Athletics: Norwich announces 2022 Hall of Fame Class
NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee announced the inductees for Norwich University's Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2022 on Tuesday.
Nine individuals, as well as the 2011-12 women's rugby team will be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 10 a.m. in Plumley Armory as part of Homecoming Weekend festivities.
Julie Fortier '12 - Fortier is one of the most accomplished women's ice hockey players in the program's 15-year-history. She became the first NU woman to win the Laura Hurd Award (National Division III Player of the Year) and held the program goals scored and points records until 2020 when Amanda Conway broke both. Fortier was a First Team All-American, ECAC East Player of the Year and New England Player of the Year during her senior season. She helped lead Norwich to three straight NCAA National Championship game appearances, including winning it all in 2011. Fortier was just the second female CoSIDA Academic All-American in school history and fourth overall.
Collin Hyte '12 – Hyte is arguably the best tennis player in Norwich history. He was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Player of the Year twice as a sophomore and a senior and was a three-time GNAC First Team All-Conference selection. He finished his career with a 36-8 singles record, which still stands as the career NU singles wins record. Hyte was named the Norwich Male Most Outstanding Athlete as a senior and was named the tennis team MVP his last three seasons.
Katie Hathaway '12 – Hathaway was an integral piece of the women's rugby program's emergence as a national powerhouse in its early varsity years. She helped guide the Cadets to their first two national championships with the USA Rugby 7s title and the USA Rugby Division II 15s national championship in her senior season. Hathaway earned Tournament MVP honors of the 15s championship after helping Norwich beat Winona State 82-12 in the finals. Hathaway also earned All-Tournament team honors at the 7s national championship after leading the Cadets to a 5-0 record and the program's first national championship. During her collegiate career, Hathaway played for the United States Under-20 Women's National Team.
Stephanie Hurley '07 – Hurley was the captain of the last women's rugby club team and helped lay the foundation for a successful transition to the varsity level in the fall of 2008. She helped lead the Cadets to the Northeast regional championship and placed third in the country during her senior season. She commissioned as a U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant with the Texas Army National Guard before passing away in August 2008 after a brief battle with a serious illness.
Robert Carroll '97 – Carroll is the one of two Distinguished Letterwinners in this year's class. He was a two-sport athlete in baseball and football. Carroll was named the team Rookie of the Year as a freshman on the baseball team and helped lead the Cadets to 23 wins in his first two years on the squad. Carroll is a member of the Board of Fellows, Fins and Feathers Board of Directors and Brian Bill Golf Tournament Committee.
Trace Tancreti '87 – Tancreti is one of the most accomplished track and field athletes in Norwich history. He was two-year captain and won the New England high jump championship in 1984 as a freshman and set a new Norwich school record at 6-feet-9 inches. He was a three-time All-New England honoree in high jump and earned All-American honors in 1986. Tancreti was also a member of the All-New England 4x400 and school record holder relay team.
Mark Ryan '72 – Ryan was a standout on the fencing team, serving as a two-year captain in 1971 and 1972. He won New England Intercollegiate Tournament individual foil championships in 1968 and 1972 and also placed second in New England in 1971. Ryan helped guide the 1969 team to a third-place finish at the New England Championships.
Romero Aja '66 – Aja is one of two Distinguished Letterwinners in this year's class. Aja was a four-year member of the Norwich men's basketball program under head coach Robert Brannum. He helped guide the Cadets to 23 victories during his career and went on to teach and coach at Montpelier High School for over 30 years after graduating.
Gail Mariano – This year's honorary inductee is the beloved wife of recently-retired Director of Athletics Tony Mariano. Gail served as the matriarch of the Norwich University Athletics family over the last 40-plus years helping countless coaches and families. She attends nearly every home Norwich sporting event and has hosted athletic staff members and their families at her home for the annual Northfield Labor Day Parade and the end of year athletics staff party.
2011-12 Women's Rugby Team – The 2011-12 women's rugby team won the first two of six total national championships in program history to date. The Cadets won the 2011 USA Rugby 7s National Championship in Texas in December. Norwich defeated Oregon State twice, Indiana, Boston College and Princeton en route to the title. They followed up five months later, winning their first USA Rugby Division II 15s national championship with a dominant 82-12 win over Winona State. Katie Hathaway '12 and Hannah Bushey '12 were key cogs as seniors in both national championships, combined with Rose Bernheim '14 and Joya Clark '14 leading the way offensively.
