SUNY Cortland C-Club Hall of Fame to induct seven

09/15/2026

Seven new members will be inducted into the SUNY Cortland C-Club Hall of Fame during its annual ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 19. The 2026 honorees are:

James J. Grady '50, M '61 (posthumous) (Football/Men's Lacrosse/Wrestling/Men's Track and Field)
Judy Sparks Arlington '89, M '90 (Women's Cross Country/Women's Track and Field/Women's Swimming and Diving)
Pat Lalley '98 (Football)

Julian Heyward '02 (Men's Swimming and Diving)

Becky Gillette '02, M '04 (Field Hockey)

Jim Dougher '07 (Baseball)

Jessica Lavelle '14 (Women's Lacrosse)

In addition to Saturday night's official ceremony, the inductees will be introduced at halftime of the Cortland football game versus Hartwick College earlier that afternoon.

Established in 1969, the C-Club Hall of Fame recognizes Cortland alumni who competed as athletes at the College 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 311 alumni and 33 honorary members.

Nominations for the 2027 C-Club Hall of Fame voting will be accepted until January 15, 2027. The nomination form is available online. A person must be nominated to be considered for induction into the Hall of Fame.

A detailed look at this year's inductees follows below.

James J. Grady '50, M '61
(posthumous)

A native of Whitehall, N.Y., he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Cortland in 1950 and a master's degree in physical education from Cortland in 1961.
Competed at Cortland in varsity football as a sophomore and junior, varsity wrestling and men's lacrosse as both a junior and senior, and on the freshman football, men's lacrosse and men's track and field teams.
Served on Cortland's Men's Athletic Association (M.A.A.) Council as vice president in his junior year and president in his senior year.
Three-year member of Cortland's Newman Club (Catholic Student Club), including president as a junior, treasurer of Cortland's Lyceum Committee (campus musical organizers) as a junior, and member of Beta Phi Epsilon fraternity.
Joined the U.S. Navy after high school at age 17 and served on the destroyer ship USS William M. Wood during World War II; boxed at Madison Square Garden while in the Navy.
Athletic director and physical education instructor in the newly created Wantagh School District, on Long Island, from 1950-83.
Varsity baseball coach for 30 years at Wantagh, earning more than 350 wins, 23 league championships and four Nassau County championships; at the time of his retirement was the winningest baseball coach in New York State history; also coached football, wrestling and soccer at Wantagh.
Earned Excellence in Teaching Award in the mid-1960s.
After retirement from Wantagh, pursued a second career as an insurance agent and financial planner from 1983 until his second retirement in 2007 at age 80.
Worked with his son Chris Grady '79 at Grady & Father/MassMutual, receiving the designations of Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT); the MDRT distinction recognized him as one of the top six percent of all life insurance agents in the industry.
Served as a church lecturer and eucharistic minister for 30 years.
Coached in youth all-star leagues for 20 years.
The main field at the Cortland Stadium Complex was named in his honor in 2023.
Inducted into Cortland's Baseball Legends Club as a special honoree in 2024.
Passed away on Feb. 28, 2021, at age 93.

