Colby-Sawyer Athletics Announces 2014 Hall of Fame Inductees
Colby-Sawyer College will honor six inductees as new members of its Athletic Hall of Fame this fall. This year's honorees include volleyball and basketball player Anne Coulter '06, basketball player Kelly "KJ" Krasco '05, basketball player Calen Paquette '03, field hockey, basketball and tennis player Valerie Turtle '70, baseball and soccer player Tom White '09 and soccer and lacrosse player Jessica Wilfert '03.
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 2014 Athletic Hall of Fame athletes on Sunday, Oct. 12, at 11 a.m. in Wheeler Hall at the Ware Student Center. The event is open to the college community, alumni and friends, and area residents.
Anne Coulter was a standout player for the Colby-Sawyer volleyball and basketball teams during her collegiate career. Her great leaping ability helped to propel the volleyball team to a pair of Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) championships, and two NCAA tournament appearances with two first-round victories. At the time of induction, Anne was the all-time leader in career blocks (389) and block assists (296). She was twice named to the All-CCC Volleyball First Team and All-CCC Honorable Mention. In addition to Anne's prowess on the volleyball court, she was equally impressive on the basketball court. She holds the second highest single-season field goal percentage (.590). Anne guided the Chargers to a CCC championship and a NCAA appearance in the 2005-06 season. She also garnered All-CCC Second Team and All-CCC Honorable Mention accolades. A member of two conference championship teams and appearing in two NCAA tournaments in her senior year, Anne earned the Charger Award for Outstanding Female Athlete in 2006.
KJ Krasco had a stellar career for the Colby-Sawyer women's basketball team and posted numbers that would be impressive in a four year career, though she did it in three. Transferring into the program in the spring of 2002, KJ quickly found her role on the team and used her talent to become one of the Chargers' finest players. Beginning with an impressive 32-point performance in her second game, KJ scored 1,044 points in three seasons and is the 12th highest all-time scorer. She is the college's fifth highest career three-pointer scorer with 154 shots. KJ's hard work and dedication paid off in the 2004-05 season when the Chargers won the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) championship and appeared in the NCAA tournament. KJ was named All-CCC First Team, New England Women's Basketball Association (NEWBA) All-Star Third Team, N.H. Division III Women's Basketball Player of the Year, and played during her final season in the NEWBA Senior Classic.
KJ is currently the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Middlebury College.
Calen Paquette, a four-year guard on the Colby-Sawyer basketball team, was an elite two-way player who took care of the ball and was tenacious on defense. Captain as a senior, he had the ability to make the tough shot, but also looked for his teammates, illustrated by his 416 career assists from the shooting guard position, which is fourth all-time. Calen scored 1,327 career points ranking him eighth on the all-time list. Calen also ranks fourth in career assists, career steals (181), and free throws made (355), and sixth in three-pointers made (170). In his first season, Calen was named Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Rookie of the Year and N.H. Division III Basketball Coaches Association Rookie of the Year. Throughout his career, Calen was also named to the All-CCC First Team, twice to both the All-CCC Second Team and the N.H. Division III Basketball Coaches Association First Team, and was once an All-CCC Honorable Mention player.
In an era before Title IX, Valerie Turtle made the most of her opportunities. She was competitive and talented as she represented Colby Junior College in field hockey, basketball and tennis, and earned the college's Physical Education Department award her senior year After graduating in 1970, Valerie continued her education at the University of Vermont. There, she accomplished a feat unheard of in modern athletics; she competed in five varsity sports: field hockey, tennis, nordic skiing, lacrosse and volleyball. She was given the UVM Physical Education Department Award in her senior year. After UVM, Valerie carried her determination, skill and pride to coaching positions at Milton Academy, Mount Holyoke, Springfield College (where she coached 8 All-American swimmers) and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She was an integral part of the New England Women's Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving Association (NEWISDA) in the late '70s and held several key positions, including President, Ethics and Eligibility Chair and NEWISDA Championship Meet Director. She was also a National Collegiate Women's Swimming Coaches Association Board of Directors Division II representative and a member of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Division II Swimming and Diving Sport Committee. In the mid-1980s, Valerie shifted from coaching teams to coaching individuals as a financial advisor. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, CLTC-Certified in Long-Term Care, and runs an Ameriprise Platinum Financial Services practice. Valerie recently headed a volunteer committee at UVM to recognize and honor the pre-Title IX women athletes and to award them their Varsity Certificates.
A native of Lisbon, N.H., Tom White was two-sport star at Colby-Sawyer, Tom boasted the athletic ability and a competitive spirit that few could match: he played four years for the baseball and soccer teams during his career. Tom is known as one of the best baseball players to take the field for Colby-Sawyer. At the time of induction, Tom ranked first in games played (141), at-bats (464), and doubles (39). He also ranked second in hits (164), on base percentage (.450), runs scored (119), stolen bases (40) and saves (4). Tom collected 133 RBIs, 270 total bases, and hit .353, which ranks him third all-time in each category. Tom also earned several awards. He was named Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Rookie of the Year, twice named to the All-CCC First Team and once to the All-CCC Second Team. Tom is one of three Chargers named a New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) All-New England player and NEIBA All-Star game player. Tom was instrumental in leading the men's soccer program to its first Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) appearance. His dedication, knowledge, and poise under pressure made him one of the toughest defenders in the conference. In 2009, Tom earned the Charger Award for the Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year.
Tom is currently the Head Baseball Coach at Lyndon State College.
Jessica Wilfert ranks as one of the best two-sport athletes in Colby-Sawyer history, playing an impressive four years with the women's soccer and lacrosse teams, and serving as co-captain of each team her senior year. Jessica was an all-around offensive force for the soccer program. She ranks first in career assists (30), second in points (102) and fifth in goals (36). Jessica was twice named to the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Second Team in soccer. After outstanding fall seasons, Jessica turned her attention to lacrosse each spring and continued to display her athletic talent. She helped Colby-Sawyer earn its first berth into the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) in 2003. Jessica ranks second in career points (231), second in assists (69), and fourth in goals (162). She earned a nod to the All-CCC First Team on two occasions and once to the All-CCC Second Team. In addition to her athletic accomplishments on the field, Jessica also excelled in the classroom. She was twice named Verizon District I All-Academic Second Team and earned several CCC All-Academic honors. In 2003, Jessica capped her career by taking home both major Colby-Sawyer Athletics awards: the Charger Award for Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year and the Wynne Jesser McGrew Scholar-Athlete Award.
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.
-Ryan Emerson, Sports Information Director
Colby-Sawyer College is a comprehensive college that integrates the liberal arts and sciences with professional preparation. Founded in 1837, Colby-Sawyer is located in the scenic Lake Sunapee Region of central New Hampshire. Learn more about the college's vibrant teaching and learning community at www.colby-sawyer.edu.
Colby-Sawyer College, 541 Main Street, New London, N.H. 03257 (603) 526-3000
