Formed in 1999, the Panther Hall of Fame is designed to honor former athletes, coaches, and contributors for their outstanding performance and support of the Tompkins Cortland Community College athletics program. Inductees will always be an important part of College history and tradition.
Hall of Fame Members
Class of 2023 Induction Photo Gallery
Class of 2023
Kris Boyes: student-athlete, golf
Boyes (2008) was Tompkins Cortland's first national champion in any sport, winning the NJCAA Division 3 Men's Golf Championship in 2008. He was also the Region 3 champion, the second in the history of the program, and an all-Mid-State Athletic Conference performer in his one year with the Panthers. Led by Boyes, the Panthers finished fourth in the nation in 2008, the best team finish in program history. He followed his time at Tompkins Cortland with three years on the St. Bonaventure University golf team, earning team MVP honors in his senior year. He graduated from St. Bonaventure in 2011 and continued to compete at a high level, winning many amateur tournament championships.
Tayler Fravel (Wallis): student-athlete, softball
Fravel (2012) was a two-time All-American softball player for the Panthers, helping the team to consecutive NJCAA Region 3 championships. The team went a combined 69-13 and qualified for the NJCAA National Championship tournament and finishing third in the nation both seasons. She set several records, including most runs scored in a season and most hits in a career while posting a career batting average of .431. Following her graduation from Tompkins Cortland, Fravel played softball at the University of Rochester and was an NFCA All-American and NCAA all-tournament team selection while setting a school record for most hits in a season and helping the Yellowjackets to the NCAA Division III World Series. After graduating, Fravel was an assistant coach for Rochester for three seasons and LeMoyne College for one year.
Class of 2016
Danielle O'Rourke: student-athlete, softball
O'Rourke (2010) is the first softball player elected into the Panther Hall of Fame. She was a captain on the 2009 national championship team, earning a place on the NJCAA National Championship All-Tournament Team as well as being named an NFCA All-American. She graduated from the College as the career record holder for home runs and runs batted in and was among the top five in hits (2nd), doubles (2nd), put outs (2nd), runs scored (4th), walks (4th), slugging percentage (4th), and on-base percentage (5th). She also established the single-season record for walks. She earned a softball scholarship to Lynn University (NCAA Division II) and played for the Fighting Knights while earning her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Eric Parker: student-athlete, wrestling
Parker (2000) is the third wrestler to be voted into the Hall. A graduate of Ithaca High, he wrestled at Tompkins Cortland during the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons. He was the Region III champion at 149 pounds as a freshman, being named the regional tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. As a sophomore he finished second in the same weight class. Both years he qualified for the NJCAA National Championship Tournament. A team captain, he helped the 1999 team earn the honor of being named the NJCAA Academic Wrestling Team of the Year. After graduation he continued his wrestling career at Ithaca College, and after earning his bachelor’s degree, returned to his school alma mater as a physical education teacher and a very successful coach for wrestling and track and field.
Class of 2014
Ivan Lewis: student-athlete, men's basketball
Lewis (2002) played basketball for the College in 2000-01 and 2001-02. He led the nation in scoring his freshman year, averaging 30.5 points per game, and was third in the nation his sophomore year, averaging 27.8 points per game. He holds nearly all the College's scoring records, and has the distinction of being the only player in program history to score more than 50 points in a single game and more than 700 points in a single season. Lewis was the first Tompkins Cortland player to top 1,000 points in a career and still holds the school record for career scoring. He was a two-time all-region and all-conference selection, and was a preseason NJCAA All American. After graduating from Tompkins Cortland, Lewis went on to star at Felician College (NCAA Division II) in New Jersey, helping the Golden Falcons to a conference title and ECAC Division II championship. He graduated cum laude from Felician and began a coaching career that has advanced to his current post of associate head coach at Felician.
Brent Doane: coach, women's basketball and softball
Doane coached the College's women’s basketball team from 1999-2005 and the softball team from 2002-2012. He directed the basketball teams, the first varsity women’s basketball teams in the College’s history, to three straight NJCAA playoff appearances. On the softball diamond, he restarted a program that hadn’t been active in six years, leading the Panthers to a NJCAA playoff appearance his first season. During his 11 years coaching softball, he led the Panthers to nine NJCAA playoff appearances, four regional championships, and the 2009 NJCAA national championship. His teams placed third in the nation twice and fourth once, and Doane was named the national coach of the year once and the regional coach of the year twice. During his time at the College, he coached 10 All Americans, 31 all-region players, and 39 all-conference selections. Doane, who still works in the College's admissions office, is also currently an assistant softball coach at Cornell University.
Clint Chaffee: student-athlete, golf
Chaffee (2006) was a member of the Panthers golf team in 2005 and 2006. He was an NJCAA All American both years, finishing sixth at nationals both years. The Candor High School graduate was Tompkins Cortland’s first regional golf champion and still holds the College record for best single round score and best season scoring average. He was a SUNY Chancellor’s Scholar-Athlete Award winner in 2006 and went on to earn a degree in golf course management from SUNY Delhi. Chaffee is currently an assistant golf professional at Congressional Country Club outside of Washington, D.C., one of the top private clubs in the country.
Class of 2010
Jaime Fisher (Alsheimer): student-athlete, women's basketball
Fisher Alsheimer set Tompkins Cortland records in several categories. When she graduated (2004), she held the records for most points in a game, season, and career, most free throws in a season and career, and was in the top three in most three-pointers made. She earned all-region and all-conference honors at Tompkins Cortland before continuing on at SUNY Oswego. She graduated from Oswego and is now a teacher and high school coach.
