DUDLEY, Mass. (Sept. 30) – Nichols College is proud to induct five members into the Nichols College Athletics Hall of Fame Friday evening, at the Annual Alumni Awards Ceremony. The event kicks off Homecoming Weekend with a 6 p.m. ceremony in Daniels Auditorium.

The Class of 2011 represents six sports and includes Kristine O'Coin '03, Michael Carven '06, Pat Clarke '77, John Cygielnik '66 and Robert Reynolds '76. Since the Hall of Fame's inaugural class in 1972, it has grown tremendously. With this class of five members, it now includes 184 honorees.

Biographies of the distinguished inductees are below.


John Cygielnik '66, Baseball

The four-year letterwinner was busy not only on the baseball diamond, but in the classroom and campus community as well. John was a member of the Accounting Club for four years, the N Club for three years in addition to a year in the Radio Club and The Bison, the student newspaper.

John batted .372 in his sophomore and junior seasons to help the Bison to a two-year mark of 31-2 with an undefeated season (16-0) in NAIA play in 1964. The outfielder spent that summer in Falmouth as a member of the Cape Cod League's Commodores. At the conclusion of the 1965 season, John was selected as a NAIA All-America Honorable Mention. He was a co-captain of the 1966 squad.

The Webster native along with his wife Mary Jane transplanted to Shewsbury 30 years ago. The couple has two children, David (34) and Matthew (31).

John is retired and spends time as a member of the Shrewsbury Finance Committee.


Robert Reynolds '76, Ice Hockey

The four-year letterman was a solid on the ice every season as a Bison. In his first year, Robert posted 26 points good for fourth on the squad that season. His sophomore year was his best on the scoresheet as he led the team with career-highs of 10 goals and 22 assists. Despite seeing action in half the Nichols contests in his junior year Robert ranked second in assists and fifth in goals.

Robert scored his 100th point on February 8, 1976 against Bryant to become the second member of the 100-point club. For his career, he assisted 72 goals and amassed 105 points. He is currently seventh in assists and ninth in points among the Bison all-time leaders. Robert was also a member of the N Club.

After graduating with a degree in marketing, he returned to his home state of Connecticut, where he spent several years with Currier Machine Company before earning his law degree from Quinnipiac University.  Bob practiced law for 21 years and is now the President of the consumer product company, Shake-Away, Inc., which manufactures organic animal repellent products.

Robert resides in Hamden, Conn., with his wife, Cate. He has three sons, Bobby age 27, Ryan age 26, and Eli age 2. He is expecting his fourth child, a daughter, in November.


Pat Clarke '77, Football, Men's Lacrosse

The dual-sport athlete earned four letters for football and four for lacrosse. Pat was on defense in 35 football games during the stretch of four straight NEFC championships from 1973-1976. The era also marked the two best seasons in program history as the 1973 and 1976 squads each boasted an .889 winning percentage.

Over the 1975 and 1976 season, Pat received eight Defensive Back of the Week awards and was named the team's most improved player for 1975 by Head Coach Michael Vendetti. In 1976 Pat led the team with six interceptions. As a team, the Bison recovered a record 23 fumbles that season and did not allow a passing yard versus Framingham State.

As a member of the lacrosse team, the midfielder notched a goal in his junior and senior season. He found the back of the net against New England College in 1976 and UMass  Lowell in 1977.

For the past 10-years, Pat has been the Executive Vice President of Sales at International Purchasing Systems, Inc. based in Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. He recently retired as the President of the Amogerone Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 after 25 years.

Pat and his wife, Sue Ellen, have four children: twins Traci and Danny, Kelly and Jake. The couple resides in Cos Cob, Conn.


Kristine O'Coin '03, Soccer, Basketball

Kristine earned four letters over two years as a dual sport student-athlete for the Bison. The transfer from Framingham State left her mark at both institutions in the four year span. For her collegiate basketball career, she poured in 1,672 points and grabbed 1,056 rebounds.

In a Nichols uniform, she accumulated 908 points and 587 rebounds on the hardwood and ranked among the top 50 in points per game (18.2, 18.1), rebounds per game (10.8, 12.8) and field goal percentage (53.2, 53.7) for 2002-03 and 2004-04. In Kristine's senior campaign she held the ninth-best rebound per game average in Division III. For both seasons in Dudley, she was named a CCC All-Conference First Team member.

On the pitch, Kristine is currently fifth all-time in goals (34), assists (15) and fourth in points (83) as a Bison. She was also a member of the 2002 Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship team that helped Nichols secure its first NCAA Tournament berth in any sport. Kristine was named to the CCC All-Conference team in 2002 and 2003.

The 11-year Special Olympics volunteer runs a day program for special needs adults at the Center of Hope in Southbridge, Mass. She is also the Head Basketball Coach at David Prouty High School in Spencer, Mass.

The recently engaged Kristine resides in Charlton, Mass.


Michael Carven '06, Football, Lacrosse

Michael won seven letters in his time with the Bison: four in football and three with lacrosse. He holds nine records on the all-time Nichols football list including all three categories under touchdown passes as he tossed seven against Maine Maritime in 2003, in addition to claiming most in a season (19) and 40 over his tenure in Dudley. Michael also connected on 307 completions for 4,619 career yards.

The quarterback and punter was named to numerous NEFC and Worcester Area Football Association lists including the WAFA Player of the Year in 2004 and NEFC Offensive Player of the Year in 2006. Within the Nichols Athletic Department, Michael was named his class's Athlete of the Year twice and was the Hal Chalmers Award recipient in his final season.

As a lacrosse player, Michael started and played in 31 contests scoring 13 times and doled out nine assists for 22 points. He averaged just over 22 ground balls per season with a career high of 40 in 2003.

The 2006 graduate spent time in law enforcement and had the distinction of working President Obama's inauguration. In 2008 and 2009, he was assigned to a detail in the White House.

Michael is currently a Sales Representative at Seaboard Products and resides in Dorchester, Mass.