Judy Sparks Arlington '89, M '90

A native of Lockport, N.Y., she earned a bachelor's degree in education from Cortland in 1989 and a master's degree in recreation education from Cortland in 1990.
Competed three seasons each in women's cross country and women's indoor track and field and outdoor track and field at Cortland from 1987-90, and was a member of the Cortland's women's swimming and diving team for two seasons from 1985-87.
Two-time cross country All-American, finishing second nationally at the 1989 NCAA Division III Championships and placing 17th in 1988.
Won the 1989 SUNYAC cross country individual title to earn a spot in the SUNYAC Cross Country Hall of Fame.
Member of Cortland cross country teams that won the 1989 national title, earned two other top-eight national finishes, and won three SUNYAC titles.
Six-time women's track and field All-American with top-eight finishes at NCAA Division III championships, highlighted by national runner-up finishes in the 5,000 meters outdoors in 1989 and 10,000 meters outdoors in 1990 and third-place finishes outdoors in 10,000 meters in 1989 and 5,000 meters in 1990.
Five-time SUNYAC track and field champion (5,000 meters indoors in 1989 and outdoors in 1990, 800 meters indoors in 1990, 4x400-meter relay outdoors in 1988, distance medley relay indoors in 1990).
Five-time ECAC track and field champion (1,000 meters indoors in 1989, 1,500 meters outdoors in 1989, 3,000 meters outdoors in 1990, and the 4x800-meter relay twice both outdoors in 1989 and indoors in 1990).
Member of track and field teams that finished second nationally outdoors in 1990, third nationally indoors in 1990 and fourth nationally outdoors in 1989, and won four SUNYAC titles (two indoors, two outdoors).
Cortland school record-holder in the 10,000 meters (35:12.32) and ranks in the top five in the outdoors 5,000 meters, indoors DMR, and indoors 3,000 meters.
Earned Cortland women's outdoor track and field Red Letter Award in 1990.
Has worked for 37 years serving people with developmental disabilities, including various roles in non-for-profit organizations such as People Inc., Genesee County ARC and Austistic Services.
Co-chair of $16.5 million capital campaign for the construction of the Kenan Civic Arena in Lockport, which opened in early September 2026.
Serves on the Board of Directors for the All Saints Food Pantry in Lockport and serves on the Community Outreach Committee for Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union.
Inducted into the Western New York Running Hall of Fame in 2018.
Inducted into the Lockport High School Distinguished Alumni in August 2026.

Pat Lalley '98
A native of Buffalo, N.Y., he earned a bachelor's degree in history from Cortland in 1998.
A four-year football center at Cortland from 1993-96; started 39 consecutive games - the last seven games of his freshman season in 1993, all 11 games in both 1994 and 1995, and all 10 games in 1996.
Earned first team American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America honors in 1996 and was a preseason All-American by College Football Preview in 1995 and Don Hansen's Football Gazette in 1996.
Played on teams that qualified for postseason ECAC Northeast Bowl games in 1994 (at Maine Maritime) and 1995 (at Springfield), defeated preseason nationally top-ranked Washington & Jefferson and eventual national runner-up on the road in 1994, and defeated Ithaca at home, 41-13, in 1996 in Cortland's largest margin of victory in its Cortaca Jug history versus the Bombers.
Recipient of the football team's John W. Morgan Award for dedication to the sport of football and leadership by example.
Served as head strength and conditioning coach and a JV football coach for the Red Dragons from the spring of 1997 to the spring of 1998.
Member of the Buffalo Fire Department since 1999; served as a firefighter from 1999-2010, a lieutenant from 2010-17, a captain from 2017-24, and battalion chief since 2024; he also currently serves as the city's chief fire marshal.
Earned 15 Awards of Valor from the Buffalo Fire Department between 2001-23 recognizing heroic actions in the line of duty.
Recognized by the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association with the Detective Sergeant Joseph C. Nigrelli Service Award in 2018 for his actions in October 2017 coordinating water response efforts in an international search and rescue/recovery operation when a Buffalo Police diver became trapped during a training dive.
Co-owner of the Blackthorn Restaurant & Pub in South Buffalo since 2006; the restaurant has provided numerous free meals to front line workers during storms and COVID, and has hosted Cortland football team meals when the team has played in the Buffalo area.
A supporter of the 100 Club of Buffalo, which provides assistance to first responder service providers in Western New York, including police, fire and emergency service agencies.
Established and served on the executive committee of the KPL Memorial Foundation from 2001-16; the foundation was named in memory of his brother Kevin, who passed away in 2000, and provided Christmas gifts to families in need and scholarship money to grammar school students to help with high school expenses.

