SJ Press Release
QUEENS, N.Y. (Nov. 19, 2019) – St. John’s University unveiled the eight outstanding individuals who will be enshrined into the Athletics Hall of Fame as members of the Class of 2020 on Tuesday. The honorees, who represent the 21st induction class in the Hall’s history, will be celebrated during St. John’s Athletics Hall of Fame Weekend on Jan. 18-19, 2020.
The 2020 Athletics Hall of Fame class includes former student-athletes and coaches all of whom achieved excellence in their sport while representing St. John’s on the national and international levels. The Athletics Hall of Fame committee unanimously recommended the eight inductees for the first enshrinement ceremony since 2015.
Headlined by three-time PGA Tour winner and 2011 PGA Champion Keegan Bradley along with five year NBA veteran and fourth leading scoring program history Felipe Lopez, the list of honorees includes women’s volleyball standout Jackie Ahlers, national championship and Olympic fencing coach Yury Gelman, track & field All-American Roman Linscheid, legendary baseball coach Joe Russo, women’s basketball All-American Da’Shena Stevens and men’s soccer’s 2003 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Chris Wingert.
“We are thrilled to welcome back these distinguished individuals to our campus and greatly look forward to celebrating their achievements,” said Director of Athletics Mike Cragg. “These honorees are exceptional representatives of St. John’s Athletics and well-deserving of this prestigious honor. It will be a very special weekend for all involved to pay tribute to the foundation these individuals have laid for their respective programs here at St. John’s.”
Complete event and ticket information for the 2020 St. John’s Athletics Hall of Fame Weekend will be announced at a later date.
Keegan Bradley, who lettered at St. John’s from 2004-08, was an All-BIG EAST selection and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA East Regional as a senior. In each of his four seasons representing the Red Storm, Bradley finished no lower than ninth at the BIG EAST Championships, including a pair of top-three finishes in 2006 and 2008.
The Woodstock, Vt., native claimed nine individual titles during his time at St. John’s, which ranks as the second highest total in program history. Bradley still holds the St. John’s program record for low score in a single event, carding a 21-under par 192 at the Treasure Coast Classic Championship during the 2006-07 campaign. In addition to his individual achievements during his time in Queens, Bradley also helped St. John’s record nine team titles over his four-year tenure.
As a professional, Bradley burst on the scene in 2011 when he became one of four golfers in history to claim victory in his major debut, capturing the 93rd PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Bradley was named the 2011 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year at the conclusion of that season, after posting four top-10s in 29 starts, including a playoff victory at the HP Byron Nelson Championship, and finishing 20th on the final FedEx Cup points list.
In addition to those wins during his rookie year, Bradley has also captured titles at the 2012 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the 2018 BMW Championship. Bradley was a member of the U.S. team at the 2012 and 2014 Ryder Cups and was a part of the victorious 2013 President’s Cup squad.
Felipe Lopez finished his St. John’s career as the program’s third all-time leading scorer with 1,927 points, trailing only fellow Hall of Famers Chris Mullin and Malik Sealy. The consensus top-ranked recruit in the nation out of high school, Lopez was a three-time All-BIG EAST selection and helped lead St. John’s to the 1998 NCAA Tournament as a senior.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Lopez averaged 16.9 points per game while playing in 114 contests during his four years at St. John’s. He finished his collegiate career ranked in the top-10 in program history for nearly every offensive category, including field goals made (670), 3-point field goals made (148) and free-throws made (439). In addition, Lopez graduated top-20 on the program’s career rebounds list (663).
Lopez garnered All-BIG EAST First Team honors as a senior after averaging 17.6 points per contest while leading the Johnnies to a 22-10 overall record and a 13-5 conference mark. An All-BIG EAST Third Team selection in 1995 and 1997, Lopez was also named to the conference’s All-Rookie Team after leading St. John’s in scoring with a career-high 17.8 points per game as a freshman.
Lopez, who currently ranks fourth on the school’s all-time scoring list, was selected with the 24th overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft and played five seasons in the league with the Vancouver Grizzlies, Washington Wizards and Minnesota Timberwolves. Following his tenure in the NBA, Lopez continued his long professional playing career in a number of different countries. Since retiring, Lopez has championed a number of community service initiatives aimed at improving the lives of people in both the New York Metropolitan Area and the Dominican Republic.
A two-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection, Jackie Ahlers lettered for the Red Storm from 2002-04. The Stony Point, N.Y., native became the first player in program history to earn All-America Honorable Mention recognition by the American Volleyball Coaches Association in 2003 and 2004. During her tenure at St. John’s, Ahlers helped lead the Red Storm to its highest-ever win total at the time, as the team posted a 26-9 overall record during the 2003 campaign.
