Arcadia University inducts six new members into Athletic Hall of Fame

Arcadia University in Glenside inducted six new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 5. The ceremony marked the 12th class to be inducted since the Hall of Fame’s inception in 2008.


You can watch the full ceremony below:

Jackie Bilotti `19, `20 M.Ed: Softball

A four-year member of the Arcadia softball program, Bilotti helped re-write the record books from her first season in Glenside en route to being one of the most decorated players in any sport at Arcadia. In 2016, Bilotti was named Third Team All-Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth (MAC Commonwealth) Rookie of the Year and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III South Rookie of the Year, in addition to being named Arcadia’s Female Rookie Athlete of the Year. Bilotti cemented her place among the all-time best in Arcadia history after earning three-straight MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year awards in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Bilotti continued to earn regional and national recognition as well, earning NFCA Second Team All-Region and First Team All-ECAC in 2017 and NFCA First Team All-Region honors in 2018 and 2019. Bilotti’s career culminated her senior season, when she was named a Second-Team All-American by the NFCA, a CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic All-American, the MAC Softball Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and helped lead the program to its first-ever MAC Commonwealth Championship with a 1-0 win over Widener in which Bilotti put the ball in play that brought home the winning run. The season, and Bilotti’s storied career, came to a close with a  Second Place finish at the Ewing NCAA Division III Regional hosted by The College of New Jersey, still tied for the highest finish in program history.

Bilotti found success off the field as well, being named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll and Academic All-MAC all four years. Bilotti was named to the Philly-SIDA Academic All-Area team in 2017, 2018, and 2019, in addition to being named the Performer of the Year in both 2018 and 2019. In addition to being named a CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic All-American, Bilotti was named First Team CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic All-District in 2018.

For career records, Bilotti is first in hits (235) and stolen bases (78), second in triples (19) and games played 164, third in runs (141), doubles (44), and on-base percentage (.470), fifth in batting average (.427), and sixth in RBI’s (110) and seventh in slugging percentage (.598).

Bilotti holds multiple season records as well. She is first (68, 2017) and third (64, 2015) in hits, tied for fourth in doubles (16, 2016), tied for fifth twice in triples (6, 2017 and 2019), third (21, 2017), fourth (20, 2019), and fifth (19, 2018) in stolen bases, and tied for fifth (41, 2018) and ninth (40, 2017) in runs scored.

Bilotti graduated in 2019 with a degree in Early and Special Education, and earned a Master’s of Education in Literacy Studies in 2020. Bilotti served as an assistant coach after graduation from 2020-22, and is currently a Special Education Teacher in the Pennridge School District.

Bryan Gillen `19: Baseball

A four-year member of the Arcadia baseball program, Gillen’s time in Glenside helped spark the recent resurgence of the program that coincided with his arrival on campus. Gillen was named the first All-American in program history when he earned Third Team recognition from D3baseball.com in 2018. Gillen was also named First Team All-Region in 2018 and Second Team All-Region in 2017 by D3Baseball.com, Second Team All-Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) in 2017 and 2018, Second Team All-ECAC in 2018, MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year in 2018, and First Team All-MAC Commonwealth in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Gillen helped lead the Knights to MAC Commonwealth Championships in 2017 and 2018, earning Championship Tournament MVP honors in 2018. Gillen was also named one of Arcadia’s Athletes of the Year in 2017. 

In the classroom, Gillen was named Academic All-MAC in 2018, ECAC Academic Honor Roll in 2018, and to the MAC Academic Honor Roll in 2017, 2018, and 2019. 

Gillen currently stands first in hits (251), and runs (185), second in games played (168), batting average (.392), walks (75), and triples (12), and third in doubles (48) while sitting in the top-10 in stolen bases (58), slugging percentage (.538), fielding percentage (.984), and RBI’s (101) for a career. Gillen also holds season records for runs scored (65 in 2018), triples (six in 2018), and fielding percentage (1.000 in 2018 and 2019). 

Gillen graduated in 2019 with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in management. Currently, Gillen is a sales representative with Thompson Creek Window Company.

Timothy Graham `16: Men’s Swimming

A four-year member of the Arcadia men’s swim program, Graham helped bridge the program to its current era of sustained success during his tenure. In 2016, Graham was the first swimmer in program history to achieve an NCAA Qualifier “B” cut in the 200-yard butterfly. Graham had individual success on the conference stage, capturing Championships in the 200 yard butterfly in 2014 and 2016, and a title in the 200 yard Individual Medley in 2015. Graham also captured a Silver in the 200 yard butterfly in 2013, Silver in the 100 yard butterfly in all four MAC Championships between 2013 and 2016, Silver in the 200 IM in 2013, 2014, and 2016, and a Bronze in the same event in 2015. Graham had relay success, taking silver in the 800 medley relay in 2016, and bronze in the 200 yard freestyle relay in 2014 and 2016, the 400 yard freestyle relay in 2015 and 2016, the 800 yard freestyle relay in 2014 and 2015, and the 400 yard medley relay in 2015 and 2016. Graham also earned a place on the MAC All-Sportsmanship team in 2015 and 2016. Graham also helped the team win the Diamond City Invitational in 2015, and at that time, the highest team finish at the MAC Championships, a fourth place showing in 2016 (since surpassed by a second place finish in 2023).. At Arcadia, Graham was named the University’s Rookie Athlete of the Year in 2013, Athlete of the Year in 2015, and Senior Athlete of the Year in 2016. Graham holds records in the 200 fly,  and at the time of his graduation, held program records in the 100 fly, 200 IM, 200 free, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay, 200 medley relay, and 400 medley relay. 

