The legacy of the class of 2011 encompasses overarching success across all sports and has helped usher Tufts into the upper echelon of Div. III athletic institutions. Whether the "Best Ever" label can be slapped onto the latest crop of graduating Jumbos is a matter of opinion, but one can certainly make a strong case given the evidence presented.
Athletics Director Bill Gehling is reluctant to speak in extremes, but will readily admit to the class's contribution to the program's overall growing status as a national power, as well as the unique talent of this outgoing group. Citing the difficulties of comparing generations with each other, Gehling instead reflected on the steady improvement of all teams at Tufts, including the larger number of squads that have recently achieved success on a national level.
"I think that if you look at the last five or six years or longer, our overall athletic success has been going like this," Gehling said, waving his hand like an airplane taking off. "Our teams have been getting stronger and stronger and more competitive on a national basis. Clearly there are a lot of reasons for that, but this senior class has an awful lot to do with that evolution."
Since the class of 2011 arrived on the Hill, Tufts has averaged around an 11th-place showing in the Director's Cup, a national ranking of schools based on success in all sports. In the 12 years prior to the class of 2011's matriculation, on the other hand, the Jumbos' average finish was 38th, a staggering increase that hardly appears coincidental.
According to men's lacrosse coach Mike Daly (LA '95), the current senior class represents a changing landscape in Tufts athletics. Daly led the Jumbos to a 20-1 season in 2010, including the team's first-ever NESCAC Championship and, most notably, Tufts' first-ever NCAA team title. Though Daly noted the team's tremendous internal hunger for success, he believes that part of the fuel came from watching fellow teams and players — like the field hockey team and graduating senior Tamara Brown — prosper over previous years.
"A lot of our success last year was on the confidence of the field hockey team going to the [2008 NCAA] Championship game and knowing that it was possible," Daly said. "The deep runs of our [women's] basketball team and softball team making it to the final four [in 2009] … that all certainly is cumulative in what we think about and our guys' confidence."
Graduating senior D.J. Hessler, men's lacrosse's all-time points and assists leader, agreed with his coach.
"I'm sure back in the day there were some great athletes, but the program as a whole coming together is what makes it so special," Hessler said. "You know, you can have amazing people and amazing teams, but if you don't have the support around them from the other teams, it doesn't really work."
Hessler appreciates not only the support from his teammates but also from other athletes whom he has grown close with over the past four years. The inter-team support, according to Hessler, has made all the difference in making Tufts athletics one of the top programs in the nation.
"While [growing support] might be an aftereffect of the athletics programs' recent success, at the same time I think it fosters success," Hessler said. "It's fostering that kind of environment where people expect success and it's not like we have an OK athletics department; we have an athletics department that's incredible and we're going to win games. If that doesn't make people excited, then they're joining the wrong place."
Perhaps most importantly, the class of 2011 will leave behind a tradition of national achievement, one that longtime baseball coach John Casey says will help motivate and challenge future generations to step up to the same level this current crop of Jumbos has reached.
Success, according to Casey, breeds more success, and that in turn attracts higher levels of recruits to Tufts who will want to surpass the all-time records that various members of the class of 2011 have set and bring Tufts to even higher ground.
"The box don't get any bigger unless you push against the sides, and they've broken it open and said, ‘Listen, you can achieve great things here'" Casey said. "And now people come here thinking that they can be the national champion in tennis because [graduating senior] Julia [Browne] did it. Every team's sitting there thinking that they can win the national championship because lacrosse did it."
Regardless of whether the class of 2011 can be named the best in Tufts history — and, given the overwhelming evidence, arguing the contrary would be difficult — members of this outgoing class have brought the Jumbos into a new realm that is accompanied by higher levels of expectation.
"What was acceptable four years ago would be considered a total disappointment of a season now," Brown, field hockey's all-time leader in points and goals, said. "Now that the bar's been raised, everyone's going to be doing what they need to do to raise it again or meet it."
Julia Browne
The list of accolades is staggering. In every sense of the phrase, Julia Browne is the greatest women's tennis player in Tufts history.
The evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of the graduating senior tri-captain. As a sophomore, Browne burst onto the national scene by winning the ITA New England Region singles championship. Under a month later, she followed it up with an ITA National Small College doubles title with then-junior Meghan McCooey, the first of two times that the pair would win ITAs.
