Mercy College Athletics Inducts Hall of Fame Class of 2008

Friday, November 7, 2008

Mercy College Athletics Inducts Hall of Fame Class of 2008

DOBBS FERRY, NY - On Friday, November 7, Mercy College inducted its second class into the Athletics Hall of Fame at a dinner and awards ceremony.  Over 200 alumni, family members, friends, past and present staff members, and current students attended the event, held at the Crowne Plaza in White Plains, NY

This year's inductees were former head baseball coach Rick Wolff (Armonk, NY), men's soccer player Andrew McGovern (Letterkenny, Ireland), softball player Dayna DeCarlo (New Rochelle, NY), men's basketball player Robert Davis (White Plains, NY), baseball player Pat Geoghegan (Yorktown Heights, NY), and the 2001 women's volleyball team.

Mercy College also presented the Dr. Ann Grow Friend of Athletics Award to Nick Bell (Tarrytown, NY).   Hanspeter Gartner (New York, NY), Chanze Wellington (Spring Valley, NY), Christina Pante (Purchase, NY), and Rose Harper (Croton, NY) received the Neil Judge Scholar Athlete Awards, presented to the male and female graduating student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade point average from the last two academic years.

HALL OF FAME BIOGRAPHIES

Robert Davis ‘86

Robert Davis, affectionately known as "The Rocket," is still the program's all-time leading scorer with 2,118 career points from 1983-86. He also ranks fourth all-time with 373 assists and second with 231 career steals.

Davis has played basketball since he was six years old and always had someone to match up against with six other brothers who all played ball. Davis moved on to play at Rippowam High School in Connecticut where he was named to the All-State and All-County teams.

Davis began his collegiate career by averaging 17.4 points per game and 3.7 rebounds as a freshman in 1982-83, earning several Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Rookie of the Week honors. In one game against Pace, he scored the game-tying basket to send it into overtime, and the game-winning hoop, finishing with 36 points. Later in the season he was named Big Apple Conference Player of the Week for his performances against the Pratt Institute and Dowling College.

He was an All-Conference selection as a sophomore, ranking fifth in the nation with 24.2 points per game pouring in a total of 532 points. Davis also averaged 5.7 assists per game, 3.0 steals per game and shot 49 percent from the field and 81 percent at the free throw line. He was named to the Division II All-Metropolitan Team by the MCBA.

He repeated as an All-Conference selection in 1984-85, ranking second in the nation at 22.5 points per game. Davis held the school record for free throws, hitting 15-of-17 vs. Queens in 1984. He recorded his 1,000th career point against the Pratt Institute on a short jumper with three seconds left to send the game into overtime and finished the year with 586 total points.

As a senior, he averaged 25.7 points per game and shot 86.5 percent from the free throw line. He scored his 2,000th career point and became the all-time leader in school history in a game against C.W. Post where he scored 32 points. In his final game at Mercy College, he poured in a new career-high 44 points, one shy of the program record.  That season he drained an astounding total of 617 points. Davis had his number 10 retired at the end of his Mercy career.

Davis graduated with a degree in business administration. He has worked at Louis Dreyfus in Wilton, CT for the last 20 years as an assistant finance manager. He currently resides in White Plains with his wife Vanessa, who is a school psychologist, and their two sons Robert, Jr. (7) and Bryce (3).

Dayna DeCarlo ‘85

Dayna DeCarlo, coached by legendary inaugural Hall of Fame inductee Neil Judge, covered the outfield for the Mercy College softball team from 1981-84. Well known for her speed, power and canon of an arm, she batted over .500 for her career and is among the program's leaders in nearly every statistical category.

Before her career at Mercy College began, she was making waves in Port Chester. She was a pioneer as she became the first female to participate in Port Chester Little League and was named to the District 20 tournament team in her first year. DeCarlo was also a star at Port Chester High School. Her coach, Cathy Federici, called her a coach's dream because she was a superstar but not over-confident. In her senior year, she belted a three-run home run in the seventh inning to give Port Chester a walk-off 5-3 win to become Section I Class B champions.