Ahlers etched her name in the St. John’s record book throughout her time in Queens, as she still holds the top two spots on the program’s single-season kills list, recording 608 in 2003 before surpassing her own mark in 2004 with 646. The outside hitter also ranks second in program history with 1,766 career kills and sits in eighth place all-time with a .257 career hitting percentage.
Yury Gelman took over the St. John’s men’s and women’s fencing programs in 1995 and has since built a legacy as one of the top coaches in the world for his sport. During his 25-year tenure at St. John's, more than 125 student-athletes have earned NCAA All-American status and 25 have won an individual NCAA National Championship.
Gelman led the Red Storm to a national title in 2001, marking only the second team NCAA Championship in the history of St. John’s Athletics. In addition to the national title, St. John’s has recorded five second-place finishes at the NCAA Championships (1995, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2010) and has never finished lower than sixth place with Gelman at the helm.
A five-time United States Olympic Coach (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), Gelman has mentored three St. John’s alumni to medals. Keeth Smart, a three-time Olympian and the first American to gain fencing’s number one international men’s ranking, took home the silver medal in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. In 2016 at the Rio Games, Gelman helped guide Daryl Homer to the silver medal, as Homer became just the fourth American male to claim an Olympic media in men’s individual saber. Homer was not the only St. John’s product to medal in Rio, as Dagmara Wozniak captured a bronze medal in women’s saber.
Gelman's achievements in the sport were recognized when he was inducted into the United States Fencing Hall of Fame at the Summer National Fencing Championships in 2010. In addition, Gelman and St. John’s University received a U.S. Olympic Achievement Award in 2011 from the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), the U.S. National Governing Bodies for Sport (NGBs), and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which recognizes colleges and universities whose student-athletes and coaches have won Olympic medals.
One of the most decorated throwers in men’s track & field history, Roman Linscheid was a six-time NCAA All-American and All-IC4A/East Team selection at St. John’s from 1991-95. During his time in Queens, Linscheid placed inside the top-10 in hammer throw at the NCAA Championships in each of his four seasons, including a third-place finish at the outdoor championships in 1994 with a program record 72.39 meters. Linscheid also set the team record for 35 lb. weight throw with a distance of 20.97 meters at the 1994 NCAA Indoor Championships. In addition to his success at national competitions, Linscheid captured the BIG EAST title in hammer throw at the 1994 outdoor championships.
On the international stage, Linscheid represented Ireland at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta where he competed in hammer throw. In total, Linscheid recorded seven Irish National Championships from 1995-2003 and ranks fourth all-time in his home country with a hammer throw of 76.25 meters in 1999.
While best known for his success in more than two decades leading St. John’s from the dugout, Joe Russo began his St. John’s career as a player, anchoring the Redmen to three winning seasons from 1964-66 as a short stop. St. John’s made the NCAA Tournament twice during Russo’s playing career, including an appearance in the 1966 College World Series, where Russo was named to the All-Tournament Team after guiding the Johnnies to a fourth place.
Shortly after the conclusion of his playing career, Russo became an assistant to his former head coach, Jack Kaiser, before taking over the reins of the baseball program in 1974 when Kaiser became the school’s athletic director. Over the next 22 seasons, St. John’s never suffered a losing campaign under Russo’s tutelage, compiling 612 wins to go along with only 310 losses, good enough for a winning percentage of .664. Russo twice led the Redmen to appearances in the College World Series, as the Johnnies earned a place in Omaha twice in the span of three years in 1978 and 1980.
One of three coaches in program history to be named to the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame alongside Kaiser and Ed Blankmeyer, Russo also boasted plenty of international experience, coaching Team USA at the 1995 Pan American Games and serving as the head coach for the New York/Tokyo Friendship Series in 1989. The two-time BIG EAST Coach of the Year guided the Johnnies four BIG EAST Tournament titles and three regular season conference crowns while mentoring countless players to successful careers in the professional ranks.
Russo passed away in May at the age of 74 following a long illness. His family will accept the posthumous honor on his behalf.
One of the most decorated student-athletes to come through the St. John’s women’s basketball program, Da’Shena Stevens was a four-time All-BIG EAST selection who scored 1,515 points, the seventh-highest total in program history, during her collegiate career. The Stamford, Conn., native also pulled down 815 rebounds during her playing days, making her one of only four student-athletes to grab more than 800 boards during a career.
