Tournament team honors at the event. The two-year captain also earned Team MVP honors as a junior and senior and was invited to tryout at the Olympic Festival her senior year.

Tony Dello Iacono, ‘95, holds nearly every quar­terback record in the history of the football program at the College.

A four-year letterwinner and three-year starter for Stonehill, Dello Iacono passed for a program record 4,895 yards and 46 touchdowns over his ca­reer. He completed 336-of-723 passes over his career and also added three touchdowns rushing, all coming in his junior season. His three seasons as the starting quarterback still rank in the program's single-season top ten lists for passing yards and touchdowns, including his senior year when he threw for a then program record 1,818 yards and 17 scores - a yardage total which still ranks second all-time. Stonehill enjoyed three winning seasons with Dello Iacono under center, in­cluding a 7-2 clip his junior year in 1993. The team was 19-8-1 over his three seasons as the starting quarterback.

Dello Iacono boasts three of the top five passing days in program history, including his 314-yard passing day in a 30-26 win over Sacred Heart in 1993. He was also 20-of-24 for 311 yards and a program-record six touchdown passes in a 57-20 win over MIT in 1994.

Allie Riccio-LaFratta, ‘00, lettered the first four years of the field hockey team's existence, and was also a key member of the first two lacrosse teams at Stonehill as a junior and senior. She holds the distinction of scoring the first goals in the history of both programs.

Riccio was an All-Northeast-10 performer in both sports and holds the distinction of being the first NE-10 Player of the Year in Conference history for lacrosse in 1999. Stonehill began its dominance in that sport by winning the NE-10 regular season title in its very first season and then captured both the regular season and tournament titles her senior year. She compiled 74 goals and 47 assists for 121 points in 30 career games.

Riccio was an All-Northeast-10 selection as a junior and senior for field hockey and still ranks among career leaders at Stonehill with 22 goals and 18 assists for 62 points - ranking ninth all-time in all three categories. Stonehill won double-digit games for the first time her senior year with 11 victories as she notched career-bests with seven goals and six assists for 20 points.