Bulletin News

05/17/2022 

Seven new members were inducted into the SUNY Cortland C-Club Hall of Fame during its annual ceremony on Saturday, April 30. The induction class was originally selected in 2020, but the ceremony was postponed on a few occasions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The story was originally posted on the Cortland Red Dragons website on April 29.

The spring 2022 honorees (selected in 2020) are:
 
* Robert Branham '77 M '82, men's golf
 
* James Burke '78 (posthumous), men's lacrosse 
 
* Michael Chiapparelli '78 M '86, baseball
 
* Cydney Archer Scarano '81 M '83, women's soccer
 
* Katie Finch Talbert '10 M '13, softball
 
* Jessica Laing Clark '10, women's basketball
 
* and Julie Lenhart (honorary), softball head coach (1995-2019) 

In addition to Saturday night's official ceremony, the inductees were introduced at halftime during the Cortland-Geneseo men's lacrosse game earlier that afternoon. 
 
Established in 1969, the C-Club Hall of Fame recognizes Cortland alumni who competed as athletes at the university and who have since distinguished themselves in their professions and within their communities. Honorary members are recognized for their long and significant contributions to SUNY Cortland athletics. New C-Club members have been added annually and this year's ceremony will bring the Hall of Fame roster to 276 alumni and 31 honorary members.
 
The C-Club Hall of Fame induction class for the fall of 2022 will be officially announced soon. Nominations for the 2023 C-Club Hall of Fame voting will be accepted until January 15, 2023. The nomination form is available online. 

A person must be nominated in order to be considered for induction into the Hall of Fame.
 
A detailed look at this spring's inductees follows.  
 
Robert Branham '77, M '82 
(Norwich, New York) 
 
Robert Branham was a two-time All-American and three-time NCAA qualifying golfer at Cortland, and a long-time coach and teacher, primarily in the Norwich City Schools. 
 
* The Norwich, N.Y., native earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Cortland in 1977 and a master's degree in physical education from Cortland in 1982 
 
* Men's golfer four seasons from 1973-77 (Red Letter Award winner all four years) 
 
* Two-time NCAA All-American – second team honoree in 1976 (tied for sixth nationally) and third team in 1977 (17th nationally); qualified for 1975 NCAA Championships (tied for 43rd) and was medalist at 1975 and 1977 NCAA qualifiers 
 
* Two-time State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) individual champion in 1973 and 1975. Four-time Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship qualifier, including medalist in 1976, tied for sixth in 1975 and tied for 11th in 1974 
 
* Medalist twice at tournaments in the fall of 1974, four in the fall of 1975 and five in 1976. Finished with a 74.6 scoring average in the fall of 1975 and 75.2 in the fall of 1976. 
 
* Two-time medalist in 1974 and 1975 at the Brook-lea Intercollegiate Invitational in Rochester and posted a five-under-par 67 in a win over Ithaca in 1977 
 
* Selected for Outstanding College Athletes of America for 1975 for leadership, service, scholarship and outstanding athletic achievement 
 
* Physical education teacher at South New Berlin School from 1977-79, Botetourt County Middle School (Va.) in 1979-80, Schoharie Central School from 1980-87, and Norwich City Schools from 1987 until his retirement in 2011 
 
* Coached basketball, softball, football and golf at Norwich from 1987-2014 as well as golf, basketball and baseball at Schoharie, football, basketball and track at Botetourt County Middle School, and football and basketball at South New Berlin. Assisted Norwich boys' basketball to New York State Public High School Athletic Association state titles in 1993 and 1994 and a Federation state title in 1993 
 
* First amateur to ever qualify for the BC Open golf tournament in 1983; also amateur participant in a Ben Hogan Tour Tournament 
 
* Multi-year participant at NYS Amateur Golf Tournament (best finish third place) and NYS Senior Amateur Golf Tournament (first place age group finish twice) 
 
* Triple Cities Amateur champion and two-time John Grandeo Open champion 
 
* Member of Hall of Fame at Canasawacta Country Club – 24-time club champion, 10-time member-guest champion and 3-time senior member-guest champion 
 
* Member of NYS Golf Association Course Rating Team 
 
* Member of Section 4 Hall of Fame as a 1973 Oxford Academy and Central School alumnus who competed in football, basketball, baseball and golf 
 
James Burke '78 
(posthumous) 
 
James Burke was a three-time All-America defenseman for Cortland's men's lacrosse team from 1975-78 who went on to become one of the world's top lacrosse players on three U.S. world championship teams  
 
* A Huntington, N.Y., native, he earned a bachelor's degree in health science education from Cortland in 1978 
 
* Four-year men's lacrosse starting defenseman from 1975-78 
 
* Three-time All-American, earning first team honors in both 1976 and 1978 and second team recognition in 1977 
 
