WORCESTER, Mass. – The Patriot League in conjunction with its 10 full-member institutions has announced its Trailblazers of Distinction to recognize the accomplishments of some of their most impactful women leaders during the Title IX era.
The league worked closely with staff from each of its institutions to identify and honor individual women and memorable teams for contributions to their respective athletics departments, campuses and society at large. The Trailblazers of Distinction were selected in concurrence with the Patriot League's yearlong celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX.
Each Trailblazer of Distinction represents the Patriot League's vision for their achievement of athletic potential in addition to values of integrity, character and personal development. Collectively, the women and teams recognized have served as shining examples of the importance of the journey toward inclusion and gender equity.
When the Patriot League became an all-sport conference during the 1990-1991 academic year, it initially offered 22 sports; 11 men's and 11 women's. The ability to offer an equal complement of sports was in part due to the contributions made by some of the Trailblazers of Distinction, whose collegiate athletics careers concluded before the formation of the league. The paths they paved for future generations who were afforded more opportunities to compete is why it is important to recognize their accomplishments alongside those that directly impacted the Patriot League.
Here is a look at the honorees from Holy Cross.
Egetta Alfonso – Women's Track & Field '92, Director of Cross Country and Track and Field
Alfonso competed at Holy Cross on the women's track and field team for four years, serving as the team's co-captain during the 1991-1992 season. She later served as head coach of the women's track and field team for 23 years and was recently promoted to Richard L Ahern '51 Director of Cross Country and Track and Field. Under her leadership, Holy Cross has won more than three dozen individual and relay Patriot League Championships.
Sherry Levin – Women's Basketball '84
Levin was one of the top student-athletes to compete on a women's basketball team in Holy Cross history. She still holds records in points (2,253), scoring average (21.8 points per game), field goals made (842), and free throws made (569). Since graduating from Holy Cross, Levin has coached at Beaver Country Day School, the Maccabi USA Open Women's Basketball Team, and now at Worcester Academy.
Lauren Manis – Women's Basketball '20
Manis was the first player in Holy Cross history on either the men's or women's side, with 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. During her senior season, she was ranked fourth in Division I in double-doubles (20) and fifth in rebounds (344). She was drafted by the Las Vegas Aces in the third round (33rd overall) of the 2020 WNBA Draft.
Mary Fitzgerald Riley – Field Hockey, Basketball, Softball '83
Fitzgerald Riley earned a school-record 12 letters as a student-athlete. She was one of the basketball team's leading scorers during her junior and senior seasons and one of the softball squad's best hitters. She served as a team captain in all three sports during her senior year and received the 1983 John A. Meegan Athletic Achievement Award.
Patricia Sutton Thompson – Lacrosse '07
Sutton Thompson held the women's lacrosse program records for single-season points (75) for 15 years and is still the all-time leader in career goals (215). After graduating from Holy Cross, Sutton Thompson served as an assistant coach at the University at Albany for two years before returning to her alma mater for three seasons as an assistant coach.