Stevens received numerous accolades during her time at St. John's, highlighted by the BIG EAST Scholar Athlete of the Year Award during her senior campaign. That same season, she was also a finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award and the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Following her rookie campaign in 2008-09, Stevens became the first player at St. John's in 26 years to earn BIG EAST Freshman of the Year honors.
Stevens enjoyed her best season as a sophomore in 2009-10, when she led the squad with 14.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. For her efforts, she became the first player in program history to be named an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America and a WBCA Regional All-American. That same year she took home MBWA All-Met Player of the Year accolades.
With Stevens on the squad, St. John’s made three NCAA Tournament appearances and turned in a cumulative record of 93-40 (.756). The Red Storm’s best finish came during her senior season, as the Johnnies topped Creighton and Oklahoma to earn the program’s first-ever Sweet 16 berth in 2012. St. John’s won at least one game in each of those three NCAA appearances and advanced to the WNIT Round of 16 during her freshman season.
The most highly decorated individual in the history of St. John’s Men’s Soccer, Chris Wingert starred for fellow St. John’s Hall of Famer Dr. David Masur on the pitch from 2000-03. As a senior in 2003, Wingert earned the most prestigious individual honor in college soccer, taking home the MAC Hermann Trophy as the nation’s top player.
A two-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year and two-time First Team All-American, Wingert was honored by the BIG EAST at the conclusion of all four of his seasons in red and white, earning a spot on the All-Rookie Team in 2000 before finding a place on the All-BIG EAST Second Team in 2001. He was then named to the All-BIG EAST First Team in 2002 and 2003.
Wingert’s four years rank among the most successful in program history, as the Red Storm turned in a cumulative record of 61-17-13 (.742). The Red Storm recorded four NCAA Tournament berths with Wingert on the back line, advancing to at least the round of 16 on each occasion with a pair of College Cup appearances. The Johnnies reached the national semifinals during Wingert’s sophomore season in 2001 and fell one win shy of a second national title in 2003.
At the conclusion of his time at St. John’s, Wingert was selected 12th overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft and embarked on a successful 14-year career in the nation’s most prestigious professional league. He spent a majority of his MLS tenure with Real Salt Lake, where he won an MLS Cup in 2009.
QUEENS, N.Y. (Nov. 19, 2019) – St. John’s University unveiled the eight outstanding individuals who will be enshrined into the Athletics Hall of Fame as members of the Class of 2020 on Tuesday. The honorees, who represent the 21st induction class in the Hall’s history, will be celebrated during St. John’s Athletics Hall of Fame Weekend on Jan. 18-19, 2020.
The 2020 Athletics Hall of Fame class includes former student-athletes and coaches all of whom achieved excellence in their sport while representing St. John’s on the national and international levels. The Athletics Hall of Fame committee unanimously recommended the eight inductees for the first enshrinement ceremony since 2015.
Headlined by three-time PGA Tour winner and 2011 PGA Champion Keegan Bradley along with five year NBA veteran and fourth leading scoring program history Felipe Lopez, the list of honorees includes women’s volleyball standout Jackie Ahlers, national championship and Olympic fencing coach Yury Gelman, track & field All-American Roman Linscheid, legendary baseball coach Joe Russo, women’s basketball All-American Da’Shena Stevens and men’s soccer’s 2003 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Chris Wingert.
“We are thrilled to welcome back these distinguished individuals to our campus and greatly look forward to celebrating their achievements,” said Director of Athletics Mike Cragg. “These honorees are exceptional representatives of St. John’s Athletics and well-deserving of this prestigious honor. It will be a very special weekend for all involved to pay tribute to the foundation these individuals have laid for their respective programs here at St. John’s.”
Complete event and ticket information for the 2020 St. John’s Athletics Hall of Fame Weekend will be announced at a later date.
Keegan Bradley, who lettered at St. John’s from 2004-08, was an All-BIG EAST selection and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA East Regional as a senior. In each of his four seasons representing the Red Storm, Bradley finished no lower than ninth at the BIG EAST Championships, including a pair of top-three finishes in 2006 and 2008.
The Woodstock, Vt., native claimed nine individual titles during his time at St. John’s, which ranks as the second highest total in program history. Bradley still holds the St. John’s program record for low score in a single event, carding a 21-under par 192 at the Treasure Coast Classic Championship during the 2006-07 campaign. In addition to his individual achievements during his time in Queens, Bradley also helped St. John’s record nine team titles over his four-year tenure.
