SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (June 24, 2026) – Western New England University Athletics is proud to unveil its Downes Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2026, honoring the legacy of those who have provided a significant piece of the rich history of WNE and inspired the future successes of the university. The Hall of Fame class includes the 2011 Baseball Team, Jeff LaBranche ('79), Jillian Brown Coppola ('06), and Kaylee (Martin) Grant ('08) have all been named to this year's class.

Western New England's Director of Athletics and Recreation released a statement on this year's incoming class. "We are honored to welcome this outstanding group as the Downes Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2026. Each inductee has made a lasting impact on the Golden Bear Athletics program through comprehensive excellence, commitment, leadership, character, and integrity. Their accomplishments extend far beyond wins, records, and championships, and continue to inspire past, present, and future Western New England University student-athletes. We look forward to a memorable induction ceremony this October, celebrating their remarkable achievements and honoring the legacy they have created."

Class of 2026 Inductees:

2011 Baseball Team

One of the best teams in program and school history is being inducted into the Downes Athletic Hall of Fame, 15 years after making a run to the College World Series. The 2011 Western New England Baseball team holds a special place in the hearts of the WNE faithful, as they were the first and only team in program history to make it to the NCAA Division III College World Series. Led by head coach Matt LaBranche, the team won the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship and the NCAA Division III New England Regional on its way to the World Series.

The blue and gold started their run to an unprecedented season with two wins in New York before traveling to Phoenix, Arizona, for the Greater Phoenix Invitational. The squad came away with two victories in a challenging invitational before returning to New England to begin CCC play. The Golden Bears made an early-season run, ripping off nine straight victories in conference play to set the tone for what was to come. The Golden Bears went on two nine-game win streaks before the middle of April, upping their record to 20-6, including a 16-1 in CCC play. With the compact April schedule, the Golden Bears continued to churn towards a top seed in the upcoming CCC Tournament. A third nine-game win streak of the season closed out the regular season schedule, seeing WNE go 32-8 (.800) over the 40-game stretch, picking up a pristine 20-2 record in CCC play, earning the No. 1 overall seed in postseason play.

Western New England faced adversity on the second day of the CCC Tournament, dropping a home game to Wentworth Institute of Technology, and would need to battle all the way back in the tournament. From there, the Blue and Gold got timely hitting, pitching, and defense on multiple occasions, reaching the CCC Title Game, meeting Endicott College. In a rivalry matchup, WNE took the opening game of the series, 5-4, forcing a winner-take-all championship game. There, the Golden Bears' squad trailed early, before rallying back in the middle innings and holding on late to be crowned 2011 CCC Baseball Champions, winning the conference title for the sixth straight season, and fourth in the CCC era.

The magic for the 2011 squad did not end there. The team ripped off their next four games in a row at the NCAA Regional Tournament in Harwich, Massachusetts, defeating Husson University, University of Saint Joseph (Maine), and Bridgewater State University twice to claim the program's first-ever regional crown and advanced to the NCAA Division III College World Series (CWS). The 2011 WNE Baseball Team will be remembered as the first to advance to the CWS, etching themselves into Western New England University history forever.

34 student-athletes were together for this incredible journey that was the 2011 Baseball team. The team was led by two current Downes Athletics Hall of Famers: second baseman Mike Rubino, who led the team in hits with 82, batting average (.412), and on-base percentage (.481), and the ace of the staff, Hall of Famer Matt Rogers, led the team in wins, with 11. Aiding the two Hall of Famers were relief pitcher Mike Lawlor (10 saves, 1.58 ERA), designated hitter Ryan Dudzynski (44 RBIs and six triples), first baseman Mike Taylor (44 RBIs, 34 walks, three home runs), third baseman Tony Trubia (17 doubles), center fielder Andrew Fatse (27 stolen bases), and pitcher Zach Cloft (72 strikeouts). The 2011 Baseball team's outstanding College World Series run elevated the national profile of WNE Baseball, not only setting a new standard for Western New England Baseball but also for Golden Bear athletics across the board.

Jeff LaBranche (1979)

The success of Golden Bear Baseball spans generations. Joining the 2011 team in this year's Hall of Fame class is a former standout whose accomplishments helped elevate the program during its formative years. Jeffrey LaBranche was instrumental in the continued success that the baseball team has had. A four-year member of the team, LaBranche led the program in multiple statistical categories in his final three seasons, including one season that led him to be named an All-American catcher. LaBranche started to make a name for himself at WNE in 1977, as he recorded five extra-base hits and eight RBIs, while being tied for second on the team when it came to the number of hits in the season with 15.