She moved on to Mercy College where she made an immediate impact, batting .484 with six home runs, 22 runs batted in and 18 stolen bases in her freshman campaign. She followed that up by leading the nation in home runs per game and batted an astounding .603 as a sophomore.

DeCarlo's senior season was her best of all as she led the nation with a .530 batting average (35-for-66), and in home runs per game with .29 (8 home runs for the season). In the opening round of the New York State Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Division I-II softball tournament, DeCarlo smashed a 320 foot home run to lead Mercy College to a 9-8 victory. She still holds the program's single season records for home runs, runs batted in and batting average. For her career, she finished with a .518 average, 20 home runs and 102 runs batted in.

Upon graduation, DeCarlo's number four was retired, which she wore for her idol Lou Gehrig. She also enjoyed two seasons at Mercy College as an assistant softball coach.

DeCarlo went on to play with the United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association from 1978-1989. During that time she received 13 MVPs, two Gold Gloves, twice led the league in home runs, named Best Defensive Player twice, and was on the All-Tournament and All-World teams. From 1983-1989, she hit .671 and smashed 170 home runs. She was the first to be inducted into the New England United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association in 1991.

Now a resident of New Rochelle, DeCarlo currently owns and operates a successful pet-sitting business in Westchester County and is the proud owner of the world's oldest rabbit at almost 16 years old.

Patrick Geoghegan ‘83

Pat Geoghegan was recruited by fellow inductee Rick Wolff out of nearby Croton High School where he became the only pitcher in Section I playoff history to throw a perfect game in the first round versus Edgemont.  A Dean's List student for four years who would graduate Cum Laude, and team captain for three seasons, he was a true scholar-athlete earning nominations for Academic All-America honors in 1981 and 1983, was awarded the Mercy College Board of Trustees Certificate of Merit.

On the mound, Geoghegan had pinpoint control, using his intelligence and mixing a vast repertoire of pitches to become one of the most successful hurlers in Mercy College baseball history.  During his four-year career, he registered school records of 13 wins and 34 starts.

Geoghegan was a part of some of the best teams in program history, playing along side many greats such as inaugural Hall of Fame inductee Jim Schult, sluggers Bob Crescenzo, Bob Ryder, Rocky Pasquale, and Rob Dromerhauser to name a few.  During his career, Mercy College teams compiled an overall record of 71-46-1.

In 1980 as a freshman, he was a part of the first baseball team at Mercy College to compete at the Division II level. He highlighted that year by tossing a two-hitter and earning the win versus St. Francis (NY) in Mercy's first ever defeat of a Division I team.  He added wins against other Division I foes Saint Peter's and Fordham, and registered a big save as the Flyers knocked off Monmouth in 10 innings.

Geoghegan earned All-Knickerbocker Conference honors as a sophomore in 1981 by posting a 5-1 record with a 4.10 earned run average. He led the staff in innings pitched and ranked second in strikeouts. Along the way he defeated New Haven, which was ranked No. 2 in the nation at the time, defeated Stony Brook, and was the winning pitcher in Mercy's first playoff victory.

The following year he was a part of a squad that was 18-9 overall, the program's best record to that point. Geoghegan then closed out his career at Mercy College by helping the Flyers register their first 20-win season, finishing the year at 21-12 with wins over perennial powerhouses Pace, Adelphi, Concordia and St. Leo's.  Geoghegan registered key victories, including a two-hitter versus Colby.

Geoghegan has gone on to spend the majority of his career in the Telecommunications Industry working for firms such as Verizon, Openwave and Intel.  Today, Geoghegan provides Business Development Services to "start up" companies in the technology industry.  He continues to share his experience, strength and hope with others via his service work.  He is now also trying his hand at writing, pursuing a life long dream to be a published author.

