Athletics Hall of Fame | LGR! Golf Tournament

TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Athletics Hall of Fame Selection Committee has chosen five individuals for induction into Rensselaer's Athletics Hall of Fame. The Class of 2017 consists of Jay Bernardo '07 (football), Bryan Richardson '96 (hockey), Felicia Tsai 07 (track & field), Stephanie Vanek '06 (softball) and Mike Griffin (basketball coach).

Among the highlights from this prestigious class are All-League, All-Region and All-America awards; NCAA Championship appearances; numerous school and league standards and an NCAA Division III record.

"The 2017 inductees into the Rensselaer Athletics Hall of Fame represent the tradition, spirit and high level of excellence emblematic of the Institute," said Dr. Lee McElroy, Associate Vice President & Director of Athletics. "These outstanding individuals attained feats that reflect the members of the Rensselaer Athletics Hall of Fame who are among the top contributors and leaders in the world. We welcome them and look forward to a significant celebration of their distinguished careers."

A running back from East Greenbush, N.Y., Bernardo rushed for 3,550 yards and a school-record 47 touchdowns as a four-year varsity performer. He also caught 44 passes for 358 yards and a touchdown. The LaSalle Institute graduate had two 1,000-yard rushing seasons, including his junior year when he ran for 1,422 yards - including an NCAA record 99-yard TD - and 19 touchdowns, along with 24 receptions for 201 yards. He followed that with 1,080 yards and 15 scores with 11 catches for 107 yards and a touchdown in 2006. A management major, Bernardo was a two-time captain, named All-League three times and earned All-Region twice while helping the Engineers to a 31-11 record in his tenure.
 

Running Back … 2003: Played 11 games … Rushed for 366 yards and four touchdowns … Averaged 4.8 yards per rush and 33.3 yards per game … One catch for three yards … UCAA Rookie of the Week once … Team was 11-2 … Played in NCAA Tournament, advancing to semifinals … 2004: Started all nine games … Led team with 155 rushing attempts, 682 rushing yards, 4.4 yards per carry and nine touchdowns … Averaged 75.8 yards per game … Eight catches for 47 yards … All-Liberty League Second Team … Liberty League All-Academic … Team was 5-4 … 2005: Captain … Started all 10 games … Led team with 256 rushing attempts, 1,422 rushing yards, 5.6 yards per carry and 19 touchdowns … Averaged team-high 142.2 yards per game … Had 24 catches for 201 yards … Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week twice … D3football.com Running Back of the Week once … All-Liberty League Second Team … ECAC Northwest Bowl Most Outstanding Player … D3football.com All-Region First Team … Football Gazette All-Region First Team … Football Gazette National All-America Second Team … Liberty League All-Academic … CoSIDA Academic All-District 1 First Team … Team's Offensive MVP … Team was 8-2 … 2006: Don Hansen's Football Gazette Pre-Season All-America First Team … Lindy's Sports Annuals Pre-Season  All-American Second Team … Captain … Started all 10 games … Led team with 223 rushing attempts,1080 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns … Averaged 4.8 yards per carry and 108.4 yards per game … Eleven catches for 107 yards and one touchdown … Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week once … All-Liberty League Second Team … D3football.com All-East Region Third Team … Team's Offensive MVP … Team was 7-3 … Career: NCAA record for longest carry, at 99 yards (tied with many) … School record holder for career touchdowns (tied with D. McGovern) … Third in rushing yards … Captain 2x … All-League 3x … All-Region 2x … Team Offensive MVP 2x.

Richardson, a forward from Pointe-Claire, Quebec, averaged 1.37 points per game in 141 career contests. He scored 80 goals with 113 assists for 193 points and currently ranks fourth in school history in career assists and eighth in points. He scored 20 goals or more three times and had 50 or more points in two seasons. An All-ECAC honoree three times, Richardson had 23 goals and 29 assists for 52 points in 36 games as a sophomore and later notched 20 goals and 36 assists in 35 games as a senior. The team eclipsed the 20-win mark twice in his four years, including his freshman year when he was named to the ECAC All-Rookie Team, and had 19 wins another season. Richardson graduated with a degree in management.
 

