Dec. 18, 2012
Bronx, N.Y. -
2013 Fordham Athletic Hall of Fame Brochure
The ranks of Fordham University Athletic Hall of Fame will grow by ten on Saturday, January 26th, as the Rams induct the newest class at the annual Hall of Fame Awards Brunch at 10:30 a.m. in Fordham's McGinley Center located on the school's Bronx campus.
Joining the likes of such Fordham notables as Frankie Frisch, Vince Lombardi, Vin Scully, Wellington Mara and Peter Harnisch will be former Executive Director of Athletics Frank McLaughlin, FCRH '69 (Basketball), Jennifer Akerley, GSB `01 (Rowing), Matteo Cucchiara, FCRH `65 (Track & Field), Paul Darrigo, FCRH '89 (Baseball), Michael Debany, FCRH '54 (Tennis), Kerstin Maike Greene, FCRH '07 (Track & Field), Michelle Maguire Kennedy, FCRH '03 (Swimming), Sara Kinney, FCRH '07 (Softball), Wayne McGuirt, FCRH '65 (Basketball) and Tom Penders (Basketball Coach).
Here is a brief synopsis for the newest Hall of Famers:
McLaughlin served as the director of athletics at Fordham for over 20 years, overseeing the improvement of athletic facilities, the move of the football program to the NCAA FCS level in 1989, and leading the program to the Atlantic 10 in 1995. During his tenure, Fordham student-athletes maintained tremendous graduation rates and the school went through NCAA recertification three times, passing each time with flying colors. As an undergraduate, McLaughlin served as a captain for the 1968-69 basketball squad and led the Rams to undefeated seasons in the Rose Hill Gym as a junior and senior.
Akerley won gold with the varsity 4 at both the Dad Vail National Championship and Atlantic 10 Championship as a sophomore and a junior with the crew winning the outstanding women's crew award at the Dad Vail her sophomore year.
Cucchiara held seven Fordham track records at graduation, including the outdoor mile (4:10.4), outdoor three-mile (14:16.3), indoor mile (4:12) and indoor (9:06) and outdoor two-mile (9:10). While representing Fordham at the Capital State Indoor track championships in Colonie, New York, he set two world records (ten lap flat track mile (4:15.0) and ten lap flat track for the two mile run (9:18).
Darrigo was named to the ECAC All-Tournament Team in 1987 and 1988 and was named All-New York State and a MAAC-All-Star in 1988. He threw 12 1/3 innings in the 1988 ECAC Championship Tournament with a 1.46 ERA as the Rams won the ECAC Title and then tossed 10 2/3 innings of three-hit, one-run ball in the 1988 NCAA Tournament against Clemson. Darrigo is second on Fordham's career innings pitched list (260 1/3) and third on Fordham's career strikeout list (199).
Debany was one of the most prolific tennis players in Fordham history, losing only one match in his four-year career. He went undefeated in both singles and doubles as a freshman, junior and senior, playing at the first position. He was named MVP of the team as a junior and senior.
Greene is the most decorated female track and field athlete in school history, earning All-America honors as a senior in 2007. She was also named Atlantic 10 Field Performer of the Year both indoors and outdoors that season, winning A-10 titles in the triple jump (indoors) and long jump and heptathlon (outdoors). Greene graduated with 14 school records, nine of which still stand.
Maguire won the 2003 Hobbs Family Award as the school's outstanding female athlete. She set two individual and two team records as a junior, breaking the Fordham 50 and 100 free records at the 2002 Atlantic 10 Championships and was also a member of the school record-setting 200 free and 200 medley relays at A-10's.
Kinney graduated as the most successful pitcher in team history, helping Fordham to a 149-83 mark from 2004-07, which included four Atlantic 10 Tournament appearances and two A-10 championship game appearances. She was named 2004 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and 2005 Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year and graduated with the school's career records in appearances (163), games started (121), complete games (70), wins (75), inning pitched (770), strikeouts (680), shutouts (18) and saves (15).
McGuirt served as a team captain in 1963-64 and 1964-65, helping the 1964-65 team to an NIT berth. He averaged 13.0 ppg, second best on team to Hall of Famer John Stevens, as a senior in 1964-65, and averaged 12.5 ppg as a junior, second to Hall of Famer John Manhardt.
Penders served as head men's basketball coach from 1978-86, accumulating a 125-114 record in eight seasons at Fordham. He led the 1982-83 squad to first ever MAAC title and the Rams appeared in five NIT tournaments in his eight years. Penders was named New York Metropolitan Area Coach of the Year in 1981.
The 2013 Hall of Fame ceremony will begin with a special mass at the University Church at 9:30 a.m. The Hall of Famers and their guests will then proceed to the McGinley Center Ballroom for the formal induction ceremony beginning at 11:00 a.m. New York Yankees announcer, and Fordham alum, Michael Kay will serve as the Master of Ceremony at the brunch.
Following the ceremony, the Hall of Famers will attend the Fordham-Rhode Island men's basketball game in the Rose Hill Gym at 1:00 p.m. with the new class being introduced to the crowd at halftime.
For more information on the 2013 Hall of Fame Day or to order tickets, click here.