* Team captain in both 1977 and 1978 and North-South Senior All-Star Game participant in 1978 
 
* Helped Cortland make four straight NCAA Division II tournament appearances from 1975-78; the Red Dragons won the 1975 national title and were national quarterfinalists the other three seasons, and the team also won the inaugural SUNYAC title 
 
* Led a defensive unit that allowed less than 10 goals per game during his four seasons, compared to Cortland averaging more than 13 goals per game during that stretch  
 
* Member of U.S. national men's lacrosse team that won world championships in 1982, 1986 and 1990, and was a team alternate in 1978. In 1986 he was a team captain of the U.S. squad, was voted the Outstanding Defenseman of the World Games, and earned a spot on the All-World Team as the U.S. defeated Canada, 18-9, in the gold medal game in Toronto. The U.S. also defeated Canada, 19-15, in the 1990 championship game in Perth, Australia, with Burke taking over faceoff duties during the game to help propel the Americans to the title 
 
* 1994 National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee 
 
* 1992 Long Island Lacrosse Hall of Fame; played for more than a decade with the Long Island Lacrosse Club, where he was a perennial All-Club selection and a key to six championship teams in the USCLA, at the time the top post-collegiate field lacrosse league. He also played club lacrosse in California as well as masters tournaments in Vail, Lake Placid and Florida 
 
* 1991 Krongard Trophy winner for his contributions to the game as an active club player 
 
* Coached youth lacrosse in Florida in 2016 
 
* Graduated from the New York Chiropractic College in 1983 and was the owner and operator of Burke Family Chiropractic from 1983-2016 
 
* Passed away peacefully at his family home on April 8, 2020, following his four and a half year battle with prostate cancer 
 
Michael Chiapparelli '78, M '86 
(Mamaroneck, New York) 
 
Michael Chiapparelli, a former baseball catcher for the Red Dragons, has been one of the most successful coaches in New York State history in both baseball and ice hockey for 42 years at Mamaroneck High School 
 
* The Mamaroneck, N.Y., native earned a bachelor's degree in education from Cortland in 1978 and a master's degree in physical education, with a concentration in training, from Cortland in 1986 
 
* Played baseball for four seasons from 1975-78, primarily as a catcher, with time in the outfield as a senior 
 
* Assistant coach for the Red Dragons as a graduate student under both Bob Wallace and Al Stockholm 
 
* Elementary physical education teacher at Murray Avenue School in Mamaroneck from 1984-2000 and physical education at Mamaroneck High School from 2000-present 
 
* More than 1,300 combined victories at Mamaroneck, his alma mater, as head coach of the varsity ice hockey and baseball teams and the junior varsity football and ice hockey programs 
 
* Mamaroneck varsity baseball head coach since 1985 – has won a combined 607 games, 21 league championships, five sectional titles, three regional championships and three New York State Class AA titles (2008, 2009, 2015) 
 
* Mamaroneck varsity boys' ice hockey coach since 1998, as well as from 1985-94 – his 527 wins rank first all-time in New York State, and his teams, along with long-time assistant Art Bruno, have won eight sectional titles, nine league championships and five regional championships, won the 2016 state title and was runner-up in 2009 
 
* Three-time New York State Class AA Baseball Coach of the Year and 2009 New York State Coach of the Year, as well as league coach of the year 16 times, Section 1 Coach of the Year eight times, and 2021 NBSBCA Regional District 1 Coach of the Year 
 
* 2016 NYS Division 1 Ice Hockey Coach of the Year, 2014 National Eastern District Coach of the Year, league coach of the year 10 times and Section 1 Coach of the Year eight times 
 
* Earned 2010 Frank McGuire Award from the New York Athletic Club, given to top coaches in the tri-state area 
 
* 125 wins as Mamaroneck's JV ice hockey head coach from 1979-85 and 79 wins as JV football head coach from 1981-90, 1997-99 and 2006-10 
 
* Inducted into the NYS Baseball Hall of Fame (2019), Westchester County Sports Hall of Fame (2015), and Mamaroneck High School Hall of Fame (2001) 
 
* Town of Mamaroneck Youth Hockey instructor (1978-85) and director of the program (1985-2011), and also directed Town of Mamaroneck Day Camp (1978-89) and Gymnastics Camp (1978-85) 
 
* Has served 35 years on the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Little League Board of Directors 
 
Cydney Archer Scarano '81, M '83 
(Madbury, New Hampshire) 
 
Cydney Archer Scarano was an All-American on Cortland's 1980 women's soccer national championship team, and she has coached the sport on the scholastic and collegiate levels for more than 30 years since her graduation. 
 
