Monday, 18 August 2014 00:00

Oswego State Names 2014 Hall of Fame Class

Written by
Write a comment

   The Oswego State Intercollegiate Athletic Department, along with the SUNY Oswego Alumni Association, will induct seven members of the Laker sports legacy into the College's Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, Nov. 8. In all, the seven former student-athletes will represent six different programs, including baseball, softball, men's and women's basketball, men's ice hockey and men's soccer.

     This year's inductees include:

     Mark Levine '85 was a four-year member of the baseball team, where he played a significant role in one of the most successful periods in program history. Levine was named to the SUNYAC's All-Conference teams in each of his four seasons, including taking First Team honors as a freshman, junior and senior. In his freshman campaign, Levine was recognized as an All-American catcher as well as being named NCAA All-Northeast Region. He also collected the same regional honors in 1984 and 1985.

     To this day, Levine still holds the college's records for four-year batting average (.442), career RBI (167), career doubles (36), single-season hits (61) and single-season RBI (56). Most impressively, Levine helped Oswego three-peat as SUNYAC Champions from 1983-1985.

     Levine currently lives in South Easton, Mass. with his wife of 15 years, Chrissie, and their three children, Jacob, Jamison and Jayden. He is a general manger for Craftworks.

     Nancy Lobb '83, a two-sport athlete for women's basketball and softball, earns a spot in the hall of fame for accolades in both sports. As a senior, Lobb helped lead the softball squad to the postseason, collecting All-NYSAIAW Tournament Team honors that year. The softball program made the NYSAIAW tournament each of Lobb's final three years as a Laker, laying the foundation for Oswego to take the crown in 1984 and runner-up in 1985.

     On the court, Lobb was a dominant guard, setting college-records that still stand today. She still ranks first on the career steals list with 310 and holds the single-season steals record with 118 as a sophomore during the 1980-81 season. Not only did her defensive skills create possessions for the Lakers, Lobb also developed scoring opportunities for her teammates as she still ranks second on the career list with 381 assists. Her 143 assists during the 1980-81 were the most in any single-season and stayed in the top spot for the next 24 seasons and still ranks second.

     Lobb currently resides in Providence Forge, Va. Where she works as an operations manager for FedEx.

     Sean McLaughlin '00 was also a two-sport athlete, dominating both men's basketball and baseball. As a basketball player, McLaughlin earned All-America honors from DIII News as a Fourth Team member following the 1998-99 campaign. That year, he was named the SUNYAC Player of the Year as well as being a member of the All-Conference First Team. McLaughlin earned several more conference honors over his career, including another First Team selection in 1997-98, a Second Team accolade in 1999-2000 and All-Tournament nods in 1998 and 2000. He holds the College's single-season mark for 3-point field goals made (89) and the single-game record in the same category (8). The Pulaski native also ranks in the top 10 in career scoring (8th-1,428), career scoring average (6th-18.1), career 3-point field goals made (2nd-219) and career steals (8th-128).

     On the diamond, McLaughlin succeeded in his two years on the squad, not only by Oswego standards, but by national standards. McLaughlin won the NCAA Division III batting title as senior, hitting .563 with 45 hits in 80 at-bats to lead the country. That batting average remains the single-season record at Oswego. He earned All-SUNYAC First Team that season and holds the College's record for career batting average (two years, .494).

     McLaughlin currently works as senior claims examiner for RLI Corporation and live in Camden, N.Y.

     Greg Preston '78 was a four-year student-athlete on the men's ice hockey team. Nearly 40 years after his career began at Oswego, Preston still ranks 11th in points (172) in the storied program's history. The forwards 94 career goals currently sits in a tie for fifth place on the All-Time list. Preston is just one of nine players in the program's 50 year history to be named a First Team All-American, his coming from the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA). He was just the second to achieve the honor, which came after his senior season in 1977-78, following the footsteps of Olympian-goaltender Pete Sears.

     Preston currently resides in Greensboro, Ga. where he works in sales for CribMaster and Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

     Jamie Rutherford '85, a teammate of Levine's in the early to mid-1980s, was also an integral part to Oswego's success in winning three-straight SUNYAC Championships during that period. Rutherford was named an All-American following his junior year for his efforts both at the plate and manning center field. He was named a NCAA All-Northeast Regional Team member each of his final three seasons as a Laker and was also a First Team All-Conference performer in those years. As a freshman, Rutherford nabbed All-Conference honors, being placed on the Honorable Mention squad.

     The Portland, Maine native's statistics endure to this day, as he still holds the career record for hits (186) and stolen bases (55) along with the single-season mark for runs (50).

     Gerald Vredenburg '68 is the last men's soccer player to earn All-America accolades at Oswego. He garnered All-America Honorable mention as a goalie from the NCAA for his efforts during his junior season. Over the course of his career, Vredenburg was also named First Team All-SUNYAC and Second Team All-State.

     Vredenburg also holds the distinction of being the goalie on the only Laker men's soccer team to capture the SUNYAC Championship, winning the crown in 1966. The goaltender's 29 saves against Oneonta on Oct. 24, 1967 is still the second-most in program history.

     After his time at Oswego, Vredenburg taught at the LaFayette Central Schools from 1968-2001, staying heavily involved in athletics. He coached varsity football, boys' basketball, girls' soccer and lacrosse throughout his career and was named the United States Lacrosse Association Central New York Coach of the Year in 1984. Vredenburg and his wife of 46 years, Linda, currently reside in LaFayette, N.Y.

     Ed Zorn '62, much like Vredenburg, is one of only three men's soccer All-Americans, collecting Honorable Mention in 1962. During his senior season of 1962, Zorn was also named First Team All-State and First Team All-SUNYAC. Zorn was the second-straight Laker to earn All-America honors as the program's first-ever All-American, Bob Thole, earned his recognition in 1961.

     Zorn's honor comes posthumously. In his time after Oswego, Zorn spent his career teaching industrial arts while also coaching varsity soccer at Greece Olympia High School in Rochester, N.Y. He spent his free time growing, promoting and advancing youth soccer in Hamlin, N.Y.

Write comments...
symbols left.
or post as a guest
Loading comment... The comment will be refreshed after 00:00.