Lyndonville, VT - Northern Vermont University-Lyndon kicked off Homecoming & Family Weekend with the 2022 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Banquet on Friday evening. The Class of 2022 includes Ryan Farley '02, David Johnson '15, Angelina Phelps '08, and Kevin Trask '06.
NVU Executive Director of Development and Alumni Affairs Jennifer Kempton Harris '79 welcomed those in attendance. Harris also recognized Hall of Famer Jackie Priestley-Smith '76, whose generosity helped to beautify the campus and allow current student-athlete leaders to attend. Harris also led those in attendance in observing a moment of silence for Hall of Famer Dudley Bell, who passed away last winter, and other Hall of Famers who passed away in the past year.
Northern Vermont University and Vermotn State University Provost Nolan Atkins then provided some opening remarks highlighting the accomplishments of Hornet athletics and Hornet student athletes over the past year. Atkins also updated those in attendance on the progress of the ongoing Vermont State University transformation, focusing especially with the plans for athletics.
Following dinner, NVU-Lyndon Director of Athletics Chris Gilmore served as Master of Ceremonies for the inductions.
Many Lyndon Hall of Famers were among the attendees. They included Michael Brosseau '84 (HOF class of 2004), Robert Carey '08 (class of 2021), Roger Cartee '65 (class of 1984), Brian Gallagher '91 (class of 2018), Gary Jenness '73 (class of 2006), Darcy LeBlanc '05 (class of 2016), Jennifer Kirchoff Layn '06 (class of 2015), Joseph Layn '02 (class of 2017), Rachel Maxwell '06 (class of 2013), Jackie Priestley-Smith '76 (class of 2010), and Joyce Siok '79 (class of 2004).
Ryan Farley graduated from Lyndon State College in 2002 with a bachelor of science in sports medicine with a concentration in athletic training. As a student-athlete, Ryan was a four-year member of the men's baseball team. He later led the team as head coach.
As a player, Ryan was a four-year starter and captain for three years. He played every position on the field except catcher and had a career batting average of over .300. Ryan was an exceptional leader, known to elevate everyone's play on the field. He was also a two-time Claude Piche Award winner (1999, 2001). This award is given to the player who best represents the program in an exceptional manner. The recipient is known as a hard worker and great teammate.
As a coach, Ryan led the program as head coach for seven seasons (2005-2011). During that time, he helped Lyndon transition from National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), led the Hornets to an appearance in the USCAA National Tournament in 2008 and the North Atlantic Conference playoffs in 2010. Ryan brought a high level of enthusiasm along with discipline and sportsmanship to the program.
Since graduating, Ryan has worked as a certified, licensed athletic trainer for Dan Wyand P.T. and Associates. In addition, he has served as athletic trainer at Danville School for fifteen years and was selected by students to be their commencement speaker in 2015. He is still very active in the local baseball community, having coached youth baseball for over twenty years and serving as the president of Lake Region Youth Baseball/Softball. Ryan was also an assistant baseball coach at Lake Region Union High School for two years.
Ryan currently resides in Orleans, Vt., with his wife – fellow alum and athletic Hall of Famer – Rachel Maxwell '06 (inducted in 2013) and their two children Konnor and Mason.
David T. Johnson Jr. graduated from Lyndon State College with a bachelor of science in sports leadership in 2015. As a student, he was on the Dean's List every semester and was a member of the men's basketball team from 2012-2015.
After starting his collegiate career at Farmingdale State College, the Washington, D.C. native transferred to Lyndon during the second semester of his sophomore year. At Lyndon, David led the Hornets as captain in his junior and senior years. In his two and a half seasons as a Hornet, left his mark as one of the top Lyndon performers thus far in the NCAA Division III era. Appearing in just nineteen games in a reserve role his sophomore year, David helped his team advance to the quarterfinals of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) tournament. Over the next two seasons, David solidified his place as one of the best players in the NAC and one of the best guards of the past decade, scoring 1,024 points over two seasons. During his junior year, he started in all twenty-seven games and led the conference in total points (494) and points per game (18.3), while also handing out eighty-four assists and collecting forty-six steals. David was named NAC All-Conference Second Team and led the team to the semifinals of the NAC tournament. When he returned for his senior season, David performed at an even higher level, scoring 530 points (19.6 per game), second in the NAC, while also leading the conference in steals (60) and steals per game (2.2) and amassing seventy-eight assists. He was named to the NAC All-Conference First Team and again led the Hornets to a semifinal appearance.
In total, David scored 1,123 career points as a Hornet in just seventy-three games (fifty-four starts). He also had a total of 115 steals, 186 assists, and 212 rebounds. In Lyndon's first-ever home NAC playoff game as a junior, David scored twenty-five points in a victory against Thomas in the quarterfinals before going for twenty-seven points in a defeat at Husson in the semifinals. His most notable performance came in the quarterfinals of his senior year, when he scored thirty of the sixty-three points his team needed to win at New England College as the sixth seed. David was also selected to the NAC All-Academic Team for both his junior and senior seasons.
