History of the Geneseo Sports Hall of Fame
The Geneseo Sports Hall of Fame began in May of 1972 with the induction of longtime coach and physical educator Ira S. Wilson. Wilson coached basketball, baseball, track and golf at the college and the college's ice arena was named in his honor in 1974.
The college added coach Frank Akers and coach James Welch in 1974 and inducted the first student-athletes in 1980 with the addition of three sport stars Fred Brown, '55 and Don Checho, '60, and basketball standout Ed Robota, '75.
In 1984, the college expanded the Hall by honoring individuals on an annual basis and began by inducting six student-athletes and two contributors that year. The college has recognized three to four individuals each year since.
The Hall of Fame Induction ceremony has evolved over the years. The first few ceremonies took place at halftime of a basketball game and for four years the inductees were honored at the annual President's Recognition Dinner. In May of 1988, the Hall of Fame ventured out on its own by having the first of 10 Geneseo Sports Hall of Fame Luncheons and in 1998 the committee further moved the ceremony to an evening dinner event. In 2001, a recommendation was made to shift the Hall of Fame dinner to Homecoming weekend in October, a natural progression for the alumni event.
In addition, the Hall of Fame committee began a new tradition in 2000. The committee began to recognize and celebrate pioneers of athletics who made significant contributions to the Geneseo athletic program with the category, "Legends of the Knights". This category was created for those individuals who may not have the statistical clout or Geneseo tenure for Hall of Fame consideration but, nonetheless, made a profound impact on athletics at Geneseo.
To nominate a deserving student-athlete, coach, administrator or contributor, please complete and return the nomination form.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE 2019 GENESEO SPORTS HOF INDUCTION CEREMONY (SATURDAY, NOV. 16, 2019)
SUNY GENESEO Sports Hall of Fame Nomination Form
Geneseo Sports Hall of Fame Members
Induction | Name | Graduation | Affiliation |
May, 1972 | Ira S. Wilson | Coach | Basketball, Baseball, Track, Golf |
February 23, 1974 | Frank Akers | Coach | Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, AD |
James E. Welch | Coach | Basketball | |
December 13, 1980 | Fred Brown | 1955 | Soccer, Basketball, Baseball |
Don Checho | 1960 | Soccer, Basketball, Golf | |
Edward Robota | 1975 | Basketball | |
April 25, 1984 | David Gross | 1967 | Basketball |
Craig Shaw | 1970 | Soccer | |
Alan Solomon | 1974 | Wrestling | |
Joseph Contario | 1975 | Cross Country | |
James DeWitt | 1978 | Swimming | |
Robert MacVittie | College President | Contributor | |
Robert Dewar | Community Member | Contributor | |
William "Bud" Dietsche | 1933 | Baseball | |
April 26, 1985 | Thomas Metzger | 1980 | Hockey |
James Andrews | 1971 | Lacrosse | |
John Fiala | 1954 | Soccer, Basketball, Baseball | |
Linda Piccirillo Hinckley | 1972 | Swimming and Swim Coach | |
April 25, 1986 | Thomas Sisson | 1971 | Basketball |
Charles "Chip" Reist | 1977 | Soccer | |
Mary E. White | 1979 | Basketball, Volleyball, Softball | |
April 24, 1987 | Mike Nelson | 1969 | Basketball |
Ed Usinger | 1973 | Soccer | |
