RINDGE, N.H. – Franklin Pierce University celebrated its athletics history on Friday, October 16, welcoming four individuals and two teams into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a ceremony in the Field House.
Franklin Pierce Athletics thanks presenting sponsor Form Up Foundations for its support of this year's Hall of Fame ceremony and for helping make the celebration possible.
The Class of 2026 included the 1973 Baseball Team, Joe Delancy '82, Liam Lochhead '95, Debbie Jones '04, Courtney Jacobs '09 and the 1999 Women's Soccer National Championship Team.
Director of Athletics Matt Johnson welcomed guests, and University President Dr. Peter Eden delivered opening remarks. Student Athlete Advisory Committee co-chairs Nathan Donahue, a senior on the men's soccer and track and field teams, and Abigail Tarka, a junior on the field hockey team, also addressed the audience. Cindy Arman guided the presentation of awards as the evening recognized the accomplishments and lasting contributions of this year's inductees.
The 1973 Baseball Team, Franklin Pierce's first recognized baseball team, was honored for helping establish the foundation of the program. Beyond their contributions on the field, team members devoted countless hours to constructing the program's first home field. Their work helped set the stage for the following season's first appearance in the NEIBA College Baseball Championship Tournament and the program's first NEIBA All-Star selection. Team representatives returned to celebrate that legacy and accept the honor.
Joe Delancy '82 was recognized for his accomplishments with the men's basketball program and continued service to Franklin Pierce. A standout defensive player, Delancy helped the Ravens capture three NAIA regional championships and recorded a program record eight blocked shots in a single game. He later served on the University's Board of Trustees from 2018 to 2020. Bruce Kirsh read Delancy's acceptance letter and accepted the award on his behalf.
Liam Lochhead '95 was inducted for a men's soccer career that placed him among the program's most productive offensive players. Lochhead totaled 141 points on 43 goals and 55 assists, establishing the program's career assists record. He earned NSCAA All-Region and NECC All-Conference honors in both 1993 and 1994. Former men's soccer coach Tod Silegy offered congratulations in a video tribute before Lochhead accepted his award.
Debbie Jones '04 was honored for her impact on both ends of the field for the field hockey program. Jones finished her career with 65 points, collecting 26 goals and 13 assists while also recording 26 defensive saves. Her accomplishments included Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Week recognition during the 2002 season. Former field hockey coach Judy Heddy shared memories and congratulations in a video tribute celebrating Jones' career.
Courtney Jacobs '09 was recognized for her place in the softball program's record book. Jacobs recorded 454 career strikeouts across 519.1 innings and 85 appearances, finishing with a 2.82 earned run average and 20 victories. She also earned Northeast-10 Conference Honor Roll recognition during her senior season. Former softball coach Tim Conway congratulated Jacobs in a video tribute before she accepted her award.
The 1999 Women's Soccer Team was honored for a season that brought Franklin Pierce its fifth NCAA Division II national championship in six years. The Ravens finished 20–1 and defeated Cal Poly Pomona, 3–1, in the national championship match. Franklin Pierce outscored opponents 98–14 during the season and 11–3 in the NCAA Tournament. Minna Mustonen led Division II with 81 points and 34 goals, while Angela Verdoes led the nation with 24 assists. Team captains Brenda Van Stralen and Kara Shemeth accepted the award and spoke on behalf of the team, with former coach Pauliina Miettinen providing a video tribute.
The evening also featured video tributes from former coaches, who shared memories and congratulated this year's inductees. The complete tribute video can be watched in a condensed format HERE.
Johnson delivered closing remarks before the inductees and team representatives gathered for a group photo, bringing the celebration of the Class of 2026 to a close.
Photos and video from the celebration are available through the links accompanying this release.
PHOTO GALLERY | WATCH VIDEO TRIBUTES |Â WATCH FULL EVENT LIVESTREAM
