Two Football Players Inducted To Holy Cross Hall Of Fame
WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross Varsity Club has announced that six individuals have been selected for induction into the Holy Cross Athletic Hall of Fame. Included among the 2010 inductees are former football players Tom Kelleher (Class of 1988) and John Vrionis (Class of 1968).
Kelleher starred at running back for the
Crusaders, playing on some of the top squads in school history. As
a junior in 1986, he ranked second on the team with 737 yards and
five touchdowns on 184 carries. Kelleher also caught 24 passes for
221 yards and a score during his junior year, as Holy Cross posted
an overall record of 10-1 and finished the season ranked No. 5 in
the nation. He then led the team in rushing during his senior year
in 1987, carrying the ball 134 times for 741 yards and 11
touchdowns, while posting 22 receptions for 219 yards and two
scores. Kelleher helped lead the Crusaders to a perfect 11-0 mark
in 1987 and a No. 1 ranking in the final national poll. A first
team All-New England selection as a senior, he finished his career
with 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns on 352 carries. Kelleher was
drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1988, and also spent time with the
Kansas City Chiefs in 1989. In addition, he has spent the last 10
years as the color analyst on radio broadcasts for Holy Cross
football games.
Vrionis was a letterwinner on both the football
and men’s lacrosse teams during his time at Holy Cross. On
the gridiron, he won two letters while catching 39 career passes
for 570 yards and seven touchdowns. Vrionis’ top year came
during his senior season, when he led the team with 511 receiving
yards and 42 points scored. He was also a member of teams which
scored victories over Boston College (32-26 in 1966) and Yale
(26-14 in 1967, the Bulldogs’ only loss of the season). In
lacrosse, Vrionis led the team in scoring as a senior with 47
points on 36 goals and 11 assists. He scored eight goals against
Worcester Polytechnic Institute on April 13, 1968, to set a school
single-game record which still stands. Vrionis was also selected to
play in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
North-South College All-Star Game following the conclusion of his
senior season.
This year's other inductees are Lee Hendrickson (Class of 1992,
soccer), Lynn Liberatore (Class of 1995, cross country, track &
field), Patrick Rissmiller (Class of 2002, ice hockey) and Dr.
James Walsh (Class of 1952, honorary).
These six individuals will be formally inducted into the Athletic
Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 8, at the Varsity Club’s annual
dinner, to be held in the Hogan Campus Center.
