NEW LONDON, N.H. – September 8, 2015 – Colby-Sawyer College will honor four individuals and one team as new members of its Athletic Hall of Fame this fall. This year's honorees include basketball player Ethan Casson '96, basketball player Michelle Dailey '99, tennis, basketball and track athlete Lori Monroe '97, baseball player Jon Nicholas '05 and the 1997-98 Men's Basketball Team.

Established in 2006, the Colby-Sawyer Athletic Hall of Fame celebrates the accomplishments of Colby-Sawyer athletes, coaches, teams and supporters who have advanced the college's commitment to excellence. Colby-Sawyer will host an induction ceremony for the Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2015 on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 11 a.m. in Wheeler Hall at the Ware Student Center. The event is open to the college community, alumni and friends, and area residents.

A member of Head Coach Bill Foti's first recruiting class, Ethan Casson '96 was instrumental in propelling the Colby-Sawyer men's basketball team into notoriety during the program's third varsity season. Ethan helped the Chargers to a 70-31 record in his four years as the floor general while collecting a school record 454 assists, which he held for 16 years. When he wasn't on offense, Ethan was getting the ball away from the opponent, leading to 152 steals, which ranks ninth all-time. His outstanding efforts were recognized with the 1995-96 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Robbins Scholar-Athlete Award. Ethan was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. He went on to success in professional sports as the Chief Revenue Officer of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers and the Vice President of Corporate Sales & Services and Game Presentation for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves. Ethan was recognized by Sports Business Journal as a member of the Forty Under 40 Class of 2014. He was previously recognized as a Forty Under 40 by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

Michelle Dailey '99 made an impressive impact on the Colby-Sawyer women's basketball program during her three seasons with the team. In her three seasons, the Chargers went 70-14, won three conference championships, and made three trips to the NCAA Tournament. In two of the three seasons, Colby-Sawyer twice hosted NCAA Tournament games ('97 and '99) and Michelle was part of the college's first win in NCAA postseason play for any sport ('99). The sophomore transfer was named Commonwealth Coast Conference Player of the Year as a junior and was a Commonwealth Coast Conference First Team honoree as a senior. She finished her Colby-Sawyer tenure with 709 points, but ended her collegiate career with 1,078 points. Michelle ranks sixth in program history with 351 career assists. She was invited to try out for the WNBA after concluding her final season. Michelle and her 1998-99 women's basketball teammates were previously inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2009 in recognition of their outstanding season. Dailey recently accepted a job as the Head Coach of the Easthampton High School Girls' Varsity Basketball Team.


Lori (Monroe) Lombardi '97 made a significant mark on Colby-Sawyer athletics during her four years as a Charger. She etched her name as one of the great women's tennis players in program history while also competing for the track and basketball teams. Lori's long list of accomplishments includes leading the Chargers' tennis team to a conference championship each season. She was named New England Women's Athletic Conference (NEWAC) All-Conference during her first year and earned NEWAC all-tournament accolades in singles and doubles as a sophomore. As the Chargers transitioned to the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) in her junior season, Lori again led the team to a championship and was the second flight singles champion. In her final season, Lori guided the Chargers to a second straight CCC title. She earned a pair of Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Robbins Scholar-Athlete Awards (1995-96, 1996-97) and added a CCC Senior Scholar-Athlete award (1997). She also was named to the tennis GTE All-American Second Team At Large. Lori ranks sixth in total victories (88), third in singles victories (49) and eighth in doubles victories (39). 

Jon Nicholas '05 was a four-year starting pitcher for the Colby-Sawyer baseball team. He commanded his pitches on the mound and his unique pitching style made it tough for opposing hitters to succeed. He pounded the strike zone repeatedly leading to 144 career strikeouts, ranking him third all-time and is the program leader in fewest walks per nine innings at 1.79.  Jon was named the 2004 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Pitcher of the Year after going 5-0 in conference play and earned a nod to the All-CCC First Team. In his final season, he also was named to the All-CCC First Team after leading the team in innings (55.2) and strikeouts (43). Jon won a school record 22 games and had at least four wins in each season. His name appears throughout the baseball record books including first in innings pitched (241.2), first in appearances (44), complete games (22) and is second in starts (35). Jon also holds single season records of innings pitched (70.2) and complete games (7) and is tied for second in starts (9) and tied for third in wins (6 – 3 times).

The 1997-1998 men's basketball team became the college's first team to capture an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championship. The Chargers defeated Plymouth State 85-84 in the first round, Wentworth 70-63 in the semifinals and Keene State 102-95 in the finals. The team had an overall record of 25-4 and a perfect Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) record of 13-0. Their 25 wins remains a Colby-Sawyer men's basketball record, while the undefeated conference mark is one of only two perfect seasons in program history.

The 1997-98 team included the following athletes: Shawn Bachelder '99, Martin Binette '98, Alexi Bobolia '00, team captain Nate Camp '98, Terrell Dozier '00, Jonathan Edwards '99, Marc Ferlo '99, Bill Gallagher '01, team captain Matt George '98, Brian Joyce '98, Patrick Quinn '98, Michael Spinney '00, Jim Statires '01, and Brian Wilder '99. The 1997-1998 men's basketball team was led by Head Coach Bill Foti, Assistant Coach Josh Pincoske '97, former Assistant Coach Tom Brayshaw, student Assistant Coach Kyle Battis '99, and manager Rob Kasprzak '98.

To learn more about the Colby-Sawyer College Athletic Hall of Fame, visit www.colby-sawyerathletics.com/hof.aspx

For more information about intercollegiate athletics, visit www.colby-sawyerathletics.com

For the latest on Colby-Sawyer Athletics, follow the Chargers via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at CSCathletics.