Suffolk University Announces Fourth Athletics Hall of Fame Class
Erica Petersen held the highest batting average (.494) and the second best slugging percentage (.904) in the country when she played Rams softball.
The Suffolk University Athletics Department and the University Alumni Association have announced the fourth Athletics Hall of Fame class.
Eight athletes and one team will be honored during a Hall of Fame Induction Dinner on Saturday, May 4, 2013, at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge. The reception will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner and induction ceremony at 7 p.m.
“This is a special and wonderful opportunity for former student-athletes to come together and share time and memories with teammates whom they may not have seen for 10, 20, 30, or 40 years,” said Suffolk University Director of Athletics Jim Nelson. “As was the case with our previous three Hall of Fame award ceremonies, this event will honor a host of highly qualified and deserving individuals and one team whose legacy will live on forever.”
Fourth Athletics Hall of Fame class
Brian Callahan ran cross country for Suffolk from 1980-82 and was captain of the team his last two years. Known for his physical and mental toughness, he consistently was one of the top finishers in races throughout his three seasons. According to his teammates, Callahan’s greatest attribute was his leadership skills.
Anthony Camiolo was a star-studded performer for the Suffolk hockey team from 1980-84. One of his memorable moments was recording three goals and three assists in one game as a freshman. His scoring ability, competitiveness and knowledge of the game helped the Rams post two winning seasons.
Amber Conte Hall, a starting point guard for the women’s basketball program from 1998-02, directed Suffolk to four winning seasons and the championship game of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference tournament in her freshman year. In 104 career games, she dished out a total of 394 assists and accumulated 111 steals.
Ron Corbett, considered one of the most dominating pitchers in Suffolk baseball history, struck out 81 batters in 57 and one-third innings pitched – including twice whiffing 15 batters in a single game – and tossed a no-hitter during his freshman season in 1968. He also had the fourth lowest college division earned-run-average in the nation that year, with a 0.62 mark.
Arthur “Archie” Mellace was an all-purpose basketball player. As a sophomore during the 1955-56 season, the 6-foot-2-inch, 185-pound forward averaged 20.7 points per game. He led Suffolk to a pair of winning seasons, including an overall record of 12-5 as a sharpshooting senior.
Rodrigo “Rod” Mendez was the number one singles and doubles player for the men’s tennis team from 1992-95. He propelled Suffolk to three consecutive winning seasons, including a 10-2 record in 1995 as a senior captain. Mendez finished his career as a complete two-handed player from all areas of the court.
Erica Petersen, a consistently powerful right-handed batter, was a hitting machine who could be counted on to produce for the women’s softball team. She played in 78 games from 1994-97 for a record 129 hits in 261 at bats. According to NCAA statistics, she held the highest batting average (.494) and the second best slugging percentage (.904) in the country at that time.
Pat Ryan, a 6-foot-4-inch front-court ace with a highly accurate outside shot, finished his three-year career on the men’s basketball team with a total of 1,481 points, sixth on the all-time list. As team captain during the 1977-78 season, he led Suffolk to a 15-10 record, averaging 27 points per game, tops among Massachusetts Division III college players.
The 2000 Baseball Team enjoyed a record-breaking year, posting an overall record of 38-9, the most wins in school history. The team captured the baseball program’s first Great Northeast Athletic Conference and ECAC championships and appeared in the NCAA tournament for the first time. The team ranked 18th nationally for the season.
