GORHAM, Maine  –  As part of a weekend long Homecoming and Family Weekend celebration the University of Southern Maine Department of Athletics will enshrine several former standout student-athletes and key athletic department figures as part of its 38th Annual Husky Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony on Sunday, October 6 (5:00 pm) at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland, Maine presented by Gorham House of Pizza.  The eight new inductees will bring the number of former Huskies in the Hall to 259.
 
Gathering to celebrate the outstanding legacies, achievements and performances of past University of Southern Maine student-athletes, coaches and administrators, the 2024 Husky Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony is one of the highlights of each academic year, and brings some of the Huskies' best and brightest back to the University.  This year's Husky Hall of Fame class includes standouts from baseball, track & field, basketball, and lacrosse.
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• Ryan Adams, Class of 2003 - Baseball
• Courtney Cochran, Class 0f 2012 - Basketball
• Nick Grady, Class of 2014 - Baseball
• Jacki Kelly, Class of 2015 - Lacrosse
• Kevin Desmond, Class of 2016 – Cross Country, Track & Field
• Nicole Kirk, Class of 2016 – Cross Country, Track & Field
• Rosie Forster, Class of 2018 – Lacrosse
• BL Elfring, 1995-2021 - Administrator

 
Established in the fall of 1985 with the initial induction ceremony taking place in 1986, the Husky Hall of Fame was created to recognize the outstanding athletic achievements of graduates of the University of Southern Maine and its predecessor institutions – Western Maine Normal School, Gorham Normal School, Gorham State Teachers College, the University of Maine Portland and the University of Maine at Portland-Gorham.  The first Hall of Fame class included seven men and two women chosen out of nearly 50 nominees.  Each of the 2024 inductees were selected on the basis of superior athletic and academic achievement, and a commitment to their communities after graduation. Tickets are $50 per person. Please RSVP by October 1, 2024 at usm.maine.edu/athletics/event-rsvp
 
2024 Husky Hall of Fame Inductees
 
Ryan Adams, Class of 2003, Baseball
A member of the Huskies 2000 and 2001 NCAA Division III Regional Championship teams, Adams finished his career earning three All-Little East Conference first team citations, including being named the 2002 LEC Pitcher of the Year.   Through the 2024 season, Adams is still among the best pitchers in the Huskies' storied baseball history books, and ranks 11^th in appearances, eighth in innings pitched (224.1), fourth in earned run average (2.29), 16^th in strikeouts (150), third in saves (17), and ninth in Win-Loss Percentage (.739).
 
Over his four seasons with the Huskies, Adams compiled a record of 17-6 with 17 saves. Earning numerous accolades throughout his career, Adams was named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association District One Pitcher of the Year after the 2000 season, after compiling a record of 6-1 with a 1.98 ERA and earning five saves.  As a senior in 2002, Adams posted a record of 6-2 with a 0.83 ERA in 75.2 innings pitched, and as named an American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-New England first team pick as well as an ECAC Division III New England second team selection.  In his final season, 2003, Adams earned first team all-conference honors as a relief pitcher, earning 11 saves.  Adams' 11 saves during his fifth-year season ranked second in NCAA Division III baseball.
 
Courtney Cochran, Class of 2012, Basketball
Named the 2012 Little East Conference Player of the Year, Cochran averaged a double-double during her junior and senior seasons (2010-2011, 2011-2012) for the Huskies' women's basketball team. During her junior season, Cochran averaged 15.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game while shooting 45.7 percent (147-for-322) from the floor, earning first team All-Little East Conference, first team Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA) All-State first team, and New England Women's Basketball Association second team honors. 
 
As a senior, Cochran had a career-year averaging 18.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game while shooting 47.6 percent (172-for-361) from the field, and 80.5 percent (140-for-174) from the free throw line.  Cochran earned numerous accolades after her final season, including first team All-LEC, All-MWBCA and LEC Player of the Year and MWBCA Player of the Year honors. The Huskies' center was also named a D3hoops.com honorable mention All-American, and a D3hoops.com All-Northeast first team selection, a NEWBA All-Region first team player, and to the ECA Division III All-New England second team.
 
