Wednesday, September 19, 2007

USM Husky Hall of Fame to Induct Seven
Athletic Department to Present Three Special Recognition Awards

     GORHAM, Maine  -- Seven former University of Southern Maine student-
athletes comprise the Husky Hall of Fame Class of 2007 to be inducted at the 
22nd Annual Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, September 29th at the Kenneth 
Brooks Student Center on the Gorham campus.  
     This year's Hall of Fame Inductees span five decades of athletic excellence 
at USM and include former men's basketball standout Charles A. Andre, Class of 
1951; men's soccer All-American Donald S. Franzese, Class of 1984; women's track 
All-American Christine M. Berube, Class of 1996; All-Region field hockey player 
Denise Arsenault Turner, Class of 1996; men's ice hockey standout Travis Bezio, 
Class of 1997; softball All-American and honorable mention All-American women's 
basketball player Julie Plant, Class of 2000; and 1997 NCAA  Division III 
Baseball National Championship Most Valuable Player Jason Jensen, Class of 2002. 
     The USM Department of Athletics will also present three special 
departmental awards.  The 2007 Richard A. "Doc" Costello Special Achievement 
Award is being bestowed upon former USM baseball player David E. Page (Class of 
1989), currently the Strength and Conditioning Coach with the Boston Red Sox.  
The award is named for the retired USM Director of Athletics and is given 
annually to graduates of the institution who have distinguished themselves 
through their commitment to student-athletes and athletics. 
     This year's recipient of the David F. Drew III Service Award is Richard J. 
Clarey.  Clarey, a former Faculty-Athletics Representative for the department 
and Dean of the School of Business, is being recognized for his dedicated 
support and services to USM athletics.  The Drew Award, named for the longtime 
coach, instructor, trainer and equipment manager, is given to individuals who 
distinguish themselves through volunteer service to the athletic department. 
     The Clifford O.T. Weiden Award for 2007 will be presented to Richard L. 
Pattenaude, former USM President and the current Chancellor of the University of 
Southern Maine System, recognizing his support and dedication to the USM 
athletic department during his tenure as USM President.  The Weiden Award, named 
for the retired university coach and administrator, is presented to individuals 
or businesses for their contributions of special talents and time to the 
university.  
     The evening's festivities being at 6:15 p.m.  Dinner and induction 
ceremonies follow at 7:15 p.m.  Tickets for the event are $30.  For tickets or 
more information, please call the USM Department of Athletics at 207-780-5588.  
     A four-year member of the men's basketball team playing for Gorham State 
Teacher's College from 1947-1951, Charles Andre played an integral role in the 
resurgence of men's basketball.  After being suspended due to World War II, 
Andre was a member of the "Hilltoppers" starting backcourt in its second season 
of reinstatement.  A fixture in Gorham State's starting lineup from his freshman 
year on, Andre also served as President of the Men's Athletic Association, 
helping raise funds for the school's first electronic scoreboard.  
     Playing for James Gilman in his freshman season, Andre ended his playing 
career under Hall-of-Famer John Bodnarick.  During that period, Gorham State 
compiled a 22-31 record, including an outstanding 1949-1950 season in which the 
team posted a 10-5 mark.  During Andre's senior season, 1950-1951, Gorham State 
had one of the biggest wins of the season defeating Bates College 68-52 at the 
Portland Exposition Building.  That same season, Andre and the Hilltoppers 
traveled to Massachusetts to take on Stonehill College at Boston Garden. 
     One of just three USM soccer players to earn NSCAA All-American honors 
during his playing career, Donald Franzese helped the Huskies to a remarkable 
52-19-7 mark during the 1979-1982 seasons and three trips to the NAIA national 
tournament, including a fourth place finish in the 1979 tournament.  
     Playing under head coaches  Hall of Fame member Harold "Chappy" Menninger 
(1979-80) and Chris Baumann (1981-1982), Franzese tallied 43 goals and passed 
off 12 assists for 98 points.  Heading into the 2007 season, Franzese goal-
scoring and points totals are second all-time in program history.  
     Franzese was named an NAIA All-American during the 1980 and 1981 seasons 
and was selected to the NSCAA All-America team in 1981 (second team) and 1980 
(honorable mention).  A three-time All-State player (1979, 1980, 1981), Franzese 
also earned NAIA All-District V and All-New England honors in 1980 and 1981.  
     University of Southern Maine record holder in the discus, Christine Berube 
has the distinction of being one of just four Husky women's track and field 
athletes to compete in the NCAA Division III championships, earning the right to 
participate three consecutive seasons (1993, 1994 and 1995).  During the 1993 
and 1994 championships, Berube earned All-American honors, placing 5th in 1993 
and 7th in 1994.  Berube established USM's school record in the discus on May 
28, 1994 with a distance of 137-11 - outdistancing her nearest runner up by over 
