The Roundup

44 THE ROUNDUP

The Athletic Hall of Fame Welcomes New Members

BY JOSH KESSLER ’04, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Each year, our Athletic Hall of Fame inducts new members. Due to COVID, the last banquet welcoming new members was held two years ago. This year, on September 17, we welcomed five new members during a ceremony in the Dion Family Student Center’s Roy Room. The induction Class of 2021 featured STEVE DOWD ’73, cross-country standout and champion coach; MARY (DAVIS) STANTON ’81, field

hockey star and women’s lacrosse program founder; BRIAN YOUNG ’89, all-conference basketball player; GREG CLUFF, legendary women’s tennis coach; and PROFESSOR DAVE LANDERS, long-time faculty athletics representative.

A native of Harwichport, Mass., Dowd was a key member of early cross-country teams at the College, consistently finishing among the Purple Knights’ top two between 1969 and 1971, winning five races. Dowd later taught English and coached cross-country and track & field at nearby Essex High School, claiming 25 state titles and numerous New England crowns in 20 years of coaching. He returned to his alma mater as a men’s crosscountry assistant in the early 1990s before heading the women’s squad for six seasons, from 1995 to 2000. The Purple Knights placed fourth at the Northeast-10 Conference Championship three times under Dowd’s guidance. Steve Dowd ’73, back row, third from the left with his arms folded, is captured in this old black & white team photo.

Mary Cullen ’79 showcasing her field hockey prowess.

Stanton, a native of Purchase, New York, was an early field hockey star at Saint Michael’s and a driving force behind the foundation of the women’s lacrosse program. She totaled eight goals and one assist as a field hockey rookie in 1977, kicking off a career that saw her graduate second in program history in both goals (16) and points (37). During that first fall on campus, Stanton also worked with MARY CULLEN ’79 to organize the school’s first club women’s lacrosse team. She was a multiyear captain, including when the team debuted in spring 1978, and later served as player-head coach her junior year. After she graduated, the program went varsity in 1983 en route to two decades of greatness, as the Purple and Gold was 113-59 between 1984 and 2000 while never finishing below .500. Young was a versatile hardwood presence, as the New York City native graduated ninth at Saint

Brian Young ’89 in action.

Michael’s in scoring (1,330) while adding 657 rebounds, 262 assists, and 148 steals. Over his four years, the Purple Knights were 74-42 overall, including 36-20 during league play. Young was the 1986-87 team’s second-leading scorer (13.6), helping Saint Michael’s qualify for its first NCAA tournament in 13 years. He peaked as a junior, emerging as the team leader in scoring (19.9) and rebounding (8.4), before serving as a captain his senior year, again pacing the squad in scoring (18.8) and rebounding (9.1). He earned NE10 All-Conference, All-Vermont, and ECAC All-Star status that season.

Cluff joins Saint Michael’s legend GEORGE “DOC” JACOBS as the

only coaches in College history to lead a varsity program to the NCAA tournament at least three times. A two-time NE10 Coach of the Year, Cluff lifted the Purple Knights to a 124-65 record between 2003-04 and 2012-13, including 95-27 in league play. Women’s tennis qualified for its first three NCAA tournaments between 2008 and 2010, and advanced to the semifinal round of the NE10 tournament all 10 of his seasons at the helm. Cluff previously served three years as an assistant coach under head coach STEVE LATULIPPE ’72.

A liaison between student athletes and faculty members, Landers redefined the role of the faculty athletics representative in the NE10 during his 13 years (2005-18). As a professor at the College for more than three decades, Landers played an integral role in a number of initiatives that helped improve academic performance by Purple Knight student athletes. His significance was recognized on the national stage in January 2015, when Landers received the second annual Dr. Dave Pariser Faculty Mentor Award from the NCAA Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee during the NCAA Convention in Washington, D.C. By the time he retired, the Saint Michael’s and NE10 SAACs had renamed their faculty mentor awards in Landers’ honor.

It’s an illustrious group; each one is an inspiration for the entire Saint Michael’s College community.

Dr. Dave Landers poses for a quick photo before a game.

To read more visit smcathletics.com