The University of Massachusetts announced this week that four athletes have been selected to be inducted as the Class of 2024 in its George “Trigger” Burke Hall of Fame. 

Jeff Deren (men’s soccer, 1999-2002), Dennis Fenton (football, wrestling 1974-77), Kwesi Frimpong-Boeteng (men’s track and field 2001-2004), Nicole (Way) Toye (women’s cross country, track and field 1997-99) are the four selected to join the Hall of Fame, with the induction ceremony scheduled for Nov. 15 at the Campus Center Auditorium. 

Also at the induction, UMass alumni Bill DeFlavio and Tom Mullen will receive the 2024 Jacobson Award, Rita Leaman and Laurie Leaman will receive the Kennedy Award and Dr. Gayle Hutchinson will receive the Elaine Sortino Award. 

Here’s a closer look at each inductee: 

Jeff Deren

Deren, a forward, was a prolific scorer at UMass. He’s the only Minuteman to eclipse the 100 point mark at UMass, concluding his career with a program-record 113 points. His 48 goals are also a program record. 

Deren’s best season came in 2002, when he recorded 22 goals and 51 points, both program records. He led the Minutemen to Atlantic 10 regular season championships in 2000 and 2002 while propelling UMass a 2001 Atlantic 10 Tournament championship. He was an All-American, Atlantic 10 Offenisve Player of the Year and an All-New England honoree in both 2001 and 2002. He went on to play professionally in Belgium and Denmark. 

Dennis Fenton

A rare two-sport athlete, Fenton spent three years starting at defensive tackle for the Minutemen, where he was an All-Yankee Conference and All-ECAC honoree in 1975 and 1976. He went on to earn contracts with the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns after graduating. 

On the wrestling mats, Fenton becoming a four-time Div. I New England champion at heavyweight. He won the Yankee Conference heavyweight championship in 1975, 1976 and 1977 and helped UMass win the 1974 New England wrestling title as a team. He defeated Springfield College’s Jeff Blatnick — a future Olympic golf medalist — and won UMass’ athlete of the year award in 1977. He is a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. 

Fenton coached wrestling at UMass for two years before spending 38 years coaching high school wrestling around Western Mass., including at Belchertown. 

Kwesi Frimpong-Boateng

A sprinter, Frimpong-Boateng holds UMass records in the indoor 55 meter and 60 meter, and outdoor 100 meter and 200 meter records that have stood for over two decades. 

Frimpong-Boateng set the New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletics Association’s 100 meter outdoor record and collected four A-10 Student-Athlete of the Year honors. In 2003, he was named the A-10’s Most Outstanding Performer. He was the New England 100 meter champion in 2002 and also won the IC4A outdoor 100 meter championship. 

Nicole (Way) Toye

The UMass women’s cross country and track and field teams had tremendous success while Toye was on the team. 

Toye was part of UMass’ A-10 championship cross country teams in 1997, 1998 and 1999, the Minutewomen’s A-10 indoor track championship teams in 1996 and 1998 and UMass’ A-10 outdoor track championship in 1999. 

It wasn’t just team results for Toye. She was a five-time A-10 individual champion, being crowned champion in the 1996 indoor and outdoor triple jump, the 1998 outdoor 1,000, and in 1999, she won the outdoor 1,000 and the mile. Toye won three bronze medals: the outdoor triple jump in 1997, the 1,500 in 1998 and the 800 in 1999, was part of the A-10 champion 4x800 indoor relay team in 1996.

Toye was named the most outstanding performer at the A-10 indoor track championship. She won three gold medals at the New England Championships (1,000 meter in 1998 and 1999 and the 1,500 in 1999) and in total, won seven New England medals. In cross country, she was UMass’ top finisher at the conference meet to help UMass capture the A-10 title. 

Bill DeFlavio and Tom Mullen

DeFlavio and Mullen both played football at UMass, DeFlavio from 1969-71 and Mullen 1969-72. Both would go on to play professionally and in the years since, have stayed active with UMass football, both helping found the UMass Gridiron Club. 

Rita Leaman and Laurie Leaman

Rita Leaman, the wife of former UMass men’s basketball coach Jack Leaman, and Laurie Leaman got involved with the Skating Club of Amherst, with Rita Leaman serving as president of the club for 35 years while Laurie Leaman was a board member and served as a skating coach and teacher. Both have been avid UMass fans and supporters through the years. 

Dr. Gayle Hutchinson

Hutchinson, a 1979 graduate, was a dual sport athlete during her time at UMass, competing in basketball, field hockey and lacrosse. She would go on to serve as the president at Chico State and California State University.