Blues Hall of Fame

DIANA ARTUSO (ELLIGOTT)
Soccer
Class of 2024

Diana Artuso-Elligott is the Blues all-time scoring leader with 48 goals in 35 games played and she holds the record for most goals in a season, scoring 19 times in 1998. At the 1996 CCAA National Championship tournament at Royal Military College, she led all players in scoring and took tournament MVP honours after she helped lead the Blues to their second of back-to-back national titles with a 2-0 win over University College of the Cariboo (UCC).

A graduate of Notre Dame Regional Secondary, she earned CCAA tournament MVP accolades and was again Top Scorer in 1998 after she scored all three goals in the gold-medal game, a Blues 3-1 triumph over host UCC. Diana is a two-time CCAA All-Canadian (1996, 1998) and a three-time conference First Team All-Star (1996, 1997, 1998). She was voted conference Player of the Year in 1997.

MELISSA ARTUSO
Soccer
Class of 2024

Melissa Artuso’s beginnings with Blues soccer kicked off the program’s first run of success on the national stage. A CCAA All-Canadian in each of her three seasons, the Burnaby Central Secondary graduate helped the Blues to back-to-back provincial and national titles in 1995 and 1996. A consistent performer and ever-present offensive threat, she was a lethal finisher and tallied 30 goals in 31 career games. On the way to the program’s first-ever national title in 1995 at Medicine Hat College, Melissa and her teammates braved frigid temperatures in defeating conference rivals University College of the Cariboo 5-1 in the gold-medal match.

Artuso was a provincial and national tournament All-Star in her final season, as well as the conference and CCAA Player of the Year, helping the Blues to a second-straight CCAA title.

COREY BIRZA
Soccer
Class of 2024

Over five years in Blues colours, Corey Birza put together one of the most decorated runs in Capilano history. The Sutherland Secondary graduate was a first-team conference All-Star as well as Rookie of the Year in 2004 and capped his career with a CCAA national title in 2008. The time in between saw him rack up 63 goals in 84 games, the most ever for a Blues player.

In 2007, Birza was named the BCCAA Player of the Year and also took the CCAA Player of the Year award, at the time becoming the fifth Blues athlete to earn that accolade. Birza’s 19 goals in the 2006 season and playoffs remains the most ever in a single Blues campaign. In the 2008 CCAA gold-medal game, the final game of Birza’s career, he sparked a second-half charge to help the Blues to a 6-5 come-from-behind win over Algonquin College, delivering the program’s sixth national title.

KIRAN BOGAVELLI
Badminton
Class of 2024

Upon meeting Blues athletic director Joe Iacobellis in 2002, Kiran Bogavelli declared he would win a national championship for the Blues and thereby elevate the profile of the sport of badminton for the school and the community. He was better than his word. As the program’s head coach and top player, Bogavelli delivered a pair of CCAA national titles in men’s singles with wins in 2003 and 2006.

Named a CCAA All-Canadian in 2003, 2006 and 2007, he was also conference Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007. Bogavelli was a back-to-back winner of the Blues Male Athlete of the Year award in 2006 and 2007 and was honoured with the CCAA National Player of the Year Award in 2007.

CHOYAL BROWN
Basketball
Class of 2024

From an unlikely starting point, Choyal Brown authored one of the most storied Blues careers ever. He was recruited to Capilano from the blacktop courts of Kits beach as an over-age rookie, having made his name in the Lower Mainland basketball scene as a dunk contest champion. Upon arrival at the North Vancouver campus, he put his skills to use immediately, making his way to the top of the Blues all-time scoring charts.

In just four seasons of play, the 6-foot-2 graduate of University Hill Secondary became the first Blues player to crack the career 1,000-point mark and his 1,278 career points are, at the time of his induction, the most in Blues history. A first-team conference All-Star in 2001 and 2002, Brown was a two-time team MVP and was the 2001 Blues Male Athlete of the Year.

JENNIFER KNIGHT (DICKSON)
Volleyball
Class of 2024

A 5-foot-10 outside hitter, Jennifer Dickson made a huge impact for the Blues and helped the team to its first appearance in a CCAA national championship game. The Riverside Secondary product was a first-team conference All-Star in each of her final three seasons and was named conference Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007.

Dickson finished her career as the Blues leader in kills with 836 and her 3.73 kills per set over four seasons is the best mark ever recorded to date for Capilano. In 2007, the Blues played host to the CCAA National Championship tournament and Dickson turned in the best campaign of her career, capturing the CCAA National Player of the Year Award. Her performance on home court at nationals helped the Blues get past archrival Malaspina College in the semifinals and into the gold-medal match. Dickson finished her career among the Blues all-time leaders in digs, aces and blocks.

JENNA RALSTON
Basketball
Class of 2024

Jenna Ralston joined the Blues women’s basketball team in 2010 and immediately helped lift the team to the top of the PACWEST conference. Forming a dynamic partnership with frontcourt teammate Jessica Franz, the 5-foot-10 forward was a versatile threat and helped Capilano to the 2011 PACWEST title, quenching a 23-year drought.

A graduate of Heritage Park Secondary, her arsenal of skills enabled her to score as well as set up her teammates. In just two seasons on the Blues hardwood, Ralston etched herself into the record books among the career leaders in both rebounds and assists. In 2011, she was named a CCAA All-Canadian and the following year, she was recognized by Sport BC as the College Athlete of the Year, becoming just the second Blues athlete to be so honoured.

DOUG ABERCROMBIE
Women's Soccer
Class of 2024

The longest-serving head coach in any sport in Blues history, Abercrombie was at the helm for 16 seasons, leading the Blues to a run of success that saw them dominate the provincial and national stage. He guided his side to its first-ever CCAA national title in 1995 at Medicine Hat College, defeating conference rival University College of the Cariboo in the final. The Blues won it all again in 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2001.