At press time, Browne had an 90-20 career singles record, helping the Jumbos reach an all-time-high No. 5 national ranking this season. Along the way, Browne won three NESCAC Player of the Year awards and was named an All-American three times for doubles and twice for singles. Perhaps more notably, Browne has climbed to the top with unmatched hard work and sportsmanship, as evidenced by the 2011 Senior Sportswoman of the Year honor as well as the Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship that she was given at the 2010 U.S. Open.
The pinnacle of her career came last spring when, as a junior, Browne dominated the field in Fredericksburg, Va., winning every set she played while cruising to the national championship that cemented her status as the country's best Div. III women's tennis player. Beginning this summer, Browne will try her hand at professional tennis, but will surely graduate Tufts with a legacy of unparalleled success.
Tamara Brown
Graduating senior Tamara Brown's legacy was cemented after she led the field hockey team in scoring in 2008, her sophomore year, and brought the team within one goal of a national championship. That season, she broke the Tufts single-season scoring record with 28 goals. And she was just getting started.
Brown has been named NESCAC Field Hockey's Player of the Year in two consecutive seasons, 2009 and 2010, leading the conference in scoring in both seasons. The all-time leading scorer in Tufts history, she has aggregated 78 goals and 26 assists for 182 points in her impressive career — and that includes her injury-plagued freshman year, during which she scored only five goals and had a single assist. Twenty-one of her goals have been game-winners, a testament to her ability to perform at the most critical times.
During Brown's four years, the field hockey squad went an impressive 65-12. The Jumbos made it to their first ever National Championship Game in 2008 and won their first NESCAC title in 2009 with Brown in full force. With three straight appearances in the NCAA tournament to prove it, this team is headed in a winning direction, and Brown has played the biggest role in establishing this trend over the past four years.
Colleen Hart
For a 5-foot-4-inch guard, graduating senior Colleen Hart has put up some towering numbers throughout her time at Tufts.
Armed with a deadly accurate jump shot and lightning-quick speed, Hart graduates today as the most prolific scorer in women's basketball history and quite possibly the school's greatest player.
Over the course of an illustrious four-year career under coach Carla Berube, Hart started nearly 100 consecutive games, racking up 1,422 points, tops in program history. She also hit a staggering 231 3-pointers, 92 more than any other Jumbo, and shot an unbelievable .410 from beyond the arc. For all her scoring prowess, Hart also served as Tufts' point guard for the past four seasons and currently ranks second all-time on the career assists list with 343 — an all-time mark that, had she not gotten hurt and missed seven games this past season, would likely have belonged to her as well.
Under the leadership of the two-time captain, the Jumbos made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances — their first three ever — from 2007-08 to 2009-10. Hart has accumulated a .863 winning percentage in four seasons; for comparison, in the 35 seasons before Hart planted her flag on the Hill, the Jumbos had a .569 winning percentage.
Along the way, Hart was a four-time All-Region player and was named first-team All-NESCAC three times after being selected as the 2007-08 Rookie of the Year and All-NESCAC Second Team. She has also led the conference in scoring for the past two seasons and finished in the top 20 in her freshman and sophomore years. As a junior, Hart broke the program's career 3-pointers record and was named a D3hoops.com fourth-team All-American. She also holds the all-time record for free throw percentage (79.9).
D.J. Hessler
The stats tell the story: D.J. Hessler is exceptional around the crease.
The graduating senior quad-captain of the men's lacrosse team, as of press time, has accrued 136 goals and 171 assists for 307 points in his historic career. He has led the NESCAC in scoring the last three seasons and was a mere six points off the lead in his freshman campaign. His exceptional field vision helps him find even the most inconspicuous cutters and drive opposing defenses insane. He is Tufts' all-time leading scorer.
After leading all scorers with a goal and four assists, Hessler was named Most Valuable Player of the 2010 NCAA Div. III Championship game, in which the Jumbos dismantled powerhouse Salisbury 9-6 to win Tufts' first-ever NCAA team title.
As if the slew of NESCAC and All-American honors weren't enough, Hessler was named a nominee for the prestigious Tewaaraton award — similar to football's Heisman Trophy, which is given to the nation's top collegiate lacrosse player. Hessler was the only Div. III player in both the men's and women's nominee groups. No Div. III player has ever won the award.
Hessler, though, is focused on the program more than himself, which is the biggest reason why he has helped create a legacy of success in Medford.
"It's an honor to be nominated," he said of the Tewaaraton award, "but I'd much rather see this team win a second national championship."
