WORCESTER -- The WPI Athletic Department, Poly Club, and Hall of Fame Selection Committee are proud to announce its 42nd Class, the Class of 2025. The six newest members were inducted on Friday, September 26th as part of Homecoming Weekend. 

Additionally, the Frank C. Harrington - Class of 1898 - Award was presented for the seventh time at the Hall of Fame dinner after being handed out previously at the annual athletic banquet.  The Harrington Award is presented to a distinguished contributor to WPI Athletics over a significant period of time. The 2025 recipient of the Harrington Award is Brian Daly '91.

The Hall of Fame inductees and Harrington Award winner include (left to right in attached photo): Jeffrey Baker '11 (Men's Track & Field), Veroniki Nikolaki '16 (Swimming and Diving), Liz Pellegrini '16 (Women's Track and Field), Brian Daly '91 (Harrington Award Winner), Gabriela Hoops '19 (Women's Soccer), Matt Mercer '94 (Football),  
and Nick Triantafell '86 (Wrestling). 
 
Finally, three sports had teams that were recognized as part of Homecoming Weekend.  The three teams included the1982-83 and 1983-84 Women's Basketball teams, 1984-85 Wrestling and 1984-85 Men's Basketball.
 
Jeffrey Baker '11 - Men's Track & Field

Jeffrey Baker was part of WPI's famed "Big 3" throwers who helped men's track and field achieve unprecedented success from 2008-11, culminating in a 2nd place conference finish and a 4th place showing at the 2011 New England Division III Championships.

Baker, along with fellow WPI Hall of Famer, Jarrett Arredondo '10 (HOF '18) and Fran Collins scored the vast majority of the team's championship points over that three-year stretch, with Jeff securing titles in the Javelin at conference and regional levels on several occasions. He went on to represent the program at three NCAA T&F Championships in the javelin, making the finals in his junior year where he placed 9th.

"Jeff's understated demeanor stood out in sharp contrast to what a dominant competitor he was when he stepped on the javelin runway or the throwing circle," said head coach Brian Chabot. "Jeff, along with Jarrett, helped usher in a period where our throws group was the best in the region and the driver of our success for Men's Track & Field. While we knew when we showed up to every meet we had by far the best javelin thrower there, it was the often unheralded points he would provide from the hammer or discus throws, along with the shot put, that made us so tough to beat."

Baker, who won All-NEWMAC honors in each of his four years, was the conference champion in the javelin in 2008, when he set a NEWMAC Championship record, and 2009, when he went on to win the DIII New England Championships in one of his three career All-New England finishes.

A captain of both the indoor and outdoor track and field teams in 2010-11, Baker ranks second for the javelin in school history. He also holds top-10 records in Indoor Shot Put, 35-lb Weight Throw, Discus and Hammer. He was a two-time All-NEWMAC performer in the discus, finishing 3rd in 2009 and 4th in 2010. 

"Jeff was an exceptional student athlete that I had the pleasure to work with during my time at WPI," said decorated throws coach Mike Stomski. "Jeff worked diligently to improve himself and the others around him. Through his hard work and dedication to the sport, he was able to compete at a high level and could be counted on to perform at championship meets."

Baker excelled in the classroom as much as he did on the field, earning Academic All-America honors in 2010 and 2011. He was a three-time selection to both the NCAA and NEWMAC All-Academic Teams and was a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. 
Baker was honored by WPI Athletics in 2009 with the Leo S. Jansson Award, given to the top sophomore male student-athlete in the department.

Jeff has worked at Ashcroft Inc since graduating WPI in 2011, starting as a Product Support Engineer and currently holding the title of Senior Automation Engineer.

Jeff moved back to his hometown of Wallingford, CT after graduation and now owns a home there with his wife Jillian and his two children, Ellarue and Primalynn.
  Gabriela Hoops '19 - Women's Soccer

Hoops helped the WPI women's soccer program make history in 2016 when she backstopped the Engineers to their first ever NEWMAC championship and NCAA tournament appearance. 

During that season, Hoops posted a miniscule 0.34 goals-against-average and a 16-2-3 record, including 11 shutouts. For her efforts, which included an 8-1-1 record in league play, she was named the 2016 NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Year. 

One of those shutouts was a 1-0 double overtime win over Springfield in the NEWMAC semifinals. The next day, Hoops made four saves as WPI beat MIT 3-1 to claim their historic league title. A week later, in the NCAA tournament, Hoops tallied one more shutout, stopping eight shots over 110 minutes in a scoreless draw with Trinity (TX). 

