Ithaca College Athletics Hall of Fame Committee selected the 49th Hall of Fame class. Eight magnificent individuals and one team will be formally inducted into Ithaca's illustrious Hall of Fame on Friday, October 5, 2018 in Emerson Suites. IC alumnus and ESPN SportsCenter anchor Kevin Connors '97 will return as the Master of Ceremonies for the fourth straight year.
"Ithaca College Athletics enjoys a rich tradition of excellence. The 2018 Hall of Fame class reflects the best of that tradition. We all look forward to celebrating these wonderful Bomber champions during Alumni weekend in October. Their stories inspire current and future Bombers to emulate their outstanding careers and accomplishments," said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports, Susan Bassett '79.
1998 GYMNASTICS
A record-setting performance at the NCGA Championships gave the Bombers their first national championship under Hall of Fame coach Rick Suddaby. Ithaca, which edged defending national champion Wisconsin-La Crosse by two-tenths of a point, had placed second at the national meet twice previously (including the preceding year).
Ithaca's combined score of 148.875 was the best-ever recorded at the NCGA meet. The Bombers won only one of four events (the uneven bars), but placed second in each of the other three (vault, balance beam, and floor exercise).
Leading the way was sophomore Lindsey Mazer and senior Jen Nardone (2014 IC Hall of Fame inductee). The two, who took turns atop the NCGA all-around rankings all season, placed first and third, respectively, in the all-around competition. Mazer's 38.225 score set a school and NCGA championship record. Nardone posted a mark of 37.175.
The team's depth was a factor: during the first day of team competition, 12 Bombers qualified for the individual event finals, held the next day. Ithaca's success continued on the final day, as 11 athletes posted All-America finishes (by placing in the top six). The showing was again highlighted by Mazer. She won her second championship of the meet, recording a score of 19.150 on the vault.
Mazer also placed second in the balance beam and uneven bars. Nardone took third in the balance beam and sixth in the vault. Seniors Kathy Kowalski and Becky Davis placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in the balance beam (Ithaca occupied four of the top six spots). Rounding out Ithaca's All-Americans was senior Alison McClung, who finished sixth in the uneven bars.
The Bombers went 16-4 during the regular season, which remains a school record for victories.
STEVE BARNES '05 – SWIMMING & DIVING
A four-time All-American in middle to long distance races, Steve Barnes ranks among the best swimmers in program history. Barnes claimed a pair of All-American showings during his junior season with an 11th place finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay and 14th in the 1,650 freestyle (16:05.01). His first All-America performance came during his freshman campaign in the 1,650 as he finished 15th and he capped off his career with a 14th place performance (16:03.69) in the 1,650 his senior season.
Barnes was also an 11-time Empire 8 Conference champion during his time at IC and was named Empire 8 Rookie of the Year in 2001-02, as well as Swimmer of the Meet at the UNYSCSA state meet.
Academically, Barnes was named UNYSCSA All-Academic twice and was a CoSIDA District 1 All-Academic first-teamer in 2002-03.
To date, Barnes still owns school records in the 1,000 freestyle with a top time of 9:37.93 in 2005 and the 1,650 at 16:01.37, which he set in 2002. He also ranks second all-time in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:36.58, which took place in 2004.
ERICA CUTSPEC KURNATH '08 – SOFTBALL
A career .369 hitter, Erica Cutspec Kurnath is just one of two players in the softball program's illustrious history to collect more than 200 hits in her career. Cutspec Kurnath, a NFCA All-American and Empire 8 Player of the Year in 2008, cemented her name in the IC record book with 201 career hits, with her 200th coming at the 2008 College World Series.
Cutspec Kurnath started 182 career games under the guidance of Hall of Fame head coach Deb Pallozzi, and played an integral role in the Bombers' overall record of 142-42 from 2005-08. The 2006 team still owns the school record for victories in a season with 40. IC won three Empire 8 Conference titles during that time, as well as three regional championships and three trips to the College World Series. She would be named to the regional all-tournament team three times during her career.
During her senior year in 2008, Cutspec Kurnath hit .462 during the campaign with 66 hits and 37 runs scored. As a junior, she scored 45 runs and hit .392 in 44 games played, and during her sophomore season, she batted .372 with 51 hits in 137 at bats.
