The SUNY Oswego Alumni Association welcomed four Laker athletes and a former coach into the Oswego State Athletic Hall of Fame Oct. 25.

Family, friends, students and faculty joined the inductees for a luncheon in the Sheldon Hall ballroom, where they were honored.

Joined by his wife, Lois, Joseph Bena '64 was the first to take the stage. After coaching wrestling for 46 years and becoming the winningest coach in state history, Bena said his greatest achievement was earning the respect of his athletes.

"What a ride I had," he said. "If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't change anything."

Frank Lisco '65 was honored for his achievements in three varsity sports -- basketball, soccer and baseball -- while at Oswego. After reflecting on memories as a Delta Kappa Kappa brother, he gave tribute to another inductee.

"My first memory of Oswego was touring the campus with (former coach) Ernie Luongo," Lisco said. "He's the reason I got here."

Tony Mercep '67 accompanied Ernie Luongo as he was recognized for his achievements as a coach in putting Oswego soccer on the map with Oswego's first-ever SUNY Athletic Conference state championship.

"I was blessed with players, good young men and easy to coach," Luongo said.  "This has been a wonderful day -- regardless of the rain -- for me, my family and Oswego soccer."

Kimberly Pace '97 was inducted for setting several school marks and ranking among the top players in New York in women's lacrosse. She said that as an athlete, she never dreamed about being inducted into a hall of fame and never realized what a big part of her life Oswego lacrosse would become.

"I learned what it truly meant to be a part of a team," said Pace, who coaches lacrosse at Cortland. "It taught me life lessons."

Jeannine Muoio Salamone '92 was the final inductee called to the stage for her accomplishments as a member of the women's cross country and track teams.  She earned numerous awards and set many records throughout her history as a Laker, which included a trip to the NCAA Division III National Championship in 1991.

Salamone said the discipline she learned as an athlete helped her cope with adversity off the field. The breast cancer survivor received the "Award of Valor" from SUNY Athletic Conference in 2005.

-- Ashley White '10

PHOTO CAPTION:

Upper Photo: From left, Jeannine Muoio Salamone '92, Joseph Bena '64, Ernest Luongo, Frank Lisco '65 and Kimberly Pace '97 pose with their Athletic Hall of Fame induction plaques.

Lower Photo: Former players from the 1966 SUNYAC champion team showed support for their former coach and 2008 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, Ernest Luongo. Back, from left, are: Bill Hickey '66, Dick Tindall '75, Frank Lisco '65, Bob Conrad '69, Tony Mercep '67, Bill Mathews '68, Jack Michalec '68. Front row, from left are: John Bome '68, Dan Scaia '68, Luongo, Assistant Coach Harry Nash.



Back To November E-Newsletter - Next Article: Play Right - Previous Article: Moving Forward

Oswego Alumni Association, Inc.
King Alumni Hall • SUNY Oswego • Oswego, NY 13126
315-312-2258 • 315-312-5570 (fax)
Email: alumni@oswego.edu
Web site: www.oswego.edu/alumni