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Colt Athletic Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2024

October 7, 2024

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – The SUNY Orange Colt Athletic Hall of Fame will induct five new individual members along with the 1967-68 women’s basketball team, when it hosts its 2024 Induction Ceremony at 9 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 9 at the Stony Ford Golf Course in Montgomery.

Joining the 1967-68 women’s basketball team in the Class of 2024 will be Chantel Anthony ’05 (women’s basketball), Ben Becker ’06 (baseball), Gordon James ’00 (men’s basketball), Ashley Renwick ’08 (softball), and Travis Renwick ’11 (baseball).

“This year’s Hall of Fame class has something for just about everyone. We have our first undefeated women’s basketball team, two impact players from our basketball programs, a pair of baseball standouts and a family connection with Ashley and Travis Renwick,” said Wayne Smith, SUNY Orange athletic director. “Each of the inductees is tremendously deserving and I’m excited to welcome them to the Colt Athletic Hall of Fame family.”

Tickets for the induction are $35 per person and can be purchased online at https://www.sunyorangefoundation.org/2024-colt-athletic-hall-of-fame or by mail at SUNY Orange Foundation, 115 South Street, Middletown, N.Y. For more information, contact Carly Glasse, alumni engagement manager, at carly.glasse@sunyorange.edu or (845) 341-4179.

Chantel AnthonyA high-profile local recruit, Anthony (right) starred for the Colts’ women’s basketball team from 2003-05 and helped build the early foundation for the women’s program as it transitioned to NJCAA Division II. During the 2004-05 season, she posted great all-around numbers, averaging 15.7 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game, 7.5 assists per game and 2.8 steals per game. Anthony was an outstanding ball handler and defender for the Colts.

Ben BeckerBecker (left) was a standout catcher for the Colts in 2005 and 2006. He was at the heart of the 2006 team that won both the Mid-Hudson Conference and Region XV championships. He caught in 70 games during his career while committing only one error and throwing out 40 percent of would-be base stealers. The Colts pitching staffs during his two years yielded an impressive college ERA of 5.56. Offensively, Becker had a career on base percentage of .428 while being among the team leaders in runs scored and runs batted in each season. He was also 15 for 15 in stolen bases for his career. Following the 2006 campaign, Becker was a unanimous choice to both the All-Region and All-MHC teams.

James (above) ranks among the top men’s basketball players to have ever played at SUNY Orange. During the 1999-2000 campaign, Gordon led all NJCAA Division III players in scoring average, tallying 24.6 points per game. He was also second in the nation in rebounding (14.4 rpg.) and field goal percentage (63 percent). To this day, nearly a quarter century beyond his graduation, James still ranks among the SUNY Orange’s all-time leaders in single-game rebounds (27), rebounds per game in a season (15.8 rpg.), and single-season points per game (24.6 ppg.). He was named first team All-Mid Hudson Conference and second team All-American following the 2000 campaign. He transferred to Bridgeport College when averaged a double double (14.5 ppg. and 11.8 rpg.) during is two years as a Purple Knight, helping Bridgeport to back-to-back NCAA Division II Regional berths in 2002-03 and 2003-04. He was named the New York Collegiate Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year in 2003-04, as well as all-conference and all-region. He was among the nation’s top rebounders in both of his seasons at Bridgeport. He was also a prominent presence in international basketball for many years, seeing action for the national team of Guyana. In 2023, he was inducted into the Bridgeport College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Ashlee RenwickA standout pitcher and first baseman, Ashlee Renwick (left) played for SUNY Orange during the 2007 and 2008 seasons, helping lead the 2007 squad to a 26-5 record. She threw over 200 innings in her career and amassed a combined record of 29-10. During her career, she struck out 162 batters and had a two-year earned run average of 2.73. Also productive as a hitter, she batted .354 and .407, respectively, during her freshman and sophomore years. She was named to Mid-Hudson Conference first team in 2008.

