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MCC Athletics announces Hall of Fame class


Monroe Community College will induct five new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame during the 22nd annual Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, April 20.

This year the college will recognize Arin Belden, Ken Lelek, Theresa Nietopski, Kenny Woseley, and Betty Smith for their contributions to the MCC athletic program both on and off the playing fields.

Belden (Class of 2002) was a three-sport star at MCC, earning All-American honors in soccer and softball.  She helped the women’s soccer and basketball teams win national championships her sophomore season, scoring the game-winning goal in the soccer title game. She is currently an assistant coach for the MCC women’s basketball program.

Lelek (Class of 1976) was an imposing right-handed pitcher who fashioned a 10-2 record and 1.57 ERA in two years for the MCC baseball team.  He helped lead the Tribunes to its first NJCAA World Series appearance in 1976 and was drafted by the Montreal Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago Cubs.

Nietopski (Class of 1989) was the first female in MCC history to play on three organized athletic teams (soccer, basketball, and softball) in one academic year.  An All-Region soccer player in 1988, she now is the president and sole proprietor of Nietopski Sports, a sporting goods and apparel company she founded in 1993.

Woseley (Class of 1994) helped the MCC men’s basketball team go 61-5 over two years, including a third-place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament in 1994.  A quick guard with the ability to score inside and out, Woseley was the first player under current head coach Jerry Burns to sign at an NCAA Division I college (Akron), and later became an All-Conference player at Mansfield University.

Smith, who works in MCC’s counseling and advising center, will be inducted in the Special Awards category.  Smith has personified commitment to success, both in the classroom and on the playing fields.  A member of the MCC community for 17 years, she is a constant presence at Tribune sporting events and has advised scores of student-athletes.

The banquet will be held in the Warshof Conference Center on MCC’s Brighton Campus.  It will begin at 5 p.m. with a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner at 6 p.m.  Tickets for the event are $18 per person.  For more information, contact the MCC Athletic Department at 585-292-2830.

Tom Garigen
Athletics
04/13/2007