Forward … 1992-93: Played 34 games … Fourteen goals and 24 assists for 38 points … Team-high 10 power play goals … Thirteen penalties for 26 minutes … ECAC All-Rookie Team … Team was 20-11-4 … 1993-94: Played all 36 games … Team-high 23 goals and 29 assists for 52 points … Nineteen penalties for 46 minutes … All-ECAC Honorable Mention … ECAC All-Tournament Team … Team played in NCAA Tournament … Team was 21-11-4 … 1994-95: Played 36 games … Team-high 23 goals with 24 assists for team-best 47 points … Team-high 13 power play goals … Four game-winning goals … Seventeen penalties for 34 minutes … All-ECAC Honorable Mention … Team played in NCAA Tournament … 19-14-4 … 1995-96: Played all 35 games … Team-highs of 20 goals and 36 assists for 56 points … Twenty penalties for 40 minutes … All-ECAC Honorable Mention … Team was 10-22-3 … Career: Currently fourth in school history in career assists (113) and eighth in points (193) … All-ECAC 3x.

In three seasons in track & field, Tsai was a six-time NCAA Championship Meet participant as a thrower, qualifying in both indoor and outdoor each year. The Olney, Md., native was a four-time National All-America, twice in indoor and and twice in outdoor. She was sixth (2006) and seventh (2007) in the nation in the indoor weight throw and fourth (2006) and fifth (2007) in the outdoor hammer. Tsai, who also threw the discus, set numerous school, Liberty League and New York State Collegiate Track Conference records throughout her career, which featured four conference Field Performer of the Year awards. A graduate of Sherwood High School, Tsai graduated from Rensselaer with a degree in chemistry.
 

Throws … 2004: First in weight throw at NYS Indoor … Second at ECAC Indoor … NCAA Indoor competitor in weight throw … Set school record in weight throw twice … Liberty League Field Performer of the Week twice … Liberty League Field Performer of the Year … Second in hammer at NYS Outdoor … NCAA Outdoor competitor in hammer … Liberty League Field Performer of the Week 5x … ECAC Field Athlete of the Week once … 2005: Did not compete … 2006: First in weight throw at Liberty League Indoor … Second at NYS Indoor with school record … Sixth in weight throw at NCAA Indoor to earn National All-America (school record) … Liberty League Field Performer of the Year … First in hammer and 2nd in discus at Liberty League Outdoor … First in hammer at NYS Outdoor … Second at ECAC Outdoor … Fourth in hammer at NCAA Outdoor to earn National All-America … Liberty League Field Performer of the Week 5x … ECAC Field Athlete of the Week once … Liberty League Field Performer of the Year … CoSIDA Academic All-District Second Team … 2007: First in weight throw at Liberty League Indoor … First in weight throw with school and meet record at NYS Indoor … Seventh in weight throw at NCAA Indoor to earn National All-America (school record) … Liberty League Field Performer of the Week 3x … First in hammer at Liberty League Outdoor … First in discus and hammer (NCAA automatic qualifier) at NYS Outdoor … Fifth in hammer at NCAA Outdoor to earn National All-America … Liberty League Field Performer of the Week 6x … NYS Field Performer of the Meet … Liberty League Field Performer of the Year … Atlantic Region Field Performer of the Year … Career: League Field Performer of the Year 4x … National All-America 4x.

A shortstop, outfielder and pitcher from Smithtown, N.Y., Vanek was a two-time captain, three-time All-League honoree and twice named All-Region. In 134 career games, she hit nearly .400 (.398) with 25 doubles, 10 triples and 18 home runs while scoring 150 runs and knocking in 83. She also set the school record for career stolen bases with 63. Vanek, a graduate of Smithtown High School, hit over .400 twice, scored more than 40 runs twice and stole at least 15 bases three times. She was All-League as a shortstop twice, outfielder once and pitcher once. From the circle Vanek was 13-6 with a 1.31 earned run average and 106 strikeouts. The mechanical engineering major helped RPI to a 93-40-2 record, including a school record 36 wins (36-6) in her senior year.
 

