UMW Honors 2014 Hall of Famers

The University of Mary Washington inducted three alumni, one former coach, and an entire team into its athletic

The 1993 UMW field hockey team surrounds Darrell Green, special assistant to student athletes, who holds a photo of a team member who was unable to attend the February awards banquet.

The 1993 UMW field hockey team surrounds Darrell Green, special assistant to student athletes, who holds a photo of a team member who was unable to attend the February awards banquet. Photo by Susan Spencer.

hall of fame in February.

The honors went to the 1993 field hockey team, which advanced to the national championship game; All-America high jumper Bobby Bergin ’03; All-America tennis star Conor Smith ’03; basketball standout Dan Dupras ’03; and former head baseball coach Tom Sheridan.

The 1993 field hockey team finished 22-2 and advanced to the NCAA Division III national championship game. The team rattled off 51 goals in 24 games and limited opponents to just seven goals all season – still one of the best defensive seasons in Division III history. Aside from UMW’s two NCAA championship women’s tennis teams, the 1993 field hockey team was, at press time, the lone Mary Washington athletic program to advance to a team national championship game.

Bergin competed in eight NCAA track and field championships in his four-year career, gaining All-America honors four times. He finished second at both the 2002 and 2003 indoor championships. His leap of 7 feet, 1.75 inches at the 2003 indoor championships tied him for the fifth-best jump in NCAA Division III history.

From left: Conor Smith, Tom Sheridan, Dan Dupras, and Bobby Bergin.

From left: Conor Smith, Tom Sheridan, Dan Dupras, and Bobby Bergin.

Smith became the first UMW men’s tennis player to be recognized on the national level as the program evolved into a national power. A three-time Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Year and two-time singles All-American, he also garnered individual awards such as ITA Player to Watch and ITA Senior Player of the Year in the region. Along the way, he helped the team to four NCAA tournament berths, finishing in the top 15 nationally three times.

Dupras ranks as the fourth-leading scorer and sixth-leading rebounder in UMW basketball history, and he gained All-Capital Athletic Conference honors three times. As captain of the 2002-03 team, Dupras led the Eagles to their best record ever at 24-5, defeating Division I VMI, winning the CAC championship, and advancing to the NCAA tournament.

Sheridan, now associate coach at George Washington University, started the UMW baseball program in 1987 and won 579 games in his 25 years here. His UMW teams advanced to 11 NCAA tournaments and won 10 conference titles. The nine-time CAC Coach of the Year had 15 seasons in which his teams won at least 25 games.

Speak Your Mind

*