Cochran finished her career with 1075 points, 767 rebounds, and a career shooting percentage of 45.9 (371-for 808).  She is tied for 28^th in career games played (109), 16^th in points scored, 19^th in field goal percentage, fourth in free throws made (328), seventh in free throw percentage (77.7%), ninth in rebounds (767), and 16^th in rebound average.
 
 
Nick Grady, Class of 2014, Baseball
A 2013 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-American (first team) third baseman in his final season, Grady was a power-hitting infielder for the Huskies, helping Southern Maine capture the 2013 NCAA Division III Regional Championship and a spot in the World Series.
 
A career .362 hitter, Grady had 239 hits in 168 games, including 38 doubles, 19 triples and 16 home runs while driving in 161 RBI.  Among the best offensive players in program history, Grady finished his career (2010-2013) 11^th in hits, 27^th in doubles, third in triples, tied for 30^th in home runs, and 10^th in RBI.  After the 2012 season, Grady earned the first post-season honors of his career with his selection to the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) Division III All-New England second team, and All-Little East Conference second team.  Grady his .396 as a junior collecting 67 hits in 188 at-bats with 12 doubles, six triples and five home runs while knocking in 39 runs. 
 
As a senior, Grady put up All-American numbers hitting a career-best .435 with 96 hits in 243 at-bats with 96 RBI. Earning first team ABCA All-American honors, Grady was also named to the D3baseball.com All-American first team, ECAC Division III New England All-Star first team, NEIBA Division III All-New England first team, and D3baseball.com All-New England first team.  Named the Little East Conference tournament's Most Outstanding Player, helping the Huskies capture the 2013 conference title, Grady was also a first team All-LEC pick.
 
Jacki Kelly, Class of 2015, Lacrosse
Starting her career as the 2011 Little East Conference Rookie of the Year, Kelly went on to earn four consecutive All-Little East Conference citations, including first team honors as a junior and senior in 2013 and 2014.
 
Playing in 72 career games, Kelly was one of the most complete players in program history, and finished with 136 goals, 43 assists, 179 points, 238 ground balls, 185 draw controls, and 151 caused turnovers. In her rookie campaign, Kelly had 22 goals, six assists, 71 ground balls, 44 draw controls and 37 caused turnovers to play her way to Rookie of the Year honors and a second team all-conference nod.  As a sophomore, Kelly continued to perform at a high-level and finished tied for 22^nd in NCAA Division III for caused turnovers per game, and as a junior Kelly was named to the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-Pilgrim Region second team after scoring a career-high 43 goals to go along with 59 ground balls, 48 draw controls and 40 caused turnovers. 
 
Kelly concluded her career tied for fourth in games played, fifth in goals scored, eighth in assists, fifth in points scored, second in ground balls, third in draw controls and is the program's all-time leader in caused turnovers. 
 
Kevin Desmond, Class of 2016, Cross Country, Track & Field
A four-time NCAA Division III National Championship qualifier, Desmond earned All-American honors in both the 800m and as a member of the Huskies' 4x400 relay team, and still holds top five times in four events (400m, 500m, 600m and 800m) coming up on a decade since his last competition.
 
Earning numerous All-Little East Conference and All-New England Alliance honors during his time as an indoor and outdoor track & field athlete, Desmond was the 600m and 4x400 relay New England Alliance and Little East Conference Champion during the 2014-15 indoor season, and was the 800m and 4x800 relay champion during the 2014 outdoor season.  During his senior indoor track & field season, Desmond claimed the title of NCAA All-American as a member of the Huskies' 4x400 relay team, and was the Division III New England and ECAC Division III Champion in the 800.  During the 2014 outdoor track & field season, Desmond claimed the New England Alliance and Little East Conference championship in the 800m, and the Little East Conference Championship in the 4x800 relay. 
 
