Hall of Fame: Link to live stream added to Sunday's ceremonies (2:30 p.m.)
NOTE: This article will be updated frequently with registration information for the event, followed by photos and video after September 25 ceremony.
LINK TO LIVE STREAM - https://bit.ly/SR75HOF
NEWPORT, R.I. (September 25, 2022) -- The Salve Regina University Department of Athletics, in conjunction with the Office of Alumni, Parent and Family Programs, has announced the Seahawk Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2022. Comprising the Hall of Fame's 14th induction class are six athletes - Kelly Burke '13 (field hockey, lacrosse), Beth Gemma '95 (soccer, basketball), Sarah Jakiela '10 (softball), Ryan Kelly '16 (football, baseball), Brian Walker '09 (lacrosse), Steve Wilken '15 (football) - plus two former coaches and administrators - Trish Cronin and Mick Klitzner.
Salve Regina first opened its doors nearly 75 years ago, in September 1947. To commemorate this milestone, a yearlong celebration will highlight the continued development of our academic community and honor 75 years of mercy in higher education. In celebrating our 75th anniversary, we recognize Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy, who as leaders of change since 1831 have responded with one voice to the unmet needs of the times.
Our 75th anniversary celebration will take place between September 2022 and September 2023. Throughout our anniversary year, we will share our history as a transformative, academic community and showcase how we are fulfilling the mercy promise of giving light to those around us, seeking where we can make an impact, and working for a world that is harmonious, just and merciful.
Events and programming will be added to the University calendar as they are confirmed.
The annual Hall of Fame Ceremony will be hosted in the afternoon at O'Hare Academic Building on the Salve Regina Newport campus. The 2022 Seahawk Athletic Hall of Fame Induction and Light Lunch will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25. Seats for this year's light lunch are $25 per person (free for children under the age of five), and those interested in attending the ceremonies should register by Sept. 19 at https://bit.ly/SalveHOF2022 (registration fee includes a $5 gift to Friends of Seahawk Athletics; children 5 and under are free). Presentation ceremonies follow in Bazarsky Hall (2:30 p.m.) and are free to all.
"There is nothing more important to Salve Regina than the people who have built our strong foundation. The Hall of Fame is a time we recognize past, present, and future. The whole Seahawk family comes together for this event, and we can't wait to gather and recognize this year's Hall of Fame Class." - Salve Regina Retiring Director of Athletics Jody Mooradian
"This group represents the best of Salve Regina athletics during the last five decades." - Salve Regina Acting Director of Athletics Bill Villareal
Visit https://www.salveathletics.com/traditions/halloffame/index to learn more about the Athletic Hall of Fame.
Kelly Burke '13 (field hockey, lacrosse) – With just three healthy seasons in field hockey, Burke graduated as the program's second-leading scorer. She remains the all-time leading scorer for Salve Regina women's lacrosse (and the program's first inductee) with 224 points and 166 goals. Burke has the second-most assists for a women's lacrosse player (58) as she helped the team to its only double-digit victory total in 2011 (10-5; .667). Burke was at her best with free-position goal attempts, converting a single-game best five against Emerson (4/5/2012), back-to-back season-bests of 18 and 19 (2011-2012), and the career mark with 45 goals on the free-position.
Beth Gemma '95 (soccer, basketball) – Gemma established a program record for shutouts in women's soccer (11) after a four-year stint as goalkeeper. The only Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championships for Salve Regina had a common theme with Gemma between the posts (1991, 1993), while she posted back-to-back seasons with nine wins in each (1992-1993). She still holds program bests in saves per game (9.41; 44 games) and save percentage (.852; 72 GA, 414 saves). On the hardwood, Gemma capped her career with back-to-back appearances in the CCC Finals and added a berth in the ECAC postseason tournament before being named the school's Athlete of the Year.
Sarah Jakiela '10 (softball) – Jakiela dominated in the circle for the Seahawks while leading softball to an 82-74-1 record (.525) in her four seasons as a pitcher, including the program's first trip to an ECAC postseason tournament. Her 45 games started in 2009 still ranks second all-time in the NCAA Division III Record Book (CCC Pitcher of the Year). Jakiela graduated with more innings pitched (873.0) than all but two other divisional competitors. She struck out 1,042 batters in her career (twice as many as the next Salve Regina pitcher) and holds the school records for most strikeouts per seven-inning game (8.36), most wins (76), most appearances (149), most games started (137), most complete games (108), most shutouts (24), and most hit batters (51).
Ryan Kelly '16 (football, baseball) – Commonwealth Coast Conference Rookie of the Year (2013), Kelly was a four-time first-team All-CCC outfielder and served as captain his final two seasons which included championships (ECAC-2015; CCC-2016), the latter leading to an automatic berth in the NCAAs. Twice Kelly earned a selection to the All-New England squad (2014, 2016) and led the country in hit by pitch per game (2016). Kelly is the only Salve Regina baseball player ever with 200 hits and 200 runs scored. The 2015-2016 Salve Regina Athlete of the Year, he is the program's all-time leader in runs scored (201), triples (19), hit-by-pitch (71), stolen base percentage (.944).
Brian Walker '09 (lacrosse) – A unanimous selection to the Salve Regina Top 25 Anniversary Team, Walker backboned the men's lacrosse defense as goaltender for four seasons and made an immediate impact when the Seahawks reached double-digit victories (11) for the first time his freshman season (2006). With a school-best 810 career saves, each of Walker's individual seasons rank in the program's Top 10 save list. He is the only Salve Regina goalie to have a sub-9.00 goals against average with at least 1200 minutes in net. Walker's senior season finished with nine consecutive games on the road and the Seahawks won six times including 7-6 at MIT. Walker earned the University's Brother Michael Reynolds Award in back-to-back years (2008-2009).
Steve Wilken '15 (football) – In a four-year career as quarterback on the gridiron, Wilken holds all-time records for pass attempts (1,018), completions (566), yards (7,121), passing touchdowns (74), passing yards per game (192.5/game), total offense yards (8,270), touchdowns responsible for (87), and total offense per game (223.5/game). His teams won 70 percent of their games (31 wins including a triumph in the ECAC Championship at Norwich, 48-21, in his final game). In his final season, Wilken set the program record for pass completions (211 in 2014). In a road game against MIT that season, he established the mark for completions (36) and total offensive plays (66; 12 rush, 54 pass).
Trish Cronin (administrator, athletic trainer, coach) – Cronin, currently the Director of Athletics at Clark University, spent 16 years at Salve Regina where she served as head athletic trainer in addition to serving as the head softball coach for six seasons (1992-97). During her time in the dugout, Cronin went an impressive 108-56 (.659 winning percentage) and led the Seahawks/Newporters to a pair of 20-win seasons and three consecutive Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) championships. She was the University's Senior Woman Administrator from 1995-97 and was an adjunct professor, teaching athletic training, First Aid and CPR classes, while volunteering for the American Red Cross.
Mick Klitzner (administrator, coach) – Klitzner, who passed away in October 2018 at home, called Salve Regina "home" while coaching four different sports across 21 seasons. He started with cross country and track and field in 1989-90 where he helped lead several Hall of Fame Seahawks to national championship competition - Tracy Carter, Michelle Fobert, Karen Luchun. He added winter to his repertoire while assisting Mike Raffa on the men's basketball staff, before becoming the head coach for women's basketball. Two CCC runner-up seasons on the hardwood featured Hall of Fame Seahawks - Kerry Cuervels, Beth Gemma, Nicole Johnson - while later guiding Salve Regina softball to a runner-up finish in his one season on the diamond with Hall of Fame Seahawk Alyssa Ricci.