The ballots have been cast and a new set of legendary Broncs has been elected into the Rider University Hall of Fame Class of 2015. Five new plaques will hang in the hall, including one for Rider’s first Olympian.
Jazmine Fenlator ’07 of the track and field program, Courtney Bertos ’06 of the field hockey team, Linda DiGiuseppantonio ’87 of the basketball team, Bill Lipkus ’86 of the cross country and track and field program, and Neil Boyle ’65 of the baseball team, will become the newest members of the Hall of Fame in June.
Fenlator, who was a two-time Rider Female Athlete of the Year, was elected to the Hall of Fame on her first year of eligibility. The former track and field thrower competed for the Team USA bobsled team in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Fenlator was Rider’s first NCAA Track and Field Regional automatic qualifier. She also earned All-East honors eight times in the shot put, weight throw and discus, setting Rider records in all three events and for the hammer.
During her tenure with the field hockey team, Bertos was a four-time First Team All-Conference selection while also being named to three championship All-Tournament teams. She led Rider to four conference title games, winning two. She also won two regular season titles and was a conference Rookie of the Year and a Regional All-American as a junior.
DiGiuseppantonio finished her Rider career fifth in career scoring and third on the career assist list, helping Rider to its first-ever Division I conference semifinal game. DiGiuseppantonio went on to become a successful coach on the high school and Amateur Athletic Union level.
As a member of the cross country and track and field programs, Lipkus helped Rider to win its first indoor and outdoor conference track and field championships by defeating nationally ranked Bucknell. Earning the Championship MVP, Lipkus was also a two-time All-Conference cross country selection, setting the Rider course record. He set the Rider track record in the 10,000 meters as well as the indoor records for the 3 mile and the 5,000 meters.
Throughout his Rider career, Boyle was an ace on the mound. The Broncs pitcher led the team to the NCAA tournament with a 13-3 record, boasting 198 strikeouts in only 169 innings pitched. Boyle ended his tenure with a 1.47 earned run average while also pitching a no-hitter. Boyle earned All-East honors and later signed a professional contract with the Chicago Cubs before being selected by the New York Yankees in the Rule 5 draft.
Bronc Bits
General
For the first time ever, the men’s soccer, women’s soccer, volleyball and field hockey teams all had a record of .500 or better.
Cross Country
The men’s and women’s cross country teams both placed fifth in the 11-team MAAC Championships. Senior Anthony Dentino of Sewell, N.J., senior Emily Ritter of Millsboro, N.J., and junior Nicolette Mateescu of Kendall Park, N.J., earned All-MAAC honors. Dentino finished 12th of 100 runners in the men’s race and earned All-MAAC honors for the fourth time.
Field Hockey
The field hockey team (11-9) qualified for the four-team conference playoffs for the 15th straight year, and advanced to the MAAC Championship game, making this the 12th time in the past 15 years the Broncs have played in a conference title game. Junior Joelle Prettyman of Newark, Del., was named the MAAC goalkeeper of the year. Sophomore Carlota Alsina of Spain and senior Dezarae Fillmyer of Roebling, N.J., were named First Team All-MAAC.
Soccer
The men’s soccer team (9-7-2) enjoyed its best season in 16 years. The Broncs were picked to finish eighth in the 11-team MAAC and finished third. Rider led the entire nation in goals scored during the regular season, with 40.
The women’s soccer team won the MAAC Championship tournament for the first time.
Tara Ballay ’16 earned Academic All-America honors as well as MAAC Player of the Year for the soccer team.
Swimming
For the fourth year in a row, the men’s swimming and diving team earned the MAAC team title, with Broncs head coach Steve Fletcher earning the MAAC Male Coach of the Year award for the second year in a row.
Volleyball
The volleyball team enjoyed its best season in 20 years.