"Gabriela Hoops is a competitor", quipped head coach Steph Riley-Schafer. "She has a drive towards excellence that makes a player successful both on and off the field. When she was in the goal, our team always had a chance, against any opponent. Athletic, determined, confident and skilled, Gabi was everything you'd want on a goalkeeper."

That historic sophomore season was the jumping off point to a phenomenal WPI career in which Hoops posted a 35-14-9 record in net (19-9-6 NEWMAC record) with 24 total shutouts in 64 games played (60 starts). She made 238 saves in 5,518 minutes of playing time and had a career-goals against average of 0.63. 

"Her leadership and talent helped our program to its first ever NEWMAC Championship and NCAA tournament appearance," concluded Steph Riley-Schafer. "As much as she was a force on the field, her legacy is rooted in the teammate she was to others. She helped those around her to be better by offering thoughtful advice, uplifting encouragement, and exuding the confidence to compete. Gabriela is truly one of a kind."

"Gabi's energy, resilience, and passion for the game was contagious", remarks teammate Juliana Cabello '19. "Her presence in net gave us the confidence to play boldly, knowing she always had our backs. More importantly, her leadership and dedication on and off the field inspired us to grow as both competitors and teammates."

Off the field, Hoops represented the women's soccer team on WPI's Student Athlete Advisory Committee and was a member of Alpha Xi Delta women's fraternity. In 2017, she was awarded the prestigious Patricia Graham Award for most outstanding woman student-athlete in the junior class.

Gabi currently lives in Atlanta with her fiancé John and works for Hawk-Eye Innovations, one of the premier sports technology companies.  Hawk-Eye has partnerships with organizations like FIFA, the NFL, & NHL and Hoops has worked events like the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia, where she was selected to work the final between England and Spain.   She credits her time at WPI and with Tech Women's Soccer (TWS) for providing her the tools to work under pressure, adapt to new situations, and celebrate collective victories, that were all skills forged on the WPI pitch.    

  Matt Mercer '94 - Football

One of the greatest defensive players to ever play at WPI, Mercer was a tenacious competitor with a nose for the football. He is one of only three players in Engineers history to accumulate over 300 career tackles, joining now-fellow Hall of Famer John Pires and Brian Murtagh.

Mercer was one of the leaders of the WPI defense during a Golden Age of accomplishments for the Engineers, with a career record of 29-9-1. In 1990, he helped lead the team to an undefeated regular season. The next year they played in an ECAC Bowl Game, followed by two Freedom Conference championships in 1992 and 1993, the first of which led to the only NCAA playoff appearance in program history.
"Matt was an old school player, tough, hard-nosed and always wanted to be around the action," recalled Jack Siedlecki, Mercer's head coach his first three seasons on Boynton Hill. "The 4-4 defense was made for linebackers like Matt that could play sideline to sideline and tackle one on one. He was an integral part of our NCAA Playoff team defense."

The final season of his career was Mercer's most productive and decorated campaign. He recorded 122 of his 322 career tackles during that season, and set WPI records that still stand today with 25 tackles in a single game and 13.5 tackles per game. A team captain that year, Mercer would be recognized in 1993 as the Freedom Conference Defensive MVP, an ECAC First Team Selection, and an Honorable Mention All American.

"Matt Mercer was a machine on the football field," stated Kevin Morris, WPI's head coach in 1993.  "He was non-stop to the ball, wreaking havoc on the way and upon arrival. Matt left it all on the field. One Sunday, a day after a game, I asked Matt what his physical status was, his response, with a smile, 'total body pain.' I can assure all our opponents had that same sentiment after 60 minutes against Matt.  What a great player and a truly deserved recognition."

Mercer joined the semipro football team, the Marlborough Shamrocks in the fall of 1994.  The Shamrocks reached the national championship during all seven seasons that Mercer played, winning five titles as he was a 1994 All-American and selected as a top 45 player all-time in the Shamrocks program. 

Professionally, Matt started as a design engineer for Raytheon and progressed this his career with Stanley Black and Decker and Novanta.  He is currently the COO at Milsco, who provides seats for companies such as: Harley Davidson, John Deere, Stanley Black and Decker and Toyota.
Matt has lived in Shrewsbury Massachusetts for the past 25 years with his wife Beth and children AJ and Logan.
  Veroniki Nikolaki '16 - Swimming and Diving

A double-threat on the diving board and in the classroom, Veroniki Nikolaki's achievements and leadership are among the best to ever compete for WPI.

