Wednesday, September 28, 2005

For Immediate Release

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

     GORHAM, Maine  --  Six former student-athletes comprise the Class of 2005 
that will be inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame at the University of Southern 
Maine's 20th Annual Husky Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremonies this 
Saturday, October 1, at the Kenneth Brooks Student Center on the USM Gorham 
campus.  The festivities are part of the University's Homecoming (September 25-
October 2) activities.
     This year's Hall of Fame inductees include former All-American baseball 
pitcher Robert Aceto, Class of 1992; former All-American field hockey standout 
Kathy Corbin Zeve, Class of 1989; former All-District and All-State softball 
player Lisa Chase, Class of 1985; former Gorham State Teachers College two-sport 
standout Keith Grant, Class of 1950; former University of Maine at Portland 
basketball star Harold Moulton, Class of 1967; and University of Maine at 
Portland two-sport athlete 
Richard Harris, Class of 1964.
     The USM Department of Athletics also is using the occasion to present three 
special departmental awards.  The 2005 Richard A. "Doc" Costello Special 
Achievement Award is being bestowed upon Dennis Ela, a long-time educator, 
administrator and soccer 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.
     This year's recipient of the David F. Drew III Service Award is Victor 
Neuwirth for his dedicated support and services to the Department of Athletics.  
The Drew Award named for the longtime coach, instructor, trainer and equipment 
manager, is given to individuals who distinguish themselves with volunteer 
service to the athletic department.
     The Clifford O.T. Weiden Award for 2004 will be presented to Phineas 
Sprague for his contributions to the USM sailing program and his promotion of 
the sport.  The Weiden Award, named for the retired university coach and 
administrator, is presented annually to individuals or businesses for their 
contributions of special talents and time to the university.
     The evening's festivities begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m.  Dinner and 
the 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 
207-780-5430.
     A key cog on the Huskies' 1991 national championship baseball team, Aceto 
complied a 24-14 record over four seasons, including an amazing 11-1 mark during 
the run to the national title.  He was the winning pitcher, throwing a complete 
game, in the Huskies' 9-0 win over Trenton State College in the championship 
game to capture the title.
     In 85.2 innings, Aceto gave up 86 hits and only 17 walks while striking out 
a career high 56 and fashioning a 2.21 ERA.  His 11 wins in the 1991 season 
still stands as the school record for the most wins in a season, and his 24 
career wins shares the school mark. As a sophomore, Aceto helped the Huskies 
earn their first of six trips to the NCAA Division III national championship 
tournament, compiling a 5-4 record with a 3.36 ERA.
     An All-ECAC and All-New England pick in 1991, he also still holds school 
records for starts in a career (42) and season (13), complete games in a career 
(18), and innings pitched in a career (277.2).  His 170 career strikeouts ranks 
fourth all-time.
     In her four year-career, Corbin Zeve was a defensive stalwart for the 
Huskies field hockey team.  She was a key member of the 1987 team that was the 
first USM team to go to an NCAA championship final four, the 1986 team that won 
the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championship, and the 1988 team 
that played in the ECAC tournament.
     One of the field hockey program's finest defensive players, Corbin Zeve 
played in 60 games and was credited with 17 defensive saves.  Over her four 
years, the Huskies put together a combined record of 41-19-8.  She was the co-
recipient of the Coaches Award in 1987, was captain of the 1998 team, and an 
All-MAIAW selection and NFHCA second team All-American in 1998.
     A former All-State and All-District softball standout for the Huskies, 
Chase was among the authors of one of the finest moments in the history of the 
softball program.  It was her bases loaded triple in the bottom of the seventh 
inning that sealed the Huskies' comeback from a five-run deficit in the first 
game of an eventual doubleheader sweep of Bloomfield College, and sent the 
Huskies to the NAIA softball national tournament in Kearney, Nebraska.
     At the time of her graduation in 1985, Chase held career records for most 
at bats, hits and doubles, and shared the record for runs scored.  She batted 
.306 with 21 RBI during the memorable 1983 season.  She followed that season 
with a career best .380 batting average in 1984.  For her career, she hit .335 
with 69 runs scored, 44 RBI, 19 doubles and struck out just eight times in 286 
at bats.
     A two-sport standout at Gorham State Teachers College, Grant played 
baseball and basketball for the Hilltoppers from 1946-1950 while earning his 
bachelor's degree in industrial arts.  He was among the Hilltoppers top scorers 
on the hardwood during the 1946-47 season according to press clippings.  He 
often was the team's top scorer.  A pitcher-infielder playing for coach Jim 
Gilman's baseball nine, Grant played four seasons for the Hilltoppers, and 
served as that team's captain on two occasions.
     Grant's contributions to the success of the athletic programs were also 
felt off the courts and fields.  He was secretary of the Men's Athletic 
Association during the 1948-49 academic year and help build the foundation for 
the GSTC men's athletics programs after World War II.
     One of the finest basketball players at the University of Maine at Portland 
during the mid-1960s, Moulton was a noted scorer and strong rebounder playing 
for coach Dick Sturgeon.  After a standout scholastic career at Yarmouth High 
School, Moulton brought his talents to UMP.  
     During the 1964-65 season, he scored 267 points to average 16.7 points a 
game, and set then school records for field goals made (114) and attempted 
(306).  Among his efforts that season was a 21-point, 17-rebound performance 
against Husson.  The following season, he averaged 14.8 points to lead the team 
and 11.7 rebounds per game to help the team to an 11-5 record.
     A two-sport athlete at the University of Maine at Portland during the early 
1960s, Harris was a member of the 1961-62 basketball team that compiled a 10-4 
record under the direction of head coach James Sullivan.  He also was one of the 
top players on the golf team according to Dick Sturgeon, the former men's 
basketball coach at UMP and later at USM.
     After his graduation, Harris served as an assistant basketball coach with 
Sturgeon for a year for a before embarking on a career in the golf world.  He 
served as the golf pro at Martindale CC for many years, and was the first golf 
pro at the Falmouth CC.  An incredible supporter of amateur golf in the state, 
he was recently inducted in the Maine Golf Hall of Fame.