BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The 2017 Bridgewater State University Athletics Hall of Fame Induction and Banquet ceremony was held Friday evening, October 20th, in the Rondileau Campus Center Ballroom and an audience of over 150 was on hand as seven former student-athletes were inducted into the hall.
The seven members of the 22nd induction class were Paul Callahan '63, Neil Crowley '93, Mark Goldman '92, Jennifer Jackson '08, Jenny Jones '11, Allie LeBlanc '09 and Steve Smith '08. The induction of Callahan, Crowley, Goldman, Jackson, Jones, LeBlanc and Smith brings the BSU Hall of Fame's total membership to 139.
President Frederick W. Clark Jr., Esq., '83, was on hand to offer welcoming remarks from the university during this Homecoming Weekend and to congradulate the new members. Interim Director of Athletics, Mike Storey, who also serves as the chairperson of the Hall of Fame committee, emceed the evening's proceedings and introduced each of the new members. Interim Executive Director of the Wellness Center, Dr. Marybeth Lamb, made note of the athletics highlights from the 2016-2017 academic year and the successes of the current student-athletes on the court, in the classroom and in the community.
Paul Callahan ‘63 (Baseball/Football/Soccer/Track) – Paul Callahan was an outstanding multi-sport athlete who competed in football, baseball, soccer and track & field from 1959 to 1963. Paul was an integral part of the re-building of the football program when it was brought back in 1960. He captained both the football and baseball teams as a senior in 1962-1963, and was named the Most Valuable Player of the football team for the 1960 campaign. In 1962, Paul captured the javelin title at the SNCC Track & Field Championships. He also received the Outstanding Contribution to Sports award during his tenure at Bridgewater State. Paul played in the Cape Cod Baseball League and captained the all-star team in 1963. He went on to coach football at the high school level in Leominster and also coached Little League, Babe Ruth baseball, Pop Warner football and youth basketball. Paul earned a Bachelor of Science degree in earth science from Bridgewater State in 1963. He went on to graduate from the University of Colorado in 1968 with a Master of Science degree in physical education. A native of Natick, Massachusetts and longtime resident of Leominster with his wife, Betty, Paul was a physical education teacher in Leominster from 1975 to 2003. He passed away in March of 2016.
Neil Crowley ‘93 (Football) – An outstanding safety on the Bridgewater State football team from 1989 to 1991, Neil Crowley was selected to the New England Football Conference (NEFC) All-Conference First Team in each of his three seasons and was a two-time ECAC New England All-Star (1990, 1991). He capped off a brilliant career by being named to the Division III All-America Third Team following his senior season. Neil tied the school record for career interceptions with 15 and returned two of those for touchdowns. He also finished with 191 tackles and 26 pass breakups. In 1991, Neil set career highs with 85 tackles, eight interceptions and 12 pass break ups. From 1989 to 1991, the football team posted an overall record of 25-5 (.833) and made three consecutive appearances in the NEFC Championship Game. The Bears captured the NEFC title in 1989 with a 14-10 win over UMass Lowell and went on to play in the ECAC North Championship. Neil earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education in 1993. Following graduation, he played semi-pro football for the Randolph Oilers from 1992-1994. Neil served as an assistant football coach at Hingham High School from 1992 to 1996 and has been an assistant freshman football coach at Canton High School since 2014. Neil is employed by the Town of Randolph as a foreman in the Water Department. He lives in Canton with his wife of 20 years, Raquel, and their four children, Shannon, Joseph, Patrick and Vanessa.
Mark Goldman ‘92 (Football) – Mark Goldman excelled on the gridiron at defensive end for the Bears’ football team from 1988 to 1991. He anchored a defensive unit which allowed an average of just 13 points per game over the course of his four-year career. A three-time All-New England Football Conference (NEFC) selection and ECAC Division III New England All-Star, Mark captained the team his senior year of 1991. As a sophomore, Mark set the school record for sacks in a season with 18 and was named an honorable mention on the Division III All-America Team. The Bears’ rushing defense ranked second in all of Division III in 1989 allowing just 51.6 yards per game. From 1989 to 1991, the football team posted an overall record of 25-5 and made three consecutive appearances in the NEFC Championships Game. The Bears captured the NEFC title in 1989 with a 14-10 win over UMass Lowell and went on to play in the ECAC North Championship. A native of Norwell, Massachusetts, Mark finished his career with a school-record 42 ½ sacks to go along with 217 tackles. Mark earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education with a concentration in exercise science in 1992. He is a diagnostic cardiac sonographer for Easton Cardiology and currently lives in Middleboro with his wife, Amy, and children, August, Easton and Ayla.
