From a simple knock at the door to knocking on the door of greatness.
From “arriving with nothing” to leaving with everything.
From honoring previous Mustang legends to now becoming one.
Those were just some of the memorable storylines highlighting the SUNY Morrisville Athletics Wall of Fame Class of 2023, which honored seven Mustangs:
- Ritsuko Sonobe ’00
- Brandon Hanks ’14
- Lemar Johnson ’14
- Shelby (Wood) Rosaschi ’15
- Daniel Peckham ’16
- Jordan Anderson ’17
- Greg Carroll, Athletics Director, 2001-19
This year’s class was honored at a ceremony held during Mustang Weekend, before a capacity crowd consisting of family, friends, and former and current college administrators, coaches, faculty and staff. The night’s speeches from the inductees were filled with wonderful memories and lots of laughs as each fondly recalled their time at Morrisville.
One honoree was very familiar with the ceremony. Carroll, who served as Morrisville’s director of athletics from 2001-2019, returned to campus to now join the fellow Mustang members of the Wall of Fame who he once honored.
As he received his honor, Carroll playfully addressed the guests by reciting from memory the sportsmanship statement read prior to every home contest, before remarking on having the ability to carry out his vision thanks to the support of former Morrisville President Raymond Cross (also in the Wall of Fame), current President David Rogers and his “amazing team.”
“I am humbled by this experience,” said Carroll, whose leadership led to immense student-athlete success in athletics, academics and community service. “The best thing that ever happened to me professionally was the opportunity to become the Athletics Director at Morrisville and I am forever grateful for that.”
Carroll’s time as director saw Morrisville Athletics successfully transition from members of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) to the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), and this year’s induction class also crossed into both ranks.
Sonobe had a phenomenal run for the Mustang women’s cross country team, twice earning NJCAA All-American accolades. Sonobe, who owns her own fitness lifestyle business as a certified personal trainer, thanked her parents for allowing her to pursue her education in the United States before acknowledging her teammates and longtime head cross country coach Derek Powers.
“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude to be inducted into the Athletics Wall of Fame,” Sonobe said. “I’m so honored to have my work recognized. I’d like to thank my dearest Coach Powers; none of my accomplishments could have been done without him.”
Anderson was recognized for her outstanding achievements in both women’s basketball and women’s lacrosse. A chance knock on the head lacrosse coach’s door asking if she could try out for the team her sophomore year has opened many doors for Anderson.
“Crazy that a knock on the door has taken me where I am today,” said Anderson, who is now an assistant lacrosse coach at Division II Slippery Rock University following two conference titles and two defensive-player-of-the-year awards as a Mustang.
“It’s surreal right now, this is such an incredible honor,” added Anderson, who also finished her basketball career as the program’s all-time leader in multiple categories. “Know that it’s never about your setbacks or obstacles, but the opportunities you gain and how you respond. I will be forever grateful and appreciative of this honor.”
Hanks was the catalyst for the men’s basketball program’s most historical run, leading the Mustangs to three straight conference championships, three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, and first-ever trips to the Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen rounds, respectively. Thanking his former professors who were in attendance as well former teammates who are still his best friends today – “it’s a testament to the genuine people that I met here” – Hanks recalled how he “didn’t have anything” when arriving to campus but Morrisville “set me straight and I’ll always appreciate that.”
Now a police officer in his hometown of Syracuse, New York, Hanks dedicated the honor to his head coach, Joe Smith, for setting the example that still motivates him today. “He could’ve given up on me a long time ago and he didn’t. He’s part of the reason why I do what I do helping youth as a police officer; I will never give up on them because Coach Smith never gave up on me.”
Forever in Mustang lore for his famous “Morrisville Hurdle” that was named a 2014 Geico Play of the Year, Johnson had a prolific run for the football program. A positional switch from defensive back (2010-11) to quarterback (2013-14) proved fruitful, as Johnson blossomed into an All-American, two-time offensive player of the year and the MVP of the program’s first-ever Bowl win.
“Morrisville has a special place in my heart,” said Johnson, who pursued other playing opportunities following graduation. “A lot of times I think about who I would be if I never came back to school, but I came back and now we’re here – hall of famer, it’s really nice. I truly appreciate this award.”
Dominant is the best way to describe the four-year career of Rosaschi. Setting several all-time records for the women’s lacrosse program, Rosaschi earned numerous player-of-the-year and all-star selections while guiding the Mustangs to a conference title and their first bid to the NCAA Tournament. Thanking her parents for their unwavering support and praising Morrisville’s training and sports information staffs, Rosaschi also acknowledged how her time on campus shaped the rest of her life.
“This campus means so much,” said Rosaschi, now a high school head coach while also working at UNC-Wilmington. “I met some of my best friends here, I met my husband here and now we have two beautiful daughters. It was the best four years of my life and I’m so honored to be in this wall of fame class.”
Peckham was one of the most decorated four-year student-athletes ever for the men’s soccer team, collecting All-American, all-star and defensive-player-of-the-year honors. An automotive technology bachelor’s degree graduate and now an auto industry professional in Rochester, New York, Peckham was integral to the program’s dominant stretch that included three conference titles and three appearances and two victories in the NCAA Tournament.
Thanking his parents, family, former coaches and various athletics administrators who were all in attendance, Peckham shared, “It feels like it was just yesterday since I was here. What an absolute journey it’s been to this point. Some of my best memories happened on this campus.”
To read more about each of the honoree’s accomplishments, please visit morrisvillemustangs.com.
Established in 1996, the Athletics Wall of Fame recognizes excellence and tradition by athletes, coaches, administrators and department staff members who have made outstanding contributions to the intercollegiate athletics program, as a joint project of the Morrisville College Alumni Corporation and the Athletics Department.
