UNION, N.J. (9/20/10) - The Kean University Benisch Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee announces the five former student-athletes to be inducted as part of the 2010 class.Joining the Hall of Fame this fall will be former softball standout Tracy Burkhart, two-sport athlete Gail Gilchrest, men's lacrosse star Rich Theesfeld and men's soccer All-Americans Michael Iacono and Rudy Lormil.
Burkhart was a member of two NCAA tournament teams and closed out her career as the program's all-time leader in both hits (194) and triples (10). A four-time all-region player, Burkhart also ranks second in batting average (.385), doubles (42), runs (113) and stolen bases (52), while her 111 career RBI are the third highest total in school history. A 1995 graduate, she also holds the top two spots in single season stolen bases, with 23 and 21.
Gilchrest was a two-sport letterwinner in both women's basketball and women's lacrosse after transferring to Kean for her final two seasons. The 1997 D'Angola Award Winner, Gilchrest was a New Jersey Athletic Conference and Eastern College Athletic Conference first-team all-star on the hardwood her senior year, after earning second-team honors as a junior. Also a Kodak/Women's Basketball Coaches Association honorable mention all-american as a senior, Gilchrest still holds the single season records for scoring average (24.7) and free throws made (141). The two-time most valuable player in women's lacrosse and a 1998 graduate, Gilchrest is now the head women's basketball coach at NJAC rival Rutgers-Camden.
The men's lacrosse all-time leader with 220 career goals, Theesfeld was the 2001 Knickerbocker Conference Men's Lacrosse Player of the Year after scoring 80 goals his senior year, the second highest total in single season history. A three-time first-team all-conference selection, Theesfeld also ranks fourth all time in career points (284) and groundballs (335), while also holding the single game record with 12 goals scored against Ursinus College. A 2001 graduate, Theesfeld was the fifth player in program history to participate in the North/South Senior All-Star game.
Iacono became just the third player in school history to be named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America first-team All-American after helping lead the Cougars to a NJAC championship and a pair of berths in the NCAA tournament. A senior on the school-record tying 18-win squad in 2001, Iacono finished his career tied for fourth on the career list with 31 assists, while his 14 assists in 2001 remain tied for fourth in single season history. A 2005 graduate, Iacono was a two-time NJAC first-team all-star and was also named the 2001 NJAC Offensive Player of the Year.
A two-time All-American on the pitch, Lormil closed out his career ranked second in all-time goals (66) and third in all-time points (147), despite being the team's goalkeeper his freshman season. A NSCAA second-team All-American in 2001 and third-team All-American in 2002, Lormil also ranked fourth all-time in single season points (56) and fifth in goals (25). The 2002 NJAC Offensive Player of the Year and three-time NJAC first-team all-star, Lormil graduated in 2005.
The 2010 Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Friday, October 29,in Kean Hall. For more information, or to purchase tickets, please contact Jack McKiernan, Associate Director of Athletics, at (908) 737-0604.
