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Keene State Inducts Five Into Hall of Fame; Video Highlights Inside!
KEENE, N.H. 2/7/11 – Keene State College’s 2011 Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame inductees and their guests are a hardy bunch. Undeterred by rain, snow and sleet, they arrived at the induction ceremony that took place this past Saturday at the Lloyd P. Young Student Center.
The weather was on everybody’s mind as Director of Alumni Relations Patty Farmer began her opening remarks. “I’d like to thank everyone for braving our wonderful weather and joining us to celebrate these great athletes,” she said.
Farmer announced the list of inductees, which included Robin Briggs Rolli ’84, women’s skiing, cross country, and track athlete; Diana Robbins ’84, women’s diving athlete; Kim Heyl ’85 AS, field hockey player; Heather Boisvere Langone ’97, women's soccer player; and Chris Coates ’04, men's basketball player.
Prior to the inductions, Keene State President Helen Giles-Gee spoke to the crowd, connecting the present with the past. “The success of tonight’s inductees emerges from a rich sports legacy,” she said. “Your accomplishments will now live on as part of Keene State’s history.”
Presenters not only spoke about the inductees' glowing athletic accomplishments, but also about other attributes that lifted them above the rest, making them Hall of Fame worthy. And what would be a hall of fame dinner be without a good helping of humor?
Briggs Rolli, a Keene native, has the distinction of earning induction into the KSC Hall of Fame for her accomplishments in three sports. Not only did she excel as a Nordic skier on a fledgling Owl program that qualified for Division I meets, but also earned a berth to the NCAA cross country and track championships. A four-time Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA) Division II first-team Nordic honoree (1980-84), Briggs Rolli twice qualified for national competition during her KSC running career – in the cross country championship in 1981 and the NCAA outdoor meet in 1983, when she ran in the 3,000-meter event.
Speaking on behalf of former ski coach Charlie Beach, who was unable to attend, KSC Athletic Director John Ratliff said that Briggs Rolli arrival at Keene State was comparable to a pre-assembled stock car, including pit crew, arriving for a race.
He later unveiled Beach’s two-step secret that led Briggs Rolli to success on the trails. One: Go out on the trails. Two: when your skier goes by, run along beside her and yell something encouraging, like “Good job, Robin! You’re looking good.”
George Bower, Briggs Rolli’s first cross country and track coach at KSC, told the crowd that Robin was a hall of famer in each of her sports, the vocal leader on all of her teams, and one of the best Division II-III runners in New England during her career.
But even the best make mistakes. Bower told about the time when Julie Choiniere, a 2004 Hall of Fame inductee, and Briggs Rolli got off course at the Codfish Cross Country championship. “They realized their mistake and still managed to finish first and second with time to spare,” he said. “That how good they were.”
Originally from East Longmeadow, Mass., Diana Robbins was the first Keene State woman to go to the national swimming championships, qualifying her first two seasons for the AIAW meet and the final two years for the NCAA championships in diving events (1980-84), finishing 17th as a senior. Highly competitive and talented on the board, the acrobatic Robbins elevated the Owls to among the top-tier swimming programs in New England. A four-time All-New England diver, she holds the Keene State record (239.35 points) in the three-meter event.
Doug Adams, the former diving coach at Keene State, called Robbins an exceptional athlete. “She was gifted gentle, graceful, and successful,” he said.
Although Robbins missed earning All-America by one spot as a senior, Adams treated her to a trip to Disneyland after the meet.
A stellar goaltender, Kim Heyl was a critical building block in the development of a successful Keene State field hockey team during her four-year (1981-84) career. With Heyl between the pipes, the Owls racked up an impressive 59-18-8 record and went to two AIAW and one NCAA Division II tournaments. Heyl, from Durham, Conn., left her mark on the field and in the KSC record book. She holds Owl career marks for victories (49), shutouts (26), and goals against average (1.03).
Chuck Sweeney, the Owls' former field hockey coach, was unable to attend but sent along his remembrances of Heyl. “Kim’s work ethic was the strongest I’ve ever seen,” said Sweeney. "She was never satisfied and always wanted to be better. Kim played a major role putting Keene State field hockey back on the map both regionally and nationally.”
A member of a Keene State women’s soccer team that was completing its tenure in Division II, Heather Boisvere Langone is the only Owl to be a two-time All-American, earning the honor in 1994 and 1996. Beginning her KSC career in style by scoring the winning goal in ECAC championship games as a freshman, Boisvere Langone was a maestro at midfield for the Owls, setting up scoring opportunities or doing the honors herself. A four-time All-Region and three-time All-NECC player, the West Springfield, Mass., native finished her KSC career with 37 goals, 28 assists, and 99 points.
Making the presentation to Boisvere Langone, KSC women’ soccer coach Denise Lyons read the many correspondences she received from former teammates who delighted in Boisvere Langone’s induction.
Former Owls teammate Kate Deysher ’98 said Boisvere Langone was a great player from the start. “She was a role model for any player who was fortunate to play with her,” said Deysher. “Heather stepped on the KSC turf and played with confidence, ability, and grace.”
Joy Rodrigo ’96 echoed Deysher’s thoughts. “Heather never gave up. She played every game like it was her last game,” Rodrigo said. “She played hard and was respected by her teammates and opponents.”
Chris Coates played a major role in turning around Keene State’s basketball fortunes with his arrival in 1997. A tenacious performer on the court, Coates, who hails from Hampton, N.H., helped lead the Owls to three ECAC tournament berths and two appearances in the Little East tournament finals. Coates, who completed his career by earning All-America honors and being named LEC and ECAC player of the year as a senior, is second in scoring (1,970 points) and fifth in rebounds (795) in Keene State’s all-time career lists.
Speaking about his former star forward, KSC men’s basketball coach Rob Colbert said Coates energized the Owl program. “Chris’s development as a player came about from his inner drive to compete and be the best,” he said.
Colbert also relayed a story about Coates that explains why it’s the man and not the sneakers that makes a great athlete. Before a game at Western Connecticut his senior season, a frantic Coates came out of the locker room and told Colbert he had forgotten his sneakers. Colbert told Coates to find a player who was willing to give him his shoes for the game.
“When I came out for the introductions, I looked down the bench and noticed Arthur Dybizbanski sitting in socks,” Colbert said. “Coates went out and scored 39 points that night. And we pretty much told Chris he had to wear those shoes every night.”
All five inductees were gracious in their acceptance speeches, thanking their coaches and teammates along with their families. In his closing remarks, Ratliff congratulated and welcomed the new inductees into the Hall of Fame, calling them “the past, present, and future of Keene State athletics”.
He also thanked everyone for braving the elements to be there.