Arguably the most successful athlete in Tufts history, a second national title just might seal the deal.
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Besides our Fantastic Four, many more star athletes graduate today as part of a class that has set a new standard for Tufts athletics. Below are a few of those graduating seniors who will leave behind impressive legacies from their time in brown and blue.
Ryan Molloy, attackman, men's lacrosse: Molloy has been the left jab to fellow graduating senior attackman D.J. Hessler's right hook from the moment the incredible duo stepped onto Bello Field — they thrive off each other. While Hessler has led the NESCAC in scoring over the past three seasons, Molloy has been right there with him: As of the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Molloy had scored 131 goals and 75 assists in his career. In 2009, he ranked fifth in the conference with 62 points. Last season, he ranked second with 65, and so far this season he has 58; he was named to the All-NESCAC team earlier this spring.
Molloy doesn't buckle under pressure, either. He scored in last season's NCAA Championship game and most recently helped the Jumbos to a third-consecutive appearance in the NESCAC title game by scoring a game-winning goal with just 0.4 seconds remaining to oust Bowdoin.
Molloy's mark on this program has been tremendous, and as one of the top-ranking scorers in Tufts history, he will certainly be hard to replace.
Tom Derosa, forward, ice hockey: In what turned out to be a mostly disappointing season for the hockey team, Derosa's performance was anything but. The quad-captain, Charlestown, Mass., native capped off his fine Tufts career with arguably his best-ever campaign, finishing fifth in the conference in total points and second in points per game. Derosa racked up 21 assists on the year, including two critical third-period setups in the team's 6-5 victory over the University of New England on Feb. 11, a win that broke Tufts' 12-game losing streak.
Derosa, who transferred from Merrimack College after his freshman year, also made program history in the process: He is the first Tufts player to be a three-time member of the All-Conference team since the beginning of the NESCAC era in 2001. Unquestionably, Derosa's production will be sorely missed by the team, but the graduating senior can look back with pride on a hockey career that was surely one of Tufts' finest.
Dawson Joyce-Mendive and Caitlin Updike, outside hitters, volleyball: Updike and Joyce-Mendive leave behind an unmatched legacy of offensive dominance, which includes a landmark season in 2009, when the volleyball team won the New England Regional to advance to the National Quarterfinals for the first time in school history. That season, set up by Tufts' all-time assists leader Dena Feiger (LA '10), Updike and Joyce-Mendive fueled an offense with the most kills in the NESCAC. The pair of outside hitters were both in the top eight in the conference in kills per game, and put fear in the hearts of every NESCAC opponent.
Right before this season started, in August, Joyce-Mendive suffered a season-ending ACL tear, but stayed with the team as a manager as the Jumbos made their third-straight NCAA appearance. Updike, even while fighting through a fractured ankle, still managed to lead the NESCAC with 421 kills even as opposing teams game-planned against her.
Izzie Santone, pitcher, softball: The softball team's run to the 2009 College World Series may never have been possible without the emergence of Izzie Santone as the squad's ace. Only a sophomore at the time, she finished the year 21-2 with a 1.13 ERA while starting five of the team's eight NCAA tournament games. She has continued to impress since, putting together a 10-4 record with a 2.34 ERA in her final season, and has also been integral to the development of the next generation of young Tufts pitchers, including rising juniors Rebecca DiBiase and Aly Moskowitz.
A Perfect Ten, the baseball team's seniors: Before the largest class in Tufts baseball history ever stepped onto Huskins Field, the Jumbos had won only a single NESCAC title. The 10 graduating seniors on coach John Casey's squad changed that number, and quickly. The class of 2011 has now won two consecutive conference championships, including a 34-7 2010 season that set program records for hits, runs, RBIs, strikeouts and wins.
All told, the class of 2011 has combined for five All-NESCAC selections, a Rookie of the Year Award, two conference titles and Tufts' first two appearances in the NCAA Tournament since 2002. On an individual level, the 10 seniors will arguably go down as the greatest overall class ever, thanks to Jumbos like Dave LeResche (two-time captain; top-10 all-time in hits, runs and stolen bases); Chase Rose (second all-time in RBIs, NESCAC Rookie of the Year); Ian Goldberg (third all-time in triples); and David Orlowitz (2011 team leader in batting average, runs, home runs, triples and OPS), as well as pitchers Derek Miller (first all-time in win percentage); Pat O'Donnell (top 10 all-time in strikeouts); and Ed Bernstein (lowest single-season ERA ever).
