Seven inducted into Athletics Hall of Fame

Binghamton University expanded its Athletics Hall of Fame by seven on Oct. 13 as the 17th Annual Induction Ceremony was held at the Events Center. The 2012 Class, which featured five former athletes, a former head coach and team physician, was formally enshrined in front of a crowd of more than 250 on Homecoming Weekend.

“You have helped make Binghamton a ‘Home of Champions,’” University President Harvey Stenger told the group. “All seven inductees have created distinction for themselves and the university. Success in sports takes hard work and mental and physical toughness. …  Athletics plays an important role in the lives and futures of so many of us. … I want to congratulate you on this great honor.”

Voted in for 2012 are former standouts Gina Bonante (swimming, 1995-99), Charlene Cook (softball, 1995-98), Jason Goldman (wrestling, 1995-97), Andrew Magidoff (tennis, 1991-95) and Dave Schneider (soccer, 1989-92). Joining the athletes in the 2012 class will be 19-year men’s tennis coach Michael Starke and 27-year team physician Douglas Kerr.

“From Division III to Division I and whether you were a Colonial or a Bearcat, we truly appreciate what each of you has done for this university and our athletics program,” Director of Athletics Patrick Elliott said. “You have made us what we are today and you are in the Hall of Fame from this day on.”

Bonante was a three-time All-American in the butterfly. She began as a Division III student-athlete and as a senior, capped her career with a pair of NCAA Division II All-America honors. A two-time MVP and team captain, she won seven conference titles and graduating holding six school records.

Cook was the pitching ace of a softball program that was nationally ranked all four of her collegiate seasons. A three-time all-region selection, she still holds the program record with 54 career wins and ranks second in both strikeouts (352) and earned run average (1.60). She led the team to a first-ever SUNYAC title in 1995.

Goldman transferred to Binghamton as a junior and made the most of his final two collegiate seasons, placing third at the NCAA Division III Championship in 1996 and fourth in 1997 to graduate with two All-America honors. He went 31-5 in his first season at BU (14-1 duals) and then went 30-7 (9-0 duals) as a senior, winning a conference title along the way. Goldman was a two-time Binghamton University Athlete of the Year.

Magidoff’s tenure overlapped with the ascension of the men’s tennis program at the national level. He was a two-time NCAA Division III All-American and three-time NCAA qualifier who was ranked as high as No. 20 in the nation. As a senior, Magidoff led Binghamton to a No. 10 national ranking and first-ever team berth in the NCAA tournament.

Schneider was a gifted playmaker and All-American midfielder for Binghamton’s highly successful men’s soccer team in the early 1990s. He led the teams to nearly 12 wins per season and three postseason tournament appearances. As a senior in 1992, Schneider tallied 12 goals and a school-record 11 assists in 20 games and was voted one of the six best midfielders in the entire country.

Starke was the mastermind behind the rise of the men’s tennis program and produced dozens of individual and team accolades in his 19 full seasons as head coach. He advanced Binghamton to the NCAA Championship at all three divisional levels, including seven times in his final 11 years. He coached 10 All-Americans and 14 Academic All-Americans and held a dual match winning percentage of 67 percent. Starke was named conference coach of the year six times at all three NCAA levels and was twice honored as the ITA East Region Coach of the Year.

Kerr, a former collegiate athlete and local orthopedic surgeon, served more than 8,000 student-athletes in his 28-year tenure as volunteer team physician. He was on the sidelines for countless basketball and lacrosse home games and performed weekly consults with the school’s sports medicine staff. In addition to his expertise treating and operating on student-athletes, Kerr mentored Binghamton University’s yearly core of student athletic trainers and his practice, Orthopedic Associates, has sponsored the annual BU Student Trainer of the Year and Trainer Scholarship awards.

The Binghamton University Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1996 and this year’s class will bring the total number of members to 85.