Geoghegan has been one of the athletic department's biggest supporters over the years, serving on numerous committees including the Athletics Task Force and the Athletics Advisory Board.  He and his wife and best friend Beth, are the proud parents of three wonderful, loving daughters, Kerri, Erin and Colleen.  They are his inspiration always.

Andrew McGovern ‘90

When Andrew McGovern was nine years old he moved to Ireland with his family and began playing soccer. He grew up playing in Letterkenny, County Donegal and won back-to-back national championships while in high school. McGovern was recruited by Mercy College men's soccer coach Paul Wilson while he was playing for the Republic of Ireland U-17 squad. Wilson, who was born in Dublin, convinced him to come to Mercy College, where there was a growing contingent of Irish student-athletes. McGovern would feel even more at home as the 1987 team had 10 student-athletes from Ireland.

McGovern manned the net in every game from 1986-89 for the men's soccer team, setting program marks for career saves and shutouts. He became known for playing through pain and injuries, and was certainly the "Ironman" while at Mercy College. His coaches were always impressed with his work ethic, athleticism and agility, and he was respected as a team leader.

As a sophomore in 1987, he recorded nine shutouts as the Flyers finished 13-6-3 and advanced to the finals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament. He allowed a paltry 1.18 goals per game.

He became co-captain with Michael Gregg during his junior year and carried that distinction into his final season at Mercy College. During his senior campaign in 1989 he earned First Team All-New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC), All-American, and Academic All-American honors, and was selected to participate in the Senior Bowl, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Posting six shutouts along the way, he helped Mercy to the program's first NYCAC Championship and the team advanced to the NCAA Regional finals. At one point during the season, McGovern registered 321 consecutive scoreless minutes.

The Flyers remained unbeaten through their first 14 games (11-0-3) and were ranked as high as sixth in the nation. The squad finished 12-2-3 overall and was ranked No. 7 in the nation at season's end. The Flyers dominated the competition throughout the season and outscored opponents 42-22 on the strength of a high-powered offense and a stingy defense headed by McGovern.

A true scholar-athlete, McGovern graduated with a 3.93 grade point average and received the Gold Medal for highest GPA among accounting graduates. He was known among his teammates for having strong study habits and was always willing to help out. He could often be seen at campus events and was a fixture on the Dobbs Ferry campus.

After graduating, he worked with KPMG in Stamford, Connecticut from 1990-93 before returning to Ireland. During his tenure there he qualified as a Certified Public Accountant in 1992. McGovern then worked in the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Department of Finance in Ireland.  Since 1998, he has been a financial manager with Letterkenny Institute of Technology in Donegal, Ireland.

McGovern has been married to his wife, Anne, for ten years and has remained active in soccer by competing in Northern Ireland in a semi-professional league.

Rick Wolff

Rick Wolff served as head baseball coach at Mercy College from 1978-85, posting the highest winning percentage in school history with a 114-81-3 record (.583) and built the program into one of the most respected in the country. Along the way his teams recorded five straight winning seasons, including a 21-12 mark in 1983. His teams were also nationally ranked and he sent several players on to play in the professional ranks.

 Wolff recruited some of the finest baseball players that have come through Mercy College. His efforts quickly earned huge dividends in 1981 as he led the Flyers to a program-best record at the time of 18-10-1 and a team batting average of .356. Inaugural Mercy College Hall of Fame inductee Jim Schult led the nation that year with a .541 batting average and was drafted by the Texas Rangers.

 The Flyers followed with another 18-win season in 1982 and then made the 1983 campaign a special one for Wolff. In addition to establishing a new best record in school history at 21-12, they had a team batting average of .338 (sixth in the nation), and scored an average of 8.8 runs per game (sixth in the nation). They also posted victories over perennial powerhouses Pace, Adelphi, New Haven, Concordia and St. Leo's.

 Wolff wrapped up his coaching career at Mercy College with two more successful seasons, compiling records of 17-10 and 18-15 in 1984 and 1985, respectively.

