Wednesday, September 15, 1999 USM Husky Hall of Fame to Induct Six Athletic Department to Present Three Special Awards GORHAM, Maine -- Six former standout student-athletes comprise the University of Southern Maine's Husky Hall of Fame Class of 1999 that will be inducted at a banquet in their honor this Friday evening (September 17) at the Kenneth Brooks Student Center on the Gorham campus. This year's Husky Hall of Fame inductees include former Gorham State Teachers College two-sport standout William Obermeyer, Class of 1958; high- scoring ice hockey forward Raynald Charest, Class of 1980; two-time outdoor track All-American Angela Whelchel Lally, Class of 1992; two-time honorable mention basketball stars Jeff Bowers, Class of 1994, and Diana Duff, Class of 1999; and standout softball and soccer player Lisa Jensen, Class of 1990. The six new Hall of Fame inductees will increase the number of enshrined to 94. The evening's festivities begin with a social hour at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and induction ceremonies to follow at 7:15 p.m. Tickets for the event are $25. For tickets or more informa-tion, please call the USM Department of Athletics at 207-780-5430. The Department of Athletics also is using the occasion to present three special departmental awards. The 1999 Richard A. "Doc" Costello Special Achievement Award is being bestowed upon Billy Adams for his longtime work as a high school and college sports official. The award, named for the retired USM Director of Athletics, is given annually to graduates of the institution who have distinguished themselves through their commitment to student-athletes and athletics. The Clifford O.T. Weiden Award for 1999 will be presented to Chris Robinson for his efforts on behalf of USM's sailing program. The Weiden Award, named for the retired university coach and administrator, is presented to individuals who, or businesses from the community that, contribute special talents and time to the university. This year's recipient of the David F. Drew III Service Award is Noelle Neuwirth. Neuwirth has spent the past two years serving as the Athletic Department's webmaster. She designed and helps maintain the athletic department's award winning site. 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. In 1988-89, the USM men's basketball program reached a level of success that has not been achieved since by going to the NCAA Division III National Championship Final Four. A major reason for that success was the outstanding play of 6-foot-6 forward Jeff Bowers. A two-time honorable mention All-American, Bowers averaged 20.3 points and 6.4 rebounds to help the Huskies win their only Little East Conference championship (1989) and advance to the NCAA Final Four. He was the Little East Co-Player of the Year, the ECAC Division III New England Player of the Year, and earned first team all-star accolades from the LEC, ECAC, UPI New England and the Maine College Basketball Coaches and Writers Association. As a junior, Jeff averaged 19.2 points and 10.1 rebounds as the Huskies finished 21-8 and took third place in the NCAA regional tournament. The NCAA tournament bid was the first of four straight for the Huskies. Jeff was named to numerous all-star teams, and led the nation in free throw percentage sinking 93 percent of his charity tosses. Still ranked among the program's career leaders in points (1,257), scoring average (17.2), field goal percentage (.524), three-point field goals (158), three-point field goal percentage (.476) and free throw percentage (.855), Jeff holds the school records for three-point field goals made in one season (89) and career free throw percentage. One of the most prolific scorers from USM's early men's ice hockey era (1972-79), Raynald Charest played four seasons for the Huskies under former coaches Maynard Howe and Ted Child. During his four seasons, the Huskies compiled a 37-23-0 record, went to the 1976 NAIA national tournament, and finished runner-up in the 1977 and 1978 NAIA District Five tournaments. As a freshman, Raynald scored 14 goals and dished out 17 assists to help the Huskies to a 9-7-0 record. He improved upon those figures the next season potting 25 goals and handing out 20 assists for 45 points in 15 games, second highest on team. That season, the Huskies reached the highpoint of this earlier hockey era, playing in the NAIA national tournament against Gustavus Adolphus College from St. Peter, Minn. The team's leading scorer his junior and senior seasons (statistics not available) according to teammate and fellow Hall of Fame member J.P. Lavoie, Charest finished his career with over 100 points. He was an NAIA District Five all-star and the team captain as a senior. An All-American in two sports, Diana Duff left a lasting impression upon the women's basketball program during her four-year career. A two-time honorable mention All-American in basketball, Diana also earned regional All- American honors in softball during her only full season playing that sport. One of the Huskies top basketball players, Diana helped the team make its first NCAA Final Four visit in 1988 averaging 17.6 points and 7.9 rebounds over 30 games. She was named the Little East Conference Player of the Year, a first team all-star, and the conference championship tournament MVP. She also earned All-ECAC and All-New England Women's Basketball Association (NEWBA) first team honors. As a senior, she averaged 16.2 points and 7.2 rebounds, and was again All- LEC and the tournament championship MVP after leading the Huskies to their third straight title. A bid for a second straight trip to the NCAA Final Four fell short in the regional finals. One of the most gifted all-around players ever to wear a USM uniform, Diana is still ranked among the Huskies career leaders in scoring (1,170 points), scoring average (11.8), field goals made (482), field goal percentage (.484), three-point field goals made (81), three-point field goal percentage (.424), rebounds (659) and blocked shots (150). In her only full softball season (1986), Diana hit .348 (30 for 86) with two doubles, six triples, one home run and 19 RBI while helping the team to a 17-16-1 record and the MAIAW state championship. A two-sport athlete at USM, Lisa Jensen left a lasting mark on the softball and the then fledgling women's soccer programs during her four years. A regional softball All-American, she set numerous school records for pitchers by the time she graduated. She has gone on to make her living in sports as a professional golfer. During her junior year, Lisa threw a no-hitter and three shutouts along the way to a 14-4 record with a 1.38 ERA. She had 17 complete games among her 20 appearances, and allowed just 83 hits in 126.1 innings of work. She was named to the All-State team and the regional All-American team. During her four-year pitching career, she compiled a 30-17 record with a 1.49 era. Her career ERA is still the school's best, and her 30 wins ties her for the second most among USM's softball hurlers. On the soccer field, Jensen was a tough defender and even tried her hand at goalkeeper. She was named the team's best defensive player as a freshman, and earned MAIAW All-State honors as a sophomore. She played in 37 games over three seasons and was credited with one assist. A two-sport athlete, William "Bill" Obermeyer was a four-year basketball and baseball player for Gorham State Teachers College. On the hardwoods, Obermeyer helped GSTC consistently be a title contender in the old New England Teachers College Conference, compiling a 55-22 during his four-year career. He scored 884 points in 75 games, and averaged over 15 points a game as a junior and senior playing for head coach Richard Costello's high- scoring squads. He was the team captain and named the most valuable player his senior season (1957-58). Obermeyer was a good-hitting, good-fielding first baseman for the GSTC baseball team according to Costello, who coached three sports at the time. Maybe the school's finest 400-meter hurdler and middle distance runners, Angela Whelchel Lally left a mark upon the women's indoor and outdoor track program that has not been matched to this day. While some of her school records may have been broken since she graduated in 1992, her name still dots the record book. A two-time NCAA Division III All-American in the 400-meter hurdles, Angie accomplished her many outstanding feats before the University even had an official indoor track team or the field house. She was twice the state 400 meter indoor champion, and won the indoor New England Division III (600 meters) and ECAC (600 yards) titles as a sophomore. Primarily a hurdler, Angie even earned All-Little East Conference honors in cross country as a junior by finishing sixth at the conference meet. During her standout track career, she earned three All-State honors, three All-New England citations, and two All-ECAC honors indoors. Outdoors, she won the New England Division III 400-meter hurdles in 1990, and was a three-time Division III All-New England honoree in the event.