At the conclusion of his intercollegiate athletic career, Desmond earned All-Little East Conference honors 11 times, and All-New England Alliance accolades 14 times. 
 
Nicole Kirk, Class of 2016, Cross Country, Track & Field
Still the indoor track & field program record holder in the 55m, 60m and 200m, and the outdoor track & field record holder in the 100m, 200m and 400m, Kirk concluded her outstanding career as a five-time Little East Conference Champion, and a four-time New England Alliance Champion. Earning 21 All-Little East Conference citations, Kirk earned NCAA Division III All-New England, NEICAAA All-New England and ECAC Division III honors during both her indoor and outdoor careers. 
 
Qualifying for the NCAA Division III National Indoor Championship for the 200m in 2016, Kirk qualified for three events (100m, 200m, and 4x100) during the 2016 outdoor season.  One of the most dominant athletes on the track during her era, Kirk holds five school records, and is part of four school-record relays, and has eight of 10 fastest times ever run in the indoor and outdoor 200, five of the 10 best all-time fastest times in the 100, seven of the 10 fastest times in the outdoor 400, and nine of the 10 best times in the indoor 60m dash. 
 
A four-time William B. Wise Scholar Athlete, Kirk is a two-time United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team selection, and earned CoSIDA Division III Academic All-District honors in 2016.
 
 
Rosie Forster, Class of 2018, Lacrosse
A four-time All-Little East Conference midfielder as a member of the Huskies' women's lacrosse team from 2011-2014, Forster ended her intercollegiate playing career in the top 10 of eight statistical career records.  Playing in 72 career games, Forster is fifth in career goals scored (136), 10^th in assists (40), seventh in points scored (176), fourth in shots (349), third in ground balls (195), third in caused turnovers (100) and is the program's all-time leader in draw controls with 306.
 
A talented offensive and defensive player, Forster was recognized for her outstanding play with numerous Little East Conference Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards.  Making an immediate impact as a rookie, Forster earned first team all-conference as a midfielder in her debut scoring 36 goals to go along with 42 ground balls, 58 draw controls and 15 caused turnovers. Forster had a career season as a junior scoring a 38 goals and passing off 21 assists for 59 points, and had 56 ground balls, and 103 draw controls.  Forster's 103 draw controls in 2013 were a program-record for 10 seasons. 
 
BL Elfring, 1995-2021, Retired Administrator
Retiring in 2021, Elfring served the University of Southern Maine Department of Athletics for 27 years as its Sports Information Director, and eventually Assistant Athletic Director for NCAA Compliance, joining the department in 1995. During his time at Southern Maine, Elfring served as the Little East Conference publicist from 1997 through 1998, and was a member of the LEC's Hall of Fame Selection Committee. Additionally, Elfring served a three-year team on the CoSIDA (now College Sports Communicators (CSC)) Legislative Committee (1989-1992), and was the Coordinator for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Region One Player and Pitcher of the Year Selection Committee for eight years (2005-2013).
 
Inducted into the College Sports Communicators Hall of Fame in 2018, Elfring earned numerous awards for his longevity and accomplishments in both the field of Sports Information and Athletic Administration, earning the University of Southern Maine Professional Staff Award in 2001, and culminating in the 2024 Eastern Athletic Communication Association (East-Comm) Pete Nevins Award for Distinguished Achievement. 
 
Over his nearly three decades of work at the University of Southern Maine, Elfring tirelessly promoted the achievements of Southern Maine's Division III intercollegiate athletic teams, including the 1997 NCAA Division III National Championship from the Huskies' storied baseball program, five NCAA Division III Final Four appearances by the Huskies' women's basketball team, and a string of nearly two dozen Little East Conference women's track & field titles.
 
Still actively chipping in with Huskies' Athletics, Elfring serves on the Husky Hall of Fame Committee, leads the effort to update and research Husky record books, and is occasionally tricked into scoring baseball games in the spring.  
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