Ken Weber | 1978 | Hockey | |
Curt Smith | 1973 | Sports Writing | |
May 7, 1988 | Anthony D. Arrigo | 1956 | Soccer, Basketball, Baseball |
William Hewson | 1969 | Soccer | |
Harry Ward | 1974 | Basketball | |
October 27, 1989 | Daniel Mullin | Administrator and Coach | |
James Allan | 1961 | Soccer, Basketball, Baseball | |
Kathleen Dowling | 1977 | Synchronized Swimming | |
Marjorie Herring Ellert | 1975 | Synchronized Swimming | |
May 5, 1990 | Robert Riedel | Administrator and Coach | |
Gary "Butch" Conboy | 1968 | Basketball, Baseball | |
Don Litzelman | 1982 | Lacrosse | |
May 4, 1991 | Peter Herrmann | 1970 | Baseball |
David Giordano | 1975 | Soccer | |
Lori Connor | 1984 | Volleyball, Track | |
May 2, 1992 | Susan Lind | 1987 | Basketball |
Richard Bondi | 1980 | Swimming | |
Carl Witzel | Coach | Soccer and Basketball | |
May 1, 1993 | Raymond Maxwell | 1982 | Soccer |
Richard Butterworth | 1982 | Soccer | |
Martin Kentner | Coach | Cross Country | |
May 7, 1994 | Terry Reilly | 1988 | Hockey |
James Clar | 1989 | Basketball and Soccer | |
John Linfoot | Community Member | Contributor, President of Roundtable | |
May 6, 1995 | John O'Brien | 1981 | Swimming |
Julie Rivers Hunt | 1988 | Soccer | |
Colleen Burruto Soudan | 1988 | Soccer | |
Dr. Myrtle Merritt | Chair of Health and Physical Education, Contributor | ||
May 4, 1996 | Paul Rich | 1981 | Basketball |
Diane Williams | 1986 | Basketball | |
Glen Mazurowski | 1991 | Hockey | |
Christopher Smith | 1991 | Hockey | |
May 10, 1997 | Charles Derwick | 1963 | Basketball and Baseball |
Christine Dellavecchia Bentz | 1987 | Volleyball and Softball | |
Duncan Hinckley | Coach | Swimming | |
Tim Farry | 1991 | Swimming | |
May 9, 1998 | Joyce Wechsler | Coach | Volleyball |
Lisa Bunker Matwijow | 1982 | Swimming | |
Tim Menges | 1993 | Swimming | |
Bill Loveland | 1989 | Hockey | |
May 8, 1999 | Scott Fitch | 1993 | Basketball |
Carin Halleran | 1994 | Soccer | |
Betsy Balling | 1994 | Soccer | |
Fred Bright | Coach | Women's Soccer, Administrator | |
May 6, 2000 | Shirley Toler | Coach | Synchronized Swimming |
Mark Monaghan | 1995 | Swimming | |
Carey Janis | 1995 | Basketball | |
Katie Smith Porter | 1995 | Basketball | |
Legends Category | Huldah Barnes Donnelly | 1926 | Basketball |
Ruth Green Linfoot | Coach | Basketball (1928-33) | |
Eleanor Nickerson Duffy | 1934 | Basketball | |
October 20, 2001 | Mark Muller | 1991 | Basketball |
Keena Bush McAvoy | 1995 | Track | |
Christine Sisting | 1996 | Cross Country and Track | |
Tom Pope | Coach | Men's Basketball | |
Legends Category | Vic Raschi | Coach | Baseball and Basketball (1959-61, 67-68) |
October 5, 2002 | Patrick Fish | 1995 | Swimming |
Brian Scanlan | 1995 | Soccer | |
Sean Cascio | 1990 | Hockey | |
Legends Category | Ted Bondi | Community Member | Contributor, President of the Roundtable |
October 4, 2003 | Erin Malone | 1994 | Basketball |
Bill Mason | 1992 | Basketball | |
Kristin Raines Campbell | 1994 | Basketball | |
Ian Tudman | 1995 | Basketball | |
Dr. John Spring | Athletic Director | ||
Legends Category | Dr. Charles "Randy" Bailey | Professor of History | Contributor, Fan |
Dr. Lucien Potenza | College Physician | Contributor, Team Physician | |
October 2, 2004 | Beth Shope | 1999 | Track & Field |
Gary Lewis | 1976 | Lacrosse | |
