The Oswego State Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed five new members into its ranks following an induction ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 5, at Sheldon Hall.

The five members included Gary Bartemus, class of 1976, Erin Hanlon, class of 2003, Mark Howard, class of 1984, Tom McFall, class of 1990 and Susan McWilliams, class of 2004.

Each new member was presented with a plaque. McWilliams was not able to attend the event but will still get her plaque. Many of the new inductees received national recognition such as being named All-American athletes, meaning they were recognized as one of the top players in their position for that season in the nation. Similar awards recognize similar status in their conference or division, such as All-SUNYAC.

Bartemus, a two-year member of the swimming and diving team, was the first All-American diver for Oswego State in 1975, his junior year, for the three-meter diving event. During that season, he also placed 25th at the NCAA Championships in the three-meter. 

He was nominated by his three daughters, who said their father has always been humble about his accomplishments on the diving board while at Oswego State.

“His love for the pool has had an impact on his family, with all three of his daughters and nine-year-old granddaughter becoming competitive swimmers,” said one of his daughters in the nomination. “Gary’s dedication to the sport and the amazing success that he worked for makes him deserving of this honor.”

 Bartemus gave a couple laughs during his own speech at the ceremony.

“Since I had practice every day, I had arranged my schedule so that I was done by noon every day,” Bartemus said. “There was one problem, though. I never woke up until one.”

Hanlon joins the hall of fame as the only All-American to come out of the Oswego State volleyball program. She was nominated as an AVCA Div. III Honorable Mention All-American in 2003. 

Outside of that honor, she was also named All-SUNYAC West during her junior and senior campaigns. As a two-year member of the volleyball team, she was also named the SUNYAC West Rookie of the Year in 2002. 

In her two seasons, Hanlon recorded 1,168 kills, a volleyball statistic for offense play, which is second on the career kills list for the program. Her 612 kills in one season also remain a single-season record for the Lakers.

“In every role, [Hanlon] was outstanding, but offense is where she really shined,” said Dani Drews, who nominated Hanlon for the award. “There have been some truly outstanding players in the 50-year history of the program, but Erin Hanlon was simply the best.”

While at Oswego State, Hanlon also had the experience of playing for her mother, Pat Hanlon, who was an assistant coach at Oswego State at the time. She said she does not think many athletes get the chance to play college athletics, let alone be coached by their parent at that level.

“I’d like to thank my husband, who I met through playing volleyball. Our combined passion for the sport brought us together and now we’re married with two kids and another on the way,” Hanlon said. “Volleyball has taught me how to be a team player and a co-captain at home. We’ll have half a women’s volleyball team by early next year. Maybe some future Oswego State players.”

Howard joins his family legacy at Oswego State. His father, Jim Howard, was a long-time wrestling coach at Oswego State. His brother, Mike Howard, was a wrestler at Oswego State, and is the current coach for wrestling and golf. His niece, Brittany Howard, is the head coach for women’s lacrosse.

While only a two-year member of the wrestling team for the Lakers, Howard went to the NCAA Championships in both of those years. His junior season, he placed eighth at the national championships and was given All-American honors. 

Jim Howard, who was Mark Howard’s coach, and is also part of the hall of fame, nominated him for the award.

“One of the hardest things you’ll have to do is coach your own children,” Jim Howard said. “Mark has been successful, not just as a wrestler. He currently works at Syracuse Labels, where he started off as a technician and worked his way up to CEO.”

During Howard’s speech, he made sure to note that he was humbled to join numerous wrestlers that have already been nominated for the hall of fame that came before him.

“Over the door in the wrestling room, there’s a sign that says, ‘Through these portals pass the hardest-nose wrestlers in the east.’ I have known a lot of these wrestlers,” Howard said. “Growing up in Oswego was awesome. Where can you go to elementary school and have … Pete Sears, the hall of fame goalie, as your substitute teacher?”

McFall joins the hall of fame as the 14th member from the men’s hockey team and is the top-scoring defenseman from the Lakers, with 139 career points. His 118 assists are eighth in program history.

While he was not nominated for All-American status while a Laker, he was given Second Team All-SUNYAC his sophomore and junior years, and then First Team his senior year. 

Sean Fitzgerald, who is also in the hall of fame and graduated in 1989, said McFall deserved the award because of “the class he showed as a player.”

“[McFall] had a big shot on the blue-line and was a key part in our record-setting power play,” Fitzgerald said. “He could’ve scored more if he shot more, but he sacrificed his stats in order to get pucks to players in better scoring positions.”

McFall’s daughter, Brianna McFall, played for Oswego State during her freshman year in the 2015-2016 season before transferring. He said he believes they are the first, if not the only, father-daughter combination to play for the Lakers.

“That was quite an honor to watch her put that Oswego State sweater on and watch her play. That was pretty special,” McFall said. “This [award] is quite the honor. Oswego means a lot to me.”

Photo by Ben Grieco | The Oswegonian