In the subsequent 1978 season, he posted one of the most impressive statistical performances and achieved something only 15 other Western New England baseball student-athletes have accomplished in the program's history. LaBranche led the team with 34 hits in 25 contests and had a .395 batting average. He was also tied for the most extra-base hits on the team, with 12, and held the solo lead for runs batted in, with 27. LaBranche's statistically top-notch season culminated in being named an NAIA All-District infielder as a catcher, a member of the NAIA All-Area VIII Baseball team, and named an NAIA All-American Honorable Mention, the first in program history. LaBranche paved the way for the now 16 All-Americans in program history. He did not just pick up individual accolades; he also directly contributed to WNE's New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) Championship crown in 1978.

The leader of the program entered his senior year at WNE and once again was named to the NAIA All-District team. He recorded 33 hits in the final season, with a .277 batting average, collected 33 RBIs, and led the team by drawing 29 walks that season. In addition to being a significant piece of the 1978 NEIBA Championship team, he played a key role in both their 1979 NAIA District V Championship and NEIBA Championship, helping the group go back-to-back in his final year at WNE. Throughout his final season at WNE, LaBranche was closely monitored by multiple MLB scouts throughout the area.

LaBranche is seen as one who paved the way for WNE's success in baseball. He was also one of the first members of the WNE Club Hockey program and played soccer at WNE for one highly memorable season. A season that lives among the best for the team in program history, having reached the NAIA Final Four. That 1975 squad was enshrined into the Hall of Fame as the first-ever team inducted into the Western New England Downes Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000. LaBranche's successes on the ice on the WNEC club ice hockey team helped the program transition to the varsity level in 1980.

LaBranche was seen as more than just a Hall of Fame-worthy athlete in the eyes of his coach, Pat Ricci (Hall of Fame Class of 2002). Coach Ricci advocated for LaBranche as a true leader and someone who changed positions and did whatever was needed by his coaches and teammates to help the team. He is someone who was key to the foundation of what it means to be a Golden Bear and live out "The Western New England Way."

Jillian (Brown) Coppola (2006)

Jillian (Brown) Coppola is one of the top goaltenders to grace the field of play for the Western New England Field Hockey team. Since her first season in 2002, Brown emerged as the starting goalkeeper, starting all 19 games played during her first season as a Golden Bear. In those 19 games started, Brown had a Goals Against Average (GAA) of only 1.64, which ranks 8th-best in a single season at WNE. The first-year goalie also made 153 saves for a save percentage of .855. She also had the sixth most shutouts in a season that year, with five in 2002.

Brown competed in 16 games in 2003, posted a GAA of 1.88, compiled 99 saves on the turf, and ended with a save percentage of .773 during the 2003 season. She earned two shutout victories for WNE. In 2003, Brown received a slew of postseason awards at the conclusion of the season, including being named to the North Atlantic Conference's (NAC) all-tournament team, the WNEC Field Hockey Coaches Award, and taking home the WNEC Field Hockey Most Improved Award.

The next two seasons, Brown started all 23 games played in 2004 and 2005. 2004 saw Brown earn a GAA of 2.82, picking up 151 saves, and sport a .763 save percentage. Brown led the program to its first conference championship game, posting an 8-1 conference record in the regular season and 13 wins overall (tied for the 2nd-most in a season in program history). The team found themselves in the ECAC Division III New England Tournament for the first time, allowing the 2004 squad to pave the way and garner regional attention.

Brown's final season of 2005 was her best statistical season played as a Golden Bear goalkeeper in the program's history. Starting in all 23 games, Brown had a career-low GAA of 1.06 (which is still tied for second-best GAA in a season). The senior made 145 saves and achieved a career-best save percentage of .863. Brown recorded a career-high and a current team record nine shutouts during the season, while earning 18 wins, which is still a single-season team record to date. Brown led the Blue and Gold to a 9-0 conference record that season, guiding the team to its second straight appearance in the NAC title game. This time, Brown led the team to their first and only conference championship title and spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Following the end of the season, Brown earned multiple awards after already collecting multiple Athlete of the Week honors throughout the regular season. She was named to the All-NAC First Team, the All-NAC Tournament team, the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III All-Star game, and the NFHCA Division III New England East Region First Team.