Tom Gleason | 1979 | Lacrosse | |
Paul Rose | Coach | Lacrosse/Wrestling | |
Legends Category | Gloria Tarantella | Department Secretary | Contributor |
Ruth Robinson | Department Secretary | Contributor | |
October 1, 2005 | Todd Geary | 1999 | Swimming |
Matt VanDerMeid | 1998 | Swimming | |
Mike Houlihan | 1998 | Swimming | |
Josh Muldner | 1999 | Swimming | |
Legends Category | Del Rittenhouse | 1973 | Golf |
September 30, 2006 | Megan Mackey | 1998 | Basketball |
Dan Keane | 1995 | Basketball | |
Lynn Hamilton Simmons | 1991 | Basketball | |
Paul Duffy | Coach | Hockey/Tennis | |
Legends Category | Al "Buzzo" Bruno | 1971 | Wrestling |
September 29, 2007 | John Keady | 1988 | Hockey |
Mark Breeden | 1999 | Hockey | |
Christine Camera | 1991 | Soccer | |
Jen Hogan | 1997 | Soccer/Basketball | |
Aimee Canale Koch | 1998 | Soccer/Coach | |
September 27, 2008 | David Lyons | 1977 | Lacrosse |
Hilary Gangemi | 2000 | Softball | |
Sarah Taub | 2003 | Softball | |
Melissa White | 2003 | Cross Country and Track | |
September 26, 2009 | Gena Tallarini Batchelder | 2002 | Tennis |
George O'Brien | 1987 | Soccer | |
Jill Almansberger Edwards | 2002 | Softball | |
Jennifer Turkovich Lorenz | 2001 | Lacrosse | |
Legends Category | Art Hatton | VP Advancement/Roundtable | Contributor |
September 25, 2010 | Michelle Standora Wolinski | 2000 | Swimming |
Danielle Schoen | 2001 | Swimming | |
James N. Leary | 1975 | Distinguished Patron | |
David Spennacchio | 2004 | Lacrosse | |
Logan Hadzicki Blask | 2004 | Soccer | |
September 24, 2011 | Beth-Anne Cincotta Canero | 1996 | Cross Country and Track |
Kim Stone Butts | 1995 | Cross Country and Track | |
Keith Hyde | 1981 | Ice Hockey | |
Jeff Stitt | 1981 | Ice Hockey | |
September 22, 2012 | Amy Cleary | 1997 | Swimming |
Richard "Deacon" Woodward | 1971 | Basketball | |
Stan Janas | 1972 | Basketball | |
Griffin Coles | 2000 | Basketball | |
September 28, 2013 | P.J. McTigue Murdie | 1999 | Basketball, Soccer |
Jennifer Rettke Sprague | 2003 | Cross Country/Track & Field | |
Lisa McKenzie Jackson | 1997 | Volleyball | |
Amanda McKenzie Bagley | 2003 | Volleyball | |
Legends Category | Allen Galbraith | Community Member | Fan, Supporter and Contributor |
October 18, 2014 | Jim Stewart | 1967 | Basketball/Baseball |
Aaron Coleman | 1999 | Ice Hockey | |
Meg New Schober | 2003 | Field Hockey | |
Leslie Howlett Grego | 2003 | Field Hockey | |
Legends Category | John Hoey | Men's Lacrosse Founder | Contributor |
October 17, 2015 | Ted Turner | 2005 | Cross Country/Track & Field |
Jeff Beck | 2005 | Cross Country/Track & Field |
|
Mike Woods | 1969 | Cross Country/Track & Field | |
Tara Snavlin Graziadei | 2003 | Basketball | |
Marilyn Moore | Administrator | AD/Athletic Trainer | |
Nov. 19, 2016 | Marc Miller | 1992 | Ice Hockey |
Cherylyn Pinkerton Wilson | 1999 | Softball | |
Erik Stevens | 1987 | Ice Hockey | |
Chris Stock | 2005 | Soccer/Lacrosse | |
Nov. 11, 2017 | Katie Hovey Soluri | 2003 | Softball |
Randy Shepard | 1993 | Swimming & Diving | |
Megan Sheehan Sarao | 2002 | Basketball | |
Joe Zera | 2005 | Basketball | |
Nov. 3, 2018 | Mary Koslowski | 2006 | Women's Track & Field |
Mitch Stephens | 2007 | Men's Ice Hockey | |
Annie Verdino Rose | 2006 | Women's Basketball | |
Brett Walker | 2005 | Men's Ice Hockey |