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Former Hawks inducted into New England Hall of Fame

Posted on 03 September 2015.

On Saturday, Aug. 8, seven former University of Hartford Hawks were honored and inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame.

Amongst these seven were two former women’s basketball players Mary-Jane Besselink and Heather Weindorfer.

Also joining them in the induction will be three former standout men’s players Chris Calling, Larry Franciose and Dr. John Graham.

Now this Hall of Fame is not only for the athletes but for also people who helped made the basketball team become successful.

With that being said, earning spots in the New England Hall of Fame joining the basketball stars was former University of Hartford director of athletics Pat Meiser and Randy LaVigne, who did commentary for Hartford and was considered the voice of the men’s basketball team.

All these former Hartford Hawks have earned their spots respectfully and this is why:

The first Hawk we mention was Mary-Jane Besselink.

Besselink was a four-year member of Hartford‘s women‘s basketball team. She finished her career with 1,205 points, the ninth-highest total in program history. She also ranks second all-time with 817 rebounds, third in field goals with 512 and fourth in rebound average with 7.7. Overall, she ranks in the top-10 in eight career statistical categories. A team captain for two seasons, Besselink was inducted into Hartford‘s Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004.

The next Hawk is Heather Weindorfer who was a two-time team captain.

Weindorfer is Hartford‘s all-time leading scorer with 1,780 career points. A member of the women‘s basketball team from 1993–97, she also appears the program‘s top-five in nine other statistical categories.

In addition to being the program‘s top-scorer, Weindorfer also holds down the top spot in career scoring average with 15.8 points per game, free throws made with 568, and free throws attempted, and is listed on Hartford‘s 500 point/500 rebound club list. Last but not least, she is a member of Hartford‘s Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2003.

Congrats to these two former women’s basketball players on their success.

Now let’s see why the former men’s basketball players earned a rightful spot in this Regional Hall of Fame.

The first player we recognize for the men’s basketball players is Chris Calling.

Calling spent two seasons (1980–82) as a member of Hartford’s men’s basketball team. As a junior during the 1980–81 season, he led the team in both rebounding and assists.

He had 303 rebounds that season for a 12.1-per-game average, adding 15.2 points per game and 91 assists. In addition, he was an All-Conference Northeast-7 Second Team member and in his final season at Hartford, he averaged 10.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

The next man who we recognize is Larry Franciose.

Inducted into Hartford’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001, Franciose was a four-year member of the men’s basketball program. As team captain during the 1969–70 season, Franciose helped the Hawks to a 19-3 finish. Due to this, he was named a New England Basketball College All-Star that season. In three varsity seasons, Franciose scored a  total of 947 career points.

Finally the last mens basketball player we proudly recognize is Dr. John Graham. Graham’s playing career with the men’s basketball team spanned from 1973–77.

In 95 career games, he scored 410 points averaging 4.3 points per game. Graham was also able to snag 240 rebounds that averaged out to 2.5 rebounds per game. Graham shined during his final season as a Hawk as he compiled career-best numbers in points with 189 points that season. While making a personal record with points scored he also made a personal record in a season in rebounds with 102 that helped  lead the team to a 19-8 overall record in 1976–77.

Congrats to all the players as the current Hawk Nation is proud to have such successful alumni earn their spot in the New England Hall of Fame.

Next up to recognize are the people who helped made UHart sports what they were during their time.

First, we have former University of Hartford athletics director Pat Meiser.

Before Meiser’s arrival at Hartford, Meiser spent 11 years at UConn, where she served as the senior women’s administrator. Prior to UConn, she was the head coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions. During her span as head coach, Meiser led the Penn State women’s basketball team to a 92-55 overall record, and was a finalist for the Wade Trophy Coach of the Year in 1978.

During Meiser’s magnificent career, she was also a three-time winner of the NACDA Division I Athletics Director of the Year Award (Northeast Region). Finally, she was inducted into Connecticut’s Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.

Last but not least, the seventh and final person we recognize in this year’s New England Hall of Fame induction from the University of Hartford is Randy LaVigne.

Randy LaVigne, has held the role of color commentary for the Hartford Hawks men’s basketball team for the last six seasons. LaVigne was a two-sport star at UConn as he was also a member of the Huskies’ baseball team.

As a member of the basketball team, he was also notified for his work in class as an Academic All-American (1975–76 through 1978–79).

For the men’s UConn Husky team, he played in 106 career games, scoring 752 total points, grabbing 327 total rebounds and handing out 301 total assists.

Hopefully this motivates all of our current Hawks to strive for greatness and work hard always.

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