To view photos of the 2009 Induction ceremony click here
Hartwick College inducted its 2009 class for the Hartwick College Athletic Hall of Fame on June 13, 2009. Women's basketball and softball player Stephanie Winn '99, football running back A.J. Pittorino '97, field hockey defender Nicole Rushton '97, swimmer Martin Engstrom-Heg '96, men's soccer midfielder Matthew Lawrence '96, men's lacrosse player Steve Evans '92, men's basketball forward Dave Versocki '90, and women's basketball player Marybeth Rath '83 were inducted in a ceremony taking place on the Hartwick College campus. The event was being sponsored by the Wick Athletic Association.
The list of the 2009 inductees includes:
Martin Engstrom-Heg '96 is one of the most decorated swimmers in the history of the Hartwick swimming and diving programs. The Oneonta, NY native is an 11-time All-American-one as an individual and 10 as part of relay teams. Engstrom-Heg still holds the Moyer Pool record in the 100-yard butterfly (52.12), and is part of both the 200-yard medley relay team that holds the pool record (1:37.68) and the 200-yard medley relay team that holds the College record (3:29.41). During his time at Hartwick, from 1992-96, the Hawks posted a 33-9 mark. In his freshman campaign, Hartwick captured the UNYSCSA Championships and finished 46th at the NCAA Division III Championships. In each of his final three seasons, the Hawks finished third or better at the state meet, 18th at the NCAAs twice, and 21st in his senior season.
Stephanie Winn '99 was a tremendous two-sport athlete with Hartwick women's basketball and softball teams. In basketball, she led the team to a record of 70-36, three appearances in the NCAA Tournament, two Empire Athletic Association championships, and three NYSWCAA Tournaments. The Barkhamsted, CT native is a three-time Women's Division III News All-American, a two-time GTE Academic All-American, and a three-time ECAC all-star. In addition, Winn was named an EAA all-star in three separate seasons, culminating with the 1999 Player of the Year award. She ranks third in steals (223), sixth in points (1,332), and 10th in assists (295) on the all-time Hartwick charts. Winn also impressed on the diamond, helping the Hawks to a two-year record of 45-30-1 and two appearances in the NYSWCAA Tournament. She was an all-state and all-region selection in 1999, and ranks in the Hartwick all-time top 10 in career runs scored (5th), assists (6th), steals (7th), batting average (8th), and hits (9th).
A.J. Pittorino '97 is considered one of, if not the, best running backs in Hartwick football history. The Acton, MA native led Hartwick to 21 victories, amassed 3,783 rushing yards, and 41 rushing touchdowns in his four years, which are both all-time College records. Pittorino's 1,421 yards in 1996 still stands as the top single-season total in 'Wick history, and he currently ranks second in all-purpose yards with 5,897. On Nov. 2, 1996, Pittorino recorded the second-highest single-game rushing yardage total in NCAA Division III history as he accumulated 436 in a 42-14 win over Waynesburg. The game still stands as the third-highest total gained by one player in the history of the NCAA, which includes all four divisions (FBS, FCS, II, III).
Nicole Rushton '97 was an instrumental defender for the Hartwick field hockey program in the 1990s, leading the team to a 55-22-1 record in four seasons. In her sophomore and junior seasons, Rushton paced Hartwick to the NCAA regionals, an ECAC Tournament title, and two appearances in the NYSWCAA Tournament. In her senior campaign, her leadership at the sweeper position helped the Hawks to a 20-2 mark, a NYSWCAA Championship, an NCAA regional title, and a spot in the 1996 Division III national championship game. Rushton, who is originally from Rome, NY, was a second team NFHCA All-American following her senior season, a two-time first team all-region selection, and a first team NYSWCAA all-star. She ranks second at Hartwick in career defensive saves with 30, scored three career goals, and assisted 12 others. Rushton recorded an assist on the Hawks' lone goal in the national title game versus The College of New Jersey in 1996.
Matthew Lawrence '96, a native of Rushden, England, led Hartwick men's soccer to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and a record of 52-16-1 over his four-year career, spanning 1992-95. Lawrence's physical presence and technical ability in the middle of the field helped to guide the Hawks to 16 victories, including a pair of wins over Rutgers and Boston University in the national tournament in his sophomore campaign. In his senior season, he led 'Wick to a 13-6-2 overall mark and a first-round victory in the NCAA Tournament over St. John's. He finished his career with the Hawks scoring six goals and assisting seven for 19 points. Since graduating from Hartwick, Lawrence has played professionally in England for Wycombe, Fulham, and Millwall, and currently plays for Crystal Palace Football Club. In 2004, he captained Millwall in the English FA Cup Final against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium.
Steve Evans '92 is one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the Hartwick men's lacrosse program. Originally from Lafayette, NY, Evans scored 104 goals and assisted on 55 others in just two seasons with the Blue and White after transferring in from Herkimer County Community College. He is the only men's lacrosse player to score 50 goals or more in a single season, which he accomplished twice. In his career with Hartwick, the men's lacrosse team earned a record of 25-8, which is the highest two-year win total in College history, and won a pair of ECAC Upstate Tournament championships. Evans was a USILA second team All-American, a two-time Empire Athletic Association first team all-star, the 1992 ECAC Upstate Tournament Most Valuable Player, and he participated in the prestigious NCAA Division III North-South All-Star Game.
Dave Versocki '90 played in every game for Hartwick over his four years with the men's basketball program and was a pivotal member of three postseason teams, including the 1987-88 Final Four squad. He is one of only 27 players in the 80-year history of the program to eclipse the 1,000-point barrier and sits eighth all-time with 1,355 points. He also is second on the program's career rebounding list with 727. Versocki, who is originally from Burnt Hills, NY, was part of two teams that won 20 or more games, participated in two ECAC Tournaments, and averaged 10.3 points and six rebounds per game to help the 1987-88 team to NCAA Tournament victories over Staten Island, Buffalo State, and Trenton State and into the Final Four in Grand Rapids, MI.
Marybeth Rath '83 still remains as the all-time leader in assists for the women's basketball program, 26 years after her last game. Over the course of her four-year career, Hartwick won 67 contests, including 20 or more in both her junior and senior seasons. In 1981-82, the North Syracuse, NY native helped 'Wick to a 23-3 record and appearances in the New York State Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (NYSAIAW) and Eastern Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (EAIAW) playoffs. In her final season with the program, Rath averaged 9.6 points and 6.5 assists to guide Hartwick to a 20-5 season, the NYSAIAW title, and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Rath finished her career with 893 points and 503 assists, and holds the top two single-season assist totals at the College with 182 her junior season and 176 in her senior campaign.
With the addition of this year's class, Hartwick will have inducted 113 former student-athletes and coaches into its hall of fame. The Hartwick College Athletic Hall of Fame honors those who have made outstanding contributions to Hartwick's intercollegiate athletics programs. Its purpose is to perpetuate the memory of those who have brought distinction, honor, and excellence to Hartwick through their athletic accomplishments. Visit our Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees Archive to learn more about past inductees...
To review the Athletic Hall of Fame nomination process and access nomination forms, visit the Athletic Hall of Fame Constitution Web page.