At the time of her graduation in 2016, Nikolaki held all four school records in diving. She earned All-NEWMAC medals in six different competitions, including finishing as the conference runner-up in 2015 on the 1-Meter board.

Nikolaki qualified for the NCAA championship meet on four occasions and twice finished her season as an All-American. 

"Veroniki was a fierce competitor who cared more about the team's performance and helping her teammates to a victory than her own achievement," said head coach Paul Bennett of his two-year team captain. "In her first dual meet she met the NCAA qualifying scores on 1-Meter diving board, but her statement to me was 'That's nice coach, but did we win the meet?""

Nikolaki was just as ferocious in the classroom as well. She continually earned recognition on the dean's list and maintained a 4.0 GPA for her time at WPI. She was a four-time CSCAA Scholar All-America honoree and qualified for the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference team in each of her eligible seasons. 

"It was an honor working with Veroniki," declared former longtime WPI Diving coach Laura Barbieri. "She brought WPI diving to a new level and was a great competitor and teammate. I can't think of another diver who deserves this honor more."

While on campus, she was an active member of the Hellenic Student Association, helping to connect Greek students and preserve Greek culture within the WPI community

A native of Athens, Greece, she graduated from WPI with high distinction with a bachelor's of science in Biology and Biotechnology and a minor in Spanish. She traveled to Costa Rica to complete her IQP, working with El Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería to investigate the effects of chemical pesticides on fruits and vegetables, while developing organic alternatives for pest control.

Following her time at WPI, she earned a master's degree in Biotechnology with a focus in Neuroscience from Columbia University. She then joined Harvard Medical School as a research associate, where she spent three years studying neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease

Currently, she is pursuing her PhD at UMass Chan Medical School, researching the molecular mechanisms behind Frontotemporal Dementia and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis—continuing to follow her passion for brain research.

She lives in Natick with her sister, Valeria, and cat, Spooky, and enjoys painting, writing poetry, and reading fantasy novels in her free time. She also enjoys doing ballet, yoga and pilates.

  Liz Pellegrini '16 - Women's Track and Field

Liz Pellegrini was one of the very first women All-America on the track. She set the standard for the WPI sprint program for years to come, competing at the NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships on three occasions from 2014-16 in seven total events, culminating in an All-America honor as the runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles, in what still remains a school record.

"Liz was THE key piece to our success as a women's program in the mid-2010's," said head coach Brian Chabot. "She factored into everything we did, whether it was the points (normally first-place) she would contribute in the hurdle events or being the fastest/most consistent leg on our national-level relay teams, Liz did it all for our team. She was a fierce competitor who helped raise the level of her teammates, and who continued to push the women's program to greater heights."

In addition to the 400-meter hurdles, Pellegrini owns school records in three different relay events, the 4x200m, 4x400m and 4x100m. She was the NEWMAC Track Athlete of the Year in 2016 and was the NEWMAC champion in the 400 hurdles and twice in the 100 hurdles.

"Liz is the kind of person that gives 100% of herself in everything she does, and when paired with her natural talent, she became a true force on the track," said former teammate Alex Price '16. "Better yet, her humility, passion, and relentless drive to be the best were contagious and inspired those around her to raise their game. She played a huge part in leading the team to new heights, leaving a lasting mark on the WPI Track and Field Program." -

Pellegrini won the WPI Patricia Graham Award as the University's top woman athlete in the junior class. She was a CoSIDA Academic All-America selection and a member of the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference team.

Liz currently resides in Watertown, Massachusetts with her fiance and 2 cats, Kaida and Jiji. After a few years at Philips in the medical device industry, she went back to complete her Masters in Product Design & Manufacture at Boston University while working as a product developer for running footwear at Reebok. After graduating in 2021, she joined SharkNinja where she has been developing product and leading teams for the past four years, including a six-month tour of duty where she got to live and work in London last year. While she was there, she went to the Paris Olympics and watched Sydney McLaughlin break the world record and win gold in the 400m hurdles. 

