RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE INDUCTS SIX AND ONE TEAM INTO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

Providence, R.I.-Rhode Island College inducted six new members and one of its all-time greatest teams into its Athletic Hall of Fame at a gala event held at Donovan Dining Center as part of Homecoming 2015 on Saturday evening.

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2015

Bobby J. Bailey ’10 was an outstanding guard on the men’s basketball team from 2006-09. During his tenure as an Anchorman, the Fall River, Mass. native led RIC to two Little East Conference Regular Season and two Tournament Championships. He helped RIC to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a berth in the NCAA Elite 8 in 2007.

He closed out his three-year career as an Anchorman having played in 81 games, starting 75 of them. He totaled 876 career points, 372 rebounds, 208 assists, 162 steals and 59 blocks. He averaged 10.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game for his career.

As a senior in 2008-09, he was named the men’s basketball team’s MVP. He was   named the Little East Conference Co-Player of the Year, the Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-LEC and to the league’s All-Defensive Team. Bailey played in 23 games, starting 21 of them. He averaged 12.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Bailey scored a season-high 21 points vs. Western Connecticut on Jan. 27, grabbed 13 rebounds vs. UMass Dartmouth on Feb. 28, dished out six assists vs. Salve Regina on Jan. 6 and swiped four steals twice. Bailey was also named First Team All-District by the NABC, Second Team All-ECAC and Second Team All-Northeast by D3hoops.com. Bailey received the Cox Sports R.I. Basketball Media Steve McDonald Award, signifying him as the Men’s Player of the Year (Div. III). He was named to the Little East Conference Men’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll once on the season.

As a junior in 2007-08, Bailey was named Second Team All-Little East Conference and to the league’s All-Defensive Team. He played in 27 games, starting 23 of them. Bailey averaged 10.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He scored a season-high 18 points against Eastern Connecticut on Jan. 19, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists vs. UMass Dartmouth on Feb. 12, while logging a season-best six steals against Plymouth State on Feb. 9. Bailey was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2008 Little East Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament. He logged 14 points, five boards, five assists, two steals and a block in the title contest. In the three LEC tournament games, Bailey averaged 11.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.

As a sophomore in 2006-07, he was named to the NCAA Sectional Round’s All-Tournament Team, as well as garnering Second Team All-Little East Conference and LEC All-Defensive Team honors. He played in 31 games, starting all of them. He averaged 10.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game. He scored a season-high 21 points in the win over Plymouth State on Dec. 9. Bailey reached double figures in scoring 17 times and logged three double-doubles on the season. He grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament win over Coast Guard on Mar. 2. He dished out a season-high eight assists vs. UMass Boston on Feb. 17 and tied for the second-most steals in a game with seven against Eastern Connecticut on Jan. 6.

Prior to coming to RIC, Bailey played at Jacksonville College (TX) in 2004-05 and was a standout a Durfee High School.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Rhode Island College in 2010. Bailey is currently a college affordability advisor at uAspire and an assistant boys’ basketball coach at Durfee High.

Michael F. Bonora ’07 was an outstanding wrestler at Rhode Island College from 2003-04, and 2005-08. He was the NCAA Div. III National Champion at 141 lbs. in 2008, a two-time All-American, three-time Scholar All-American and four-time All-New England selection. During his tenure, Rhode Island College won the New England College Conference Wrestling Association (NECCWA) Championship in 2008, and won the Pilgrim Wrestling League title in 2004.

The Nutley, N.J. native wrapped up his career on the mat with a record of 130-20 (.867) to go along with 470 takedowns, 36 reversals, 74 near-falls and 22 pins.

As a senior in 2007-08, Bonora captured the 2008 NCAA Div. III National Championship at 141 lbs. and attained All-American status. He became just the second RIC grappler to win a national title (Billy Cotter, 1994) and finished the season undefeated against Div. III opponents, the first wrestler to do so in program history.

He was also named a Scholar All-American for the third time in his career. Bonora was also named the Pilgrim Wrestling League’s Most Outstanding Wrestler and a First Team All-Star. He was also named to the league’s Scholar-Athlete All-Star team and selected as team MVP. Bonora received the John E. Hetherman Award, signifying him as RIC’s top senior male student-athlete.