She ranks third all-time in runs scored with 135, is fourth in single season runs scored at 45 (in 2007), ranks fifth in career batting average, and her .462 clip as a senior is sixth all-time on the single-season list.
IAN GOLDEN '99 – CROSS COUNTRY, TRACK & FIELD
The only two-time All-American and the first NYSCTC champion in cross country history, Ian Golden was one of the top distance runners for the cross country and track & field programs during his time at Ithaca College.
Golden helped the cross country program to an 18th place team finish at the 1997 Division III Cross Country Championships as he came in 25th individually. The following season, he earned another trip to the championships as an individual and placed 22nd overall for his second All-American showing.
In three NCAA Regional races, Golden finished within the top six all three times.
As a distance runner for the track & field team, Golden was an NYSCTC champion in the steeplechase during the 1997-98 season. That same year, he set a school record in the event and was a provisional qualifier for the NCAA Championships. In 1996-97, he was a state runner-up in the steeplechase and the indoor 1,600-meter relay.
JOE HOPE '98 – LACROSSE
A two-time USILA All-American for the men's lacrosse program in the late 1990s, Joe Hope remains as one of the all-time great goal scorers in Ithaca College history.
Hope ranks sixth all-time in career points with 215 and goals with 145 in 49 career games. At the time of his graduation, he ranked first in career man-up goals with 31 and in single-single man-up scores with 14. During the 1997 season, his 5.62 points per game ranked second on the single-season list while his 3.69 goals were also second. He also scooped up 174 groundballs in his career.
As a freshman, Hope was named ECAC Rookie of the Year after he tallied 39 points on 29 goals and 10 assists in 10 games played. He then claimed back-to-back All-America honors in 1997 and 1998 and was also a First-Team Super Six League All-Star both years.
Hope led the Ithaca lacrosse program in points and goals in three different seasons.
After graduating from Ithaca, Hope was selected by the Bridgeport Barrage in the sixth round of the Major League Lacrosse supplemental draft in 2001, which was the inaugural season for the league.
MIKE MURTHA '94 – FOOTBALL, WRESTLING
A two-sport athlete from 1990-94 in football and wrestling, Mike Murtha is one of just 12 three-time All-Americans in program history as a grappler. Murtha also played an integral role on the 1994 national championship wrestling team and was a running back for the 1991 national championship football program.
On the mat, Murtha compiled an overall record of 52-25 and won three ECWC championships. During the 1992-93 season, he went 25-4 and posted a perfect 12-0 regular season record in dual matches en route to a third place finish at the NCAA Championships. In his final season, Murtha was 10-3 overall and placed fifth in the country despite battling through a significant injury in Ithaca's national championship run.
That 1994 wrestling squad edged Wartburg by 2.75 points (77.75 to 75) for the program's third national title.
His third All-American performance came during the 1991-92 year, where he went 15-8 and placed seventh.
On the gridiron, Murtha was a captain and finished his career with 732 yards rushing and six touchdowns on 154 carries in 22 games. He also scored one receiving touchdown in his career.
In 1991, Murtha rushed for 157 yards on 33 attempts in nine games and then amassed 402 yards and four scores in 1992. He would score two more touchdowns with 173 yards in his final season.
CHRIS RAUTH '85 – BASEBALL
One of the most reliable and dominant pitchers in the history of Ithaca baseball, Chris Rauth was a three-year starter in the mid-1980s under Hall of Fame coach George Valesente.
From 1983-85, Rauth guided the Bombers to an overall record of 91-26-1 and a trip to the College World Series in 1985. During that season, Ithaca went 38-12-1 and finished third in the country.
Rauth produced his best season in 1985, as he posted a 12-3 record with 93 strikeouts in 102.1 innings pitched and 10 complete games. In the first game of the World Series, a 14-3 win over Redlands, he tossed eight innings and allowed just three hits with six strikeouts. Rauth would be named ABCA First-Team All-American at the end of the season.
He still owns single-season school records in strikeouts, complete games and innings pitched. Rauth is tied for first with 20 career complete games and ranks sixth with 188 career strikeouts.
Rauth would continue his baseball career as he was drafted in the 15th Round by the New York Mets in 1985. He played seven seasons in the Minor League system, reaching Triple-A in 1992, and finished his career with 48 victories and 24 complete games over 146 starts.