She has stayed very passionate and involved in athletics. She helped out at WPI as a volunteer assistant for a year after graduating. She ran on Boston North Track Club for 4 years, competing in the hurdles at meets all the way from Boston to Atlanta to LA. More recently, she has transitioned to distance running and cycling, joining Cambridge Running Club and competing in two half marathons.
 
Nick Triantafell '86 - Wrestling

A member of the outstanding WPI Wrestling teams from 1985 and 1986, Nick Triantafell becomes the ninth member of those squads selected to the WPI Hall of Fame. 

He joined a deep and successful team but saw immediate success wrestling in his first two seasons as a backup and substitute. As a junior (1984-85), Triantafell broke into the starting lineup and had a shining year as a starter in the 167lb weight class leading the team (20-1) to a New England Team Championship while finishing in second place individually himself at the tournament.

"Nick had an incredible work ethic and was a great role model for me as a freshman", recalls Hall of Fame teammate Jason Benoit.  He was a key player in the greatest lineup WPI wrestling has ever had. Nick was a little intimidating, he looked like the guy they model the trophies after. He looked tough and he was tougher than he looked yet, "The Rose" was very friendly and encouraging to his teammates and had a great sense of humor, which I personally appreciated."

During his senior season, Triantafell dominated his weight class (158 lbs.), going undefeated in dual meets. He finished his campaign by winning the 1986 New England Championship after making his second straight appearance in the title match, and advanced to the NCAA Championships.

He was a team leader having been elected as a captain & was selected as a Scholar All-American. The team finished 15-1 in duals and 2nd at the team championship. Nick was undefeated in dual meets at 13-0, a 100%-win record. 

"As a Captain, team leader, and excellent student, Nick was a great contributor to the team and its success," said Hall of Fame head coach Phil Grebinar."

His 1986 season capped off a tremendous career, which Triantafell finished with a 27-5 dual meet record. He was also named a Scholar All-America and was WPI's Male Student-Athlete of the Year in his senior campaign.

Since graduating in 1986 with distinction with a degree in Management Engineering, Nick has held a variety of positions with three companies, PepsiCo, Nestle and Fresh Direct, across a 36-year career. Regional leadership roles in Manufacturing, Logistics, Sales, and Route Operations helped develop Nick into a successful VP/GM responsible for overall P&L strategy and results in large markets such as Metro New York and Chicago.  Nick most recently helped guide Fresh Direct, a private premium Metro NY online grocery company, through an acquisition by a global multinational food retailer with a large footprint in the Eastern U.S.  Recognized for his outstanding leadership, Nick is most proud of the many people and teams he has helped develop and grow throughout his career.

Nick retired in 2022 and enjoys spending quality time with his wife and son. They reside in New Jersey where his son attends Rutgers University, currently in his junior year. Nick also spends time with his 95-year-old mother, still sharp as ever, in his native Norwood, Massachusetts.  He also likes competing in an occasional Spartan Race to stay fit.
   
Brian Daly '91 - Harrington Award

The WPI Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes with this award those individual and/or entities that through the years have been distinguished and significant contributors to the WPI Athletics Program. Through their efforts and support, our athletics program has been able to flourish and enjoy success while contributing to the quality experience for our student-athletes. The award has been named in honor of Frank C. Harrington, a student-athlete of the WPI Class of 1898 and for whom Harrington Auditorium is named.
 
Daly has become synonymous with the Poly Club's Hall of Fame, first as an inductee 20 years ago and now completing his second decade as the master of ceremonies and host of the annual induction.
 
A 1991 WPI graduate, Daly is the last WPI student-athlete to have earned 12 varsity letters as a standout soccer player, diver and jumper and sprinter.
 
His contributions to WPI and WPI Athletics did not end upon graduation as in 2006, the year after his induction into the Hall of Fame, he took over on the microphone from as the host of the annual induction dinner from the legendary - and now fellow Harrington Award recipient - Donald St. Marie '71 and brought a great passion, a new voice and a unique sense of humor to the event, celebrating the best of the very best through over 100 years of athletics on Boynton Hill.

Working with Brian, and preparing for the Hall of Fame, is one of my favorites things about my job at WPI," quipped Associate Athletics Director and Sports Information Director Rusty Eggen. "He is passionate about showcasing the best of WPI Athletics and realizes it's a very special evening for the inductees. His skill and ease of being the face and voice of the induction evening puts the cherry on top of the hot fudge sundae."
 
Becomes the third person to receive the Harrington Award and be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Hame, joining Ted Coughlin and Dave Ploss.