Bonora was the New England Champion at 141 lbs. for the second straight season. He earned first place finishes the Doug Parker Invitational (Nov. 10), the Roger Williams Invitational (Nov. 17) and the R.I.T. Invitational (Dec. 1).

He was 44-2 (.957) to go along with 150 takedowns, 10 reversals, 31 escapes, 36 near-falls and 10 pins on the campaign. Once in control of a match, Bonora was dominant and keeping his opponent within his control, earning a riding time point in 24 of his 46 bouts.  Both of his losses were to Div. I opponents.

As a junior in 2006-07, he earned All-American honors, placing sixth, at 141 lbs. at the NCAA Div. III Wrestling Championships. Bonora was RIC’s first All-American grappler in 13 years. He was also the New England Champion at 141 lbs., earned All-New England honors and was named the Pilgrim Wrestling League’s Wrestler of the Year as well as a First Team All-Star. Bonora was also recognized as an NWCA Scholar All-American and was a member of the Pilgrim League’s Scholar-Athlete Team.

He closed out the season with a 48-6 overall record, establishing a new RIC record for wins in a season, to go along with 170 takedowns, 11 reversals, 58 escapes, 17 near-falls and seven pins.

As a sophomore in 2005-06, Bonora earned All-New England honors at 141 lbs., placing fourth at the NECCWA Championships. He was named a Second Team Pilgrim Wrestling League All-Star and earned team MVP honors. On the season, he was 16-3 at 141 lbs. with 50 takedowns, three reversals, 23 escapes, nine near-falls and three pins. Bonora, who left RIC after the 2003-04 season, re-joined the Anchormen in January.

As a freshman in 2003-04, he earned All-New England honors, placing fifth at 141 lbs. For the season, he was 22-9 at 141 lbs. with 100 takedowns, 12 reversals, 42 escapes, 12 near-falls and two pins.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rhode Island College in 2007. He is currently a senior technical recruiter for ZocDoc. Bonora resides Nutley, N.J. with his wife Christina. Bonora authored a book chronicling his wrestling career entitled Wrestling With Your Destiny.

Kelly (Lange) Chartier ’98 was an outstanding women’s tennis player who later went on to coach the program, guiding the Anchorwomen to five consecutive Little East Conference Regular Season Championships and two LEC Tournament Championships.

The Rehoboth, Mass. native compiled a 67-15 (.817) record in six years as the Head Women’s Tennis Coach.

In 2007, she led RIC to the Little East Conference Regular Season Co-Championship, sharing the title with UMass Darmouth and Bridgewater. The Anchorwomen posted a 10-4 overall record and a 6-1 mark in the Little East Conference.

In 2006, she guided the Anchorwomen to the Little East Conference Regular Season Championship. RIC posted a 13-1 overall record and was 7-0 (first place) against Little East competition. The Anchorwomen placed second at the Little East Championships.

In 2005, Chartier led the Anchorwomen to the Little East Conference Regular Season Championship and captured the LEC Tournament Championship for the sixth time in program history. RIC was 11-1 overall and 7-0 in the LEC.

In 2004, Chartier led RIC to the Little East Conference Regular Season Championship as the squad went 13-0, posting their first-ever undefeated season. The team's 13 wins at the time were the most in a season since the 1999 squad went 13-2.

She led RIC to its fifth Little East Conference Tournament Championship in 2003 as the team posted an 11-4 record. Chartier guided the Anchorwomen to a 9-5 record in her first year at the helm in 2002.

Chartier played both tennis and softball during her undergraduate days at Rhode Island College from 1994-98. She received the Helen M. Murphy Award, signifying her as RIC’s top senior female athlete in 1998. Chartier was a member of two Little East Conference women’s tennis championship teams in 1994 and 1995.

She competed at number one singles as a junior and senior. Chartier posted a career singles record of 24-20 (.545) and a doubles record of 19-17 (.528) in four seasons of action. She is 13th all-time at RIC with 33.5 career points, and 15th with 24 career singles wins and 19 career doubles victories.

Chartier earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from RIC in 1998. She received a master’s degree in music education from RIC in 2002.

In addition to her coaching duties, Chartier is a music educator at Smithfield High School.

She resides in Rehoboth, Massachusetts with her husband Matt and their children: Travis (9), Emma (7), Benjamin (4) and Brianna (4).

