This year’s Homecoming included the induction of 11 new members into the Ithaca College Athletic Hall of Fame.

by Mike Warwick

One of the world’s top gymnastics officials, Harry Bjerke ’63 is one of only four Americans to receive the International Federation of Gymnastics (IFG) Honorary Diploma, which he was awarded at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. One of three Americans rated a "technical expert" by the IFG, he has officiated at dozens of top events, including the United States championships, NCAA championships, seven world championships, Goodwill Games, Olympic trials, Pan-American Games, and Atlanta and Sydney Olympics. He was president of the National Gymnastics Judges Association from 1987 to 1996 and has served on the board of USA Gymnastics since 1987. As an Ithaca athlete, Bjerke competed in football, gymnastics, and track and field.

Attending the annual induction ceremony, held during Homecoming weekend, were Jeff Wittman ’93; James Quinn ’86; Bill Sheerin ’84; John Fasolino ’60, M.S. ’62; Allen Gilberti ’53; Len Tyler ’66, M.S. ’70; Tracey Marullo Ranieri ’86; Edmund Hickey Jr., son of the late Edmund “Hop” Hickey ’34; and Mike Cronmiller ’90. Inductees not present were Harry Bjerke ’63 and Barry Mendelson ’65.

The first male Bomber to win an individual national championship in any sport, Mike Cronmiller ’90 won the 158-pound title at the 1988 NCAA wrestling championships and shared the New York State Wrestler of the Year Award. Two years later he placed third at 158, helping the Bombers win their second straight national title. In two years Cronmiller posted a 62-6 record (24-2 in dual-match competition), with five pins. Since graduating, he has coached wrestling at Livonia (New York) High School; he has also coached golf and volleyball. He was named coach of the year by the Livingston Conference Athletic Association in 1997. In 2000 he was inducted into the New York State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame.

Captain of Ithaca’s 1958 football team (the first team of hall of fame member and coach Dick Lyon), John Fasolino ’60, M.S. ’62, was an all-East lineman and one of 21 Bombers chosen for the all-decade team. After graduation he became a U.S. protocol officer, escorting dignitaries traveling abroad on presidential missions. His corporate career included roles as president of a major cruise line and an airline. Fasolino has remained active with Ithaca athletics, helping spearhead both the Dick and Helen Lyon Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Dick Lyon Award. This work culminated in the 1998 dedication of the Dick Lyon Press Box. Fasolino is now in his seventh year as head coach for youth football in Coppell, Texas.

Allen Gilberti Sr. ’53 captained Ithaca’s basketball team, and as captain of the baseball team he helped the Bombers to a three-year record of 38-8 while maintaining a three-year batting average of .307. As a senior he earned all-East honors and second-team all-American honors. While an officer in the United States Navy he was player-coach for the Quonset Point Naval Air Station Flyers, who became the 1954 Atlantic Fleet champions. In 1955 he received Niagara Mohawk’s highest award for valor for rescuing a swimmer from a riptide. During his 35-year tenure as treasurer for Section III of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, Gilberti was inducted into the Utica Free Academy, SUNY–Utica Rome, and Greater Utica Sports Halls of Fame.

Edmund "Hop" Hickey ’34, who was honored posthumously, competed in football, track and field, and basketball as an Ithaca undergraduate. A two-year basketball captain who was a high-scoring forward, Hickey was described by hall of fame member Eddie Sawyer ’35 as one of Ithaca’s top athletes in the 1930s. He also played fullback in football and was one of the team’s leading blockers.

Barry Mendelson ’65 has worked in professional sports for more than 30 years. After a year as a production assistant with ABC Sports, he embarked on a career that has included posts as radio announcer for the New York Giants and New York Jets; vice president of the Boston Celtics; director of radio, television, and advertising for the Los Angeles Forum (now Staples Center), the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Los Angeles Kings; general manager and executive vice president of the New Orleans Jazz; and executive vice president for sports, music, and variety programming at Madison Square Garden. He is now president of the Mendelson Entertainment Group, producing shows including Beyond the Glory for the Fox Sports Network.

The first member of the men’s cross country program to qualify for the NCAA championships, Jim Quinn ’86 is one of only three Bombers to run at nationals all four years. He won individual titles at both the NCAA qualifier and Independent College Athletic Conference races. The three individual school records he set in track and field still stand. Quinn shares the school’s fastest 6.2-mile time; he ranks third on 5-mile courses and fourth on 5.2-mile courses. A six-time state track and field champion, he received the Eastern College Athletic Conference Medal of Merit in 1986. That year the Bombers qualified for the first time as a team at the NCAA cross country championships.

The first Ithaca women’s soccer player to earn all-American honors, Tracey Marullo Ranieri ’86 is now among the most successful Division III coaches. As head coach at Oneonta since 1991, she has led the Red Dragons to a 117-66-1 record. Named coach of the year by the New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association in 1997 and by the State University of New York Athletic Conference in 1997, 1999, and 2000, she has guided Oneonta to four NCAA playoff berths. As a player she scored 32 career points for the Bombers and was fourth on the team’s career assist list (10). A three-time all-state selection, she was a first-team all-American midfielder in 1985.

In 1984 the New York Times rated Bill Sheerin ’84 the second-best nose guard in the nation (all divisions). Ithaca’s first three-time all-American football player, he was a three-time ICAC all-star and shared conference player of the year honors in 1983. As a senior he led the Bombers to a 10-1 record and the 1984 ECAC title. Sheerin recorded career totals of 299 tackles and 27 sacks while becoming one of the first Bomber football players to earn four letters. Coach Jim Butterfield said he was "as good a defensive lineman as we’ve ever had." Sheerin, now a second-degree black belt and two-time national karate champion, owns Ithaca Development in Boulder, Colorado.

At Ithaca Len Tyler ’66, M.S. ’70, lettered in football and track and field. An all-American defensive tackle, he twice led the football team in tackles and was twice elected the team’s defensive player of the year. He was named ECAC lineman of the week seven times and all-American twice. Tyler also earned four letters in track and field, competing in the shot put. After coaching track and field at Ithaca and playing professionally in the Continental Football League, he began an administrative career at Maine Maritime Academy, of which he is currently president. Tyler holds the rank of rear admiral in the United States Maritime Service.

The only Bomber football player to earn first-team all-American honors three times, Jeff Wittman ’93 rushed for a school-record 3,410 yards. He set 13 other school records, including 270 career points, 45 career touchdowns, and 272 rushing yards in a game. In 32 career games Wittman ran 18 times for 100 or more yards. As a senior he was named ECAC player of the year, male athlete of the year by the Ithaca Journal, and Ithaca College’s top male athlete, receiving the Ben Light Award. A two-time ECAC all-star, Wittman led the Bombers to three NCAA playoff appearances, including the 1991 national championship.