GORHAM, Maine –  After a wildly successful fall and a promising start to the winter sport season, the University of Southern Maine Department of Athletics will celebrate 100 Years of Husky Athletics on Saturday, December 9.
 
With a rich tradition of academic and athletic success, Huskies' Athletics will honor some of its most outstanding student-athletes – past and present – during a full day of competition inside the Costello Sports Complex on the University's Gorham campus. University of Southern Maine President Dr. Jacqueline Edmondson and Little East Conference Commissioner Pam Samuelson will be on hand to take part in the celebrations. 
 
Huskies' men's' and women's indoor track & field will kick off the day hosting the University of Southern Maine Alumni Open (12:00 pm). Prior to the start of competition, Huskies' Athletics will honor two alumna Emily Artesani Walton '10 and Sophia Slovenski '23 and current student-athlete Ben Drummey (Biddeford, Maine). 
 
One of the most decorated student-athletes in women's track & field history, Artesani will be recognized for her induction into the Little East Conference Hall of Fame to begin the day of celebration.  During her time as a student-athlete Artesani Walton helped the Huskies to four consecutive Little East Conference championships (eight in total) in women's indoor and outdoor track and field from 2006 through 2010. 
 
At the conclusion of her career as a student-athlete, had 24 All-Little East Conference citations, 26 All-Alliance honors, 13 NCAA Division III All-New England selections and nine ECAC honors to her athletic resume.   A school record holder in the 200, 400, 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 during her career, Artesani Walton still ranks in the top 10 in the 200-, 400- and 500-meter events.
 
In addition to her numerous accolades on the track, Artesani Walton distinguished herself academically.  A graduate of USM's Honors Program, Artesani Walton earned Dean's List accolades in each of her semesters and was a four-time William B. Wise Scholar Athlete.  She earned CoSIDA Academic All-District One (second team honors) during her years as a student-athlete and graduated from Southern Maine with a degree in Psychology Magna Cum Laude. 
 
Recent University graduate, Slovenski finished her career as a Husky with as an NCAA National Champion, All-American and Academic All-American.  Winning nearly every academic and athletic award available to a student-athlete, Slovenski's civic engagement was equally as excellent as an officer of Huskies' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, a mentor with Strong Girls United, and advocate for Mental Health Awareness.  Slovenski will be honored a bevy of post-graduate accolades.  Named the Little East Conference Student-Athlete of the Year in the spring, and the Division III Commissioner's Association (DIIICA) Student-Athlete of the Year over the summer, Slovenski was recently announced as a finalist for the coveted and prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award. 
 
Drummey, a standout on the University's men's track & field teams, will be recognized for his second NCAA Division III National Championship.  Drummey repeated as the top pole vaulter in the country at the 2023 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championship and will be recognized before the Huskies' season opener with a championship ring.
 
Up at Hill Gym, Huskies' basketball will host Eastern Connecticut State University for a Little East Conference doubleheader with the women tipping off at 1 pm and the men following at 3:30 pm.  At the conclusion of the women's game, Huskies' Athletics will honor the 1987-1988 women's basketball team for its induction into the Little East Conference Hall of Fame.  The first LEC team to reach an NCAA Division III Final Four, the 97-88 Huskies' women's basketball team is the first women's team inducted into the hall. The Huskies' success helped put the LEC on the map as one of the most competitive Division III conferences in the country as the Little East was in just its second year of existence.
 
Led by then first-year head coach Gary Fifield, USM  posted an overall record of 27-3 during the 1987-88 season, repeating as LEC regular season champion with a perfect 10-0 record in conference play before defeating Rhode Island College (69-62) and Eastern Connecticut State University (56-54) to repeat as LEC tournament champion. Diana Duff was voted the LEC Player of the Year, and was joined on the All-LEC team by Mary Harrigan and Lynn Littlefield.
 
During the game, Southern Maine will be hosting reception to celebrate 100 years of Athletics at the University of Southern Maine at the Alumni Reception Center overlooking Fifield Court at Hill Gymnasium.  Former student-athletes and friends of the Huskies' Athletics program are invited to attend and enjoy light refreshments and a cash bar.  During the reception several prominent student-athlete alumni will make remarks about their invaluable experiences as student-athletes at the University of Southern Maine. 
 
Among the honored guests are 1979 NAIA All-American John Jordan – the Huskies' men's basketball program's all-time leader in points (2039) and rebounds (1504); two-time WBCA All-American Maureen Burchill – the women's basketball program's all-time leading scorer (2357); current field hockey coach Bonny Brown Denico '91 – a former standout on the Huskies' field hockey and softball teams earning All-American honors under legendary coach Paula Hodgdon; three-time ABCA All-American and 1991 NCAA Division III All-American outfielder Bob Prince '92; five-time NCAA National Champion Jamie Ruginski '15 of the Huskies' men's track & field team, and Slovenski. 
 

HUSKIES' ATHLETICS – 100 YEARS CELEBRATION
DATE	TIME	EVENT	LOCATION
Saturday, December 9	11:30 am	Remarks by University of Southern Maine President Jacqueline Edmondson   Little East Conference Hall of Fame Induction – Emily Artesani '10	Costello Sports Complex, Gorham, Maine Indoor Track & Field
	11:40 am	Presentation of NCAA National Championship Ring – Ben Drummey '25	Costello Sports Complex, Gorham, Maine Indoor Track & Field
	11:50 am	Presentation of National Student-Athlete of the Year Award; LEC Student-Athlete of the Year, and NCAA Woman of the Year Top 9 Finalist Recognition – Sophia Slovenski '23	Costello Sports Complex, Gorham, Maine Indoor Track & Field
	12:00 pm	Southern Maine Alumni Open Track Meet – Men's & Women's Track and Field	Costello Sports Complex, Gorham, Maine Indoor Track and Field
	1:00 pm	Women's Basketball vs. Eastern Connecticut	Costello Sports Complex, Gorham, Maine Fifield Court – Hill Gymnasium
	2:00 pm	100 Years Celebration Reception Begins	Alumni Reception Center – USM Ice Arena Gorham, Maine
	2:30 pm	Little East Conference Hall of Fame Induction – 1987-88 Women's Basketball Team	Costello Sports Complex, Gorham, Maine Fifield Court – Hill Gymnasium
	3:00 pm	100 Years Celebration Reception Continues – Remarks from Student-Athlete Alumni	Alumni Reception Center – USM Ice Arena Gorham, Maine
	3:30 pm	Men's Basketball vs. Eastern Connecticut	Costello Sports Complex, Gorham, Maine Fifield Court – Hill Gymnasium
	11 am – 5 pm	Huskies' 100 Year T-shirts for Sale	Each Event Location

 
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