Kayla M. Fleming ’09 was an All-American high jumper who excelled in both indoor and outdoor track & field during her career. After attending the University of Hartford, Fleming competed in women’s soccer for the Anchorwomen from 2006-08, and starred in track & field from 2006-09.

The Pawtucket, R.I. native earned numerous All-New England, All-ECAC and N.E. Alliance honors in multiple events while at RIC. She qualified for the NCAA Div. III Track and Field National Championships on four occasions, competing on the national stage twice during the indoor campaign, and made two additional appearances in outdoor track.

Fleming was named the Little East Conference Woman of the Year in 2009. She attained All-American honors in the high jump at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships with a seventh-place effort.

Fleming still holds the program records in the high jump event for both indoor and outdoor track and field and was the Helen M. Murphy Award recipient in 2009.

In women’s soccer, Fleming closed out her three-year career as a midfielder and defender having played in 61 games, starting 36 of them. She totaled five goals and six assists for 16 points.

As a senior in 2008-09, she was named the team’s MVP and the Little East Conference Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year. Fleming tied for 12th overall in the high jump (1.59m) at the 2009 NCAA Div. III Outdoor Track and Field National Championships. She earned All-ECAC honors in the high jump, tying for fourth overall (1.67m) at the ECAC Championships on May 15. Fleming earned All-New England honors in the high jump with a fifth place finish (1.58m) at the N.E. Div. III Championships on May 2. She was the N.E. Alliance Champion in the high jump with a new school record and a season-best 1.70m effort, the 800m with a season-best time of 2:22.21 and as part of the 4x400m relay (4:12.03) at the Alliance Championships on April 25.

During the indoor portion of the season, Fleming was named team MVP, the Little East Conference Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Year and earned All-American honors in the high jump, tying for seventh place with a 1.61m effort at the 2009 NCAA Div. III Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 13-14. She earned All-ECAC honors with an eighth place, 1.57m effort in the high jump at the ECAC Championships on March 7. Fleming captured the N.E. Championship in the high jump (1.63m) at the N.E. Div. III Championships on Feb. 20-21. She earned N.E. Alliance honors in five events, placing first in both the high jump (1.60m) and in the 600m with a season-best/school record time (1:41.79), second with a season-best time in the 1,000m (3:09.01), sixth in the long jump with a season-best jump (4.92m) and third as part of the 4x400m relay (4:25.69) at the Alliance Championships on Feb. 14.

As a junior in 2007-08, she earned All-ECAC honors in the high jump with a season-best fourth place, 1.61m leap at the ECAC N.E. Div. III Championships on May 16 during the outdoor campaign. Fleming earned All-New England honors in the high jump (1.55m) with a third place finish at the N.E. Div. III Championships on May 2-3. She earned New England Alliance honors in four events at the Alliance Championships on Apr. 26. She placed third in the long jump (4.77m), fourth in the high jump (1.57m) and fifth in the 800 meters with a season-best time of 2:24.24. Fleming was part of the 4x400 meter relay team, which placed third with a time of 4:20.25.

During the indoor portion of the season, Fleming placed ninth in the high jump, one place shy of All-American status, with a 1.61m effort at the 2008 NCAA Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships on Mar. 15. Fleming earned All-ECAC honors in the high jump, placing fourth with a school-record leap of 1.66m at the ECAC Championships on Mar. 8. Fleming earned All-New England honors in the high jump, placing sixth with a 1.53m effort at the N.E. Div. III Championships on Feb. 23. Fleming earned N.E. Alliance honors in four events at the Alliance Championships on Feb. 16. She was the Alliance/Little East Champion in the long jump, placing first with a season-best leap of 5.09m. Fleming placed second, and tied the meet record, in the high jump with a 1.65m effort. She also placed second in the 1,000m with a time of 3:07.58 and as part of the 4x400m relay with a time of 4:17.65.

As a sophomore in 2006-07, she tied for 14th place in the high jump with an effort of 1.59m at the NCAA Div. III Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 24-26. She earned All-New England honors in the high jump, placing fourth at 1.56m at the N.E. Div. III Championships on May 4-5. Fleming earned N.E. Alliance honors in five events at the Alliance Championships on Apr. 28. She placed eighth as part of the 4x100m relay team with a time of 56.53, first in the 800m with a time of 2:23.83, seventh as part of the 4x400m relay team with a time of 4:37.62, second in the long jump with a season-best distance of 5.13m and first in the high jump with a leap of 1.65m.

