Lyndonville, VT - Vermont State University Lyndon kicked off Homecoming & Family Weekend with the 2024 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Banquet on Friday evening. The Class of 2024 includes Mikayla Hodge '18, Brandon Hunter '19, Daniel Sleeman '94, and Robert Trucott '13.
Hall of Fame Induction Video
Hall fo Fame Photo Gallery
Vermont State University Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement Bo McDougall welcomed those in attendance. He recognized Hall of Famer Jackie Priestley-Smith '76, whose generosity helped to beautify the campus and allow current student-athlete leaders to attend.
Vermont State University President David Bergh offered his congratulations to the inductees. He was followed by Lyndon Alumni Council President John Kascenska '82, who presented the Outstanding Young Alumni Award to Brady Callahan '15.
Following dinner, VTSU Lyndon Director of Athletics Chris Gilmore served as Master of Ceremonies for the inductions.
Several Lyndon Hall of Famers were among the attendees. They included Roger Cartee '65 (class of 1984), Brian Gallagher '91 (class of 2018), Jackie Priestley-Smith '76 (class of 2010), and Joyce Siok '79 (class of 2004).
Mikayla Hodge '18 is a distinguished former three-sport athlete from Oxbow High School (Bradford, Vt.), where she captured a state championship in 2012. Her athletic prowess earned her First-Team All-Star recognition in 2014, following a Second-Team All-Star selection in 2013. That same year, she was honored to be named to the prestigious Caledonian-Record Dream Dozen. By 2014, Mikayla had further solidified her athletic legacy, being recognized as a First-Team All-Star and a Lacrosse All-Star, while also achieving her 100th career goal.
A proud graduate of Lyndon State College, Mikayla earned her Bachelor of Science in Sports Management in 2018, with minors in Coaching and Business. Her collegiate career was marked by exceptional achievements in both basketball and lacrosse, driven by a lifelong passion for sports. Her early dedication to honing her skills laid the foundation for her future success at Lyndon.
During her time at Lyndon, Mikayla achieved membership in the prestigious 1,000-Point Club, concluding her career with 1,448 points and over 1,200 rebounds. She was recognized as both Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year and finished in the top ten nationally for double-doubles, total rebounds, and defensive rebounds. As a leader in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC), she also placed second in scoring and free throw percentage.
Mikayla served as a two-time captain and NAC First Team member during her junior year. In her senior year, she was honored as the U.S. Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Week after averaging 31.1 points and nineteen rebounds in Lyndon State's back-to-back NAC games. A highlight of her career came in an 89-83 double-overtime victory against Husson, where she posted career-highs of forty points and twenty-seven rebounds, the second-highest total in NCAA Division III that season. Her clutch performance, including a pivotal three-pointer and perfect free throws in the final seconds, secured the win and underscored her exceptional skill and leadership on the court.
After graduation, Mikayla transitioned into coaching, serving as a middle school basketball coach at Oxbow High School for one season before moving to Maine to pursue a career in law enforcement. Over the past five years, she has served as a dedicated police officer, contributing to her department through various roles, including as a member of the crisis negotiation team and as a field training officer. Mikayla has also become a PepperBall® instructor, educating fellow officers on less-lethal conflict resolution options, and serves as a physical fitness test instructor, emphasizing the importance of fitness in law enforcement.
Despite her busy professional life, Mikayla remains passionate about sports. In her free time, she enjoys cheering on her stepdaughter at athletic events, staying active, and spending quality time with her fiancée.
Brandon Hunter '19, a native of Glastonbury, Conn., attended Lyndon State College, and Northern Vermont University-Lyndon, from 2015 to 2019, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema Production. During his time at Lyndon, Brandon was a standout member of the men's lacrosse team, where he shined as a defenseman and long-stick midfielder. During his four-year as a Hornet, Brandon demonstrated remarkable consistency, never missing a game; starting in each of the sixty games played during his Lyndon career.
While his on-field performance earned Brandon many accolades and recognitions, one of Brandon's most cherished honors is being elected by his teammates to serve as a team captain for two seasons. As a captain, Brandon's leadership and skill helped his team achieve unprecedented success on the field, both in and out of conference.
His individual achievements were equally significant.