Julian Heyward '02
A Syracuse, N.Y. native, he earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Cortland in 2002.
Competed as a diver on Cortland's men's swimming and diving team for four seasons from 1991-95, serving as team captain as a senior.
Six-time Division III All-American with six top-eight finishes at the NCAA Championships: seventh nationally on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards as a sophomore in 1993; third on the 1-meter and fourth on the 3-meter as a junior in 1994; and seventh on the 1-meter and fifth on the 3-meter as a senior in 1995.
Five-time SUNYAC diving champion, winning 3-meter titles as a sophomore, junior and senior and 1-meter titles as a junior and senior.
Earned the SUNYAC's James Fulton Award as the conference's top men's swimming and diving senior performer in 1995.
Received the SUNY Cortland Athletics George Breen '56 Award in 1995, named for Cortland C-Club Hall of Famer and four-time Olympic medalist George Breen and presented annually for dedication to swimming and diving.
Cortland men's swimming and diving Red Letter Award winner as a junior.
Member of Cortland teams that earned three top-30 Division III national finishes (16th in 1994, 17th in 1993, 29th in 1995) and won the 1993 SUNYAC title.
Served as a DJ, music director and station manager at campus radio station WSUC-FM; sang with the campus gospel choir; served on the executive board of the school's Black Student Union; and joined Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.
Currently Senior Vice President with Aristotle Capital Management, covering the Pacific Northwest, Northern California, Northern Nevada, Hawaii and Guam.
Served as Pacific Northwest Regional Director at Allspring Global Investments from 2021-25 and co-led Allspring's Black/African-American Connectivity Group.
Previously served as a Wealth Consultant at DWS Group (2020-21) and Regional Vice President at Allianz Global Investors (2015-20) and PGIM (1999-2015).
Received the Allianz Heritage Award in 2016 for representing the firm's philosophies of Respect, Integrity, Passion, and Excellence; the Presidents Club Award in 2016 and 2018; and the Century Club Award in 2016.
Has served as International Deputy Chief of Staff for Infrastructure to the International President of Phi Beta Sigma since 2025.
Awarded Syracuse's annual Key to the City in 2024 for his professional career, which involved imparting financial savvy to young African Americans; and City of Syracuse Mayor Sharon F. Owens proclaimed August 1, 2026, Julian "Jules" Heyward Day.

Becky Gillette '02, M '04
A native of Marathon, N.Y., she earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Cortland in 2002 and a master's degree in literacy education from Cortland in 2004.
A four-year goalkeeper on Cortland's field hockey team from 1998-2001 (team captain as a senior); also played as a goalkeeper for the junior varsity women's lacrosse team from 1999-2000.
Played in 60 field hockey games, 55 as a starter, and registered a career 42-11 record with 270 saves, a 0.79 goals-against average, an 86.5 save percentage, and 17 solo shutouts (plus 14 shared shutouts).
Currently ranked second at Cortland in career GAA, and sixth in single-season GAA (0.67 in 2000).
Earned first team All-America, all-region, All-ECAC, all-state and All-SUNYAC honors as a senior in 2001 with a 17-1 record, 99 saves, 0.71 GAA and 88.4 save percentage.
Second team all-region, first team all-state and honorable mention All-SUNYAC as a junior in 2000, and first team all-state in 1999.
Helped lead Cortland to the 2001 NCAA Division III title and SUNYAC title; made seven saves in a 3-0 shutout versus Rowan in the national quarterfinals, 12 saves in a 4-1 win versus Skidmore in the national semifinals, and four saves against Messiah in a 1-0 shutout in the national championship game.
In addition to the 2001 national title, the Red Dragons advanced to the NCAA semifinals in 1999 and the NCAA quarterfinals in 2000, and the team won the 2000 SUNYAC title (SUNYAC did not sponsor field hockey in 1998 or 1999).
Cortland field hockey assistant coach from 2002-07 and 2013-15.
Other campus activities included serving as a campus driver for summer Special Olympics program, a resident assistant at Alger Hall, and a student lifeguard at Moffett Pool.
Elementary school teacher in the Marathon (N.Y.) Central School District since 2004; has taught different levels from Universal Pre-Kindergarten through third grade.
Has coached varsity and JV softball, and JV field hockey, at Marathon, and is currently a softball assistant coach.
Currently the vice president of the Marathon Teachers Association.
Served on the Finger Lakes Board of Field Hockey Officials from 2009-12 and 2016-19.
Member of the Order of the Eastern Star #101 in Marathon from 1998-2023 and served as Worthy Matron in 2013, 2014 and 2019; assisted with catering numerous meals for the Masonic Lodge and members' events, and shopped for community Christmas gift program for local children.

