For Immediate Release: May 18, 2000
Binghamton University’s Athletic Hall of Fame will expand by six in September, as five former athletes and one former administrator will join the 30 existing members. The 2000 Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, September 23 in BU’s West Gymnasium.
A voting committee of 13 alumni, coaches, student-athletes and staff selected basketball player Jennifer (Gaeta) Wegmann (1992-94), golfer Jake Sladish (1991-94), swimmer Susan (Numann) Layman (1976-80), basketball player Ted Hull (1975-79), tennis player Lisa Denerstein (1988-92), and longtime administrator Jessie Godfrey.
The six individuals, four female and two male, span five decades. A capsule look at the accomplishments of each follows.
Jennifer (Gaeta)
Wegmann (women’s basketball, 1992-94)
After transferring back home from Division I Iona College, Gaeta
earned honorable mention All-America basketball honors in each
of her two seasons at Binghamton. She was a two-time BU “Athlete
of the Year,” a two-time All-ECAC and first team All-SUNYAC
choice, and graduated as the program’s second leading rebounder
and third leading scorer despite playing just two seasons. She
currently shares the record for points in a game (38) with Bess
Greenberg, and led BU to ECAC runner-up honors in ‘93, and
an average of 18 wins in her two seasons.
Jake Sladish
(golf, 1991-94)
A well known golfing name in the Southern Tier, Sladish transferred
to Binghamton from Division I Coastal Carolina, and with his brother
Chris, quickly turned BU’s golf program into a national power
in the Division III ranks. He was a two-time All-American who
placed ninth at the 1992 NCAA Championship, and was selected as
BU’s “Athlete of the Year” in 1993. Sladish was
a three-time All-District player, and two-time District II “Player
of the Year.” With Sladish in the lineup, BU made its first
three trips to the NCAA tournament, finishing as high as fourth
in the nation. He held a stroke average of 75.8 in 1991-92 —
a figure that included a 3-under-par 67 at the Yale Invitational.
Susan (Numann)
Layman (women’s swimming, 1976-80)
A four-year swimmer, Numann produced one of the finest freshman
seasons in school history, qualifying for the national championship
in two events, and earning BU “Athlete of the Year”
honors. In all, she established six records, including individual
marks in the 50 and 100 backstroke, and qualified for the state
championship all four years. After captaining the team for her
final two seasons, she was honored with the John Bilos Award for
career achievement in 1980.
Tedd Hull (men’s
basketball, 1975-79)
A four-year starting point guard, Hull had the rare combination
of scoring and play-making that resulted in a 1,000-point scorer
and third-place standing in career assists. He enjoyed his most
successful season as a sophomore, when he averaged a team-high
16.0 points and earned team MVP, all-conference and all-state
honors. Hull graduated holding records for assists in a game (14),
season (146) and career (527), and averaged 11.6 points per game
for his four year tenure.
Lisa Denerstein
(women’s tennis, 1988-92)
One of just two players to earn an NCAA tournament invitation
in 28 years of women’s tennis, Denerstein captured five conference
championships in four years, and remains the only New York State
champion in that sport’s history. She was ranked as high
as 24th in the country as a senior before earning a berth in the
32-player national championship. Denerstein went 25-7 overall
in singles in her final season, and won a match to reach the round
of 16 at the NCAA Championship.
Jessie Godfrey
(administrator, 1958-91)
A pioneer in the field of women’s athletics, Godfrey served
as the women’s director of physical education and athletics
for 21 years. Her leadership in associations off campus included
roles as president of the State University of New York Athletic
Conference, New York State Association for Intercollegiate Athletics
for Women, and the Eastern Association for Intercollegiate Athletics
for Women (EAIAW). She served as a member of the executive board
of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women —
the first organization to offer national championships for women,
and became the first female president of the SUNYAC in 1984. Godfrey
was honored with the inaugural ECAC Katherine Ley Merit Award
in 1984, given to the outstanding female administrator among some
300 Division I, II and III institutions. She received a New York
State Award of Excellence from Binghamton in 1991, concluding
33 years of service to the University.