 In 1986, Wolff followed in the footsteps of his father, Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Wolff, and launched his on-air career with ESPN broadcasting college baseball, including the 1986 College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska. In that World Series, he got to cover future major leaguers such as Robin Ventura, Albert Belle, Greg Vaughn and Mike Bordick.  For several years, Wolff also broadcast college baseball for the Madison Square Garden Network.

 He is a Harvard graduate, participating with the Crimson in the 1971 College World Series.  Wolff was drafted and played in the minor leagues with the Detroit Tigers organization and later served as a roving coach for the Cleveland Indians from 1989-95, specializing in the mental approach to the game.

 Wolff currently serves as Vice President, Executive Editor at Grand Central Publishing , where some of his better known authors include Ted Turner, Tiger Woods, Jack Welch, Mike Krzyzewski, Phil Mickelson, and Robert Kiyosaki.   Wolff has also authored many books on youth sports. His latest book, which was written with his son John, is entitled Harvard Boys: A Father and Son's Adventures Playing Minor League Baseball. Wolff is a much in-demand speaker for community and school groups on sports parenting, and is the host of a popular radio show, "The Sports Edge," that airs every Sunday morning (8am-9am) on WFAN in New York.

 He and his wife Trish, an English teacher in the Chappaqua (NY) school district, have three children: John (24), Alyssa (22), and Samantha (18).

2001 Women's Volleyball Team

The 2001 Mercy College Volleyball team, led by head coach Garvey Pierre, brought the program to new heights. After earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament the previous year, the Flyers came back with even more force in 2001.

A strong mix of seasoned veterans and talented youth gelled together to win its first 27 matches of the year.  The Flyers entered the conference tournament as the number one seed and nearly swept their way to a third straight NYCAC Championship, dropping only one game as they defeated Queens for the crown.

Mercy College was rewarded with its fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament where it squared off against perennial power Bryant in the first round. The Flyers disposed of the Bulldogs 3-1 to earn a rematch with Queens.  The team responded with another convincing victory, taking the Knights in three straight games to capture the program's first ever Northeast Regional Championship and advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

Mercy would fall to host Grand Valley State in an epic five-game quarterfinal round battle, giving the Lakers all they could handle, but the season was one to remember as the Flyers finished with a remarkable 34-2 overall record. 

There were many highlights along the journey. Sophomore Yulissa Zamudio was named NYCAC Player of the Year, finishing third in the nation in kills per game (6.09) and also earned a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament team. Monica Herrera led the nation in service aces per game (1.65) and earned a spot on the All-Conference team.  Garvey Pierre was voted by his peers as the NYCAC Coach of the year, while Adreann Stevens and Marie France Jean-Francois joined Zamudio and Herrera as All-Conference selections.

As a team, they led the nation in hitting percentage (.340), were second in winning percentage (.944), and third in aces per game (3.87).  As a whole the team dominated throughout the campaign, blasting away old team records. The 2001 team still ranks second all-time for kills in a season behind only the 1997 team, which played eight more matches. Led by Herrera, they broke the school record for service aces in a season by 57 and no Mercy team has approached the total of 460 aces since.

Many members of the team continue to rank among the all-time leaders in Mercy College volleyball history. Zamudio is third all-time in kills, sixth in total attacks, and 14th in digs. Herrera is the all-time leader in aces, fifth in kills, seventh in total attacks, and 12th in blocks. Myriam Lallemand ranks third all-time in digs and fifth in assists.

Members of the team were: Adreann Stevens, Nadia Guirand, Myriam Lallemand, Marie France Jean-Francois, Monica Herrera, Francheska Alcantara, Yulissa Zamudio, Kim Gargano, Janet Robertson, Cynthia Dainesi Leite, and Sports Information Director Steve Balsan.  They were coached by Garvey Pierre and Marcia Pennant.