As a professional, Bradley burst on the scene in 2011 when he became one of four golfers in history to claim victory in his major debut, capturing the 93rd PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Bradley was named the 2011 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year at the conclusion of that season, after posting four top-10s in 29 starts, including a playoff victory at the HP Byron Nelson Championship, and finishing 20th on the final FedEx Cup points list.
In addition to those wins during his rookie year, Bradley has also captured titles at the 2012 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the 2018 BMW Championship. Bradley was a member of the U.S. team at the 2012 and 2014 Ryder Cups and was a part of the victorious 2013 President’s Cup squad.
Felipe Lopez finished his St. John’s career as the program’s third all-time leading scorer with 1,927 points, trailing only fellow Hall of Famers Chris Mullin and Malik Sealy. The consensus top-ranked recruit in the nation out of high school, Lopez was a three-time All-BIG EAST selection and helped lead St. John’s to the 1998 NCAA Tournament as a senior.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Lopez averaged 16.9 points per game while playing in 114 contests during his four years at St. John’s. He finished his collegiate career ranked in the top-10 in program history for nearly every offensive category, including field goals made (670), 3-point field goals made (148) and free-throws made (439). In addition, Lopez graduated top-20 on the program’s career rebounds list (663).
Lopez garnered All-BIG EAST First Team honors as a senior after averaging 17.6 points per contest while leading the Johnnies to a 22-10 overall record and a 13-5 conference mark. An All-BIG EAST Third Team selection in 1995 and 1997, Lopez was also named to the conference’s All-Rookie Team after leading St. John’s in scoring with a career-high 17.8 points per game as a freshman.
Lopez, who currently ranks fourth on the school’s all-time scoring list, was selected with the 24th overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft and played five seasons in the league with the Vancouver Grizzlies, Washington Wizards and Minnesota Timberwolves. Following his tenure in the NBA, Lopez continued his long professional playing career in a number of different countries. Since retiring, Lopez has championed a number of community service initiatives aimed at improving the lives of people in both the New York Metropolitan Area and the Dominican Republic.
A two-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection, Jackie Ahlers lettered for the Red Storm from 2002-04. The Stony Point, N.Y., native became the first player in program history to earn All-America Honorable Mention recognition by the American Volleyball Coaches Association in 2003 and 2004. During her tenure at St. John’s, Ahlers helped lead the Red Storm to its highest-ever win total at the time, as the team posted a 26-9 overall record during the 2003 campaign.
Ahlers etched her name in the St. John’s record book throughout her time in Queens, as she still holds the top two spots on the program’s single-season kills list, recording 608 in 2003 before surpassing her own mark in 2004 with 646. The outside hitter also ranks second in program history with 1,766 career kills and sits in eighth place all-time with a .257 career hitting percentage.
Yury Gelman took over the St. John’s men’s and women’s fencing programs in 1995 and has since built a legacy as one of the top coaches in the world for his sport. During his 25-year tenure at St. John's, more than 125 student-athletes have earned NCAA All-American status and 25 have won an individual NCAA National Championship.
Gelman led the Red Storm to a national title in 2001, marking only the second team NCAA Championship in the history of St. John’s Athletics. In addition to the national title, St. John’s has recorded five second-place finishes at the NCAA Championships (1995, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2010) and has never finished lower than sixth place with Gelman at the helm.
A five-time United States Olympic Coach (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), Gelman has mentored three St. John’s alumni to medals. Keeth Smart, a three-time Olympian and the first American to gain fencing’s number one international men’s ranking, took home the silver medal in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. In 2016 at the Rio Games, Gelman helped guide Daryl Homer to the silver medal, as Homer became just the fourth American male to claim an Olympic media in men’s individual saber. Homer was not the only St. John’s product to medal in Rio, as Dagmara Wozniak captured a bronze medal in women’s saber.
Gelman's achievements in the sport were recognized when he was inducted into the United States Fencing Hall of Fame at the Summer National Fencing Championships in 2010. In addition, Gelman and St. John’s University received a U.S. Olympic Achievement Award in 2011 from the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), the U.S. National Governing Bodies for Sport (NGBs), and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which recognizes colleges and universities whose student-athletes and coaches have won Olympic medals.
One of the most decorated throwers in men’s track & field history, Roman Linscheid was a six-time NCAA All-American and All-IC4A/East Team selection at St. John’s from 1991-95. During his time in Queens, Linscheid placed inside the top-10 in hammer throw at the NCAA Championships in each of his four seasons, including a third-place finish at the outdoor championships in 1994 with a program record 72.39 meters. Linscheid also set the team record for 35 lb. weight throw with a distance of 20.97 meters at the 1994 NCAA Indoor Championships. In addition to his success at national competitions, Linscheid captured the BIG EAST title in hammer throw at the 1994 outdoor championships.
