UMass announces its 2025 Hall of Fame Class

Published: 07-24-2025 4:02 PM |
UMass athletics unveiled its Hall of Fame Class of 2025 on Thursday afternoon. Michaela Butler, Victor Cruz, Deanna Groark and Chaz Williams will be inducted as part of the George "Trigger" Burke Hall of Fame Class of 2025, with the induction ceremony scheduled for Sept. 6.
Butler was one of the most dominant divers the UMass women’s swimming and diving team has ever seen from 2009-14. Butler racked up six Atlantic 10 titles and was a three-time All-American—the first athlete from the UMass swimming and diving program to ever receive the honor.
Butler currently holds the school record in the one-meter dive with a score of 336.23, which was set during the 2013-14 season.
Cruz had a stellar four-year career with the Minutemen football program from 2005-09. The wide receiver set a school record with 262 receiving yards in a single game against James Madison in 2008, before finishing his career at UMass with 131 receptions for 1,958 yards, placing him eighth all-time in both categories at UMass, and fifth in receptions per-game (4.23).
Cruz went on to sign with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2010, then helped the Giants to a Super Bowl victory the next year in 2011. Cruz concluded his six-year pro career with 303 receptions, 4,549 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns, plus a Super Bowl title and aa Pro Bowl selection in 2012.
Groark was a decorated rower for the Minutewomen from 1995-97. Groark took silver in the 1997 NCAA championship in the Varsity 8+, which occurred not long after winning the A-10 championship in the same event.
The season prior, Groark was a member of the first-ever collegiate women's 8+ crew to win the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta. She helped UMass claim gold at the at the Head of the Textile and the Head of the Housatonic as well during the 1996 season.
After graduating, Groark continued her rowing career with the U.S. national team and picked up numerous medals, including a gold at the 1998 U.S. Rowing National Championships.
Article continues after...
Yesterday's Most Read Articles






Williams (2011-14) was a key figure in the last UMass men’s basketball team to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Williams averaged 15.6 points and 6.9 assists per-game during the 2013-14 season as a redshirt-senior, helping lead the Minutemen to 24-9 overall record and a trip to March Madness.
Williams wrapped up his career on the court in Amherst first in program history in career assists (702) and seventh in points scored (1,563). The two-way baller also set the UMass single-game assists record during the 2013-14 season with 15 in a game against BYU.
UMass athletics will also honor three individuals will special awards. Mike Morris '80 will receive the Martin Jacobson '68 Distinguished Alumni Award, Joanne Keller will receive the John Francis Kennedy '76G Maroon Leadership Award and Amanda Kraus '95 will receive the Elaine Sortino Alumna Award for Achievement.
The induction ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Campus Center Auditorium at 11 a.m.