BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University Athletics Hall of Fame Committee has announced the members of its 25th induction class to be enshrined during Homecoming Weekend in October. Bridgett Casey, Brian Espinosa '15, Shelby (Farland) Green '13, G'14, Michael Morris '97, Lauren (Geary) Murphy '16, Conor Murtagh '17, and Tammy Silveira '93 will officially enter the Hall on Friday, October 20, 2023. Also being inducted into the BSU Athletics Hall of Fame under the team category is the 1984-1985 Women's Basketball Team.
Bridgett Casey (Basketball) – The all-time winningest coach in Bridgewater State women's basketball history, Bridgett Casey has directed the Bears on the hardwood for the past 26 seasons. Since taking over the reins in 1997, Bridgett has guided her teams to 377 wins (377-281, .573), six Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) regular season titles, seven MASCAC Tournament titles and seven NCAA Division III Tournament appearances including five straight from 2010 to 2015. Along with earning NCAA Tournament berths in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2023, the women's basketball team also made an ECAC Tournament appearance in 2006. The Bears have reached the 20-win mark five times, including each of the last two seasons. Bridgett was named the MASCAC Coach of the Year in 2023 for the fifth time in her career. She also earned the honor in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013. Casey's 377 wins are by far the most in program history as she is the only BSU women's basketball coach to not only reach the 300-win milestone but also the 200-win plateau.
Brian Espinosa ‘15 (Track & Field) – Among the most decorated track & field athletes in program history, Brian Espinosa competed for the men's indoor and outdoor track and field teams from 2012 to 2015. Brian was a two-time All-American placing eighth in the 200-meter dash at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships in 2014 and seventh in the long jump at the 2014 NCAA DIII Outdoor Championships. He was also a national qualifier in the 200 for the 2014 outdoor championships and 2015 indoor championships. Brian, who garnered MASCAC Athlete of the Week honors an impressive 18 times (nine track, nine field), helped the Bears capture three MASCAC titles and five Alliance championships during his career. He was a six-time MASCAC champion in the 200, five-time conference champion in the long jump, two-time conference title winner in the 100-meter dash and ran a leg on three MASCAC champion relay teams (4x100, 4x200, 4x400). Brian was also a ten-time Alliance champion including five 200-meter dash titles. On a regional level, Brian was a three-time Division III New England champion in the 200 and also earned New England titles in both the long jump and 4x100. He was a seven time-All-ECAC honoree and captured the New England all divisions championship in the 200 during the 2014-2015 indoor season.
Shelby (Farland) Green ‘13, G'14 (Field Hockey, Lacrosse) – An outstanding two-sport athlete, Shelby Farland competed on the Bridgewater State field hockey and women's lacrosse teams from 2009 to 2013. She amassed 60 goals (17 game winners) and 25 assists for 145 points in four seasons on the field hockey team including a school record 32 goals and 77 points during her senior campaign of 2012. A two-time All-Little East First Team honoree (2011, 2012), Shelby was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III All-New England West Region First Team and ECAC Division III New England All-Star Team in 2012 and earned WomensFieldHockey.com All-American Third Team honors. She was also selected to play in the NFHCA Division III Senior Game. Shelby ranks second all-time in BSU field hockey program history in both goals and points and is tied for the all-time lead in assists. The Bears posted a 52-28 win-loss record during her career including a 32-12 Little East mark. Shelby was also an outstanding defender for the four-time conference champion and four-time NCAA qualifying women's lacrosse team. The Bears posted a 61-18 record during her career with an impressive 35-1 mark against conference opponents. Shelby was named the New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-NEWLA First Team accolades in 2012 and was selected to the All-MASCAC First Team in 2013. In four seasons on the women's lacrosse team, she tallied 25 goals, 24 assists, 43 ground balls, 24 draw controls and 23 caused turnovers.
Michael Morris ‘97 (Basketball, Football) – Michael Morris excelled on the hardwood for the men's basketball team from 1993 to 1996. In 76 games over three seasons with the Bears, Mike amassed 1,427 points, 464 rebounds, 164 assists and 92 steals while shooting 54.7% (583-1065) from the floor. He ranks second all-time in program history in scoring average (18.8 ppg) and is 12th among the Bears' all-time scoring leaders. A five-time MASCAC Player of the Week, Mike earned All-MASCAC First Team honors in both 1994-1995 and 1995-1996, and was selected to play in the New England Basketball Coaches Association (NEBCA) Senior All-Star Game. Mike helped the men's basketball team post a 19-5 MASCAC mark over his final two seasons and in 1995-1996 led the Bears to their first postseason appearance in 13 years with an ECAC Tournament berth. Mike also played one season of college football for the Bears in 1996 at wide receiver and hauled in seven receptions for 112 yards and a team-leading four receiving touchdowns.