The standout goalie for the field hockey program holds records that have stood for over 20 years. Brown's 31 wins remain the program record for wins in a career, and her 16 shutout victories are also a WNE Field Hockey record. Brown is currently ranked second in career saves (548), third in GAA (1.85), and tenth all-time in save percentage (.814). One of the most accomplished goalies in the program's history, Brown was and remains a central figure in establishing and adding to a Field Hockey culture that is still growing today.

Kaylee Martin Grant (2008)

Championship success and record-setting performances are recurring themes throughout this Hall of Fame class. Those qualities were equally evident in the career of Women's Cross Country standout Kaylee (Martin) Grant. Martin is widely seen by coaches and spectators as one of the greatest cross-country runners to step foot on the campus of Western New England University and wear the Blue and Gold. Holding all three top 5k times and four of the top five in that race for the women's program proves that opinion true. Martin not only secures those four top times in that event, but five of the top ten and nine of the top 25 times in the history of the women's cross country program. Martin also owns the fastest 6k time in program history. In addition, Martin is the only runner in the history of the women's program to have a sub-19:00 5k time and a sub-23:00 6k time. Martin ran both of those times in the same season, 2007.

The elite women's runner for the blue and gold started her career in 2004, immediately proving to be a force on the course. She instantly posted times that were high on the program record board, with 5k times of 20:23.00 at the UMass-Dartmouth Shriners Invitational and the Gordon Pop Crowell Invitational. Martin also won on her home course in 2004, winning the WNE Invitational in her first try on home soil. Martin won the home invitational for the second time, becoming a two-time champion on the campus of Western New England. To conclude that '04 season, Martin earned All-GNAC recognition and was named WNE's Most Valuable Runner.

2005 saw Martin improve on her historic freshman season, continuing the winning mentality. Martin put up 5k times of 20:10.00 and 20:24.00 at the Gordon Pop Crowell Invitational and Westfield State James Earley Invitational, respectively. Martin was once again named to the All-GNAC team to end the GNAC Championship meet and guided the Golden Bears to a GNAC championship title with her top-of-the-pack finish. Martin was a consistent top finisher for the Blue and Gold, and by the time junior year rolled around, everyone knew she was poised for another major season.

2006 saw the women's cross country star put up a top 5k time of 20:14.54 that season at the Westfield State James Earley Invitational. Martin's season was capped off at the conference championship, where she slipped past all other runners and won the gold medal. In addition to leading the pack and earning the win, Martin pushed WNE to back-to-back GNAC Championship titles with a team win. A milestone achievement for the women's team, led by Martin.

Martin's senior season will go down as one of the greatest individual seasons by a cross country runner in program history. All four of her top five team best times in the 5k were set in 2007. Martin had times of 19:30.00 at the WNE Invitational, 19:18.00 at the UMass Dartmouth Shriners Invitational, 18:58.00 at the Gordon Pop Crowell Invitational, and the program-record time of 18:31.00 at the Trinity College Invitational. Martin also earned the 6k record in 2007 when she ran at the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional Championship, running a time of 22:40.90. That time placed Martin 33rd overall at NCAA Regionals. Martin also has a top WNE time of 24:44.00 from The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) Championship, a time which placed her third at the meet and earned her an all-conference selection. Martin was a true leader on the course, and her impact on the program continues to make waves for generations to come. Martin's incredible career built a championship culture that continues to influence the program and the department as a whole.

Downes Hall of Fame Selection Committee Chair, Jacob Dino, stated, "This year's committee is truly excited about the distinguished class that is being inducted into the Downes Hall of Fame. The three individuals and one team have all significantly contributed to laying and building the foundations for each of their respective sports. They embody what leading like a Golden Bear is all about and deserve this prestigious honor."

The Class of 2026 joins a distinguished group of former student-athletes, teams, coaches, and contributors whose accomplishments have shaped the proud tradition of Western New England Athletics. They are selected primarily based on their athletic achievements, leadership, and lasting contributions to their programs and WNE Athletics altogether. This class brings the number of current individual Hall of Fame inductees to 129. The 2011 Baseball team increases the number of teams in the Hall of Fame to six. These 135 inductees have all been within a 27-year timeframe since the Hall of Fame's inception in 1999. This legacy includes Arthur William 'Red' Downes, the namesake of the Hall of Fame. Downes was a member of the inaugural class in 1999 after being on the coaching staff and faculty at Western New England University for 45 years.

This selected group will be inducted into the Downes Hall of Fame as part of WNE's Golden Bear weekend on Friday, October 16, 2026, beginning an exciting athletic weekend on campus.