During the indoor season, she earned N.E. Alliance honors in the 1,000m, placing first with a time of 3:12.58, as well as the high jump, placing fourth with a leap of 1.54m at the Alliance Championships on Feb. 10.

Prior to coming to RIC, Fleming attended the University of Hartford in 2005-06. Fleming earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Rhode Island College in 2009.

She is currently a sixth grade teacher at Jenks Jr. High in Pawtucket, R.I. Fleming resides in Attleboro, Mass.

Jeffrey R. Lavigne ’00 was one of the top two-way midfielders in men’s soccer during his career at RIC from 1996-99.

The Glendale, R.I. product was named All-Little East three times, which included a pair of First Team selections in 1998 and 1999. He was also named All-New England as a senior in 1999.

Lavigne totaled 15 goals and 11 assist for 41 career points during his career as an Anchorman. At the time of his graduation, he was 14th in program history in career points and currently ranks 20th. Lavigne was selected as the John E. Hetherman Award recipient in 2000.

As a senior in 1999, the co-captain played in 15 games, starting all of them. Lavigne led the team with a career-high six assists. He scored one goal and was third on the team in scoring with eight points. He registered a season-high four points with one goal and two assists against Johnson & Wales.

As a junior in 1998, Lavigne played in 19 games, starting 18, and was named First Team All-Little East Conference. He was third on the team in scoring with a career-high nine goals and two assists for a career-high 20 points. He was also named the Notre Dame (NH) Invitational’s Most Valuable Player.

As a sophomore in 1997, Lavigne played in 18 games, starting all of them, and was named Second Team All-Little East. He had three assists on the year for three points. As a freshman in 1996, he played in ten games, starting all of them, with five goals for ten points.

Lavigne earned a bachelor’s degree in justice studies from Rhode Island College in 2000.

He is currently a project manager/foreman for J.H. Lynch & Sons. Lavigne resides in Mapleville, R.I. with his fiancé Erin and their children: Mason (6) and Mya (1).

Frank C. Mitchell ’59 (posthumously) starred in men’s basketball and also played men’s soccer while at the Rhode Island College of Education from 1955-59.           As a forward in men’s basketball, he totaled 1,030 career points in an era before the three-point line was introduced. Mitchell was an outstanding team leader, who was consistently the squad’s top offensive performer and also led the squad in rebounding. He was also an outstanding defender who was often charged with guarding players much bigger than he was.

He received the John E. Hetherman Award in 1959. After graduating from RIC, Mitchell taught at Cumberland High School for a short while and spent 25 years in the Cranston elementary school system.

Mitchell was a highly respected and well-liked teacher and helped to implement and encourage sports programs in the Cranston school system.  He helped coach several junior high school girls and boys basketball teams throughout the years.

The Mitchell family, with Frank at the helm, started and grew several family businesses the most successful being Mrs. Mitchell’s gift shops. The first store, which has been in business for 50 years, is located in Hampton Beach, N.H.

Mitchell attended Central Falls High School where he was a member of several sports teams and a star athlete leading his basketball team in scoring and school records.  He was inducted into the Central Falls Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.

He and his late wife Evelyn ’57 were the parents of six children: Kathleen, Diane, Karen, Don, Lynn and Bob and had 15 grandchildren.

RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE TEAM HALL OF FAME

The 1990-91 Rhode Island College wrestling team joins the 1968-69 men’s basketball team and the 1979 baseball team in the Team Hall of Fame.

Under the direction of legendary coach Rusty Carlsten, RIC won its fourth consecutive New England College Conference Wrestling Association (NECCWA) Championship and sent four grapplers to the NCAA Div. III National Championships. It was the first time in NECCWA history that one team won four straight titles.

The Anchormen had eight wrestlers attain All-New England status, with Greg McLaughlin (126 lbs.), Brian Allen (134 lbs.), James Barbera (142 lbs.) and Scott Carlsten (158 lbs.) taking home individual titles

Rhode Island College went on to the NCAA Championships where RIC finished 25th nationally. Allen (eighth), Barbera (eighth) and Carlsten (sixth) earned All-American honors in their respective weight classes.

RIC finished with a 15-4 overall record, going 14-2 against Div. III opponents.