Poughkeepsie, NY - The Vassar College Department of Athletics and Physical Education is honored to announce the selection of 10 exceptional individuals and three historic teams to the inaugural class of the Vassar Athletics Hall of Fame. Honorees will be inducted on the evening of Saturday, June 7th during Reunion Weekend.
The first ever class in Vassar Athletics Hall of Fame history recognizes Katharine Hubbell '43, Martha Lewis '85, Tracy Nichols '91, Shirin Kaufman '95, Andrew Guzick '13, Margaret Kwateng '14, Cydni Matsuoka '14, Heather Ingraham '15, Betty Richey, Frances D. Fergusson, Vassar Resolutes, 1991 Women's Tennis and 1995 Men's Volleyball for their extraordinary contributions to Vassar Athletics.
"Our inaugural Hall of Fame class is a reflection of the rich history of Vassar Athletics, as it includes students and staff from the early years of the college to today", said Director of Athletics and Physical Education Michelle Walsh. "I am grateful to the many alums and friends of the program who nominated and advocated for teammates, classmates, coaches, and other college employees. I am also thankful to our selection committee, who engaged in a robust review of the more than 100 internal and external nominations. We are thrilled to be able to recognize these three outstanding teams and ten highly-accomplished individuals for their meaningful contributions to Vassar Athletics."
Vassar Athletics will induct a new class on a bi-yearly basis and call for nominations will go out in the summer prior to each induction year. For more information, please check our Athletics Hall of Fame webpage.
Katharine Hubbell '43 was the dominant force in women's tennis at Vassar from 1940 to 1943 and made history as the school's first individual national champion in the pre-modern era. Hubbell won multiple national intercollegiate singles and doubles titles, which represented the highest level of competition during the 1940s. Following her successful college career, Hubbell continued to compete at a high level, making two appearances at Wimbledon in the 1950s and winning the US Women's Indoor Championship singles title in 1955. In 1958, Hubbell received the USTA Service Bowl Award, an honor recognizing female players that have made outstanding contributions to the sportsmanship, fellowship, and service of tennis. Hubbell has also been inducted into the USTA New England Hall of Fame.
Martha Lewis '85 elevated Vassar swimming and diving to national prominence in 1985 when she became the school's first NCAA All-American in any sport. During her senior year, Lewis earned the All-American honors at the NCAA Championships, with a 10th-place finish in 3-meter springboard diving and a 14th-place finish in 1-meter diving. These remarkable achievements stand as the best finishes in the history of Vassar diving.
Tracy Nichols '91 secured a significant place in Vassar women's cross-country history as the program's first-ever NCAA national championship qualifier in 1988. She further solidified her legacy by becoming the program's first NCAA All-American in 1990, achieving an impressive 19th-place finish at the national championship race. That same year, Nichols' resilience and determination were recognized with the prestigious Honda Inspiration Award, making her the first Vassar College recipient of this national accolade. Presented by Honda and the Collegiate Women's Sports Award Board of Directors, this award honors NCAA female student-athletes who have overcome adversity and demonstrated extraordinary perseverance and dedication in their return to play.
Shirin Kaufman '95 is celebrated as the most decorated student-athlete in Vassar squash history. She earned four first-team WISA All-American honors from 1992 to 1995, showcasing her consistent excellence at the highest level of collegiate competition. During her time at Vassar, Kaufman achieved a 110-15 overall record, demonstrating her dominance on the court. Her contributions were instrumental in leading the team to its highest College Squash Association team ranking, reaching 11th during the 1992-93 season. Individually, Kaufman performed at an elite level, finishing third twice in the WISA Championship in 1993 and 1995.
Andrew Guzick '13 established himself as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in the history of the Brewers men's tennis program, becoming the first men's tennis student-athlete to reach the quarterfinals of the singles competition at the NCAA National Championships. Guzick's exceptional performance on the court in 2011 earned him singles All-American honors, followed by doubles All-American honors in 2012 alongside his brother, Ben. His achievements also include winning the ITA Northeast Regional singles championship in 2010-11 and the ITA Northeast Regional doubles title in 2011-12.
Margaret Kwateng '14 established herself as a record-setting student-athlete during her rugby career with the nationally-renowned Brewers. Despite playing just three seasons due to injury, Kwateng left an indelible mark on the program as the program's all-time leader in tries with 99, showcasing her exceptional scoring ability. Additionally, Kwateng ranks second all-time in career points with 495 and second all-time in single-season tries with 44. During her time with Vassar, the team achieved an impressive 50-15-3 overall record. In her senior season, Kwateng led the team to the ACRA Women's Division II Final Four and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Kwateng's individual honors include being named Rookie of the Year and earning All-Conference First Team recognition twice.