SPECIAL ATHLETICS AWARD WINNER BIOGRAPHIES

Nick Bell '05 - Dr. Ann Grow Friend of Athletics Award

Nick Bell has been a member of the Mercy College family for 15 years now.  A graduate of Mercy College, he played four years for the men's soccer program, primarily as a goalkeeper, helping his squad to an E.C.A.C. Championship in 1993. He also served the College as a student worker before going on to great success in the business world as an owner of two restaurants in the area.

Through the years he has contributed to the athletics department both financially and later as an assistant coach.  He has also served as a mentor to countless student-athletes at Mercy College, helping to ensure their success during their collegiate careers and in life.

Bell has gone above and beyond, not just for student-athletes, but for the entire College. Along with his contributions to athletics, he has also sponsored several student events, including an international film festival, and has helped spearhead fundraising efforts for a senior class gift and the alumni association.

Bell took the reigns as head coach of the men's soccer program last fall, leading the Mavericks to a spot in the East Coast Conference Tournament. In an effort to raise the profile of the program, he and the team played one of the most ambitious schedules in Mercy College history this year, including a game against defending NCAA Division Two national champion Franklin Pierce and several other games versus nationally ranked programs.

Christina Pante - Neil Judge Scholar Athlete Award, 2007

Known as Bia, she was an English major who graduated with a 3.97 grade point average with Summa Cum Laude distinction.  A cornerstone of the Mercy College women's soccer team's backfield for three years, she played in 42 games during her career, starting in all but one, and was a New York Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic selection. Pante also served as a resident assistant at Mercy College. She is now pursuing a Master's of science in Childhood Education at Mercy College.

Hanspeter Gartner - Neil Judge Scholar Athlete Award, 2007

A native of Vienna, Austria, Gartner became an integral part of the men's tennis team's rise to the top in recent years. He graduated Magna Cum Laude, compiling a 3.77 grade point average while earning a Bachelor's degree in Psychology.  Gartner was a senior captain and the team's Most Valuable Player.  He earned a spot on the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference Academic Honor Roll, and was also an All-Conference First Team selection, helping Mercy College to a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Gartner is currently pursuing a Master's of Business Administration at Mercy College and also provides private tennis instruction.

Rose Harper - Neil Judge Scholar Athlete Award, 2008

From nearby Croton, Harper was a two-year member of the women's volleyball team. She went on to post a 3.90 cumulative grade point average, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor's degree in Spanish. Harper was a two-time East Coast Conference All-Academic selection, appearing in 38 matches during her career with the volleyball team.  She started 16 matches in 2006, averaging 2.44 digs per game and registered 16 service aces. Harper then capped her collegiate career by earning a Division Two Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award for 2007-08. Today she is currently serving as a substitute teacher in Croton as she pursues a career in education.

Chanze Wellington - Neil Judge Scholar Athlete Award, 2008

The male recipient of the Neil Judge Scholar Athlete Award from the class of 2008 is Chanze Wellington.  A native of Spring Valley, Wellington was a four-year member of the men's basketball program. He graduated with a 3.4 cumulative grade point average and a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice.  Wellington was named to the All-East Coast Conference Men's Basketball Second Team as he averaged 12.3 points per game to lead the Mavericks last season. He also led the team in assists with 2.7 per game. Wellington finished his collegiate career with one thousand and twenty one points scored, 10th on the all-time scoring list. He also finished seventh all-time in assists and eighth in steals. Wellington was a two-time ECC All-Academic honoree and two-time ECC Scholar Athlete Honor Roll member for his efforts on the court and in the classroom. He plans on attending law school in the spring of 2009.

About Mercy College
Mercy College is a private, nonprofit institution founded in 1950, providing motivated students with the opportunity to earn degrees in over 90 undergraduate and graduate programs, including 25 programs online. An engaging and personalized learning experience is offered at campuses in the Bronx, Dobbs Ferry, Manhattan, Yorktown Heights, White Plains, and Online.