Ithaca College Sports Legends Enshrined

The Ithaca College Sports Hall of Fame welcomed new members over Homecoming weekend, including President James J. Whalen. The inductions, which bring Hall of Fame membership to 152, were held September 21 in the Emerson Suites, Phillips Hall.

Also inducted were Joseph D'Orazio '36, Alberta Sebring '39, John O'Neill '42, Robert Wojnar '73, Dorsi Raynolds '85, Cathy Livingston Allen '88, Jannette Bonrouhi '90, Tracy Deyle '90, and Lauri Hancock '90.

"I feel really good about the individuals being inducted," Ithaca College athletic director and Hall of Fame committee chair Robert Deming said prior to the ceremony. "It's nice to see so many females getting the respect and the votes of the committee."

Deming said the president's induction is particularly satisfying because Ithaca College athletics aligned with NCAA Division III and grew to a nationally renowned, 23-sport program during his tenure. "There is no question that the program would not be as advanced as it is were it not for Jim Whalen's presence since 1975," said Deming. "Everyone wants an opportunity for success, and he has given this program that opportunity. He's been a major contributor on all points, and I just can't say enough about the positive impact he's had."

Whalen was a charter member of the NCAA Presidents Commission and served as chairman of the Division III subcommittee. He was a member of the Knight Foundation's Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, and in 1992 he was named cochair of the NCAA Gender-Equity Task Force.

• Inducted posthumously, Joseph D'Orazio participated in football, wrestling, and track at Ithaca. A tackle in football, he earned a tryout with the Washington Redskins before an injury ended his professional hopes. D'Orazio was the first in a long line of standout heavyweights in wrestling and competed in the weight events in track.
• An inaugural member of the Ithaca College Sports Booster Club, Alberta Sebring has been active in the central New York sports scene for more than 60 years. She participated in a number of class-related activities-intercollegiate athletic opportunities for women were lacking during Sebring's time at Ithaca-and became a successful physical education instructor after graduation. Sebring at one time coached the Newfield Central High School six-man football squad and the Romulus Central High School baseball team.
• John O'Neill was a football center at Ithaca. A decorated member of the United States Marines during World War II, O'Neill participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima and was awarded a bronze star. He returned to Ithaca College as an assistant football and baseball coach after leaving the service and in 1948 started an 11-year stint with the Cornell football staff as an assistant coach.
• Robert Wojnar, a two-time all-American and first-team all-ECAC performer, was one of the top offensive linemen in Ithaca's gridiron history. He did not miss a varsity start in three seasons and was a team captain as a senior.
• Dorsi Raynolds was a walk-on with the swimming program who emerged as a 16-time all-American. Raynolds has excelled in the coaching profession, most recently as head of the women's program at the State University of New York at Buffalo. The Royals have won three straight league titles and in 1996 Raynolds was named the Mid-Continent Conference coach of the year.
• Cathy Livingston Allen was a mainstay on some of Ithaca's strongest cross-country and track teams. She was a two-time cross-country all-American and was named a track all-American in the 1,500 meters. A captain in both sports, Allen capped her collegiate career with selection to the GTE academic all-American squad.
• Jannette Bonrouhi is the only four-time cross-country all-American in school history. During the outdoor track campaigns Bonrouhi accumulated six more all-American honors with three top-seven efforts each in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. A two-year captain in the two sports, Bonrouhi was a GTE academic all-American in 1989.
• A member of NCAA play-off teams in two sports, Tracy Deyle helped boost Ithaca soccer and lacrosse squads into the national spotlight. The only three-time women's soccer all-American in school history, Deyle helped the Bombers earn berths in the NCAA play-offs in each of her four seasons. In lacrosse, Deyle produced two 20-goal seasons, played on two ECAC mid-Atlantic championship clubs, and was a member of Ithaca's first NCAA postseason women's lacrosse unit in 1989.
• A star performer in basketball and track, Lauri Hancock was a productive two-sport athlete. She became the second player in South Hill basketball history to tally 1,000 career points and she accumulated a school-record 886 rebounds. In outdoor track, Hancock earned all-American laurels in the high jump and the javelin.

Athletes become eligible for the Ithaca College Sports Hall of Fame five years after graduating. Alumni who distinguish themselves in the field of athletics subsequent to their graduation and College coaches, trainers, and administrators are also considered.