Michele (Giard) Hanly recently returned to visit WPI and was
amazed at the development and expansion of the campus and the
athletic programs. When she arrived on Boynton Hill in the late
1970s, WPI had a combined six women’s varsity and advanced
club teams. Three-sport pioneers like Giard helped WPI
women’s athletic programs advance to become the pillars of
success that they are today.
In the fall of 1978, she got involved with the field hockey
program and saw it rapidly expand during her four years. After
playing as a club team the first three seasons (and serving as the
top scorer during her sophomore campaign) the squad made an
immediate impact in the collegiate field hockey world as the
Engineers went a whopping 21-7 in their debut varsity season in
1981. As a senior, Giard finished second on a team that made the
NCAA Tournament in goals (14) and points (32).
Winter was a particular busy time for her. She took her talents
into Harrington Auditorium where she was a standout on the
basketball team. She overcame an injury during her freshman season
to earn a varsity letter. After a sophomore season that saw her
play in all 19 games and move into a starting role, a season-ending
ankle injury curtailed her junior year after the opening game. She
bounced back with authority during the 1981-82 season, averaging
7.3 points to go along with 114 assists and 41 steals as she led
the Crimson and Gray to a stellar 14-9 record.
Giard would wrap up a busy year of athletics on the softball
diamond. An RBI machine, she tallied 41 career runs batted,
including 18 each during her sophomore and junior seasons. She was
also a threat on the base paths as she posted double-digit career
stolen base numbers. As is typical with programs that she played
in, the Engineers complied an impressive 37-19 (.661) record over
her four years.
Tom Vallani, classmate and member of the Hall of Fame Selection
Committee remembers, "Michele was a true pioneer in the annals of
WPI women's athletics. She played in an era in which female
athletic participation was just beginning to take hold at the
college level in terms of its relative importance. She was a very
good player in three different sports, each requiring a completely
different skill set. She earned respect and recognition from her
teammates by being named captain to all three sports teams during
her senior year."
“Michele was the epitome of the perfect teammate," says
Sue Chapman, former WPI head coach, and 1996 Hall of Famer. "She
was a quiet and unassuming leader who led by example. Her solid
work ethic and unselfish style of play elevated everyone around
her."
After graduating, Michele worked as an engineer for 10 years. In
1992 she became an at-home mom raising three daughters: Megan,
Colleen, and Kathryn. During those years she was very active as a
community volunteer. Currently, she works part-time as a science
lab teacher at St. John School in Old Saybrook, Conn., and has just
completed the Connecticut Alternate Route to Teacher Certification
program. She and her husband, John Hanly ’82, are longtime
residents of Old Saybrook.
