The Saint Peter's College Athletics Department will induct eight individuals, the 2001 football team and the 1996-97 women's basketball team into its Athletics Hall of Fame in a ceremony that will take place on February 11, 2012 as part of Hall of Fame Day at Saint Peter's College. The Hall of Fame Class will be honored at halftime of the Saint Peter's College men's basketball game against Manhattan at the Yanitelli Center. Tip-off for the men's game will be 2pm with the induction ceremony taking place on campus following the game.
The eight individuals being inducted include men's basketball player Keydren Clark, football players Walter Greenhalgh and Sean Mayers, softball player Sandy Attanasio, women's Basketball player Tonya Gertrude and bowler Michelle Spratford.
Dr. Eileen Poiani, former professor and Vice-President of Student Affairs at Saint Peter's College will be honored with the Special Service Award. Joe Sirangelo, Assistant Superintendent of Schools at the Hudson County Schools of Technology, will receive the Special Achivement Award. Biographies of all inductees are below.
The 2001 football team will go down as one of the greatest in Saint Peter's history. The squad finished the season 10-1, including a 19-0 victory over Florida Atlantic at then Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami. The defense led the NCAA in five categories, including pass efficiency defense, total defense, scoring defense, turnover margin and pass defense. Saint Peter's also led the MAAC in rushing offense, rushing defense and the five categories which they led the Nation in. Jeran Crawford was named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, Derek Clayton was the MAAC Offensive Rookie of the Year and Shawn Poling was the MAAC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Also, head coach Rob Stern was named MAAC Coach of the Year. Saint Peter's also had four Mid-Major All-Americans on the squad.
The 1996-97 women's basketball team was the first women's basketball team in MAAC history to go undefeated in the double round robin format. The Peahens finished the season 14-0 in the MAAC and 25-4 overall. They won the MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Mike Granelli was named MAAC Co-Coach of the Year, Patty (Marchese) Gentile was named to the All-MAAC First Team and Stephanie DeWolfe and Mildred Washington named All-MAAC Second Team.
Keydren Clark, Basketball, Class of 2006
Keydren Clark will go down as one of the greatest players in Saint Peter's history. He was named an AP Honorable Mention All-American and Collegehoops.net Honorable Mention All-American in 2006. He reached the Semifinals of the Three Point Contest at the 2006 Final Four. Clark was named to the 2006 All-MAAC Tournament Team and became the Sixth Player in NCAA Division I History to reach the 3,000-point plateau. He is the third player in Saint Peter's history to reach the 500-assist plateau. The 2006 MAAC Pepsi Player of the Year, Clark was named to the All-MAAC First Team three times, to the NABC District 3 Second Team four times and the MAAC Rookie of the Year. He was the 2005 Haggerty Award Winner (Best Division I Basketball Player in Metropolitan NY) and a Mid-Major All-American (One of 21 selected by College Insider.com). Clark is currently playing professionally in Europe.
Walter Greenhalgh, Football, Class of 1971
Walter Greenhalgh was a three year starter on the offensive line for the Peacocks. His teams were ranked 2nd in the Nation and were awarded a Lambert Bowl from the NY Athletic Club. Greenhalgh was the team's leading run and pass blocker and was a student senator, president of the senior class and helped lead the way for the football program to become intercollegiate. He is currently a partner at Duane Morris, LLP law firm.
Sean Mayers, Football/Track and Field, Class of 2006
Sean Mayers was one of the most prolific runners in Peacock history. He set the all-time rushing mark with 3,413 yards and is also first all-time in rushing attempts, second in touchdowns, sixth in rush average and second in yards per game. He is also third all-time in total offensive yards and second all-time in all purpose yard. Mayers is third all-time in total points scored and second all-time in total touchdowns scored. He also ran track and set records in the shorter distances.
Sandy Attanasio, Softball, Class of 2002
Sandy Attanasio was the ace of the staff on the Peahens NCAA team in 2001. She is ranked second all-time in ERA, eighth in strikeouts per seven innings, third in wins, fourth in saves, first in appearances, fourth in games started, first in shutouts and second in innings pitched. In 2001 she was 22-8 with a 1.66 ERA, 12 shutouts, 24 complete games and 155 strikeouts and was named MAAC Pitcher of the Year. She also pitched the only perfect game in school history against Fairleigh Dickinson.
Tonya Gertrude, Basketball, Class of 1997
Tonya Gertrunde was a key contributor to the 1996-97 team that was the first team in the history of the MAAC to go undefeated in the regular season. Gertrude's team won the MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships that season and went to NCAA Tournament. She was named to 1997 MAAC All-Tournament team and was on three MAAC Regular Season Championship Teams. She currently ranks in the top 20 in eight categories all-time at Saint Peter's.
Michelle Spratford, Bowling, Class of 2003
Michelle Spratford was a four-year member of the Saint Peter's women's bowling team from 1999-2003, and served one season as Head Coach. She was named to the Eastern Intercollegiate Bowling Conference (EIBC) All-Conference First Team three consecutive seasons, and was selected Most Valuable Player in 2001 and again in 2003. Sptratford was also an honorable mention selection to the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association All-American Team of 2002. Perhaps her greatest achievement were her efforts at the 2003 EIBC Sectional, which propelled the Peahens to their only Intercollegiate Bowling Conference National Tournament appearance. Sptratford became the Head Coach at Saint Peter's for the 2005-06 season and was instrumental in the transition from intercollegiate club bowling to the development of the current NCAA Division I Women's Bowling program.
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Joe Sirangelo, Class of 1971
Joe Sirangelo is the Assistant Superintendent of Schools at the Hudson County Schools of Technology. He has dedicated over forty years of his professional career to educating the youth of Hudson County, both on and off the athletic field. After receiving the Hudson County Coaches Association Scholarship and the Jersey Journal Student Athlete Award, he decided to attend Saint Peter's College. For the past 30 years Sirangelo has been a key administrator at the highly acclaimed Hudson County Schools of Technology. The school district has been honored as one of the most innovative and technologically advanced in the state and was featured in PC Magazine as one of the "Top 100 Wired Schools in the Country". The district has received two New Jersey Star School designations from the State and has been highly ranked in US News and World Report. New Jersey Magazine rated one of its High Schools, High Tech, as one of the state's great high schools. The State also recognized it as one of the Governor's Schools of Excellence. Sirangelo is most proud of the "second chance" alternative programs which have successfully graduated thousands of students who would have been high school dropouts.
SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD
Dr. Eileen Poiani
Dr. Eileen Poiani spent over 40 years at Saint Peter's College as a faculty member and then Vice President of Student Affairs. She was appointed to the VP role in 1999, making her the first woman vice-president in the history of Saint Peter's College. During her time as the VP she was a strong supporter of athletics as she oversaw the athletics department. Before becoming VP she directed the College's self study that led to unconditional NCAA Division I certification. She remains at Saint Peter's College as a Special Assistant to the President.
