Colby-Sawyer College Announces 2011 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
NEW LONDON, N.H., Sept. 12 – Colby-Sawyer College will induct five former student-athletes as members of the 2011 Athletic Hall of Fame this fall. This year's honorees are soccer player Jay Geiger '94, swimmer Signe Linville '06, alpine ski racer Euginnia Manseau '05, tennis player Christopher Pugliese '05, and basketball player Andrew St. Clair '06.
Established in 2006, the Colby-Sawyer Athletic Hall of Fame celebrates the accomplishments of Colby-Sawyer athletes, coaches, teams and supporters who have advanced the college's commitment to excellence. Colby-Sawyer will host an induction ceremony for the 2011 Athletic Hall of Fame athletes on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 11 a.m. in Wheeler Hall at the Ware Campus Center. The event is open to the college community, alumni and friends, and area residents.
A Team Builder
Jay Geiger '94 of Waterviet, N.Y., was one of the founding members of the men's soccer team. A four-time team captain, he helped lay the groundwork for future program success and guided the Chargers to three winning seasons in four years. At the time of his induction, Geiger still ranks tied for first in goals in a game with four and points in a game with eight. In his senior campaign, he was selected as a New England Intercollegiate Soccer League All-Star. He was named Colby-Sawyer Male Athlete of the Year in his senior year and was the team's Most Valuable Player all four years.
Geiger is the head athletic trainer at the University of Albany, where he was hired in 2006. Prior to his current position, Geiger was an assistant athletic director and head trainer at the College of Saint Rose for ten years.
Still Making a Splash
Signe Linville '06 of Enfield, N.H., remains one of the most decorated and versatile student-athletes to hit the pool in Colby-Sawyer history. A two-time team captain, she led the women's swimming team in the freestyle, breaststroke and individual medley.
At the time of her induction, Linville still holds seven individual records out of a possible 18 events. She was also a member of all five relay teams that currently hold school records. Linville excelled when it counted the most at the end of the season. She qualified for the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association Championships all four years and did not disappoint, as she was a finalist in every one of her individual events all four years. In addition to her individual achievements, she also helped her teammates to become Relay Conference Champions.
Linville is the aquatics director, swim coach, and fitness instructor at the Upper Valley Aquatics Center in White River Junction, Vt.
Led Chargers to New Heights
Euginnia Manseau '05 of Vail, Colo., garnered five United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association (USCSA) All-American Awards in her four years as a Colby-Sawyer alpine ski racer. As a senior, she led the Chargers to a second-place tie at the USCSA National Championships, which is tied for the best ever result in program history.
Manseau was also an Eastern Collegiate Ski Conference All-Region selection nine times. A two-time team captain, she was named the most valuable team member three times, which is tied for the most in program history. In addition to her skiing accomplishments, Euginnia also played four years on the women's soccer team. Euginnia works as an office manager at the Vail Ski Club in Vail, Colo.
Tennis Court Master
Christopher Pugliese '05 of Burlington, Mass., is one of the best men's tennis players ever to compete for Colby-Sawyer. At the time of his induction he still holds school records in single season victories (17), career victories (119), singles victories (64) and doubles victories (55), while competing at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles.
Pugliese was named Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Rookie of the Year in 2002 and Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005. He also was named CCC First Team Singles (2003, 2004, 2005), First Team Doubles (2003, 2004), Second Team Singles (2002), and Second Team Doubles (2002, 2005). A two-time captain and four-time team Most Valuable Player, Pugliese was the first Colby-Sawyer player to earn a Singles ranking by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) for the North East Division III.
Pugliese is the head coach at Lexington High School and has guided the boy's team to three straight Middlesex League Championships.
The Dominator
Andrew St. Clair '06 of Malden, Mass., is one of the most decorated and outstanding men's basketball players in Colby-Sawyer history. St. Clair dominated on the court in the Northeast throughout his career. At the time of his induction, Andrew holds school records in rebounds (1007), steals (206), blocks (142) and field goals (825). He was one of three players to eclipse 2,000 career points (2043) and was nationally ranked in scoring and rebounding throughout his career.
St. Clair was named Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Player of the Year three times and Rookie of the Year in the 2002-03 season. He also garnered regional and national awards, and was a National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-American Second Team selection.
St. Clair earned CoSida Academic All-American honors in 2005 and 2006. He was named CoSida Academic All-District three times, D3hoops.com All-New England three times, and NABC All-Northeast District three times. He was the Colby-Sawyer Male Athlete of the Year and Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2006. Following his collegiate career, he became the third Colby-Sawyer athlete to compete professionally overseas.
St. Clair works at Medicus Healthcare Solutions in Salem, N.H., and is an assistant men's basketball coach at Colby-Sawyer.
To learn more about the Colby-Sawyer College Athletic Hall of Fame, visit www.colby-sawyerathletics.com/hof.aspx
For more information about intercollegiate athletics, visit www.colby-sawyerathletics.com
