CASTLETON, Vt. – The Vermont State University Castleton athletic department announced its Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026, made up of five highly deserving individuals, set to be inducted on Friday, September 18, as a part of Homecoming and Family Weekend.

The Class of 2026 features Taylor Lively '13 (softball), Nohea King '13 (men's lacrosse), Kevin Alberque '14 (football), Mark Comstock '13 (men's basketball), and Dave Kinsman B'69, M'75 (Outstanding Alumni). A tradition that began in 1988, the Castleton Athletics Hall of Fame comprises outstanding student-athletes, teams, and individuals who have made significant contributions to the department.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held at the Castleton Pavilion. The inductees will also be recognized on Saturday, September 19, at halftime of the Castleton football game against the Maine Maritime Academy.
A two-time Team MVP and one of the most accomplished pitchers in Castleton softball history, Lively is the program's all-time leader in wins (40), strikeouts (503), innings pitched (474.2), complete games (70) and shutouts (21). A three-time NAC First-Team All-Conference selection, she was named NAC Player of the Year in 2012 and NAC Pitcher of the Year in 2013. Lively recorded two career no-hitters and posted three of the top strikeout seasons in program history, including a record 171 strikeouts in 2013. That season, she led the NAC in wins and strikeouts while earning the Castleton Athletics Coaches Award. Her unmatched dominance in the circle helped set the gold standard for Spartan softball.
 
King was a three-time All-NAC selection and one of the top offensive players of his era, as a key contributor for the Spartans from 2010-13. As a freshman in 2010, King led all newcomers with 42 points and 27 goals, beginning a standout four-year career for the Spartans. He earned NAC Player of the Year honors in 2011 after leading the team in assists with 26 while netting 41 goal en route to a spot on the All-NAC First Team. King added another First Team selection in 2012 after totaling 23 goals and eight assists before earning Second Team honors in 2013 with 40 points on 28 goals and 12 assists. As a senior, he also led the team with 12 man-up goals while adding 34 ground balls and seven caused turnovers.
Alberque was a three-time All-ECFC selection and one of the most dynamic playmakers in program history, a standout wide receiver and return specialist that excelled for the Spartans from 2012-14. He was named ECFC Offensive Player of the Year in 2014 after leading the conference in receptions (53) and receiving yards (861) while totaling 1,658 all-purpose yards and earning First Team All-Conference honors as both a receiver and return specialist. A two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection and Castleton Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2013, he consistently ranked among the nation's leaders in all-purpose yards, finishing 17th nationally in 2014 and 21st in 2012. Over his career, he combined elite receiving ability with explosive special teams play, becoming the only player in the nation in 2014 to surpass 200 rushing, receiving, punt return and kick return yards in the same season.
 
A dominant scorer and one of the premier players of his generation, Comstock left his mark on the Spartan men's basketball program with a career defined by consistency and production. A First Team All-NAC selection and NAC All-Tournament Team honoree as a senior, he averaged a team-best 18.4 points per game while shooting 52.7 percent from the field and finished his career with 1,677 points. Comstock earned NAC Player of the Year honors in 2011-12 as a junior after leading the team in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage while surpassing the 1,000-point milestone. He also earned NAC Second Team recognition and team MVP honors in 2010-11, beginning three years as one of the conference's most reliable offensive threats.
 
A respected coach, educator and lifelong supporter of Spartan athletics, Dave Kinsman has spent decades impacting basketball throughout the state of Vermont. A Castleton graduate who earned his bachelor's degree in 1969 and master's degree in education in 1975, Kinsman compiled a 318-164 record across 22 seasons as a Vermont high school boys basketball coach, highlighted by 11 Final Four appearances, five trips to the state championship game and three Vermont State Championships. A charter member of the Vermont Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, he also coached the Vermont-New Hampshire All-Star Game on three occasions and spent 34 years as an educator at West Rutland and Rutland High Schools. Kinsman later returned to Castleton to assist the men's and women's basketball programs and today remains a familiar voice to Spartan fans as the color analyst alongside Hall of Famer Jack Healey for Castleton men's and women's basketball broadcasts.
 
The Hall of Fame Class of 2026 reflects the very best of Castleton Athletics, honoring individuals whose achievements and dedication have strengthened the Spartan tradition both on and off the field.