Monday, September 28, 2009

                       USM Husky Hall of Fame Inducts Six
                Athletic Department Presents Three Special Awards

GORHAM, Maine  – Six former University of Southern Maine student-athletes were 
inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame Class of 2009 at the 24th Annual Hall of 
Fame Banquet on Saturday, September 26, 2009 at the Kenneth Brooks Student 
Center on the Gorham Campus. 
     This year’s Hall of Fame Inductees spanned three decades of athletic and 
academic excellence at USM and included former men’s basketball standout Don 
O’Keefe, Class of 1988; All-ECAC baseball collegiate pitcher who went on to a 
professional career Kyle Kennison, Class of 1996; Little East Conference women’s 
tennis champion Lesya Stasiv-Mavor, Class of 1996; men’s ice hockey ACHA All-
American Brian T. Collum, Class of 2000; field hockey Regional All-American and 
Academic All-American Alison L. Drury, Class of 2000 and softball Regional All-
American Erica Gagnon Hunter, Class of 2001.  
      An outstanding playmaker for the Huskies’ men’s basketball team, O’Keefe 
finished his tremendous playing career owning several assist records.  Donning a 
Husky uniform from 1983-1986, O’Keefe set the school record for assists in a 
game with 16.  During the 1985-1986 season, O’Keefe recorded the season mar for 
assists dishing out 290 helpers averaging, yet another school record, 10.4 
assists per game.  O’Keefe served as the Huskies’ team captain during his senior 
year and earned All-Maine honors.  
     O’Keefe’s career at USM left his name throughout the record books.  He 
ended his career averaging 6.2 assists per game (third all-time).  He is also 
fifth in career assists (452) and field goal percentage (.537) and sixth in free 
throw percentage (.819).  
     A reliever and closer for the nationally regarded USM baseball team during 
the 1994, 1995 and 1996 seasons, Kennison went onto a professional career in 
baseball after being drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 1996.  Ascending to the 
MLB AAA Tacoma Rainers, Kennison eventually retired from baseball due to injury.  
During his time with the Huskies, Kennison was a powerful and dominant force on 
the mound.  Earning All-ECAC honors in 1985, Kennison holds the career records 
for Fewest Hits Allowed Per Nine Innings (6.12) and Most Strikeouts Per Nine 
Innings (10.54).  During the 1996 season, Kennison set the school mark for Most 
Strikeouts Per Nine Innings in a season, averaging an outstanding 13.66 (44 in 
29 innings).  
     Stasiv-Mavor was a dominant force in the collegiate tennis world at USM 
from 1992-1996; however her accomplishments as a student-athlete are even 
greater when considered that for the first three years of her career she played 
as a member of the USM men’s tennis team before the Huskies began sponsoring 
women’s tennis in 1996.  During her three years as part of the men’s team, 
Stasiv-Mavor earned the right to play No. 1 singles.  In 1996, Stasiv-Mavor won 
the Little East Conference championship at No. 1 singles.  She was a four-year 
recipient of the William B. Wise Scholar Athlete Award (1992-1996). 
     A member of the men’s ice hockey team from 1995-1998 and 1999-2000, Collum 
is one of just two players in the history of the Southern Maine program to earn 
American Hockey Coaches’ Association (AHCA) All-America honors.  Collum became 
the first ever USM player to earn such a distinction, garnering second team 
honors in his final season (1999-2000).  
     During the 1999-2000 season, Collum tallied a career best mark in both 
goals (10) and assists (14) for 24 points.  Collum also earned All-ECAC first 
team honors and All-New England first team honors that season.  At the end of 
his career, Collum amassed 57 points on 24 goals and 34 assists – totals that 
are among the career leaders in USM history.  
     A two-year captain and four-year member of the field hockey team, Drury 
earned numerous accolades for her accomplishments both on the field and in the 
classroom, culminating in the distinction of being named first team NFHCA 
Regional All-American and GTE Academic All-American in her senior year.  
     Drury was a two-time first team All-Little East Conference selection (1998, 
1999) and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player during those same seasons.  
A three-time William B. Wise Scholar Athlete (1997, 1998, 1999), Drury was also 
awarded the Paula D. Hodgdon Award, the Outstanding USM Senior Award and was a 
Presidential Scholar.  
     One of the most prolific pitchers in the history of USM softball, Gagnon 
Hunter is a three-time NFCA Regional All-American (1998, 1999, 2000).  A three-
time Little East Conference All-Conference selection (1998, 1999, 2000), Gagnon 
Hunter has the distinction of being named the LEC Pitcher and Rookie of the Year 
in 1998 after leading the Huskies to the conference championship.  
     Second in career wins with 55, Gagnon Hunter threw a complete game victory 
in USM’s first and only NCAA Regional tournament win, a 4-1 decision over 
Oneonta.  Gagnon Hunter’s career in the circle for USM left her name throughout 
the record books. In addition to her career wins, Gagnon Hunter is second in 
innings pitched (558), games started (84) and complete games (74).   She is 
third in career strikeouts (377), fourth in win-loss percentage (.632, 55-32) 
and fifth in career earned run average (1.81).  She holds the record for fewest 
walks per seven innings (1.05).  
     The USM Department of Athletics also presented three special departmental 
awards.  The 2009 Richard A. “Doc” Costello Special Achievement Award was given 
Patrick O’Shea, Class of 1969.  O’Shea received the award in recognition of his 
long-time distinguished service as a teacher, coach and official.  The 2009 
Clifford O.T. Weiden Award was presented to Kim Turner for her significant 
contributions and support to the USM athletics program during her 10-year tenure 
as assistant athletic director.   The 2009 David Drew Service Award was bestowed 
upon Dr. Ronald L. Seekins, DDS for his dedicated support and service to the USM 
Department of Athletics and its student-athletes.  Seekins has been the team 
dentist since 2001 and has volunteered to serve any and all needs of USM’s 
student-athletes.  
     Established in 1985 to honor the famed athletes and coaches of the past, 
the University of Southern Maine’s Husky Hall of Fame has enshrined 156 former 
student-athletes, coaches and staff.  Candidates are eligible for induction five 
years after their graduation date.