* The Syracuse native earned a bachelor's degree in education from Cortland in 1982 and a master's degree (National Science Foundation Graduate Assistantship) in education from Cortland in 1983, in addition to earning a Juris Doctor degree in environmental law from Syracuse University in 1990 and a master's degree in education leadership from the University of New Hampshire in 2003 
 
* Midfielder/wing halfback on Cortland's first three women's soccer varsity teams from 1978-80 that posted a combined 38-4-1 record, member of club soccer team from 1976-77, four-year indoor club soccer participant from 1977-80 
 
* As a senior in 1980 earned All-America honors (first year women's All-Americans were selected) and first team Eastern Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (EAIAW) all-region recognition, and was an all-region honoree in 1979 
 
* Finished with a combined 27 goals and 10 assists for 64 points in three varsity seasons, including 10 goals and seven assists in 1978 and nine goals and three assists in 1980 
 
* Helped Cortland win the first-ever U.S. National Women's Soccer Championship in 1980, scoring a goal in a 5-1 win over UCLA in the national finals, and during a run to the EAIAW regional title scored goals versus top-seeded Princeton in the first round, Harvard in the semifinals, and Connecticut in the finals 
 
* Scored tying goal with less than 14 minutes left in regulation in 1979 EAIAW regional final versus Harvard; teams were declared co-champions after a 1-1 tie 
 
* Head women's soccer coach at Wells College (1984-85) and women's soccer and softball coach at Colgate University (1985-87) 
 
* Summer Wilderness Guide for Wilderness Ventures (Jackson, Wyo.) from 1983-85, helping lead teenagers to successful ascents of Mt. Rainier (14,411 feet) in Washington and The Grand (13,770 feet) in Wyoming 
 
* Environmental attorney in Syracuse from 1991-94 
 
* Teacher, paraprofessional, maple sugar coordinator and sustainability leader at Moharimet Elementary School in Durham, N.H., from 2001-13 
 
* High school coaching career included positions at head coach at Cazenovia High School (1994-96), assistant coach at Oyster River High School in New Hampshire (2007-14, including state title in 2007), head coach at Portsmouth (N.H.) High School (2015-19), and head coach at Oyster River (2020-present); also currently girls JV lacrosse coach at Oyster River 
 
* 2015 New Hampshire State Soccer Coaches Association Coach of the Year as she led Portsmouth to a state runner-up finish 
 
* Involved for more than 20 years in numerous community service efforts, including club soccer coaching, in Cazenovia, Colorado Springs and New Hampshire 
 
Katie Finch Talbert '10, M '13 
(Oneonta, New York) 
 
Katie Finch Talbert is the most successful softball pitcher in the history of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC). The three-time All-American is the conference's all-time leader in wins and strikeouts and helped lead Cortland to three league crowns and two NCAA Division III World Series appearances. 
 
* A native of Amsterdam, N.Y., she earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Cortland in 2010 and a master's degree in physical education, with a concentration in coaching pedagogy, from Cortland in 2013 
 
* Four-year softball pitcher from 2007-10 
 
* Three-time All-American (second team in 2009 and 2010, third team in 2008) and four-time first team all-region; two-time ECAC Upstate New York Pitcher of the Year (2009-10) and 2008 First Team All-ECAC 
* Three-time SUNYAC Pitcher of the Year (2008-10), four-time first team All-SUNYAC, and 2007 SUNYAC Rookie of the Year; two-time SUNYAC Tournament MVP and three-time NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team 

* Career stats – 93-27 record, 1.16 ERA, 35 shutouts, 9 saves, 1,025 strikeouts, 161 walks, .164 opponent batting average in 133 appearances (761.2 innings), including 26 wins in a season twice and 22 wins once

* Became 11th player in NCAA Division III history to reach 1,000 career strikeouts 
 
* Named to the SUNYAC Softball All-Decade Team (players who competed at least one season from 2010-19); SUNYAC career leader in wins and strikeouts

* Holds school career records for wins, strikeouts, ERA and shutouts, single-season records for strikeouts (321) and shutouts (12), and single-game record for strikeouts (19) 
 
* Seven career no-hitters, including three perfect games 
 
* Division III national ERA leader in 2010 (0.68)

* Team advanced to NCAA World Series in 2008 (tied 5th) and 2009 (tied 7th) and won three SUNYAC titles (2007, 2008, 2010

* Two-time CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District selection (2008 and 2010) 
 
* 2010 Cortland C-Club Co-Female Senior Athlete of the Year 
 
* Teacher in the Oneonta City School District since 2010. Currently teaching high school physical education, adapted physical education and health related classes through the Broome Fast Forward program and has taught elementary physical education and adapted physical education. Coaches junior varsity softball and has coached girls' volleyball and modified girls' soccer 
 
* SUNY Oneonta's softball pitching coach since 2013 
 
* Gives private softball lessons to youth in the Oneonta area and at various camps 
 
Jessica Laing Clark '10 
(Delhi, New York)

Jessica Laing Clark is one of the best women's basketball players in the history of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC). A three-time All-American, she is the conference's career scoring leader and is ranked second in league history, and first at Cortland, in rebounding. 
 