In the classroom, Graham found equal success, earning PhillySIDA Academic All-Area honors in 2015-16, along with being named Academic All-MAC in 2014 and 2016 and to the MAC Academic Honor Roll in 2014 and 2016.

Graham graduated in 2016 with a degree in Biology, and earned a Master of Forensic Science with a concentration in Forensic Molecular Biology from The George Washington University in 2018. Currently, Graham is a Forensic Support Specialist at SNA International, a forensic and biometric identity management company. In addition, he gave two oral presentations at the American Academy of Forensic Science Annual Meeting in 2018 and attained Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification. Graham and his wife Julie have a son, Jorge.

Caitlin (Sparks) Layne `08, `09 M.Ed: Women’s Basketball

A five-year member of the women’s basketball team, Sparks was a consistent force in the middle for the Knights during her career. Sparks was a three-time All-Conference selection, each time in a different conference, earning Second Team All-Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) honors in 2004-05, while securing First Team All-MAC Freedom in 2007-08 and Second Team All-MAC Commonwealth in 2008-09. In her First Team All-Conference season of 2007-08, Sparks was recognized by D3hoops.com as Second Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region, the second player to earn the honor after 2020 Hall of Fame Inductee, Becky Soda ’05.

At Arcadia, Sparks holds the career record for points (1,276), free-throws made (308), and field goals made (481). Sparks is third in rebounds (691), fifth in point-per-game (13.3), and blocks (61), and sixth in games played (96). Sparks has the eighth-most points-per-game in a season (15.7, 2004-05), and the ninth (133, 2004-05) and 10th (126, 2008-09) most field goals made in a season.

In the classroom, Sparks was named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll in 2008 and 2009. Sparks was also named to the MAC All-Sportsmanship Team in 2009.

Sparks graduated in 2008 with a degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Education in 2009. After graduation, Sparks worked for 10 years as a Senior Software Analyst. Sparks and her husband Bill have three children, Billy, Barrett, and Emerson.

Haylee Molloy `15: Women’s Lacrosse

Molloy, a four-year member of the women’s lacrosse team, was not only the most prolific scorer on the only conference championship team, she is the most prolific goal-scorer in program history. In 2013, Molloy ranked 17th in all of Division III with 71 goals scored, the second-most in program history. Molloy was named First Team All-MAC Freedom in 2013 and 2014, and was named Second Team All-MAC Freedom in 2012. In the 2014 MAC Freedom Championship, Molloy finished with three goals and two assists for five points. Molloy was also named Arcadia’s Senior Athlete of the Year in 2015.

Molloy holds career records in points (304), goals (236), is third in games played (74), fourth in assists (68), and fifth in draw controls (120). Molloy set the program record for games played in a season (21, 2015), is second in goals (74, 2013), third in points (94, 2013), and fifth in goals (86, 2012).

In the classroom, Molloy was named Academic All-MAC in 2014, and to the MAC Academic Honor Roll in 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Molloy graduated in 2015 with a degree in Corporate Communications. Molloy went on to earn a Master’s in Physical Education from Hofstra University in 2020 and a Master’s in Health Education from SUNY Brockport in 2022. Molloy currently works as an elementary school physical education teacher, and is also a professor at SUNY Brockport’s Public Health and Health Education programs. Molloy competes in CrossFit, and has advanced to the CrossFit games quarterfinals while also working as a CrossFit trainer and coach.

Tara (Nuzzo) Thurston `14: Women’s Swimming

Nuzzo, a three-year member of the women’s swim team, also served as a bridge from the previous era of the program to the success of today. Nuzzo was the first MAC Champion in program history, taking gold in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle in 2013 and in the 200-yard freestyle in 2014. Nuzzo earned First Team All-MAC in the 50 free in 2013 and 2014, the 100 free in 2013 and 2014, and the 200 free in 2013 and 2014. Nuzzo was a part of the relay team that won Second Team All-MAC in the 200 free relay in 2014 and 400 medley relay in 2014. Nuzzo was named the Arcadia Athlete of the Year in 2013, and the Senior Athlete of the Year in 2014.

At Arcadia, Nuzzo held the records in the 50 and 100 free, and shared records in the 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay, and 400 medley relay, in addition to the Lenox Pool record in the 50 free at the time of her graduation.

Nuzzo graduated in 2014 with a degree in Psychology and earned a Master’s in Occupational Therapy at Bay Path University in 2017. Currently, she works at Peace Aging Care, where she is a Care Manager as a practicing Licensed Occupational Therapist. Tara is married to her husband, Andrew.

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Photo: Arcadia