Bryant University Bulldogs Bryant Athletics To Induct Four Into Hall of Fame on Friday, February 27

February 5, 2009

BRYANT UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS TO INDUCT FOUR FORMER STANDOUTS INTO 2009 HALL OF FAME FEB. 27

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the induction of four former standout student-athletes into the Athletics Hall of Fame February 27. This year's quartet will bring the number of Hall of Famers to 37 since 2001-02, when the Hall of Fame was restarted following 10 years of dormancy, and 81 Hall of Famers total all-time.

This year's class represents four sports, including two of Bryant's newest programs: football and men's lacrosse. The class of 2009 is: Greg Wolyniec '01 (Vernon, CT), football; Bob Brown '91 (Trumbull, CT), men's golf; Bunmi Akinnusotu '03 (Woonsocket, RI), women's volleyball; and Kevin Barletta '03 (Mahopac, NY), men's lacrosse.

Greg Wolyniec '01, Vernon, Conn. (Football)
A member of Bryant's first varsity football team and one of the reasons behind the program's success today, Greg Wolyniec was a standout in both the classroom and on the field during his playing career from 1998-2001. A four-time team captain, Wolyniec registered 227 career tackles, a mark that still ranks second all-time. He is currently the school record holder with 147 unassisted tackles and ranks fifth with 80 assisted tackles. He stands fifth all-time with 27 tackles for a loss and registered five career sacks. Wolyniec was a two-time all-conference selection and ECAC All-Star in 2001, as well as a New England Football Writers All-Star selection. An Academic All-American, Wolyniec was the recipient of the prestigious ECAC / Robbins Scholar-Athlete of the Year award in 2001 and was named the Bryant Scholar-Athlete award recipient that same year.

Bunmi Akinnusotu '03, Woonsocket, RI (Women's Volleyball)
Another storied program at Bryant will induct its seventh member into the Hall of Fame as women's volleyball standout Bunmi Akinnusotu joins a select group that has inducted three former players in the past four years. During her career at Bryant, Akinnusotu was a dominant force at the net and still stands second all-time in total blocks and block assists. She is currently third all-time with 57 blocks in a single season and finished her career with 160 solo blocks, 339 block assists and 170 total career blocks from 1999-2002. She is currently fifth all-time in kills and in matches played, and stands first all-time in career hitting percentage. The 2002 Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year, Akinnusotu earned three first team all-conference honors, three all-region selections - including two first-team honors. The recipient of Bryant's Omar Shareef Spirit Award and NCAA Woman of the Year, Akinnusotu was named Bryant's Female Athlete of the Year in 2001 and received the Jim Thorpe Athletic Award in 2003, as well as the Peggy Stone Emerging Leader award in 2000.

Bob Brown '90, Trumbull, Conn. (Men's Golf)
Arguably the most successful program in Bryant history, men's golf will welcome Bob Brown into the Athletics Hall of Fame. Brown will become the 11^th golfer to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. A standout four-year member of the golf team, Brown's best season was in the spring of 1988 when he edged out teammate Dave Oleandar on a sudden-death playoff hole to go to nationals in Missouri. While at the NCAA championships, Brown led the entire field for the first three rounds before finishing eighth overall, earning All-America honors. During his career, he earned two Northeast-10 All-Conference honors in 1988 and 1989. He is currently the head PGA professional at Tashua Knolls Golf Course in Trumbull, CT where he also runs the junior golf program. For 10 years he was the head pro at Okeeheelee Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida and is the founder of the Junior Golf Foundation of America.

Kevin Barletta '03, Mahopac, NY (Men's Lacrosse)

A leader of one of the youngest programs at Bryant University, former standout Kevin Barletta becomes the first men's lacrosse player to enter the Bryant Hall of Fame. A three-time USILA All-American selection, including two first-team honors, Barletta holds Bryant's all-time career record for points with 286 during his career from 2000-03. He is first all-time with 124 career assists and second all-time with 162 career goals. During his career, Barletta was twice named Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year and earned all-conference and all-New England honors all four years. He was a three-time ECAC All-Star selection and named as the Northeast-10 Rookie of the Year in 2000.