Two new classes will be inducted into the Connecticut College Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend. Today we will highlight the Class of 2024, and on Thursday we'll do the same for the Class of 2025.

The Connecticut College Athletics Hall of Fame will welcome two classes and a total of eight inductees in a special ceremony held on Friday, September 26 in the 1962 Room of the College Center at Crozier-Williams.  

The Class of 2024 includes three former student-athletes and one coach/administrator—Basil Donnelly '86 (men's rowing), Isabella Franz '17 (women's cross country/track & field), Nicolle Jasbon '15 (women's water polo) and Fran Shields P'14 (retired athletics director, men's lacrosse coach). The group will be honored on Friday evening with a formal dinner and induction ceremony at 7 p.m. 

Donnelly helped lead the men's rowing program to unprecedented success during his four years as a Camel. A four-time Dad Vail College Nationals participant at the stroke, he led the lightweight to a silver medal in 1983, a fifth-place finish in 1984, and a bronze medal in 1985. He finished his career leading the lightweight four to the gold medal in 1986. A New England Rowing Championship gold medalist in 1983 with the lightweight eight, and silver medalist in 1986 with the heavyweight eight, he was a two-time team captain and MVP. [read more]

Franz made her mark as one of the most successful female runners in the history of Connecticut College women's cross country and track and field. A seven-time NCAA Championships qualifier across cross country (1), indoor track and field (3), and outdoor track and field (3), she has the most NCAA Championships appearances of any Conn female athlete. She ranks second in program history in the 800 meters, the 1,000 meters, and mile, while ranking third in the 1,500 meters. Franz was a two-time All-NESCAC honoree in the 800 meters (2015, 2016) and added New England Division III titles in the 800 meters (2014) and 1,000 meters (2016). [read more]

Jasbon made her mark in the pool as one of the best women's water polo players in Connecticut College history. She made an immediate impact in her debut season, earning Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Rookie of the Year honors in 2012. She went on to lead the Camels to CWPA Division III titles in 2013, 2014, and 2015, earning CWPA Division III Most Valuable Player honors all three seasons. The three-time All-American (first team in 2013, and second team in 2014 and 2015) and 2015 Anita L. DeFrantz Award winner finished her collegiate career as the program's all-time leader in goals (222), assists (128), and steals (253). [read more] 

In a career that spanned five decades, Fran Shields brought the men's lacrosse program at Connecticut College into national prominence, improved the competitiveness of the school's 28 sports in the NESCAC as the director of athletics, significantly enhanced athletics fundraising, and enriched the lives of countless colleagues and student-athletes. As head coach of the men's lacrosse team he led the Camels to a 170-138 (.552) record in 23 seasons, including four Top 20 national rankings, an ECAC New England Division III championship in 1996, an ECAC runner-up in 1998, and 12 All-America players.

Named athletics director in 2003, Shields oversaw $16 million in facilities improvements for athletics and supervised over 50 coaches and support professionals during his 16-year tenure. Under his watch, the women's soccer team won the school's first NESCAC team championship in 2014, and Camel teams increased their number of NCAA championship berths and won seven individual NCAA championships. [read more]    

The Connecticut College Athletics Hall of Fame was created to honor those who have brought distinction to themselves and Connecticut College through their achievement, commitment, sportsmanship, and leadership in athletics. Hall of Fame inductees may include alumni, coaches, faculty, administrators, or friends of the Connecticut College community, as well as teams that are exceptionally distinguished through outstanding achievement or significant accomplishment. A total of 120 individuals and two teams have been enshrined since 1989.