Worcester, Mass. (November 11) -- The Assumption College Department of Athletics held its annual Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday, November 6th in the Hagan Campus Center as part of the 2015 Homecoming Weekend. This year’s inductees were Rita Castagna, Justin Cecil `96, Chris Colabello `05, John Driscoll `67 and Lauren Matysiak `08.
FULL PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE 2015 INDUCTION
Castagna served as the director of athletics from 1988-2003 while also serving as the head coach for countless intercollegiate programs at Assumption. Her longest tenure was a 14-year stretch as the women’s basketball head coach, where she led the team to 133 victories and advanced to the Northeast-10 Tournament six times. In addition, she was the first field hockey and softball coach in school history and served as the volleyball coach for four seasons. Her softball team posted a 62-43 record as she held that position for eight seasons.
Cecil, a 1996 graduate of the men’s lacrosse program, ended his Assumption career as the program’s all-time leading points and goal scorer and currently sits second in career goals with 91 and third in assists with 61. Still tied for the point-scoring record with 152 points, he posted a single-game school-record 13 points in two games, along with an 11-point game. Cecil also posted a single-season school record of 73 points in 1995 that included 26 assists, which is the second-highest single-season total in program history.
Colabello, a 2005 graduate, became the first Assumption player to appear in a Major League Baseball game when he appeared for the Minnesota Twins in 2013. The 2013 International League (AAA) Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, Colabello was the starting first baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays during their run to the American League Championship Series. A one-time American League Player of the Week for the Twins in 2014, he set the Minnesota team record for most RBI in the month of April, breaking a record held by Baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett. In addition to his MLB success, Colabello was a standout for the Italian team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, including one game where he was 4-for-5 with one home run, four RBI and three runs scored. While at Assumption, Colabello was a three-time Northeast-10 All-Conference honoree and a two-time All-Region selection as he finished his career with a .352 batting average. In 155 games, he posted 202 career hits with 95 runs scored, 111 runs batted in and 24 home runs.
Driscoll, a 1967 alum, was a member of the Assumption College men’s basketball program and a tremendous teammate as the Hounds advanced to four straight NCAA Regionals and won one regional title as Driscoll ended his career with 645 career points. After graduation, Driscoll served as president and owner of EMS, Inc. in Wallingford, Conn. after over 45 years as the company worked with a variety of electrical products. College roommate with former Assumption AD and Hall of Famer Ted Paulauskas `67, Driscoll was a member of four teams at Assumption that posted a 70-19 record during his career.
Matysiak, a 2008 graduate and four-year starting goalie for the women’s soccer program, is arguably the top female student-athlete in Assumption history. A 2006 NSCAA First Team All-American, she helped lead her team to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament that included two straight appearances in the regional final. Matysiak is the Assumption career record holder in shutouts with 31 as she also holds the school record for goals against average at 0.93 and victories with 39. A three-time Northeast-10 Goalkeeper of the Year and a two-time recipient of the Andrew Laska ‘Athlete of the Year’ Award, Matysiak holds the Assumption single-season records for starts with 23, wins with 15 (twice), shutouts with 12 and goals against average at 0.70.
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