Abrecrombie’s 100 career wins, plus 39 more in the postseason, are the most in team history. Under Abercrombie’s watch, Capilano claimed eight provincial titles, fielded five conference Players of the Year and 13 CCAA All-Canadians. During his career, Blues players were named conference All-Stars 58 times, and he was named conference Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2003. In 2017, he was inducted to the CCAA Hall of Fame.

BOB BAGSHAW
Rugby
Class of 2024

 Coach
(1974-1980)

The only coach in the history of men’s rugby at then-Capilano College, Bagshaw oversaw a phenomenal run of success where the Blues captured six consecutive provincial titles from 1975 to 1980. Bagshaw was a master motivator and a charismatic leader, excelling at team building and having his athletes play for the greater good of the team.

Blues teams under his watch were known for speed and fitness. He was a rugged athlete himself and frequently demonstrated tackling technique in training sessions. Bagshaw was an early adopter of film study, having his players watch footage of international rugby sides. In 1980, the Blues competed nationally after claiming their final provincial championship, defeating U23 rugby teams from Ontario and Quebec.

PAUL DAILLY
Men's Soccer
Class of 2024

After beginning his Blues journey as a player and winning back-to-back CCAA National Championships in 1990 and 1991, Dailly added to his soccer story as head coach of the Capilano program from 2003 to 2018. His coaching career started the same way his playing career did – with a CCAA National Championship in his first season. Capilano defeated Seneca College 1-0 in the 2003 title game, delivering the fifth CCAA crown for the Blues men’s side. A sixth would come in 2008 when Dailly led CapU to a dramatic 6-5 win over Algonquin College. The Blues capped the 2008 tournament with an astonishing 16 goals in three games.

Over his 15 seasons, Dailly coached 10 CCAA All-Canadians and won five provincial titles. Blues players were named conference All-Stars on 53 occasions in Dailly’s career, including four Players of the Year.

WAYNE DESJARDINS
Women's Volleyball
Class of 2024

Taking the reins of Blues women’s volleyball in 1999, Desjardins set about taking the program to new levels of success. He inherited a team that had not won a provincial medal in a decade and led it to eight podium finishes in 13 seasons. Desjardins coached the Blues to their first appearance in a CCAA championship game, hosted at the Capilano gymnasium in 2007. The silver medal result is, to date, the best finish in team history.

During Desjardins’ tenure, Blues players were recognized as conference All-Stars on 33 occasions and he coached two CCAA Players of the Year in Jennifer Dickson and Karlee Diesing. His 263 games coached and 168 regular-season wins are both, at the time of his induction, all-time Blues benchmarks.

NICK COLLINS
Class of 2024

Nicholas Collins became an ardent follower of the Blues athletic teams during his time as a respected instructor in the CapU Department of English. His value to Capilano University's athletic department and his role in the growth and success Blues athletic programs is impossible to calculate. A native of England, Collins was passionate about the sport of soccer and followed the Blues teams each season. His love for academics and sport drove him to support Capilano's student-athletes in their pursuits by building several annual athletic scholarships which are still distributed each year to deserving student-athletes who demonstrate excellence in their academic and athletic performance.

Through his ongoing philanthropic endeavours, Collins has assisted countless Blues varsity athletes over the years. The scholarships he founded have been a key asset in the recruitment and retention of a significant number of prominent Blues athletes.

JOE IACOBELLIS
Class of 2024

The second Athletic Director in Blues history, Joe Iacobellis served in his role from 1991 to 2012. Under Iacobellis’ leadership, the Blues claimed 26 provincial titles, 12 CCAA National titles, four BCCAA Aggregate Championships (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006), and two CCAA Quarter Century Soccer Supremacy Awards (Men's and Women's). As Blues men’s soccer head coach, Iacobellis led his team to the school’s first-ever national championship in 1988 and followed with back-to-back titles in 1990 and 1991. His career winning percentage of .615 remains the best in team history. Iacobellis was named CCAA Coach of the Year in 1992. In total, his players earned conference All-Star recognition on 24 occasions, and he coached five conference Players of the Year.

In 2009, Iacobellis was named the CCAA Athletic Director of the Year. He was inducted into the CCAA Hall of Fame in 2017.

JERI KROGSETH
Class of 2024

Jeri Krogseth came to Capilano College as an academic advisor but soon nurtured her passion for assisting students and athletes by accepting duties in coaching, fundraising, alumni development, and philanthropy. Very early in her tenure, Krogseth became Capilano College's first golf coach, a role she kept for many seasons, helping develop the program to a championship level. Along with her coaching responsibilities, she was a beloved academic advisor, helping thousands of student-athletes navigate their way to graduation. Later in her career and into retirement, Krogseth became the source for many Blues Academic Athlete of the Year scholarships.

Her contribution as a coach, advisor, and philanthropist played a major role in building the foundation of the athletic department scholarship structure. By working with CapU’s development and alumni relations departments, she was instrumental in building the athletic department’s scholarship offerings.

GREG SHARPE
Class of 2024

Greg Sharpe’s fingerprints are all over the history of Blues sports. He was the first coach of the women’s basketball team, bringing them from a brand-new varsity program in 1975 to a championship level. Sharpe’s teams won back-to-back provincial titles in 1987 and 1988 and three of his players were recognized as conference All-Stars. Sharpe would also coach three players honoured with the CCAA’s All-Canadian Award.

In addition to his work as a coach, Sharpe was a member of Capilano’s academic advising team, guiding students to complete their programs of study. As the director of the fundraising committee, Sharpe was instrumental in the fundraising drive for the Sportsplex (now Centre for Sport and Wellness), raising thousands of dollars in support of building the new facility in 1991.