He was the first Lyndon lacrosse player to be selected for First Team All-Conference honors, leading the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) in caused takeaways and ranking in the top five for ground balls. At one point, Lyndon boasted the third-ranked man-down defense in NCAA Division III for three straight weeks, a feat that filled Brandon with pride as a Hornet.
In recognition of his performance, Brandon was also selected to represent the NAC in the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association East-West All-Star game. At the conclusion of his Lyndon career, Brandon had tallied an impressive 221 ground balls and 109 caused turnovers.
After college, Brandon pursued a career in the film industry. Though the path was initially challenging, his persistence paid off when he secured a production assistant position on a Hallmark TV movie. From there, Brandon's career in film took off. Now a member of IATSE Local 161, he works as an assistant production coordinator and has contributed to over ten feature films, including The Biltmore Christmas and two seasons of Hell's Kitchen filmed at Foxwoods. Brandon continues to push himself in his new career, with aspirations of one day producing his own films in Hollywood. His determination, both on and off the lacrosse field, remains a driving force in his continued success.
Daniel Sleeman '94 graduated from Lyndon State College in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. A standout basketball player at Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington, Vt., Dan was a key member of three state championship teams and was selected to play in the prestigious Alhambra Classic, where top high school players from Vermont compete against their New Hampshire counterparts. He was also a member of the 1989 state championship baseball team.
At Lyndon State, Dan was a four-year starter on the basketball team. He earned Mayflower Conference Rookie of the Year honors in 1990 and was named to the Mayflower All-Conference team each season, from 1991 to 1994. Serving as team captain in 1993-1994, Dan scored his 1,000th point on November 20, 1993, in a game against the University of Maine-Augusta. By the end of his career, he had scored 1,341 points, ranking as the eighth all-time leading scorer in Lyndon State history at the time. He also held the school record for three-pointers, with 314 made during his career.
Following his graduation, Dan pursued a career in education, initially teaching physical education in Springfield, Vt., and later in Adams, Mass. In 1999, he returned to his alma mater, Mount Anthony Union High School, as a teacher and the varsity boys' basketball coach. In 2017, he also coached the girls' varsity team.
Dan is now in his twenty-fifth year as an educator at Mount Anthony. Although he retired from varsity coaching in 2017, he was named Marble Valley League Coach of the Year six times and Vermont Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2004. His teams won the Marble Valley League title seven times and made eight appearances in the Division 1 Final Four.
Dan's passion for coaching led him back to the court, and for the past three years, he has been coaching middle school girls' basketball. He also serves on the board of directors for The Cooper Kelly Fund and is an assistant coach for middle school girls' soccer.
In 2006, Dan married his wife, Jana, and they have two teenage children, Alexander and Danni Faye. In addition to his work in education and coaching, he is the owner of Dan Sleeman Properties, LLC in Bennington, Vt.
Lyndon native Robert Trucott '13 graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Lyndon State College in 2013. His a distinguished baseball player with a career that spans from minor league to collegiate level. His baseball journey began in minor league and continued through little league, Babe Ruth, Senior Babe Ruth, and high school baseball at Lyndon Institute, where he played both junior varsity and varsity. He also competed in American Legion Baseball before embarking on a successful collegiate career at Lyndon State College.
One of Robert's most notable baseball achievements came in 2009, during his senior year at Lyndon Institute, when he played a key role in winning the Vermont Division 2 State Championship.
His success continued at Lyndon State College, where he earned the title of NCAA Division III "Toughest Batter to Strike Out" in the 2012 season. During that season, Robert started twenty-nine games, batted .272, and recorded twenty-two hits in eighty-one at-bats. He struck out only once in ninety-three plate appearances, a testament to his impressive batting discipline.
Defensively, Robert was a standout with 412 putouts, sixty-three assists, and only fifteen errors, achieving a career fielding percentage of .969. In each of his final three seasons as a Hornet, Robert's fielding percentage was in the top three on the team, among qualified starters.
Robert started 120 out of 123 games as a catcher over his four-year career. His durability and availability provided consistency behind the plate, for Hornet pitchers all four years and provided lasting leadership to the program.
After graduating, Robert transitioned to a career in law enforcement and currently serves as a patrol sergeant with the Stowe Police Department, leveraging a decade of experience. His dedication and excellence in both athletics and his professional career exemplify perseverance and leadership.
Robert and his wife, Kate-lyn, reside in Lyndonville with their two daughters, Kamryn and Raegan.
