MCLA Inducts Five into Hall of Fame
NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— On Saturday, September 30th the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) athletic department held their 2023 Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 3 West Events at The Norad Mill. Head Men's Soccer Coach Adam Hildabrand '99 served as master of ceremonies for a capacity crowd as Bernard Alexander (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) were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Each inductee was introduced and officially welcomed into the Hall of Fame by an individual chosen by the honorees.
Bernard Alexander – Men's Basketball
(Inducted by former MCLA Head Coach John Quattrochi)
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
(Inducted by former teammate Amanda (Meczywor) Alibozek '15
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
(Inducted by former MCLA Hall of Fame player Andy Marhoffer '83 and accepted by son Kevin Ellingwood)
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
(Inducted by brother Jack McDonald)
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
(Inducted by former teammate Adam Hildabrand '99)
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.