KINGSTON, RI -- On Saturday evening June 21st, the 1996 Williams College women's lacrosse team, the 1944 Cal Tech football team and the 1977 Delta State University women's basketball team were the first three teams inducted into the Institute for International Sport's Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame. The Institute for International Sport and its Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame is located on the campus of the University of Rhode Island in Kingston.

A host of individual scholar-athletes also were inducted including track legend Bob Mathias, Jackie Robinson, University of Texas women's basketball coach Jody Conradt, author Clair Bee and filmmaker Bud Greenspan.

The 1944 Cal Tech football team was undefeated and uninvited to a bowl game despite not allowing a point and the 1977 Delta State women's basketball team won its third consecutive and the last national women's intercollegiate basketball title before the NCAA assumed control of the championship.

Chris Mason's 1996 Williams women's lacrosse team compiled a record of 15-0, was ranked first nationally, but the Ephs were denied a chance to participate in the 1996 NCAA Tournament due to a conflict with the school's final exam schedule. They did win the ECAC-New England Tournament title as the ECAC tournament dates did not conflict with the final exam schedule and they established an Eph record for most wins in a season.

1996 Ephs on hand for the ceremony included from left to right: Courtney Stokes, Julieane Austin, Caroline Nesbit, Head Coach Chris Mason, Liz Endress, Kasia Sullivan and Gigi Saltonstall

Currently all Williams teams are allowed to compete in NCAA post-season championship events even during the College's final exam period.

The 22-player 1996 Eph team compiled a team GPA of 3.4 and three team members posted a 4.0 GPA for the 1996 spring semester. All 22 Eph women's lacrosse players also lettered in at least one other Varsity sport at Williams.

"I've been getting a lot of e-mails from the players and each and every one of them is tremendously proud of the team being recognized with such a prestigious honor," said Chris Mason. "It was fun to see everyone in Rhode Island. This was an exceptional group of student-athletes who did everything with great passion. They worked extremely hard on the field and in the classroom and they had fun excelling in both environments."

In rolling to their perfect season and the 1996 ECAC-New England title the Ephs out scored their opponents 228 to 100.

Kasia Sullivan (left) and Chris Mason display the Hall of Fame plaque

Senior Kasia Sullivan broke her own single season scoring record, set in 1994 (65 goals), setting the new record at 68 goals in 1996. She also set the new career record at 234 goals and 277 points -- 82 goals and 73 points beyond the previous career marks at Williams.

"It's a great honor for our team to be recognized in this way," said Sullivan. "We are particularly proud to represent Williams College which has such a rich history and tradition of successful scholar-athletes."

Sophomore Alana Teutonico, tied Sullivan for season points earned, netting 64 goals, 14 assists and 78 points. Junior attack Liz Endress set the single season record for assists with 25, set originally by Bevin Cooper ‘91 in 1990.

Head Coach Christine Mason summed up the 1996 ECAC championship, and the season, very simply, "We love to be together as a team, we love the game, and," she smiled, "we love to compete."

Honors abounded for the undefeated Ephs as Sullivan was named the 1995-96 College Sports Magazine Division III Athlete of the Year and a First Team All-American.

"It's a great honor for our team to be recognized in this way," said Sullivan. "We are particularly proud to represent Williams College which has such a rich history and tradition of successful scholar-athletes."

Senior goalie Alyse Clayman was the MVP of the ECAC Tournament, a First Team All-American and the National Goalie of the Year. Head Coach Chris Mason was named the National Coach of the Year. In addition, Lauren Gioia picked up 1st team All-America honors; Alana Teutonico was named a 2nd Team All-American and Tonya Gogolak garnered 3rd Team All-America honors.

In 1998, Teutonico was named the National Offensive Player of the Year and Lauren Gioia was the National Defensive Player of the Year by the IWLCA. Teutonico also graduated as the all-time Eph leader in goals scored (251) and points (313).

Senior midfielder Mary Ann Hirshfeld was a First Team GTE Academic All-American and posted the highest GPA among IWLCA players for the second year in a row. Additionally, nine Ephs earned Academic All-NESCAC honors.

1996 Williams Women's Lacrosse Team -- courtesy of North Adams Transcript