WORCESTER, MASS., Worcester State University honored seven former-student athletes and one team with inductions into the Athletics Hall of Fame. The inductees were celebrated on Saturday, September 18th, at John Coughlin Memorial Field as part of the Worcester State homecoming events.

The inductees include:

Lauren E. (Burke) Novick '02 - Women’s Basketball

Brien A. Cullen '77, M.Ed. '85 - Football

Shannon M. (Feeley) Buczek '09 - Women's Soccer & Lacrosse

Alyssa L. Jasper '15 - Women's Volleyball, Basketball, Track & Field

Derrick E. Murphy '15 - Football

Lauren E. (Saylor) Kastrenos '10 MOT, OTR/L '12 - Women's Volleyball

Sharon Pike (Posthumously) - Contributor, Women's Basketball

2001 Men's Soccer Team

Highlighting the Class of 2020 is Brien A. Cullen ’77, M.Ed. ’85, who retired in 2019 after 37 years as the head coach of the Worcester State football team. Cullen who played four years on the club football team at Worcester State, was also an All-New England selection in both his junior and senior seasons. As a coach, he led the Lancers to a Club National Championship in 1984. He went on to oversee the program’s transition to full varsity status. Cullen won seven MASCAC Championships, was a five-time New England Football Conference Coach of the Year, and the 1996 New England Football Writers Coach of the Year. He led the Lancers to 181 wins in his time as head coach. 

One of Cullen’s former players, Derrick E. Murphy ’15, was also honored with an induction in 2020. Murphy played on the Worcester State football team from 1995 to 1997, leading the Lancers to New England Football Conference Championships all three seasons. Murphy was an All-NEFC First Team, All-ECAC New England First Team, and All-Worcester Area First Team selection in the 1996 season, which saw the Lancers go 10-0 in the regular season. Murphy ranks second in school history with 18 career interceptions. In his three seasons, the Lancers went 27-6.

Also receiving the call to the Hall is former women’s basketball standout, Lauren (Burke) Novick ’02. Novick made her mark on the women’s basketball record book, as she ranks 15th all-time with 1,053 career points and 704 career rebounds. Novick was a two-time All-MASCAC selection during her playing career, and was selected to play in the New England Women’s Basketball Association Senior All-Star Game in her final season. Lauren was exceptional in the classroom as well as on the court. In her final year, she was honored with the Worcester State Athletics’ Lancer Award for her accomplishments.

The fourth inductee into the 2020 Hall of Fame is the class’ lone three-sport athlete, Alyssa L. Jasper ’15. Jasper took part in women’s volleyball, women’s track & field, and women’s basketball in the early 2010s, leaving a lasting legacy at Worcester State. In 2014, Jasper was an All-American in the heptathlon, placing eighth in the nation in the event. A two-time ECAC Division III Champion, as she won the title in the javelin in 2013 and in the pentathlon in 2015. Jasper also won a pair of New England Championships in both the javelin and the heptathlon, and is still the school record holder in the javelin to this day at 44.91 meters. In volleyball, Jasper is the program’s all-time leader in both career kills with 1,292 and single season kills with 502. She was a MASCAC All-Conference selection all four years for the Lancers, receiving First Team honors in her final two seasons and MASCAC Player of the Year in her senior season. She received Worcester State’s Robert Devlin Senior Athlete of the Year and Margaret “Peg” Nugent Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards, as well as the MASCAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. She also played one season on the Worcester State women’s basketball team, in her sophomore year.

Another volleyball legend, Lauren E. Saylor ’10, was also inducted. Like Jasper, Saylor was a four-time All-MASCAC honoree in her playing career, earning a First Team nod three times, and was named MASCAC Rookie of the Year in 2006. She ranks second in program history with 1,127 kills, and her 337 kills as a freshman still stands as the Worcester State rookie record. Her 2.90 career kills 0per set, .227 attack percentage, and 907 career digs all rank in Worcester State’s top six all-time, and her 27 kills in a match in 2007 ranks third most all-time. Saylor was also named Worcester State’s Robert Devlin Senior Athlete of the Year in 2010.

Rounding out the inductees in the alumni category is former two-sport athlete, Shannon M. Feeley ’09. Feeley excelled in both women’s lacrosse and soccer in her illustrious career. In lacrosse, Feeley scored 168 goals with 89 assists for 257 points, which all rank in the top four all-time in the Worcester State record books. The Lancers reached the semifinals of the New England Women’s Lacrosse Association Tournament all four seasons she played on the team, including two appearances in the NEWLA Championship game. She was honored with a First Team All-NEWLA selection in 2006 and 2007, and a Second Team selection in 2008. With Feeley on the roster, the women’s lacrosse program had a record of 37-24. In soccer, Feeley was named First Team All-Conference in 2005. She led Worcester State to three MASCAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.

Due to the pandemic, Lancers were unable to celebrate homecoming in 2020. This year, students, parents and alumni filled stands and parking lots with great enthusiasm. The honorees were welcomed home the right way. Followed by a huge win by Lancer Football, it was truly a great day to be a Lancer!