Megan Kono, women's swimming: One of the most decorated swimmers in Tufts history, Kono will graduate this spring holding records in a bevy of freestyle events. Kono has excelled in both short sprints and marathon swims, topping Maureen Monahan's (LA '91, SMFA '93) marks in the 200- and 500-yard free, and shattering the 1,000- and 1,650-yard free records by six and 19 seconds, respectively.
The La Grange, Ill., native served as a tri-captain for the team this spring, consistently providing leadership both from the deck and in the pool. Kono's freestyle dominance fueled many of the Jumbos' victories, including their third-place finish at the NESCAC Championships.
Stephanie McNamara and Amy Wilfert, women's track and cross country: The cross country team suffered a staggering blow last fall when standout runner McNamara sustained a season-ending injury. But even though the ailment cut short her Tufts career, McNamara will leave an impressive legacy on the cross country squad. Perhaps her most impressive run came two years ago when, as a sophomore, McNamara won the 3,000-meter race at the Tufts Invitational by a remarkable 25 seconds, earning the second-best time in program history in the event. McNamara was the only Jumbos runner to earn Performer of the Week honors during her sophomore season.
Fortunately for the Jumbos, the cross country team was able to overcome McNamara's injury and enjoy a successful season thanks to the efforts of another stalwart performer: Amy Wilfert. The Westborough, Mass., native had a terrific senior campaign, earning her third straight All-NESCAC honor as well as a trip to the NCAA National race at Wartburg College, where she placed 50th in a pack of 279 runners and finished just 15 seconds short of being named an All-American for the second time.
Wilfert continued her success into the spring track and field season, earning a NESCAC Performer of the Week award on April 18. She helped the Jumbos to a 10th-place finish at the All-New England Championships, finishing fifth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, and won the 1,500-meter race at the NESCAC Championships. Wilfert's time of 4:34.06 in the event was the seventh-fastest among all Div. III competitors, and provisionally qualified her for Nationals.
Anthony Fucillo, quarterback, football: Though Fucillo played only two seasons at Tufts after transferring from Div. I Colgate, they were more than enough to cement his status as one of the program's most prolific passers. In 2011, thanks in no small part to the institution of a new spread offense, Fucillo became the Jumbos' single-season leader in passing yards, attempts, completions, touchdowns and total offense, and his 117.2 career passer's rating ranks first all-time. On Oct. 30, 2010 at Amherst, Fucillo — who graduated early, in December, and is currently playing professionally in Denmark — became the first NESCAC and New England Div. III player to pass for over 500 yards and was awarded the prestigious Golden Helmet Award for his efforts.
Vanessa Miller, guard, women's basketball: Arguably the hardest-working player in the senior class, 5-foot-2-inch Vanessa Miller has won back-to-back NESCAC defensive player of the year awards with little more than hustle, smarts and speed. While she often ceded the spotlight to fellow graduating senior Colleen Hart, her performances were just as vital to the Jumbos' three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 2008-10. She also proved herself to be an adept scorer this winter, putting up 16- and 17-point performances while Hart was sidelined with an injury.
Amanda Roberts, midfielder, field hockey: Roberts is the glue that held together the field hockey squad over the past few years. The three-time All-NESCAC midfielder, including a first-team selection this past fall, doesn't rack up the stats like her teammate graduating senior Tamara Brown, but is an essential part of Tufts' transition game. Roberts has the rare ability to quickly bring the ball from the defensive end into the attacking zone, weaving through the opposition using her athleticism and stick skills to get the ball to the scorers up front. She also plugs up the midfield along with fellow graduating senior All-NESCAC midfielder Jess Perkins to alleviate pressure on the defense. Roberts' dominating presence is unmatched and certainly one of the greatest in Tufts field hockey history.
Sarah Nolet, soccer, basketball, track: Many athletes here impress us day in and day out with their dedication to their sport, but none as much as Nolet, who competes for Tufts in three different sports. In the fall, she was the soccer team's co-captain, a three-time first-team All-NESCAC, a second-team All-American center back, and the heart of one of the nation's best defenses and the NESCAC's regular season champions. In the winter, she was a key role player for the basketball team, coming off the bench as the team's tallest player at 6 feet tall to help defend opposing forwards. And in the spring, she took to the track where she competed in everything from the 200-meter to the discus to the high jump.
