HUDSON, N.Y. – Columbia-Greene Community College held its 2019 Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony today, Friday, April 26, honoring two former C-GCC teams, one athlete-alumnus, and a community member for their contributions to the college and its athletics program.
The 2019 C-GCC Hall of Fame inductees are:
1978-1979 Women’s Basketball Team,
Lois Brandt
Gail Lee
Dawn DeFino
Christina Urda
Susan Sweet
Laurie Austin
Lorraine Balli
Terry Dixson
Peg Hain
Kim Adriance
Juanita Johnson
1978-79 Women’s Volleyball Team,
Barb Babij
Kim Adriance
Lorraine Balli
Dawn DeFino
Peg Hain
Juanita Johnson
Cheryl Tuczynski
Sue Sharpe
Sue Shultz
Anthony Pilatich ’76, and
Joan Koweek, executive director of the Columbia-Greene Community Foundation and director of Development and Alumni Services for C-GCC.
Acting Director of Athletics Nicolas Dyer explained that in addition to achieving a number of firsts for the college, the 1978-79 basketball and volleyball teams shared a number of team members between them. As such. the teams were represented by two players who appeared on both rosters: Dawn DeFino '79, of Saugerties, and Lorraine Balli '79, of Troy.
“The women’s basketball team was the second official team of the C-GCC Athletics,” he said. “The late Richard Schmonsky lead the undefeated team to a 14-3 overall record, and 13-1 NAC record. The team also defeated Berkshire Community College and earned the NAC (North Atlantic Conference) title.
“The women’s volleyball team also had a few firsts, earning the NAC league championship and becoming the first C-GCC team to defeat Hudson Valley Community College with a score of 14-4,” Dyer added, noting the team was lead by Coach Sharon Post. “They scored 720 points over their opponents and had a nine-game winning streak”.
Pilatich, of Catskill, played both baseball and basketball for the Twins; as a basketball player, he made second-team in the NAC, was the leading scorer in the semi-finals scoring 24 points, made the second-team All-star in both the NAC and the Mountain Valley Collegiate Conference (MVCC), and was an All-league Basketball Selection. Pilatich’s baseball accolades include earning the Most Valuable Player Award, setting the record for the most strikeouts in a single game and season. In 1976, he had 74 strikeouts as pitcher.
Dyer noted that the 2019 Community Inductee, Joan Koweek of Claverack, has been an essential part of the C-GCC family for many years.
“She connects old- and new-faces C-GCC tirelessly, and has been an avid supporter of athletics for many years,” he said. “Joan continues to enrich the wealth of the C-GCC environment, and has earned our endless respect and admiration.”
Each honoree has been added to the C-GCC Athletic Hall of Fame’s wall of plaques, located adjacent to the gymnasium and athletics offices. For more information, please call 518. 828. 4181, or visit SUNYcgcc.edu.
Caption: 2019 C-GCC Athletic Hall of Fame inductees Dawn DeFino '79, Lorraine Balli '79, Anthony Pilatich '76, and Joan Koweek pose with acting Director of Athletics at C-GCC Nicolas Dyer.