Other honors include NAC Player of the Year Finalist (2014-201515), Hornets Most Valuable Player Award (2014-20115), NAC All-Tournament Team (2014-2015), NAC Player of the Week (2014-2015), NAC All-Tournament Team (2013-2014), NAC Player of the Week (2013-2014).
After graduating, David returned to Washington, D.C. to work for the public school system, mentoring inner city youth and coaching basketball. In 2020, he graduated with a master's in education from Moreland University.
David still lives in Washington, D.C. and is employed as the pathways coordinator and varsity head boys' basketball coach at Jackson-Reed High School (formerly Woodrow Wilson High School). He works to develop and put into practice high standards for student and athlete success in the classroom, on the basketball court, and in the community. In his first year as varsity head coach, he won coach of the year honors and led his team to win the District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association championship. They also finished as the District of Columbia State Athletic Association state championship runner-ups in a heartbreaking, buzzer-beater lost.
Angelina Phelps graduated from Lyndon State College in 2008 with a bachelor of science in business administration, bachelor of science in small business management and entrepreneurship, and a minor in psychology. She earned the academic distinction of being named to the Dean's List her junior year and was recognized by her peers and selected as the Lyndon State College Alumni Council's Outstanding Graduating Senior in 2008.
During her time at Lyndon, Angelina was a four-year starter on the women's soccer and softball teams. She earned team captain her junior year for softball, and for both soccer and softball during her senior year. She received honors including being named 2005 Sunrise Conference Defensive Player of the Week (soccer), 2008 Coaches Award (soccer), and 2008 Most Valuable Player (soccer).
Angelina was named to the Sunrise Conference All-Conference Team for both soccer and softball in 2005. In 2008, she led her softball team in hits (39), runs (30), batting average (.382), triples (3), and stolen bases (16). Her slugging percentage was .510 and she was selected for the USCAA First Team All American.
Angelina was a member of the 2005 women's soccer team that won the Sunrise Conference Championship and the 2008 women's softball team that reached the USCAA Women's Softball National Championship.
After graduating from Lyndon, Angelina joined the Vermont Army National Guard. She deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 as an information technology specialist. During her military career, she received much recognition and many awards for her courage and leadership, including Soldier Leader of the Cycle, superior performance certificates, Distinguished Honor Graduate for both of her military occupational specialties (MOS), certificates of outstanding achievement, multiple Army achievement medals, Army Commendation Medal, Enlisted Soldier of the Deployment, Hero of the Battlefield Award, multiple Soldier of the Month awards, and a nomination for Soldier of the Year.
Angelina is currently a management and program analyst for the Department of Homeland Security in Williston, Vt. She continues to be a leader in her professional career. She has been acknowledged for her professionalism and forward thinking, received the Management Directorate Award for Exemplary Performance, the Management Directorate Award for Exemplary Teamwork, was presented with the Office of the Chief Financial Officer Commitment to Fostering Organization Excellence, and the Enforcement Removal Operations Outstanding Collaboration Effort Accomplishment Award. Angelina continues to play an active role in her community, both in her volunteer work as well as participating in various local sporting leagues.
Kevin Trask graduated from Lyndon State College in 2006 with a bachelor of science in sports management and minor in business. During his time at Lyndon, Kevin was a three-year member of the men's basketball team, under the helm of Lyndon alumnus and hall of famer, Eric Berry '91.
Coach Berry shares that Kevin was one of the best shooters he has ever coached at any level and a consummate team player. During his career as a Hornet, Kevin accumulating over 1,500 points and earned several Sunrise Conference awards, including First Team All-Conference in 2003-2004, Second Team All-Conference in 2004-2005, and many Sunrise Conference Player of the Week awards throughout the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 seasons. Kevin helped lead his team to post-season play each of his three seasons at Lyndon.
One of his most memorable experiences at Lyndon was being named most valuable player of the 2003-2004 men's basketball team – one of the most successful men's basketball teams in the school's history (24-6). Kevin is the fourth member of that team to be inducted into the Lyndon Athletic Hall of Fame, joining Coach Berry (inducted in 2010) and teammates Chris Brown '05 (inducted in 2013) and Gregg Rose '04 (inducted in 2016). Kevin and Chris were also the captains of the 2004-2005 team. Kevin is thankful for the friendships he made during his time as a student-athlete, which his still maintains today.
Since graduating, Kevin has stayed connected to the local sports community as the general sales and operations manager at Northeast Sports Network. He has been with the company since February 2012 and looks forward to many more years of success and growth for the company.
Kevin currently resides in Berlin, N.H., with his girlfriend, Danielle, their one-year-old daughter Skyla, and thirteen-year-old dog Bruschi. They also have a second home on Lake Wallace in Canaan, Vt., with his parents Buddy and Mary Trask.
