by Keara Dwyer
October 3, 2024

Athletics is a big part of the world today. All athletes work so hard at what they love, and they all deserve to be recognized and rewarded. Genesee Community College saw that need and decided in 2010 to create the Athletic Hall of Fame.

According to Michelle Peck, the Secretary of Athletics, Genesee Community College was bound to create a hall of fame for anyone involved in GCC’s athletics. Michelle said, “Most schools have an Athletic Hall of Fame, so I believe it was inevitable that we would have one eventually.” In 2010, an esteemed group of past GCC attendees were the first ones to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Those individuals include Anthony P. Cory, Robert L. Santini, Margaret A. Sisson, David M. Spiller, Mickey J. Hyde, Dolores M. Chiocco, and GCC’s 1971 bowling team.

Who knew GCC had a bowling team?

GCC’s 1971 bowling team was inducted to the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010 in recognition for being the only bowling team in GCC history to win a NJCAA National Championship. They beat out twenty teams that went as far as South Texas.

Along with the entirety of the 1971 bowling team, the other individuals inducted range from past GCC coaches to students who all played a big role in one or many sports. Those students and faculty will forever be remembered for all their hard work within GCC athletics.

When asked what the process of putting the Hall of Fame together was, Michelle Peck replied with, “The athletic director at the time was Peggy Sisson, and she along with a committee composed of athletic staff, GCC faculty, and GCC Foundation staff would meet and discuss nominees and determine who to induct. Then the Foundation office would reach out to the inductees to invite them and their families to the Hall of Fame ceremony.”

Since the creation of the Athletic Hall of Fame, many individuals have been inducted into it. According to Michelle, inductions used to occur every year, but they now occur once every three years. The last time individuals were inducted into the HOF was in 2021, so we should expect another induction ceremony soon.

Michelle Peck provided some information on how to access the Hall of Fame and where to find it. “Anyone can view the inductees and criteria for the Hall of Fame at https://geneseeathletics.com/information/hall_of_fame. Inductees are also listed on the wall by the fitness center in the RCCA [Richard C. Call Arena], and there is an electronic display across from the fitness center where additional articles and information on the inductees can be found.”

The Athletic Hall of Fame is a famous GCC staple within the school, and it deserves to be appreciated. And if you are somehow intertwined with GCC athletics, you too could experience having a plaque with your name and picture hanging up on that wall. And then someday in the future, students and faculty will look back and see for themselves how you shaped sports at GCC.