Nine NHTI Athletics stars and a championship basketball team will be honored Friday night and officially inducted into the college’s Hall of Fame.
On Sept. 19 at 6:00 p.m., NHTI will hold a Hall of Fame induction ceremony to celebrate the inductees of the classes of 2024 and 2025.
“This group represents the very best of Lynx Athletics,” said NHTI athletics director Annie Mattarazzo. “In their own ways, each honoree contributed significantly to the success and tradition that define our department and our institution. We are thrilled to celebrate their accomplishments and welcome them into the Hall of Fame.”
The inductions are based on a mixture of individual performance, leadership, sportsmanship and dedication to their sports, according to NHTI.
Class of ’24
- Maura Hart Coppo received numerous accolades, including being a three-time Yankee Small College Conference Women’s Soccer Player of the Year and a three-time United States Collegiate Athletic Association First Team All-American.
- Riselly Deleo is a member of the 1000-point scorer club for NHTI Women’s Basketball. She made the Yankee Small College Conference Final Four during her three years at NHTI, and she was a two-time all-conference player. Deleo was also a two-time United States Collegiate Athletic Association All-American.
- Coach Kerry Finnigan led NHTI Softball from 2011 to 2020, during which he was named the conference Coach of the Year four times and was recognized as USCAA Coach of the Year in 2018. He took the Lynx to the Small College World Series five times and won five conference championships.
- Dustin Moreault, a golfer who graduated in 2012, was an All-American medalist and one of the most accomplished golfers in NHTI history. He was a leader on the golf team that made multiple national appearances and won three conference championships.
- Semir Sandzic graduated in 2017 and was named NHTI Men’s Soccer Most Valuable Player three times. Sandzic was a three-time All-Conference player and won the YSCC championship with the team in 2015.
Class of ’25
- J’Quavious Thurmond, who graduated in 2020, played four seasons on the NHTI Men’s Basketball team. He was part of the 2020 team that won the National Championship and was a three-time All-American.
- The 2019-2020 Men’s Basketball team will be inducted as a whole for winning the USCAA Division II National Championship.
- Ryan Rothdiener, a golfer, was a first-team all-conference player and a USCAA first-team all-American. He finished second at the 2019 national championship and won the conference that same year.
- Stefani Gauthier Gauvin was a three-sport athlete in soccer, softball and basketball. She received individual accolades in soccer and was a strong performer in her other two sports.
- Kristina Rieger, another multi-sport athlete, was named a YSCC Tournament Outstanding Player for volleyball and softball. She received academic honors and made multiple tournament appearances for both teams.