Nine Athletes to be Inducted Into Hall of Fame
Feb. 26, 2009
Providence, R.I. - The Brown Athletics Hall of Fame will hold its 37th Annual Induction Dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, at the Westin Hotel, with nine former Brown standouts being inducted, including Eric Blackiston '96 (Basketball), Porter Collins '98 (Crew), Kerri Whitaker '96 (Field Hockey/Lacrosse), Jason McCullough '97 (Football), Steve King '91 (Ice Hockey), Dave Flaschen '77 (Soccer), Rich Meister '75 (Lacrosse), Judith Gracey '81 (Track and Field), and William Carpenter '97 (Wrestling).
To RSVP for the event ($75 per person), please contact Lauren Hylton at the Brown Sports Foundation at (401) 863-9812, or at Lauren_Hylton@brown.edu.
Eric Blackiston '96 finished his career as one of the most versatile guards in Brown history. He ranked second all-time in assists and sixteenth in scoring when he graduated, despite missing part of his junior season with an injury. In 1996, Blackiston also became just the 16th player in school history to reach the 1,000-point mark, ending his career with 1,031 career points. In recognition of his terrific play, Blackiston received the J. Richmond Fales Trophy in both 1993 and 1995, given annually to the most valuable player on the Brown squad. He was also a First Team All-Ivy player in 1995, and was given the Thomas Hoagland '63 Award in 1996.
Porter Collins '98 enjoyed an extraordinary career, both as an undergrad at Brown and after his graduation. During his freshman season in 1994, Collins led the way for one of the best frosh crews in school history, helping the Bears to an undefeated dual season before winning the Eastern Sprints, IRA's, and the Thames Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta. After winning an IRA National Championship in the varsity 8 as a sophomore, Collins took a year away from the Bears to compete in the '96 Olympics. He then returned to Brown in 1997, where he led the team to a second place finish at IRA's. In his international career, Collins has won three world championships, the most of any Brown oarsman.
Kerri Whitaker '96 was the rare athlete who was able to play two Division I sports at an extremely high level, excelling in both field hockey and lacrosse. Whitaker was decorated many times for her offensive prowess in field hockey, most notably when she was named to the First Team All-Ivy after her senior season in 1995. She also received the team's Outstanding Offensive Player award in 1994 and 1995, and was the team's MVP in 1995. Whitaker was perhaps even more accomplished in lacrosse, where her career numbers put her in the top-10 all-time at Brown in points, goals, assists, ground balls, caused turnovers, and draw controls. She was an Honorable Mention All-American in 1996, and played on the U.S. National Elite Team for four seasons after graduation.
Jason McCullough '97 will go down in the Brown record books as one of the finest quarterbacks in program history. Upon his graduation, McCullough held every single passing record for a season and a career, as well as ranking second in Ivy League history in touchdown passes and third all-time in the league in passing yardage. An Honorable Mention All-American, McCullough was named to the All Decade Team for the 1990s, and was a First Team All-Ivy selection in 1995 and 1996. He was the 1997 recipient of the Fritz Pollard Award, given annually to the Brown outstanding male athlete of the year. McCullough also became the first quarterback in Brown history to pass for more than 2,000 yards in a season, paving the way for those who came after him to play a more wide-open brand of football.
Steve King '91 had an impressive career at Brown, but truly found his game after graduation, when he went on to a nine-year professional hockey career. King made an immediate impact upon his arrival on campus in the fall of 1987, scoring 10 goals and 15 total points during his rookie season. He then followed that with 13 as a sophomore, before breaking out with 19 goals and 27 points in 1989-90. During his final season as a Bear, King matched his junior year output of 19 goals, but upped his assists to a personal-high of 15, giving him 34 points as a senior. He was an Honorable Mention All-Ivy and All-ECAC selection. Following his graduation from Brown, King played professionally from 1991-2000, including successful stints with the New York Rangers and Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
Dave Flaschen '77 was an integral member of some of the finest soccer teams that Brown has ever produced, leading the 1975 and 1976 squads to the NCAA Tournament, including a Final Four berth in 1975. Flaschen won the starting job in net during his junior season, and had an outstanding year, recording six shutouts and allowing only 16 goals in 17 games. Both Flaschen and the team caught fire in the NCAA Tournament, marching to the Final Four, where they lost a triple-overtime contest to the University of San Francisco, the eventual national champions. The following day, Flaschen shut out Howard University to give Brown a third-place finish. As a senior, Flaschen continued his stellar play, leading Brown to an 8-1-1 record and an Ivy League Championship before falling to Connecticut 1-0 in the New England NCAA Finals.
Rich Meister '75 was a hard-nosed defender on several impressive teams during his time at Brown, including the undefeated Ivy League champion 1973 squad that advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Though not a flashy scorer, Meister was responsible for shutting down opposing offenses. He succeeded well enough to be named First Team All-Ivy in 1975. During that season, the Bears won the New England Championship, and fought hard against eventual national champion Maryland, ultimately losing by just three goals. Meister also served as the team captain for the Bears as a senior, the first of four Meister brothers to do so between 1972-1981.
Judith Gracey '81 was an exceptionally well-rounded athlete in track and field, winning a number of different sprint events, and setting records along the way. While at Brown, Gracey was a five-time Heptagonal Champion, and a New England Women's Champion. Her times remain in Brown's top-10 in five different events, despite having competed nearly 30 years ago. In 1978, Gracey captured Heptagonal championships in the 100-yard dash and the 4x400 relay. She then followed that by winning the Heps championship in the long jump and the New England championship in the 200 meters in 1980. As a senior, Gracey took first in the long jump and 100 meter dash at Heps, solidifying her place in the Brown record books.
Perhaps the most distinguished wrestler in school history, William Carpenter '97 will be posthumously inducted. Beginning in 1994, Carpenter qualified for the NCAA Tournament for four consecutive seasons, and was named an All-American in 1996 after placing sixth in the country. He followed that up in his senior season when he was the recipient of the Hitchcock Award, given annually to the wrestler who scores the most points at the Eastern Championships. It was the first time in history that a Brown athlete had taken home the award. Carpenter also earned All-Ivy First Team honors in 1995, 1996, and 1997, and was given the Fritz Pollard Award in 1996 as Brown's Outstanding Male Athlete.
