Auburn, ME – Central Maine Community College is proud to announce its newest group of inductees to the CMCC Athletics Hall of Fame. The class of 2025 adds six exemplary athletes to the mix, with Tommy Mason, Nicole Hutchinson, Kaleb Violette, Jon Gilson, Danielle McCusker, and Kristina Blais officially being inducted at the Mustangs Hall of Fame Celebration Banquet on Friday, September 26th at the Poland Spring Inn as part of CMCC's Open House and Homecoming Weekend.
Inductees:
Tommy Mason (Baseball) – Mason played two seasons for the Mustangs in the fall of 2002 and 2003, helping then Central Maine Technical College claim back-to-back Northern New England Small College Conference (NNESCC) championships. The Greenville, ME native hit a walk-off single in the '02 semifinals against Vermont Tech, scoring fellow hall of famer Nate Olson, to set up a 16-2 win against Mass Bay in the title game. The Mustangs then beat the Bucs 7-5 the next year, earning the program its first trip to the USCAA National Tournament in St. Petersburg, FL. Mason also helped Central Maine win its first New England Club Baseball Association (NECBA) championship in '03, defeating UMaine 9-7.
Nicole Hutchinson (Women's Basketball) – Hutchinson attended CMCC from 2003-07, playing four seasons for the women's basketball team under USCAA Hall of Fame head coach Mike Bridges. The center, hailing from Rumford, ME, helped the Mustangs to a 61-29 overall record through her four years, and captured back-to-back Maine Small College Conference (MSCC) championships in '04 and '05. Hutchinson was also a part of the transition to the Yankee Small College Conference, winning the league's regular season title in '05 and finishing runner-up in the conference tournament.
Kaleb Violette (Men's Basketball) – Violette was a mainstay on the men's basketball team from 2004-07. The Readfield, ME native helped CMCC finish third at the national championship tournament as a freshman before earning USCAA 1st-Team All-American honors as a sophomore. He also picked up YSCC "Player of the Year" honors in each of his final two seasons, leading the conference in scoring both years. Violette was a dominant finisher, routinely putting up 40+ points and setting the single-game scoring record with 50 against EMCC on January 25, 2006. When the 6'5" forward called time on his career, he was the program's leading scorer with an incredible 2,011 points, while also setting top marks in rebounds (969) and blocks (107). The two-year captain was named to the YSCC Twin Decades Team and was part of CMCC's 2000-10 All-Decade squad and 60 for 60 honorees.
Jon Gilson (Men's Basketball) – Another member of the men's basketball team during its 2004-07 stretch, Gilson went 64-29 over three seasons. The Lake Region High School product racked up YSCC 1st and 2nd-Team All-Conference honors after leading the league in assists in back-to-back campaigns. As a freshman, Gilson was part of the Mustangs squad that finished third at the USCAA National Tournament. The forward also helped lead CMCC to some hardware, winning the MSCC title in '06 and the YSCC regular season championship in '07. Gilson sits 12th on the program's all-time scoring list with 1,139 points and was selected to CMCC's 2000-10 All-Decade team and 60 for 60 honorees.
Danielle McCusker (Women's Basketball, Soccer) – McCusker played on both the women's basketball and soccer teams while attending CMCC from 2010-13. The South Portland, ME native achieved the rare feat of being named a YSCC All-Conference selection in both sports, in soccer after leading the inaugural Mustangs team in scoring in the fall of 2010 (and scoring the program's first goal), and three times in basketball. On the court, McCusker was a part of the transition from coach Mike Bridges to coach Andrew Morong in her junior season. The combo guard/forward helped lead the team to back-to-back YSCC Tournament championships and USCAA National Tournament appearances in her final two years. McCusker was named CMCC's 2012 Female Athlete of the Year and finished her basketball career with 1,076 career points, placing her 6th on the all-time scoring charts. She was also a CMCC 2000-10 All-Decade team and 60 for 60 honoree.
Kristina Blais (Women's Basketball) – Blais played two seasons for CMCC from 2016-18, finding immediate success with the Mustangs. The Lewiston High School product was a captain her freshman year, leading the team to a YSCC Tournament and the program's first USCAA National Championship, with a win over Penn State-Lehigh Valley and a 33-1 record. Blais then nearly ran it back the following season, winning the YSCC and finishing national runner-up in '18. The guard picked up USCAA All-American Honorable Mention, Academic All-American, YSCC 2nd-Team All-Conference, and YSCC Tournament Most Outstanding Offensive Player honors before being named CMCC's Female Athlete of the Year. She transferred to NCAA DIII USM for her final two seasons, but returned to Auburn as an assistant coach, helping guide the program to another national title in 2022. She is currently the Director of Basketball Operations for the WNBA's Connecticut Sun.
The event includes a cocktail reception followed by a formal dinner. Tickets for the Hall of Fame banquet and ceremony can be purchased here: cmcc.edu/halloffame.