KELLY STEVISON HARDING '07 – GYMNASTICS
An eight-time All-American as an all-around competitor and two-time ECAC champion, Kelly Stevison Harding was one of the most decorated gymnasts at Ithaca College from 2003-07.
As a freshman, Stevison Harding placed second at nationals in the vault (9.700) and was an All-American in the vault, floor (9.838) and all-around (37.625). She also was the ECAC vault championship prior to the NCGA Championships.
The following year, she repeated as an All-American in the all-around (37.625). During her junior year, Stevison Harding notched two All-American showings in the all-around (36.97) and vault (9.425), and was also named an At-Large Academic All-American by CoSIDA.
Stevison Harding's final season culminated with an All-American performance in floor (9.025) and was the Empire 8 Female Scholar Athlete of the Year, as well as another Academic All-American nod by CoSIDA.
She remains the only gymnast to secure three All-American performances in the all-around at Ithaca College.
JULIE STONE RADNOFF '93 – FIELD HOCKEY, LACROSSE
Julie Stone Radnoff was a two-sport athlete at Ithaca College in field hockey and lacrosse from 1989 to 1993. Stone Radnoff played four seasons on the lacrosse team and one year with field hockey, and was coached by Hall of Famers Doris Kostrinsky and Andrea Golden.
During her first three years with the lacrosse program, Stone Radnoff was primarily a defender but moved to attack her senior season. The transition paid dividends as she went on the tally 54 goals with 30 assists for 84 points and helped lead the Bombers to their second-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament with a 10-4 record.
Stone Radnoff was named Brine/IWLCA Second-Team All-American as well as First-Team All-NYSWCAA Lacrosse for her breakout campaign. In 1991 and 1992, she would find spots on the Brine/IWLCA New York All-Region and All-NYSWCAA teams.
Her 84 points in 1993 stood as the school standard for 25 years and she remains No. 2 on the single-season points list. She is also eighth in single-season assists and 10th in single-season goals.
During her one season with the field hockey team, Stone Radnoff played 180 minutes and went 2-0 with a 1.17 goals-against average.
In 1993, Stone Radnoff was selected to compete with the US National Developmental Lacrosse Team. Stone Radnoff was the only NCAA Division III player on the team and competed against China, England and Wales in her one year with the team. More than 100 players were invited to try out for the team, and Stone Radnoff was one of 18 to be selected.
HALL OF FAME PROCESS
Each year, the Hall of Fame Committee accepts formal nominations in February and March. The committee (16 members) will then meet in April to collaborate on a preliminary ballot from the compiled nominations of individuals and teams. The voting process of an official Hall of Fame class is finalized in the middle of May. The class will be notified of their induction from Susan Bassett in June.
Nominations are accepted for individuals in two categories - active and veteran. Active members are recent graduates (after 10 years) that remain in that category for 15 years before moving to the veteran category. Candidates fall under the veteran category if they are nominated after their 25th anniversary of graduation.
Any team can be nominated for induction, but under the Hall of Fame bylaws, the inducted team to the Hall of Fame will alternate between a men's or women's team. It is at the committee's discretion if a team will be inducted each year.
Current members of the committee are listed below:
Susan Bassett - Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports
Will Rothermel - Associate Director of Athletics
Paul Hesler - Director of Principal Gifts (Representative of Alumni Relations/Development)
Erienne Roberts - Senior Woman Administrator
Justin Lutes - Associate Director of Athletics Communications
Kent Scriber - Emeritus Professor, Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences
Geoff Wright - Special Appointee
Dave Wohlhueter - Special Appointee
Deb Wuest - Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Health Promotion and Physical Education (faculty member)
Rick Suddaby - Gymnastics Coach (current male member of Hall of Fame)
Karen Hollands - Former Women's Lacrosse Coach (current female member of Hall of Fame)
Marty Nichols - Wrestling Coach (current men's head coach)
Mindy Quigg - Women's Soccer Coach (current women's head coach)
Amy Cronin - Member of the Alumni Board of Directors
TBA - Current male member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (most recently Jordan Schemm - Football)
TBA - Current female member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (most recently Payton Cutting - Softball)
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