By Andrew Hart | Herald Contributor

Roger Williams University kicked off their annual Homecoming and Family Weekend last Friday by inducting four new individuals and one team into the RWU Athletics Hall of Fame. The event has become a tradition for the past six years now, and has showcased the many talents that have made their way through RWU history.

This year, James Dahill ‘09 (baseball), Claire Halliday ‘11 (women’s lacrosse), Kelly Stannard ’12 (sailing), Cy Thompson ’11 (sailing) and the 2010-11 nationally ranked sailing team were enshrined in a ceremony that took place in the Global Heritage Hall.

Dahill is the career leader for the Hawks with 214 hits and the only player with over 200 hits in their career. In addition, he also holds school records for games played and started (172), and holds the RWU all-time mark in at-bats (628), doubles (47) and sacrifice flies (11).

Coach Derek Carlson, Dahill’s coach at RWU knew he was bred for success. “When James came to campus, it was evident he was a good baseball player, who had an even better character.”

Carlson also pointed out that in general, Dahill was a great teammate who didn’t care about his stats. Instead, “he just really wanted to win.”

When Dahill was asked what he credited his success to, he pointed to the university. “The campus felt like a family atmosphere from day one,” and the door to his coach’s office was always open, which allowed him to build a bond with Carlson. Dahill also pointed to Carlson and how he “stuck with me no matter what.” These bonds that Dahill formed during his time at RWU are what he remembers most because they helped shape the best memories of his life.

Claire Halliday was also honored for her time on the lacrosse field. Even after her carer has finished, Halliday still ranks in every statistical category for lacrosse at RWU. Most notably, she ranks first in 220 goals scored, making her the only player in history, male or female, with over 200 goals scored. She also holds a share of the program record with 74 career games played, along with being recognized as the 2008 RWU Female Athlete Rookie of the Year and three All-Conference selections.

This year’s ceremony also featured two people inducted as individuals and as a part of a team. Cy Thompson and Kelly Stannard enjoyed great success throughout their career individually and around a team as well. Besides being a part of the first team in the school’s history to achieve a number one ranking nationally, Kelly Stannard also received All-American recognition three times during her career, along with being recognized as RWU’s Female Athlete of the Year back in 2012.

Stannard’s former coach, Amanda Callahan, enjoyed Stannard’s work ethic. “It wasn’t about the results, but the way she went about achieving the results. She has every tangible quality a team would want and she was never egotistically driven.”

Her fellow teammate, Cy Thompson helped claim the first national championship in program history and second in school history, along with earning All-American recognition three times during his career and finishing as a finalist for the College Sailor of the Year.