13 feet. 
     In the top ten in goals scored and points in USM field hockey history, 
Denise Arsenault Turner led the Huskies to three trips to the ECAC Championship 
(1991, 1993 and 1994) and a berth to the NCAA Regionals in 1992.  A 1994 NFHCA 
Regional All-American second team selection, Arsenault Turner helped the Huskies 
to a 49-22-6 (.736 winning percentage) record during her playing career.
     In her senior season (1994) Arsenault scored 15 goals and passed off one 
assist to accumulate 31 points and was selected to participate in the 
North/South Senior All-Star game.  Her 28 career goals are ranked seventh in 
program history, while her 61 career points is ranked eighth.   
     A gifted playmaker and adept goal-scoring threat, Travis Bezio can be found 
ranked highly in the USM career record books for men's ice hockey.  Bezio 
finished his stellar four-year career with the Huskies with 108 points - a 
former school record that stood until 2007.  In 100 games played, Bezio passed 
of a school record 68 assists while adding 40 goals and helped the Huskies to 
one of their finest seasons in program history.  
     Handing out a single-season record 25 assists to compliment nine goals, 
Bezio guided USM to an outstanding 18-9-1 record and a berth into the ECAC 
Finals during the 1992-1993 season.  The Huskies' 18 wins is the program's 
highest win total. 
     Along with his school record in career assists and single-season record in 
assists, Bezio's four-goal performance against Stonehill College on February 6, 
1992, an 11-2 win for USM, is tied for the benchmark in goals in a game.  
     Excelling on the national stage in both of her chosen sports, Julie Plant 
is one of the top women student-athletes to compete as part of the USM athletic 
department.  The only USM softball alumnae to earn NFCA All-American honors, 
Plant was also an honorable mention WBCA All-American as a guard for the women's 
basketball team.  
     As a member of the basketball team, Plant participated twice in the NCAA 
Division III Women's Basketball National Championship games (1998, 2000) and 
helped Southern Maine compile an impressive 105-17 overall record and an 
outstanding 49-3 mark in Little East Conference action.  During her career, the 
Huskies captured the LEC regular season title four times and won the conference 
tournament championship three times.  Starting her career being named the Little 
East Conference Rookie of the Year (1996-1997), Plant was named the LEC Player 
of the Year as a senior (1999-2000).  Plant was also named the All-LEC and All-
ECAC three consecutive years (97-98, 98-99, 99-00) and was selected as an 
honorable mention D3hoops.com All-American in 99-00 after averaging 14.5 points 
and 3.7 assists in her final season.  
     Inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006, Plant 
averaged 11.9 points and 3.9 assists per game in her career and is in the top 
five in several career statistical categories, including total points (5th, 1451 
points), three-point field goals made (5th, 123), steals (5th, 263) and assists 
(4th, 472).  
     One of the most highly decorated student-athletes to wear a USM softball 
uniform, Plant's excellence on the field is easily recognizable in the career 
record books.   Plant's achievements made her the school's career leader in runs 
scored (151), hits (206), doubles (36), runs batted in (110), total bases (304) 
and stolen bases (59). 
     During her four-year career, the Huskies compiled a 108-69-2 overall mark 
and earned its only two berths to the NCAA Division III National Championship 
tournament in 1997 and 1998.  Along with earning NFCA All-America honors in 
1998, Plant was named the LEC Player of the Year in 1998 after earning Rookie of 
the Year honors in 1997.  Plant also earned All-LEC honors three times (1997, 
1998 and 2000) while being named to the NFCA Regional All-America team (1998, 
1999 and 2000).  
     One of the key components in the Huskies' 1997 NCAA Division III Baseball 
National Championship, pitcher Jason Jensen was named the Most Outstanding 
Player of the tournament.  Jensen fired two complete game victories for the 
Huskies including a 15-1 win over Wooster in the National Championship game.  
Allowing just one run and five hits in nine innings of work, Jensen struck out 
nine batters to earn the win.  In the World Series, Jensen posted a 2-0 record 
with a 1.00 earned run average while striking out 16 batters.  
     Named to the 1997 and 1996 All-New England team, Jensen also earned All-
Little East Conference honors as a junior in 1997.  He still holds all-time USM 
records for complete games pitched in a season with nine, innings pitched with 
93 and strikeouts in a season with 82 in 1997.  In three seasons with USM, 
Jensen posted an 18-7 record in 28 games started with a 3.73 earned run average.  
In 1997, Jensen finished the year with a 9-3 record and three saves with a 3.19 
earned run average 
     Following his outstanding playing career at Southern Maine, Jensen was 
drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 18th round.  Jensen pitched for four 
seasons with the Diamondbacks reaching the organization's AAA affiliate Tucson 
Sidewinders of the Pacific Coast League in 1999.  

-cac-