Class of 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
NORTH ADAMS, Mass.—The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) Athletics Department has announced their Hall of Fame Class of 2023 inductees. Included in this year's class are Bernard Alexander '90 (Men's Basketball), Rachel Quackenbush '16 (Softball), Paul Pereira '98 (Men's Soccer), Gerry McDonald '79 (Men's Ice Hockey) and Jim Ellingwood (Men's Ice Hockey Head Coach) posthumously.
This year's event will be held on Saturday, September 30th at 3 West Events at The Norad Mill in North Adams. Registration for the Hall of Fame Ceremony and Dinner requires pre-registration and can be done here:
2023 MCLA Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony and Dinner Registration
Bernard Alexander '90 – Men's Basketball
A forward on the Men's Basketball team for four seasons from 1986-1990, Alexander sits second all-time in career points, career rebounds, career steals and first in career blocked shots. He also holds the single-season records for steals and field goal percentage. Alexander helped lead North Adams State College (NASC) to four straight MASCAC championships and four straight NCAA Division III tournament appearances including the 1990 run to the national quarterfinals.
Rachel Quackenbush '16 – Softball
A pitcher on the MCLA Softball team for four seasons from 2013-2016, the 2013 MASCAC Rookie of the Year and four-time All-Conference First Team selection, is the all-time program leader in strikeouts with 678, has a career earned run average of 1.77 and led the Trailblazers to the 2015 MASCAC Tournament Championship.
Jim Ellingwood – Men's Ice Hockey Head Coach 1974-1985
Ellingwood led the Men's Ice Hockey team for 11 seasons amassing a 152-113-6 record. He was a member of the NCAA Selection and Rules committees, as well as the Secretary for the Division II-III Hockey Coaches' Association. He was also the Chairman of the North Adams State College (NASC) Physical Education Department for six years, and coached tennis at the college for nine years.
Gerry McDonald '79 - Men's Ice Hockey
McDonald was a defenseman on the Men's Ice Hockey team for four seasons from 1976-1979. He was a team captain and MASCAC All-Star in his senior season scoring 16 goals and 22 assists. McDonald went pro after graduation playing in the American Hockey League and with the National Hockey League's Hartford Whalers.
Paul Pereira '98 – Men's Soccer
Pereira was a three-year member of the Men's Soccer team from 1995-1997 and earned First Team All-MASCAC and Second Team All-New England honors in 1996. That same season he scored 18 goals which is still the fourth highest single-season mark in program history. His 31 career goals also rank fourth all-time.
Register for the 2023 MCLA Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony and Dinner here:
2023 MCLA Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony and Dinner Registration