On the international stage, Linscheid represented Ireland at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta where he competed in hammer throw. In total, Linscheid recorded seven Irish National Championships from 1995-2003 and ranks fourth all-time in his home country with a hammer throw of 76.25 meters in 1999.
While best known for his success in more than two decades leading St. John’s from the dugout, Joe Russo began his St. John’s career as a player, anchoring the Redmen to three winning seasons from 1964-66 as a short stop. St. John’s made the NCAA Tournament twice during Russo’s playing career, including an appearance in the 1966 College World Series, where Russo was named to the All-Tournament Team after guiding the Johnnies to a fourth place.
Shortly after the conclusion of his playing career, Russo became an assistant to his former head coach, Jack Kaiser, before taking over the reins of the baseball program in 1974 when Kaiser became the school’s athletic director. Over the next 22 seasons, St. John’s never suffered a losing campaign under Russo’s tutelage, compiling 612 wins to go along with only 310 losses, good enough for a winning percentage of .664. Russo twice led the Redmen to appearances in the College World Series, as the Johnnies earned a place in Omaha twice in the span of three years in 1978 and 1980.
One of three coaches in program history to be named to the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame alongside Kaiser and Ed Blankmeyer, Russo also boasted plenty of international experience, coaching Team USA at the 1995 Pan American Games and serving as the head coach for the New York/Tokyo Friendship Series in 1989. The two-time BIG EAST Coach of the Year guided the Johnnies four BIG EAST Tournament titles and three regular season conference crowns while mentoring countless players to successful careers in the professional ranks.
Russo passed away in May at the age of 74 following a long illness. His family will accept the posthumous honor on his behalf.
One of the most decorated student-athletes to come through the St. John’s women’s basketball program, Da’Shena Stevens was a four-time All-BIG EAST selection who scored 1,515 points, the seventh-highest total in program history, during her collegiate career. The Stamford, Conn., native also pulled down 815 rebounds during her playing days, making her one of only four student-athletes to grab more than 800 boards during a career.
Stevens received numerous accolades during her time at St. John's, highlighted by the BIG EAST Scholar Athlete of the Year Award during her senior campaign. That same season, she was also a finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award and the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Following her rookie campaign in 2008-09, Stevens became the first player at St. John's in 26 years to earn BIG EAST Freshman of the Year honors.
Stevens enjoyed her best season as a sophomore in 2009-10, when she led the squad with 14.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. For her efforts, she became the first player in program history to be named an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America and a WBCA Regional All-American. That same year she took home MBWA All-Met Player of the Year accolades.
With Stevens on the squad, St. John’s made three NCAA Tournament appearances and turned in a cumulative record of 93-40 (.756). The Red Storm’s best finish came during her senior season, as the Johnnies topped Creighton and Oklahoma to earn the program’s first-ever Sweet 16 berth in 2012. St. John’s won at least one game in each of those three NCAA appearances and advanced to the WNIT Round of 16 during her freshman season.
The most highly decorated individual in the history of St. John’s Men’s Soccer, Chris Wingert starred for fellow St. John’s Hall of Famer Dr. David Masur on the pitch from 2000-03. As a senior in 2003, Wingert earned the most prestigious individual honor in college soccer, taking home the MAC Hermann Trophy as the nation’s top player.
A two-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year and two-time First Team All-American, Wingert was honored by the BIG EAST at the conclusion of all four of his seasons in red and white, earning a spot on the All-Rookie Team in 2000 before finding a place on the All-BIG EAST Second Team in 2001. He was then named to the All-BIG EAST First Team in 2002 and 2003.
Wingert’s four years rank among the most successful in program history, as the Red Storm turned in a cumulative record of 61-17-13 (.742). The Red Storm recorded four NCAA Tournament berths with Wingert on the back line, advancing to at least the round of 16 on each occasion with a pair of College Cup appearances. The Johnnies reached the national semifinals during Wingert’s sophomore season in 2001 and fell one win shy of a second national title in 2003.
At the conclusion of his time at St. John’s, Wingert was selected 12th overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft and embarked on a successful 14-year career in the nation’s most prestigious professional league. He spent a majority of his MLS tenure with Real Salt Lake, where he won an MLS Cup in 2009.