Lauren (Geary) Murphy ‘16 (Lacrosse, Basketball) – Among the top lacrosse players in program history, Lauren Geary starred for the women's lacrosse team from 2013 to 2016. She helped lead the Bears to four straight MASCAC titles and four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances while playing for four different head coaches. Geary earned All-MASCAC First Team honors in each of her four seasons and was the MASCAC Player of the Year in 2016 and MASCAC Rookie of the Year in 2013. She also was named to the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division III All-Berkshire Region First Team in 2016 and was selected as an ECAC Division III New England All-Star in 2013. Lauren dominated the draw like no other player in program history. She amassed an NCAA Division III record (since broken) 605 draw controls in her career including an NCAA Division III single-season record (since broken) 188 in 2013. In four seasons on the lacrosse turf, Lauren notched 226 goals, 70 assists, 305 ground balls and 139 caused turnovers to go with her 605 draws. She is the Bears' all-time leader in draw controls and ground balls, and ranks second in caused turnovers, third in goals and sixth in scoring (296 pts.). Lauren also played one season on the BSU women's basketball team and helped the Bears capture the MASCAC regular season and tournament titles and advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Conor Murtagh ‘17 (Soccer, Track & Field) – An outstanding soccer player and All-American hurdler, Conor Murtagh excelled on the men's soccer and men's track & field teams from 2012 to 2016. In the sport of soccer, Conor tallied 32 goals and ten assists for 74 points in 60 career games as he ranks second all-time in program history in both goals and scoring. He helped lead the Bears to a pair of MASCAC Tournament titles and NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in 2013 and 2015. The men's soccer team also went 23-4-4 against MASCAC opponents over Murtagh's final three seasons and won the MASCAC regular season title in 2014. Conor garnered MASCAC Player of the Year honors and was selected to the All-MASCAC First team in both his junior and senior Year. He was also a two-time MASCAC Tournament MVP (2013, 2015), was named to the 2015 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-New England First Team, and was selected to play in the New England Intercollegiate Soccer League (NEISL) Division III Senior All-Star Game. In 2015, Conor set the program record for points in a season with 44 and tied the school single-season mark for goals with 18. In the sport of track & field, Conor was a five-time national qualifier and five-time All-American hurdler. He captured All-American honors in the 60-meter hurdles at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships in 2015 and 2016, and the 110-meter hurdles at the DIII Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Conor was also a four-time MASCAC and New England Alliance champion in the hurdles (two indoor, two outdoor), and earned MASCAC Track Athlete of the Week honors an impressive 23 times. He also garnered Division III All-New England honors on four separate occasions, and captured both the Division III New England and ECAC titles in the 110 hurdles during the 2016 outdoor campaign.
Tammy Silveira ‘93 (Softball, Volleyball) – Tammy Silveira competed on the nationally ranked Bridgewater State softball team from 1990 to 1993, and played one season of volleyball in 1992. Among the most versatile players in BSU softball history, Tammy helped lead the Bears to four straight MASCAC championships during her career and four straight NCAA Division III Tournament appearances. She started and appeared in 124 of the Bears' 125 games predominantly at catcher (73 games). She also played center field (29 games), including the final 26 games of her senior season, second base (15 games), third base (four games), left field and right field. Tammy posted a career batting average of .390 (145-372) with 32 doubles, nine triples, eight home runs, 23 stolen bases, 106 runs scored, 109 RBI and a program record 73 walks. She also recorded a .490 on base percentage as well as a .537 slugging percentage. A three-time All-MASCAC First Team selection, Tammy accumulated numerous honors over her final three seasons, particularly in 1993 when she batted .463 (50-108) with ten doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 33 runs and 54 RBI to go along with an impressive .537 on base percentage as well as an. 806 slugging percentage. In 1993, Tammy was named both the MASCAC Player of the Year and ECAC Division III New England Player of the Year, was selected to the National Softball Coaches Association (NSCA) Division III All-Northeast Region First Team, the ECAC Division III All-New England First Team and the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional All-Tournament Team, and was voted to the NSCA Division III All-America Second Team. Tammy also garnered NSCA All-Northeast Region First Team accolades in 1991 and ECAC All-New England Second Team honors in 1992. In the fall of 1992, Tammy played her only season of college volleyball and made an immediate impact as she was named to the All-MASCAC First Team as a setter.
1984-1985 Women's Basketball Team - Under the guidance of head coach Bo Ruggiero and assistant coach (and future Hall of Famer) Dee Dee Enabenter, the 1984-1985 women's basketball team posted an impressive 26-2 record, which included a then NCAA Division III record 25-game winning streak. The Bears went undefeated in MASCAC play with a perfect 12-0 mark to capture the program's first conference title, and set the program record for wins in a season which still stands today. The roster featured four future Bridgewater State Hall of Famers as well as three future 1,000-point scorers led by ECAC First Team All-Star and ECAC Division III Player of the Year, senior forward Cathy Baker '85. Baker (1,152 pts.) and fellow All-MASCAC selections, sophomore guard JoAnn Runge '87 (1,023 pts.) and junior guard Carolyn Parsley '86 (1,262 pts.), would all hit the 1,000-point mark during their collegiate careers. Runge also earned ECAC First Team All-Star honors that season. Junior guard Laurie O'Connell, an outstanding defensive player, rounded out the Bears' future Hall of Fame foursome. After dropping their second game of the season to regional power Rhode Island College, the Bears reeled off 25 straight wins including a resounding 80-59 victory over RIC at the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional Tournament hosted by Salem State. Unfortunately, the season would come to an end with a 63-59 setback to the host Vikings in the regional championship game. Throughout most of the season, the Bears were ranked #1 in New England and as high as #4 in the NCAA Division III rankings. The squad was known for its fastbreaking offense (73.7 ppg) and stingy defense (51.2 ppg) as they outscored their opponents by an average of 22.5 points per game.
The induction of Casey, Espinosa, Green (Farland), Morris, Murphy (Geary), Murtagh and Silveira will bring the BSU Hall of Fame's total membership to 162.
The ceremony will take place at the Rondileau Student Union Ballroom with a cocktail reception getting underway at 6:30 PM followed by dinner at 7:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking on the ticket image below. The cost is $50 per person.
