Mid Massachusetts News

After a pause due to a weather postponement and the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Anna Maria Athletics Hall of Fame Class will be inducted at a ceremony and reception on Saturday, March 25, 2023. The induction ceremony will take place on the campus of Anna Maria College.  

The seventh Anna Maria College Hall of Fame class is an extraordinary group of outstanding individuals: Matthew Brennan ’04 (Men’s Basketball), Meghan DePatsy ’07 (Women’s Basketball, Women’s Soccer), Kelly Downey ’05 (Women’s Basketball, Women’s Soccer), Ray Frias ’84, Posthumously (Men’s Basketball, Baseball, Men’s Soccer), Nancy Naroian (Staff). Downey is unable to attend and will formally be inducted during the next Hall of Fame Ceremony in the fall of 2023. 

"The Hall of Fame Committee, athletics department, and the college is excited to induct these individuals into the Anna Maria College Hall of Fame on March 25th. This class has waited over two years for this rightfully deserved honor. This group joins a great group of Hall of Fame members," commented Joe Brady '96, Director of Athletics. "I am excited to be a part of my first induction ceremony and this special occasion for these four outstanding individuals. We also look forward to celebrating Kelly's accomplishments in the fall." Ray Frias ’84 (posthumously) did it all during his time with the AMCATS and embodied Anna Maria College athletics. He was a student-athlete who saw an opportunity to build a long-lasting athletic tradition by giving it all and playing multiple sports (basketball, baseball, and soccer). Frias’s contribution to Anna Maria College athletics went beyond statistics, it was his easy-going personality that was an asset to an athletic program which was just getting established.

Frias’s teammates attest, he was a fierce competitor who always made things look easy. He was never afraid of a challenge, and took them on with a smile. Frias was the most unselfish teammate you could ever want on your team. Frias’ name appears throughout the men’sbasketball record book including second in offensive rebounds in a season (109). He is fourth all-time in defensive rebounds in a game with 15 against Saint Joseph’s College. Frias scored 819 career-points (33rd all-time) and grabbed 479 career rebounds (18th all-time).

Frias graduated from the Greater New York Academy in 1980. Ray worked as an Executive Director of the Better Business Bureau and served as the Board President of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Frias passed away in April of 2009, leaving two daughters, Celina and Abigail, and their mother, Sheila Harrity. Although Ray is not physically here with us, his spirit, his kindness, his unselfishness and a smile that could light up a room will always be part of the many people he came across.Ray will be presented into the Hall of Fame by his friend and teammate Shawn Conway ‘85.His brother and teammate Luis Frias, a 1993 Hall of Fame inductee, will accept on Ray’s behalf.

Original source can be found here.