Travis RenwickiTravis Renwick (right) was a two-year standout for the Colts’ baseball squad. A lefty hurler in 2010 and 2011, he was mainly a starting pitcher, but he was also used as an effective closer during the Colts’ Regional Championship run of 2010. During his career, Travis posted an 11-3 record and pitched more than 100 innings. He compiled a career ERA of 3.88, finishing with 89 strikeouts to just 29 walks, and opposing hitters batted just .233. He was named the Region XV ‘Pitcher of the Year’ in 2011, as well as being named to the all-conference and all-region first teams. In 2010, he was named to the Region XV All-Tournament team. He went on to become a standout pitcher for SUNY Brockport in 2012-13, and pitched professionally for the Las Vegas Train Robbers and the Alpine Cowboys. During his senior season at Brockport, he posted a 6-2 record with a 2.76 ERA over 12 appearances (10 starts) as Brockport posted a 21-16 record.

1967-68 Women's Basketball Team

The 1967-68 women’s basketball team forged an undefeated 12-0 record and won the Southeast Regional Athletic Double A postseason tournament, becoming the first women’s team at the College to do so. The Colts were coached by Hall of Famer Mary B. Diana (inducted into the Colt Athletic Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class in 2012). Many of the team’s players also competed in softball and/or volleyball, with some going on to careers in education and athletics. The roster included: Joanne Collins, Kathryn Fay Williams, Doris Gallose, Jan Hart, Susan Herring, Kathleen Leahy, Paulette Judd, Vicky Marguart, Mary Marshall, Beth Ann McCabe, Patricia Rawson, Linda Schoonmaker, Debra Sitzman, Barbara Startup, Annette Cuffe (team manager), Mary Diana (coach - posthumous), Peg Williams (assistant coach).

The inductees were chosen by a nine-member selection committee that represented the following areas of the College: athletic director (Smith); administrator (Mike Albright, executive director for communications); faculty member (Ann Marie Boffalo, movement science professor); former coach (Stacey Morris, ’89/HOF 2015); student athlete (Lindsey Keane, softball); Athletic Advisory Committee representative (Anthony Scalia, academic advisor and retention specialist), alumnus (Daryl Williams ’91, golf coach), current coach (Tom Rickard, men’s basketball) and existing Hall of Fame member (Shannon Donohue ’06/HOF 2022).

The Colt Athletic Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 2012 included Charles J. Cawein ’52, Chris G. Chachis, Mary B. Diana, Glen M. McGinnis ’55, Marie A. Piccone ’63, Chris Schmid ’54, James Stanfield ’59, Art Stegen ’66, Linda Tjepkema ’76 and Gary Ventimiglia ’71. The Class of 2013 was comprised of Walter Cawein ’57, Susan Deer ’71, Lois Hayes ’79, Richard E. Morse ’58, Achilles J. “Kelly” Rossi ’53 and John Scanlan. The Class of 2014 included David Brownbill ’67, Yogi Davis ’71, Donna Frazier ’93, Bob Heins ’71, Theresa Rickard ’76 and the 1969 Cross Country Team. The Class of 20XV featured John Basalyga ’70, Sherry Morris ’89, Stacey Morris ’89, Paul Rickard and John Sileno ’66. The Class of 2016 included Frank Carrozza ’67, Matt Dillon ’87, Sam Markovits, Jack McMahon and Dana O’Neill ’91. The Class of 2017 included Lori Beesmer ’83, Heather Canfield ’99, Michelle Diener ’91, Anthony Evans ’92, Laura Gabella ’02 and George Shurter ’74. The Class of 2018 included Corey Booth ’10, Stefan Bonneau ’10, Bob Bunnell ’71, Joe Famellette ’58 and Ryan Sonnenschein ’10. The Class of 2022 featured Mike Casabona ’10, Shannon Donohue ’06, Terry Foster ’67, Natalie Griffin ’98 and James Hannigan ’53, as well as the 1999 softball team.