Utility … 2003: Started all 29 games … Batted team-high .429 with team-best eight doubles, one triple and team-high 10 home runs … Scored team-best 31 runs and knocked in team-high 32 … Stole team-high 15 of 15 bases … Slugging percentage of .837, on-base of .457 and fielding of .964 … Pitched nine games, eight as starter … Went 4-5 with 1.72 earned run average and 44 strikeouts in 52.1 innings … Seven complete games and one shutout … UCAA Rookie of the Week once … Player of the Week once … Pitcher of the Week once … ECAC Player of the Week once … All-UCAA First Team shortstop … All-UCAA Second Team pitcher … All-ECAC Honorable Mention … Team was 15-14 … 2004: Played 34 games, starting 33 … Batted .296 with three doubles and two home runs … Scored team-high 27 runs and knocked in 13 … Stole 7 of 8 bases … SLG of .380, on-base of .350 and fielding of .945 … Pitched six games, five as starter … Went 4-1 with 1.46 earned run average and 25 strikeouts in 24 innings … Three complete games and one shutout … UCAA Performer of the Week once … ECAC Player of the Week once … Team was 22-12 … 2005: Captain … Started all 30 games … Batted league-high .485 with team-best 10 doubles, four triples and team-high four home runs … Scored team-best 43 runs and knocked in 20 … Stole 23 of 25 bases … SLG of .777, on-base of .518 and fielding of .928 … Did not pitch … Liberty League Performer of the Week twice … ECAC Player of the Week once … All-Liberty League First Team shortstop … All-Region First Team … Liberty League All-Academic … CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team … Team was 20-8-2 … 2006: Captain … Started all 41 games … Batted .382 with four doubles, league-high five triples and two home runs … Scored league-best and school record 49 runs and drove in 18 … Stole 18 of 19 bases … SLG of .521, on-base of .483 and fielding of .902 … Pitched nine games, five as starter … Went 5-0 with 0.75 earned run average and 37 strikeouts in 28 innings … Two complete games … Liberty League Performer of the Week once … ECAC Player of the Week once … All-Liberty League First Team outfielder … All-Region Third Team … Liberty League All-Academic … NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team … Team played in NCAA Tournament … Team set school record for wins (36) … Team was 36-6 … Career: School record holder in stolen bases (63) … Captain 2x … All-League 4x … All-Region 2x.

Griffin, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., was head basketball coach from 1984 to 2011, retiring following a 30-year career in which he saw numerous team and individual records set – including his own for most wins in school history – and even more post-season accolades, Hall of Fame inductees and Dean's List student-athletes. He retired with a mark of 402-382, including one season as the head women's coach (1994-95), guiding the Engineers to eight post-season appearances, including three NCAA Tournaments (1991, 1996 & 2009). His teams posted at least 20 wins twice and 17-or-more victories eight times en route to being the league's Coach of the Year five times (1990, 1991, 1995, 1999 & 2011). Griffin coached more than 40 All-League honorees, five League Players of the Year, six All-ECAC selections, four D3hoops.com All-Region members and an All-State choice. He is a three-time Marvin H. Anderson Award recipient as Rensselaer's Coach of the Year, as voted on by his peers. A graduate of Collumbia University, he was also the freshman lacrosse coach, physical education instructor and assistant athletic director at RPI. 
 

Head coach ... Assistant athletic director ... Named Rensselaer's 13th head men's basketball coach in August 1984 ... School record holder for wins in men's basketball history ... Retired with 402-382 mark ... Teams made eight post-season appearances ... Three NCAA Tournaments (1991, 1996 & 2009) ... League's Coach of the Year five times (1990, 1991, 1995, 1999 & 2011) ... At least 20 wins twice and at least 17 victories eight times ... Team was first in Division III men's basketball in rebounding margin and third in scoring defense in 1998-99 ... Team was 20-8 and played into the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 in 1995-96 ... Team won 18 straight games in 1990-91 ... Had 40 All-League honorees, five League Players of the Year, six All-ECAC selections, four D3hoops.com All-Region members and an All-State choice ... Three-time Marvin H. Anderson Award recipient as Rensselaer's Coach of the Year, as voted on by his peers ... Coached women's team in 1994-95 ... Former assistant varsity coach ... Head junior varsity coach for three seasons (31-11) ... Coached freshman lacrosse ... Taught physical education ... Former head coach at Thiel and Colgate ... Graduate of Columbia University.

Griffin and the former student-athletes will be inducted at Rensselaer's Annual Hall of Fame Banquet, which will be held on April 29 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy. Anyone interested in attending the ceremony, including former teammates, should contact Sachi Vines, director of marketing & promotions, at (518) 276-4855 or via e-mail at enas@rpi.edu.