NEW LONDON, N.H. — Colby-Sawyer College's 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame class includes six inductees who have made significant and lasting contributions to Charger athletics. The former student-athletes and leaders will be honored Saturday, Oct. 18, during Homecoming & Family Weekend.
The Athletic Hall of Fame, established in 2006, celebrates individuals and teams whose athletic excellence and commitment to sport have elevated Colby-Sawyer's reputation at the conference, regional and national levels.
Deborah "Debi" Field McGrath '68
The Colby Junior College graduate who earned her bachelor's from Wheaton College was a field hockey and lacrosse standout at both institutions. She played on the U.S. Field Hockey Team and the U.S. National Reserve Lacrosse Team in 1973-74 and was inducted into the New England Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2001. McGrath coached at Harvard, Brown, Dartmouth and Wheaton, where her 1983 field hockey team was later inducted into the Wheaton Hall of Fame. She also coached the USA Field Hockey's Olympic Development Team. In 1986, McGrath became director of athletics at Colby-Sawyer and coached the women's lacrosse team from 1987 to 1991. During her 27-year tenure, she led the college through its transition to coeducation, expanded the athletics program and oversaw major facility upgrades, including the Hogan Sports Center, three new fields, refurbished tennis courts and the planning of a turf field and track project, which she financially supported.
Ethan Betts '03
A four-year member of the men's basketball team, Betts led the Chargers to consecutive Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) championships in 2001, 2002 and 2003, serving as captain in 2003. During his junior and senior seasons, he earned All-CCC Second Team honors, and during his senior season he was a New Hampshire Division III Basketball Coaches Association First Team selection and played in the NEBCA Senior All-Star Game. Betts ranks among the program's all-time leaders: 16th in career points (1,296), third in rebounds (838), and seventh in steals (162).
Nick DeZenzo '08
A four-year starter on the men's soccer team, DeZenzo was a defensive powerhouse, earning All-CCC First Team honors as a senior and Second Team selections as a sophomore and junior. DeZenzo also garnered regional accolades; he was a D3kicks.com Second Team selection and an All-New England NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Third Team pick. DeZenzo played professionally in Australia and the United States, including for the Kangaroo Point Rovers, Massachusetts Twisters and Bayside United Football Club. DeZenzo went on to coach soccer at the club, high school and collegiate levels, including a stint as the women's assistant coach at the University of New Hampshire and head coach of the women's team at St. Joseph's University. He was recently named varsity boys' soccer coach at Riverhead (N.Y.) High School.
Genny Moore Bardaglio '10
An all-time leader at the setter position, Moore broke the volleyball program's single-season assist record with 1,342 as a sophomore and earned All-TCCC (The Commonwealth Coast Conference) Second Team honors. She remains the career leader in assists (4,120); she is one of only two players in program history to surpass 4,000. She also ranks third in assists per set (8.27) and third in career service aces (250). In the individual season assist record category, she ranks first, fourth and sixth. Her precision, consistency and leadership made her one of the most impactful players in program history.
Dougie Avellino '18
A three-year competitor for the Chargers baseball team, Avellino is widely regarded as one of the program's top players. He was named All-NAC (North Atlantic Conference) First Team each spring and during his junior season he led the team in nearly every offensive category, including batting average (.365), hits (46), runs (23), RBI (26) and stolen bases (18). That same season, he was fourth among NAC players in hits and batting average. A 2017 All-ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) New England Team selection, Avellino remains near the top of the college's record book, ranking fifth in .356 career batting average and top 10 in on-base percentage (.416).
Nicole Lavigne Manuel '18
Lavigne is one of the most decorated players in women's lacrosse history. She is the all-time leader in goals (232), ranks third in points (277) and ground balls (200), fifth in caused turnovers (104) and eighth in assists (45). She set single-season records for goals and draw controls in 2018, the same year she was NAC Player of the Year and earned her fourth-straight All-NAC First Team selection. Following graduation, the two-time ECAC All-Star and Academic Team honoree coached at her high school alma mater in Vermont.
Additional details about the induction ceremony will be shared in the coming weeks. For more information about the Hall of Fame and Homecoming & Family Weekend events, visit Homecoming - Colby-Sawyer College.