Jim Dougher '07
A native of Liverpool, N.Y., he earned a bachelor's degree in criminology from Cortland in 2007.
A four-year starting pitcher on Cortland's baseball team from 2004-07 and a team captain as a senior.
Named the 2007 D3baseball.com National Pitcher of the Year, the New York Region Pitcher of the Year and the ECAC Upstate New York Pitcher of the Year after finishing 8-2 with a 0.63 ERA, 74 strikeouts and seven walks in 86 innings.
Two-time American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Division III All-American, earning first team honors in 2007 and second team recognition in 2006.
Three-time all-region selection (2005-07) and two-time All-ECAC honoree (2006-07); finished 9-1 with one save and a 2.12 ERA in 2006 and 6-1 with a 1.43 ERA in 2005.
Three-time SUNYAC Pitcher of the Year (2005-07); only player to earn the award three times since its origin in 2002.
Named to both the D3baseball.com "All-Decade" team for 2000-10 and the D3baseball.com 50th Anniversary Team for the first 50 years of Division III baseball from 1976-2026.
Career stats of 48 appearances (34 starts), 24-5 record, 1.43 ERA, 252.1 innings pitched, 174 hits allowed, 213 strikeouts and 46 walks; currently ranked first at Cortland in career innings, tied for second in wins, fourth in ERA and seventh in strikeouts.
2005 NCAA Division III World Series all-tournament team selection after throwing a five-hit shutout versus Wartburg.
During his four years at Cortland, the Red Dragons posted a combined record of 153-41-1 overall (49-7 in SUNYAC regular-season play), won three SUNYAC titles (2005-07), qualified for four NCAA tournaments and advanced to the NCAA Division III World Series twice, finishing second in 2005 and fourth in 2007.
Selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 24th round of the 2007 Major League Draft; pitched two seasons in the minors and was a combined 5-2 with a 2.50 ERA, 95 strikeouts and 17 walks in 100.2 innings.
Member of the inaugural induction class of the Cortland Baseball Legends Club in 2017.
Has worked as an Asset Protection Leader for Macy's for the last 17 years, including district director in the Herald Square/NYC Division since 2019.
Successfully mentored the first-ever Macy's Loss Prevention Executive Development Program and was named the Herald Square Division Support Manager of the Season in 2012.
Community service involvement includes work with the Ronald McDonald House as well as Macy's Partners in Time employee volunteer program.

Jessica Lavelle '14
A native of Fayetteville, N.Y., she earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Cortland in 2014.
A four-year defender on Cortland's women's lacrosse team from 2011-14 and a team captain as a senior.
Earned Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division III National Defender of the Year honors in both 2013 and 2014.
Three-time IWLCA All-American, earning first team honors in both 2013 and 2014 and second team recognition in 2012.
Three-time IWLCA first team all-region selection in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons; also a two-time first team All-ECAC Mid Atlantic in 2013 and 2014 and a three-time All-SUNYAC selection from 2012-14, including twice on the all-conference first team.
Chosen to both the 2013 and 2014 NCAA Division III Final Four all-tournament teams.
Named the 2013 SUNYAC Tournament Most Valuable Player.
2014 Honda Women's Lacrosse Division III Woman of the Year Nominee; she was one of 11 finalists, across different sports, for the prestigious honor.
Named to the SUNYAC Women's Lacrosse All-Decade Team (2010-19) and was chosen as the 2014 Cortland C-Club Female Senior Athlete of the Year.
Career stats of 184 ground balls, 163 caused turnovers and 27 draw controls in 89 games; ranks second at Cortland in caused turnovers, and holds two of the top 10 spots in Cortland history for single-season caused turnovers (58 in 2013 and 48 in 2014).
Member of Cortland teams that posted a combined record of 84-7, including 32-0 in SUNYAC regular-season play, won four SUNYAC tournament titles and advanced to four NCAA Division III semifinals.
Women's Lacrosse assistant coach at SUNY Morrisville in 2014-15, Syracuse University in 2015-16, the University of Vermont from 2016-18, and Le Moyne College from 2019-22; the 2016 Syracuse team advanced to the NCAA Division I Final Four and the 2022 Le Moyne squad earned an NCAA Division II tournament berth.
Girls' Lacrosse head coach at West Genesee High School since the fall of 2024; led the Wildcats to the New York State quarterfinals in 2026.
JV Girls' Lacrosse Head Coach at Jamesville-DeWitt High School in 2024-25 school year.
A licensed real estate salesperson for the Caliber Commercial Brokerage Company since 2022 and for the Pyramid Brokerage Company from 2019-21.