Jennifer Jackson ‘08 (Diving) – Jennifer Jackson is arguably the top diver in the history of the BSU women’s swimming & diving program. Jennifer competed from 2005 to 2008 and still holds three school diving records. She posted a six-dive score of 263.05 points on the one-meter board and 293.40 points on the three-meter board in the same meet during the 2007-2008 campaign. Later that season, Jen recorded a school-record 11-dive mark of 384.05 points on the three-meter board at the New England Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving Association (NEISDA) Championships. She also held the school one-meter record for an 11-dive event (361.85 pts.) which has since been broken. Jen earned All-NEISDA honors four times and was the NEISDA champion on the one-meter board in 2007 and the three-meter board in 2008. Jen has also served as the Bears’ diving coach since 2008. Jen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in earth sciences in 2008. A native of Randolph, Massachusetts and current resident of Watertown, Jen works as a technical writer for Waterborne Environmental, Inc.
Jenny Jones ‘11 (Lacrosse) – The all-time leading goal scorer in the history of the BSU women’s lacrosse program, Jenny Jones found the back of the net an astounding 290 times from 2008 to 2011. She currently ranks tenth all-time among the NCAA Division III all-time goal scoring leaders. Along with her 290 goals, Jenny also dished out 86 assists for a career total of 376 points as she ranks second in scoring (points) at Bridgewater State. Jenny also set the Bears’ single-season record for goals with 79 in 2010 and tied the single-game mark with ten goals in a 2009 game against Castleton. A four-time time New England Women’s Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) All-Conference selection, Jenny helped the Bears capture the NEWLA regular season and tournament titles in each of her four seasons and make back-to-back NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in 2010 and 2011. She was also the NEWLA Rookie of the Year in 2008 and a three-time ECAC Division III New England All-Star. Jenny earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education with a concentration in recreation in 2011. She currently works at Boston Sports Club in Newton, Massachusetts and resides in her hometown of Framingham.
Allie LeBlanc ‘09 (Softball) – Allie LeBlanc was a star centerfielder for the Bridgewater State softball team from 2006 to 2009. Allie was named to the All-MASCAC First Team in each of her last three seasons and was also a three-time NFCA Division III All-New England selection as well as a three-time ECAC Division III New England All-Star. She batted .390 with 12 home runs, 41 doubles. 20 stolen bases, 109 runs scored and 125 RBI in 170 career games. Her .390 career batting average ranks third all-time in program history. Allie fashioned a school-record 26-game hitting streak during her sophomore season of 2007. The softball team captured four MASCAC regular season titles and three MASCAC Tournament championships over the course of her career, and made three appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Allie set career highs her senior season when she batted .475 with 13 doubles, five home runs, 12 stolen bases, 13 walks, 38 runs scored and 47 RBI. Allie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology in 2009. She also has her Master’s degree in sports management and is currently the Director of Sports and Camp at the Hockomock Area YMCA in Franklin, Massachusetts. A native of Somerset, Mass., Allie currently resides in Attleboro with her fiancé, Cassandra Rapoza.
Steve Smith ‘08 (Baseball) – Among the top pure hitters in the history of the BSU baseball program, Steve Smith earned All-American honors as a freshman in 2005 and was a four-time All-MASCAC First Team selection as well as a three-time All-New England (NEIBA) selection. He was also named the MASCAC Rookie of the Year in 2005 and the MASCAC Player of the Year in 2008. In 148 games, Steve posted a career batting average of .416 (231-555) with 55 doubles, eight triples, 15 home runs, 131 runs scored and 162 runs batted in. He still holds BSU career marks for hits (231), doubles, RBI, total bases (347), extra base hits (78) and at bats. Steve, who hails from East Taunton, Massachusetts, fashioned together a BSU record 40-game hitting streak beginning with the very first game of his career back in 2005. His NCAA record for longest consecutive game hitting streak to start a career still stands today. Steve presently resides in Taunton, Mass. and has an eight-year old son, Ryder. He coaches Ryder in baseball along with other sports. Steve currently runs the Piezonis Restaurant in Stoughton. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in management in 2008.