CCSU ALUMNI ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME

Five student-athletes and a championship team were inducted into the Central Connecticut State University Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday, September 25, 2025, as a kickoff to Homecoming Weekend. 

This year's Hall of Fame class includes five student-athletes: Tristan Blackwood (men's basketball), Taylor Friedmann (swimming & diving), Barry Hertzler (baseball), Rob Hollomon (football) and Denise Thomas (women's soccer). Longtime cross country and track & field coach John Keleher and the 2000 NEC Championship men's basketball team are also being inducted.

"Congratulations to the Class of 2025," said Director of Athletics Tom Pincince. "This group has left a lasting mark—through record-setting performances, meaningful achievements, and a spirit that continues to inspire. As we kick off Homecoming Weekend with their induction ceremony, we'll be honoring more than accomplishments; we're celebrating a legacy that will echo through the halls of Blue Devils history."

Blackwood was a cornerstone of the Blue Devils' success during the mid-2000s as he etched his name into the program's record books. A two-time NEC Defensive Player of the Year (2006-07, 2007-08) and First Team All-NEC honoree, Blackwood led CCSU to the 2006-07 NEC Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. His marksmanship from beyond the arc is unmatched—as he remains CCSU's all-time leader in three-pointers made (328) and owns the top two single-season totals as well (122 in 2006-07, 105 in 2007-08). He ranks second all-time in assists (506), seventh in points (1,605) and steals (139), and holds multiple top-10 single-season performances.

Over the course of her collegiate career, Friedmann earned an impressive 22 All-NEC honors, including nine First Team selections. She was a six-time NEC individual champion—claiming four titles in the 500 freestyle – setting an NEC meet record in the 500 free in 2011 with a time of 5:40.57 – and two in the 200 freestyle. Friedmann was named NEC Rookie of the Meet and Outstanding Swimmer honors in 2010, and she concluded her career with the prestigious Gail Rutz Award in 2013.

Hertzler is one of the most accomplished pitchers in the history of the Blue Devils baseball program. A dominant force on the mound, he set the CCSU single-season record with 9 complete games in 1999 and ranks fourth all-time in both ERA (3.11) and shutouts (4). His leadership helped guide the Blue Devils to back-to-back NEC Championships in 2002 and 2003. In 2003, he earned national recognition as a Louisville Slugger All-American, was named NEC Pitcher of the Year, and secured a spot on the All-NEC First Team. That same year, he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox and went on to reach the AAA level in professional baseball.

Hollomon is the program's all-time leader in both rushing attempts (725) and rushing yards (3,672) and ranks third in career scoring with 198 points. He also stands fifth in NEC history in all-purpose yards (5,808) and 12th in rushing yards. A two-time All-NEC selection, he earned First Team honors in 2014 and Second Team honors in 2013—at two different positions. Nationally recognized, Hollomon was named to the Sports Network All-America Second Team in 2013 and was also placed on the Preseason Walter Payton Award Watch List in 2014. In 2013, he led the nation in all-purpose yards per game and topped the NEC in rushing yards per game in 2012. His career culminated with the prestigious Frederick M. Gladstone Award in 2015 and an invitation to the Atlanta Falcons Rookie Mini-Camp.

Thomas, a four-time First Team All-NEC selection, made an immediate impact as the NEC Rookie of the Year in 2000, and continued her dominance by earning NEC Player of the Year honors in 2001. She was instrumental in leading her team to back-to-back NEC Championships in 2002 and 2003 and played a pivotal role in the historic 2003 NCAA Tournament victory over Boston College. Her talent was recognized beyond the conference with All-New England honors in 2004 and a spot on the Soccer Buzz All-Freshman Northeast Region Team in 2000. Thomas's remarkable career is a testament to her skill, determination, and lasting impact on the program.

Over the course of 26 years at the helm of CCSU's men's cross country and track & field programs, Keleher guided the teams through a transformative era, leading their transition from NCAA Division II to Division I. His tenure was marked by the development of 11 All-Americans and three national champions—Brad Olson (1979 hammer), Floyd Scholz (1979 decathlon), and John Ward (1984 javelin). Keleher's teams were consistently recognized for academic excellence, earning USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors.

The 2000 men's basketball team etched its name into the record books by capturing the program's first-ever Northeast Conference (NEC) Championship and earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament as a #15 seed. Led by NEC Coach of the Year Howie Dickenman and NEC Player and Defensive Player of the Year Rick Mickens, the team dominated the conference with a 14-game winning streak from December 18 to February 10. The roster featured standout performances from All-NEC selections Corsley Edwards and John Tice, with Mickens also earning NEC Tournament MVP honors. All three—Mickens, Edwards, and Tice—were named to the NEC All-Tournament Team. Three members of that team, Dickenman, Edwards and Mickens are already enshrined in the CCSU Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame.

The CCSU Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame recognizes and honors outstanding former CCSU student-athletes for their contributions and achievements in athletics. Nominees, in general, must be of good character and worthy of the award, and individuals, who, through their actions, have shown support for the ideals of the University. Nominees shall have represented CCSU in a positive manner both on and off the playing arena. Including the Class of 2025, there are 179 members of the CCSU Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame, and seven teams.