September 11, 1996 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HUSKY HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT SIX GORHAM, Maine -- Five former standout student-athletes and a former head coach comprise the University of Southern Maine's Husky Hall of Fame Class of 1996 that will be recognized with a banquet on September 27 at the Kenneth Brooks Center on the Gorham campus. The evening's festivities begin with a social hour at 6 p.m. with dinner and induction ceremonies to follow at 7 p.m. The six new Hall of Fame inductees will increase the number of enshired to 75. The Department of Athletics will also use the occasion to present three special awards. This year's Husky Hall of Fame inductees include golfer Alan Bouchard, Class of 1974; field hockey and softball All-American Bonny Brown-Denico, Class of 1991; two-time baseball All-American Vinnie Degifico, Class of 1995; cross country standout Peter Grant, Class of 1987; field hockey All-American and basketball star Kristin (Potito) Lary, Class of 1990; and former men's soccer, baseball and basketball head coach Joey Bouchard. The 1996 recipient of the Richard A. Costello Special Achievement Award is veteran high school and college sports official Jack Coyne. The award, named for the retired USM Director of Athletics, is given to a USM graduate who has distinguished themself through their commitment to student-athletes and athletics. The Clifford O.T. Weiden Award for 1996 will be presented to Bill Wise, a retired USM administrator and friend of athletics. The Weiden Award, named for the retired university coach and administrator, is presented to individuals in the community who contribute special talents and time to the university. This year's recipient of the David F. Drew Service Award is Remo Riciputi, a USM faculty member who has served as the university's faculty athletics representative since the institution moved from the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in1985-86. The Drew Award, named for the longtime coach, instructor, trainer and equipment manager, is given to someone who distinguishes themselves with volunteer service to the athletic department. The Costello, Drew and Weiden Awards will also be presented at the Hall of Fame banquet. Tickets for the event are $20. For tickets or more information, please call the USM Department of Athletics at 207-780-5430. Alan Bouchard was one of USM's top golfers. In four collegiate seasons, he was undefeated in match play. He qualified for the NAIA national championship in 1973 by virtue of his being the low medalist at the regional tournament. He had a top 20 finish at the national tournament held in South Dakota. A year later, he played in the regional tournament in Cooperstown, N.Y. Since his graduation, Bouchard has continued his involvement with golf as a player and a board member of the Maine State Golf Association. He has had top five finishes in the Maine Amateur Tournament and a second place finish in the 1995 Mid-Amatuer tournament. He is presently the treasurer for the MSGA. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in accounting and is presently an accountant with AB Financial Services in Falmouth. He lives in Falmouth with his wife, Kathleen, and family. Brown-Denico was one of USM's finest two-sport athletes achieving All-American recognition in field hockey and softball. She was a second team All-American in field hockey and a three-time regional All-American in softball. A three-time All-State player in field hockey, Brown-Denico is presently tied for second in career assists and ninth all-time in scoring. She was a four-time All-State selction in softball and was a regional All-American three times. The winner of the 1991 Roland Wirth Memorial Award and a two-time William B. Wise Scholar-Athlete Award winner, Brown-Denico continues to serve the university as the assistant coach for field hockey and the head coach of softball. She is working towards her master's degree in adult education at USM. She resides in Standish with her husband Don. Degifico was a two-time baseball All-American who signed a professional contract with the Boston Red Sox organiztion after the 1987 season. He reached the Double AA level before retiring at the conclusion of the 1991 season. During his USM career, Degifico led the nation (all divisions) in hitting with a .526 average during the 1986 season. He set nine school records, two which still stand, during that season an helped the Huskies to a berth in the ECAC Tournament. A year later, he hit .390 with 13 home runs to lead the team to the first of its ten consecutive NCAA tournament berths. He returned to USM to complete his degree in history in 1994 and has served an assistant coach for last four seasons. Presently working for Four Seasons Baseball, Inc., in South Portland, Degifico resides in Portland with his wife Cynthia. Grant was one of the university's finest cross country runners in the mid-1980's, three times qualifying for the NAIA national championship. He earned All-District Five honors three consecutive years finishing in the top five each time. He led the 1984 team, considered by some to still be the strongest team fielded by USM, to the District Five championship with a perfect score of 15. The Huskies went on to a 15th place finish at the NAIA national championship race, the best finish by a District Five team at that point in time. Throughout his career, Grant was among the Huskies top three finishers in every race. He finished his bachelor's degree in business administration in 1987. He works as a fly fishing specialist for L.L. Bean, Inc., and lives in Portland, Maine, with his wife Laurie. Kristin (Potito) Lary was a accomplished two-sport athlete participating in field hockey and basketball, and was the first USM athlete to receive the Maine Sports Hall of Fame Award. She was a first team All-American in field hockey in 1988 after receiving honorable mention in 1987. She is still the school's all-time leading scorer in field hockey with 131 points (60 goals, 11 assists) and holds four scoring records. She led the field hockey team to two ECAC tournaments, including the championship in 1986, and an NCAA Tournament final four berth in 1987 during her three- year career. Her skills on the basketball court were recognized as well. She was first team All-ECAC and All-State, and honorable mention All-Little East Conference, in 1989-90. She played on four Little East championship teams and was a key member of the 1987-88 team that went to the NCAA final four. Lary received her degree in elementary education in 1990 and presently is a special education teacher at Traip Academy. She resides in Kennebunk with her husband Donald. Joey Bouchard coached three varsity programs during his 20 years of coaching service at USM. Coming to then Gorham State College in 1968, he piloted the men's soccer program for six seasons and the baseball team for five of the next six seasons. His soccer teams combined for a 27-39-8 record while his baseball clubs were 31-48. Bouchard is best known for leading the men's basketball program for 14 seasons (1973-87). When he left USM after the 1986-87 season, Bouchard had won more games (222) than any other coach in the history of that program. He led his teams to nine NAIA postseason tournament berths, including trips to the national tournament in 1978 and 1979. His 1985-86 team, the school's first as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), was selected to play in the ECAC tournament. 09/11/96