JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The Saint Peter's University athletics department officially enshrined four former student-athletes, one coach and one special contributor into the Athletics Hall of Fame at the Class of 2022 Induction Ceremony and Luncheon on Sunday morning in the Duncan Family Sky Room in the Mac Mahon Student Center.
The 37th Saint Peter's Athletics Hall of Fame induction class includes: Lovro Bilonic '13 of the men's swimming program, Derek England M.Ed. '11 of the baseball program, Thomas Farley '55 as a special contributor, Chris Innis '09 of the baseball program, Serra Soylu Kosar '07 of the women's volleyball program and Stefanie Zemaitatis Vigliotti '98 of the women's soccer and softball programs.
Altogether, five different sports are represented among that group, all of whom brought distinction, honor and excellence to the University, as well as an individual whose merit, special contributions and leadership have helped advance Saint Peter's University Athletics. The Hall of Fame was formed on February 25, 1981 with the mission of annually selecting Saint Peter's alumni and non-graduates who have, in some way, been associated with the University and wherein achievements may be set forth for honor and recognition. The Hall of Fame's inaugural dinner was held on October 17, 1981 with 19 charter members inducted, with this year representing the 40th-year anniversary of that event.
Saint Peter's University congratulates all of Sunday's honorees and thanks all who were in attendance to celebrate the momentous occasion!
Saint Peter's University Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Inductees
A 2013 graduate, Lovro Bilonic remains the only student-athlete in the history of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) to qualify for the NCAA Championships in swimming and diving since at least 2003 (and is the only swimmer in Saint Peter's history to do so) and still holds the program record for the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke. Bilonic was named the 2013 MAAC Most Outstanding Swimmer after winning four gold medals at the MAAC Championships that season. In total, Bilonic won nine MAAC titles and five ECAC Championships in his time in Jersey City. Bilonic was named the ECAC Swimmer of the Meet in 2011 and also represented Croatia at the FINA World Championships that same summer. Also in 2011, Bilonic advanced to the NCAA Championships in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke where he finished inside the top-30 in the country in both events.
Derek England was the leader of the Saint Peter's baseball team for eight seasons from 2005-2012 and compiled a total of 129 wins in his time with the Peacocks, good for the second-most of any coach in program history. The 2007 MAAC Coach of the Year, England is the first and only coach to lead the Peacocks to 20 wins in a season, doing so three times in his eight-year tenure. In 2007, SPU set a program record with 23 overall wins and 13 victories in MAAC play. In his eight seasons with the Peacocks, England coached a total of eight All-MAAC selections and 48 Academic All-MAAC selections. To this day, England's teams hold the single season records for most runs scored (2009), hits (2007), doubles (2007), home runs (2010), RBI (2007), steals (2009 & 2010), saves (2012), shutouts (2012) and strikeouts (2008). England also became an alumnus of the university in 2011, earning his Master's of Education in 2011.
Thomas Farley is a 1955 graduate of Saint Peter's and is being inducted into the Hall of Fame as a special contributor to the athletics department and to Saint Peter's University as a whole. Farley led the Saint Peter's Alumni Fund for four years while also serving on the Alumni Board, becoming the Vice President in his final year. Perhaps Farley's biggest contribution was serving as Chairman of the Annual Alumni Fund Drive, where he had to recruit sub chairmen for both in- and out-of-state fundraising. He has been a member of the Presidents Club for a number of years and chaired the Class of 1955 60th reunion. Despite battling through prostate cancer, Farley continues to find his way to a large number of Saint Peter's basketball games, including being in attendance for the opening of Run Baby Run Arena earlier this academic year.
A 2009 graduate at SPU, Chris Innis continues to find his name littered throughout the Peacocks' baseball record books after a stellar four-year career. A workhorse on the mound, Innis was the best pitcher on the staff in the 2007 season that set a program record for wins with 23. Innis is currently second in program history with 217 career strikeouts and also finds himself inside the top-10 in career innings pitched (3rd), starts (t-3rd), appearances (3rd), saves (t-3rd), wins (t-10th), strikeouts per nine innings (6th) and lowest opponents' batting average (t-8th). In the 2006 season, Innis, who was named to the SPU All-Decade baseball team in 2017, punched out 64 batters which was tied for the fifth-most in a single season at the time.
Serra Soylu Kosar, a 2007 graduate of Saint Peter's, remains one of the best volleyball players to ever compete with the Peacocks. A two-time First Team All-MAAC selection, Soylu Kosar ranks third in program history with 1,606 career kills in four years in Jersey City. Her 4.11 career kills per set is tied with fellow Hall of Famer Yvette Lozanski for the best mark in program history while her .292 career attack percentage is the second-best in program history. In 2006, Soylu Kosar was named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team, leading the Peacocks to a pair of MAAC Tournament wins for the first time since 2002. Soylu Kosar also is fourth in program history in career aces, third in career blocks and second in career points. In her 2006 season, Soylu Kosar set the single season record for kills with 626 as well as block assists with 130.
Stefanie Zemaitatis Vigliotti, a 1998 SPU graduate, was a standout two-sport athlete with the Peacocks, competing in both softball and soccer. As a member of the soccer team, she played in 74 career games and currently ranks third in program history in career assists. She also ranks eighth in the program in career points, goals and game-winning goals. Zemaitatis Vigliotti was selected to the 1996 MAAC All-Tournament team and was a member of the 1996 team that won the MAAC Regular Season Title. In her four years with the soccer team, Zemaitatis Vigliotti helped the Peacocks to a 44-28-4 overall record and a 19-11-0 mark in MAAC play. As a member of the softball team, Zemaitatis Vigliotti appeared in 119 games with 52 starts in her career. She hit .241 in her career with a .304 career on-base percentage.