Cydni Matsuoka '14 stands as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in Vassar's history, setting numerous school records and leading the Brewers to their most successful seasons in women's basketball. Matsuoka graduated as the program's all-time leading scorer with an impressive 1,923 points and earned eight All-American citations throughout her four-year career. A finalist for the prestigious Jostens Trophy, her other accolades include being named the D3Hoops.com National Rookie of the Year in 2010-11, the D3Hoops.com East Region Player of the Year in 2013-14, and a two-time Liberty League Player of the Year. Matsuoka's leadership guided Vassar to 78 wins, three Liberty League conference titles and their first NCAA Tournament victory in the 2013-14 season.
Heather Ingraham '15 etched her name in Vassar College Athletics history in 2015 by becoming the first individual national champion in the modern era. She achieved this feat with a victory in the 400 meters at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Ingraham's exceptional career includes two All-American honors in the 400 meters and the Liberty League Track Athlete of the Year in 2015. She was also a four-time Liberty League 400-meter outdoor champion and a key member of each of the four Liberty League champion 4x400 relays.
From 1937 until her retirement in 1978, Betty Richey was the driving force in shaping intercollegiate athletics at Vassar College. During her 41 year tenure, she was the first head coach of the field hockey, tennis, and squash teams, establishing the first-ever collegiate women's squash program in 1937. Richey significantly influenced the regional and national growth of squash as a college sport, initiating individual and team women's national intercollegiate tournaments. Her contributions earned her inductions into the United States Squash Hall of Fame and the College Squash Hall of Fame. Beyond squash, Richey's athletic prowess on the field led to her induction into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the National Field Hockey Hall of Fame as a U.S. National team athlete in both sports.
Frances D. Fergusson, Vassar's ninth president, played a vital role in enhancing Vassar Athletics from 1986 to 2006. She was instrumental in the development of an athletics master plan that led to significant improvements in staffing, funding, and facilities for the department. Fergusson's major improvements to the athletics facilities included the renovation of Walker Field House, the construction of the Prentiss Sports Complex and the Weinberg Sports Pavilion, the renovation of Kenyon and the construction of the The Mary Rousmaniere Gordon '32 Squash Courts, and the purchase of land on the Hudson River for development of rowing facilities. Under her leadership, Vassar's athletic programs experienced significant growth, expanding to include 25 varsity and varsity club programs. She also secured funding for new coaches, athletic administrators, and athletic training positions, propelling the teams to unprecedented levels of competitive success during her tenure.
The Vassar Resolutes hold a distinguished place in sports history as the first organized women's baseball team in the United States, established in 1866. Facing the unique challenge of having no external opponents, the Resolutes formed two teams of nine players each and held intrasquad competition. This pioneering effort has garnered national recognition, with the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown acknowledging the Resolutes' historic significance. Their story is an integral part of both baseball's evolution and Vassar College's rich history, highlighting the early participation of women in organized sports and the college's progressive legacy.
The 1991 Vassar women's tennis team achieved a milestone in school history by becoming the first Brewers team to earn a coveted spot in the NCAA Championship. The Brewers were among the select 12 teams chosen for the Championship, a notable accomplishment given that NCAA Division III women's tennis comprised more than 325 teams and there were no automatic qualifiers at the time. Under the direction of Head Coach Kathy Campbell and Assistant Coach Kelly Ryan, the team posted a 17-3 record and also saw Hannah Palmer '92 attain All-American status. Their success was further highlighted by securing championships at both the NYSWCAA and Seven Sisters competitions and by finishing the year ranked 10th nationally.
The 1995 men's volleyball team made school history by claiming Vassar's first national championship, winning the EIVA Division III National title match. In that era, Vassar competed against both Division I and Division III opponents. Led by Head Coach Bob McCarthy and Assistant Coaches Bill Doyle and Mary Ann McCarthy, the squad showcased their prowess with a 19-9 overall record, which included six victories over Division I volleyball programs. Their championship run culminated in a thrilling series of matches, with Vassar defeating Roger Williams in the semifinals and then prevailing in a five-set final over NJIT to secure the national title. Brent Starks '97 earned the prestigious title of MVP of the EIVA National Championship.