Class of 2007
Casey Burns: student-athlete, men's soccer
Burns was a two-time NJCAA and NSCAA All-American, earning recognition in 1998 and 1999. He led Region III in scoring in 1998 and was voted All-Mid-State Athletic Conference and All-Region III both years. Burns led the College to its first national ranking in soccer, reaching as high as fifth in 1999 and advancing the NJCAA Region III Semi-Finals. He earned a full athletic scholarship to Oneonta State, where he competed for the Division I Red Dragons and earned his four-year degree.
Mike Kilmer: student-athlete, wrestling
Kilmer was a standout wrestler in 1992-93 and 1993-94. He was the NJCAA Region III champion his sophomore year after finishing as the runner-up his freshman season. He qualified for the NJCAA national tournament both years and was an Academic All-American in 1992-93. Kilmer was a team captain and voted the Most Outstanding Wrestler in 1993-94.
Class of 2003
Osman Kabia: student-athlete, men's soccer
Osman was a member of the College's first NJCAA men's soccer teams, playing in 1995 and 1996. He has the distinction of being the first all-American in the College's soccer history, earning the recognition in 1996. He was twice voted all-Mid-State Athletic Conference and all-Region III. Thanks to his play and hard work in the classroom, he earned a full athletic scholarship to Niagara University. After a successful career at Niagara, he graduated and moved to Atlanta, Georgia to play semi-professional soccer and work with the Olympic Committee during the summer games.
Class of 2001
Larry Siany: student-athlete, lacrosse
Siany, a 1978 graduate, was elected to the Panther Hall of Fame for his accomplishments both at Tompkins Cortland and after graduation. He played lacrosse at the College in 1977 and 1978. In 1977, he led the team with 16 goals and 26 assists and was held scoreless just once during the ten-game season. With Siany leading the offense, the Panthers enjoyed a fine year, beating JV's from both Syracuse University and Ithaca College and earning an NCAA invitation (at the time, the NCAA held post-season tournaments for two-year colleges and JVs from four-year colleges). Siany enjoyed another solid season in 1978, registering 16 goals and 5 assists in 11 games. He finished his Panthers career with 32 goals and 31 assists in 21 games. An Ithaca native, Siany continued his playing career on the Ithaca College varsity. After leaving South Hill, he joined lacrosse legend Richie Moran's coaching staff at Cornell University, spending 12 years as the junior varsity head coach.
James Valentine: coach/contributor
Valentine, a former coach and administrator at Tompkins Cortland, was involved with the wrestling program dates from 1989 to 1999. While serving as the top assistant, he coached two All-Americans, numerous All-Region wrestlers, and several Academic All-Americans. In his final year of coaching, the College's squad was named the NJCAA Academic Wrestling Team of the Year. He made a lasting impact on the entire athletics program by leading the effort to create the College's fitness center. The state-of-the-art exercise facility is open to the entire community and is a major asset to all the intercollegiate athletics teams. Valentine, more than any other person, was responsible for the start-up of the fitness center and served as its original coordinator.
Class of 1999
Wayne Bell: student-athlete, wrestling
Bell attended Tompkins Cortland from 1992-94. At the 167 pound weight class he was the 1993 NJCAA Region III champions and an NJCAA All-American, placing fourth at the national tournament. In 1993, he was a member of the Junior College National Team that wrestled throughout Europe. He was inducted into the NJCAA Region III Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1998.
Tricia Brown (Garrett): student-athlete, volleyball
Brown was a student at Tompkins Cortland from 1992-93, earning Mid-State Athletic Conference all-conference honors. She was also the first Panthers volleyball player named to the NJCAA Region III all-region team, earning that recognition after both of her seasons.
Larry Hinkle: coach/contributor
In addition to being a successful wrestling coach, Hinkle took over responsibilities for athletics at Tompkins Cortland in 1986. He was largely responsible for establishing the College's credibility in the world of athletics, growing the number of intercollegiate sports offered from two to nine sports. He is credited with laying much of the groundwork for the future success of the College's athletics programs.
Eligibility Criteria for the Hall of Fame
Student-Athletes
- Must be out of Tompkins Cortland Community College for at least five years.
- Must have participated in a sport for one year and completed the season in good standing.
- Upon graduation, transfer, or completion of final term, athlete must have obtained a 2.0 grade point average or better.
Coaches and Contributors:
Have an affiliation with the Athletics Department for at least five years.
Nominations
Nominating person(s) must complete the Panther Hall of Fame nomination form.
- Nominations will be accepted for a three-year period, ending on February 1st of the voting year.
- Nominations not selected for induction will be carried over to the next voting year.
- No more than three nominees will be selected each voting year.
Selection Committee:
- Director of Athletics (serves as committee chair)
- Athletic Advisory Board/Captains Council members
- Two current members of Panther Hall of Fame (selected each cycle)
- Sports Information Coordinator
All nominations will be delivered to committee members for their consideration at the first Athletic Advisory Board meeting following the close of the nomination period. Voting will take place at the next available meeting. A nominee must receive at least 75% of the votes cast at the meeting to gain induction.
Nominees will be notified by the Director of Athletics.
Awards:
A plaque will include the nominees picture and inscription. One plaque is to be presented to inductee and one is to be put on display at a site chosen by the College. Plaques will be ordered by the Director of Athletics.
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The committee will advertise for nominations using the College website, social media platforms, and any other sources they deem necessary.