* A Bloomville, N.Y., native, she earned a bachelor's degree in physical education with a concentration in adapted physical education from Cortland in 2010, and a master's degree in elementary reading and literacy from Walden University in 2013 
 
* Four-year women's basketball forward from 2007-10 
 
* Three-time WBCA All-American – First Team in 2010, Honorable Mention in 2008 and 2009 – and two-time D3hoops.com All-American – Second Team in 2010, Third Team in 2009 
 
* 2010 Jostens Trophy Award Finalist (Division III national Player of the Year award) 
 
* 2012 D3hoops.com East Region Player of the Year, two-time ECAC Upstate NY Player of the Year (2009, 2010), and four-time All-ECAC Upstate NY (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) 
 
* Two-time SUNYAC Player of the Year (2009, 2010), four-time First Team All-SUNYAC (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), 2007 SUNYAC Rookie of the Year, and 2010 SUNYAC Tournament MVP 
 
* Named the SUNYAC Women's Basketball Player of the Decade (players who competed at least one season from 2010-19) 
 
* Career Stats: 2,166 points (18.5/game), 1,305 rebounds (11.2/game), 77 double-doubles, 136 3-pointers, 79.8 free throw percentage in 117 games played 
 
* SUNYAC and school career leader in points scored; second in SUNYAC (and school leader) in rebounds; school record-holder in career fields goals (715) and free throws (600); ranked fifth at Cortland in career free throw percentage 
 
* Only player in NCAA Division III history to finish career with the combination of at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 100 made 3-pointers 
 
* Team won at least 24 games in each of her four seasons, won two SUNYAC titles, played in three NCAA tournaments (advanced to second round in 2007 and 2009), and won the 2008 ECAC Upstate NY tournament 
 
* 2010 Cortland C-Club Co-Female Senior Athlete of the Year and Women's Basketball Red Letter Award winner 
 
* Volunteered, as a student, to teach disability awareness at Marcellus Elementary School, provide activities to children with spina bifida at SUNY Upstate Medical Center, and provide activities for underprivileged children through Migrant Workers organization 
 
* Spent five years teaching physical education, coaching different levels of women's basketball, and providing services for the Delaware Academy Central School District in Delhi 
 
* Since 2018 has sponsored foster children and teens by providing them with Christmas gifts, along with providing holiday meals for families in need, through Delaware County Social Services 
 
Julie Lenhart (honorary) 
(Ithaca, New York) 
 
One of the most successful coaches in the history of collegiate softball, Julie Lenhart led Cortland to more than 800 victories, 17 NCAA tournaments and 12 league titles during her 25 seasons at the College. 
 
* A native of McComb, Ohio, she earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and health from Ohio Northern University in 1980 and a master's degree in counselor education, with an emphasis in school counseling, K-12, from Wisconsin-Platteville in 1990 
 
* Softball head coach at Cortland for 25 seasons from 1995-2019 
 
* Served five seasons as softball head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville from 1990-94, along with six seasons as volleyball assistant coach 
 
* Posted a combined record at Cortland of 826-329-2 (.715) and an overall record of 946-406-2 (.699); she became just the sixth coach in Division III history to reach 900 career wins and currently ranks third on the Division III all-time victories list 
 
* 2014 inductee into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame 
 
* Led Cortland to 17 NCAA Division III tournament appearances, including seven World Series; the Red Dragons were national runner-up in 2013, finished fourth nationally in 2011, tied for fifth place in 2003 and 2008, and tied for seventh in 1998, 2004 and 2009 
 
* Guided the Red Dragons to 12 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) titles, and her teams finished either first or second in the conference tournament every year from 1998-2019 
 
* Her Cortland squads between 2015-17 became the first, and still only, teams to win three consecutive SUNYAC tournament titles 
 
* Led Cortland to 30 or more wins 18 times, including 40 or more victories on five occasions (44 wins in 2009, 42 wins each in 2003 and 2011, 41 wins in 2012 and 40 wins in 2010) 
 
* Six-time SUNYAC Coach of the Year (1997, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2019) 
 
* NFCA East or Northeast Region Coach of the Year (or Coaching Staff of the Year) eight times (1997-98, 2003-04, 2008-09, 2011, 2013) 
 
* Two-time Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (1990, 1992) 
 
* Softball, basketball and volleyball letterwinner at Ohio Northern University and a 1996 inductee into the ONU Athletic Hall of Fame 
 
* Taught physical education, science and health, and coached softball and volleyball, at the North Central Schools in Pioneer, Ohio, from 1980-88