PHOTO GALLERY
Feb. 12, 2008
Bronx, N.Y. - On Sunday, February 10th, in the McGinley Center Ballroom, eight new members were inducted into the Fordham University Athletic Hall of Fame prior to the Fordham-Rhode Island men's basketball game.
Joining the Hall of Fame ranks were Matt Albiani (rowing), Bobby Kingsbury (baseball), Damon Lopez (basketball), Jack Pieracini (football), Vinny Porricelli (head athletic trainer), Amanda Smith (rowing), Paul Smith (swimming) and Ralph St. Pierre (track and field). These new inductees join the ranks of Fordham greats Frankie Frisch, Vince Lombardi, John Bach, Ed Conlin and Peter Harnisch as Fordham Athletic Hall of Famers.
Here is information on each of the new Fordham Athletic Hall of Famers:
MATT ALBIANI, FCRH `94, ROWING
Matt Albiani, a 1994 graduate of Fordham College, was a four-year member of men's rowing.
As a freshman, Albiani was a member of the frosh lightweight eight that won the prestigious Dad Vail Regatta. The following year, he served as stroke of the varsity lightweight four, leading his crew to an undefeated spring season and another Dad Vail championship. That year he also won the San Diego Crew Classic in the heavyweight eight and had an incredible four wins at the Patriot League Championships in the varsity heavyweight and lightweight eights, along with the varsity heavyweight and lightweight fours.
In his junior season, Albiani stroked the lightweight eight, leading this shell to another undefeated season. His crew went on to win the ECAC National Invitational Championship by the widest margin in the regatta's history and stacked up three more wins at the Patriot League Championships.
Albiani rowed in Fordham's top crew again in his senior season, leading the varsity lightweight eight to another ECAC National Invitational Championship over excellent crews from Holy Cross and Georgetown. Later that spring, his crew went on to be the only Fordham Crew in history to make the grand finals in the lightweight eight at the IRA national championships.
A native of Winchester, Massachusetts, Albiani currently resides in Manhattan where he works as a fashion photographer with Polo/Ralph Lauren, J. Crew, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria Secret and Brooks Brothers, and with magazines such as ELLE, Marie Claire, and Vanity Fair. He is currently working on his first book of photographs entitled Lifeguard on Duty, to be published this spring by Antinous Press.
BOBBY KINGSBURY, CBA '08, BASEBALL
Bobby Kingsbury, a two-time Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, is a 2008 College of Business Administration graduate.
Kingsbury capped his illustrious career by being named the Atlantic 10 Baseball Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2001, becoming the first sophomore to earn the award in league history, and again as a junior in 2002. He was the first Atlantic 10 baseball player to earn consecutive Player of the Year Awards. Additionally, he was named First Team All-Atlantic 10 in both seasons.
Over his three-year career, Kingsbury compiled a .352 average, the eighth best batting average in school history, with 190 career hits (tied for tenth best all-time). He also ranks among the school's all-time leaders in doubles (fourth), triples (tied for third), home runs (fourth), RBI (ninth) and stolen bases (sixth).
In school single season records, Kingsbury is tied for fourth in hits (69 in 2001), tied for second in doubles (20 in 2002), tied for fifth in triples (6 in 2001), tied for fourth in home runs (12 in 2002) and eighth in stolen bases (36 in 2001). He also set a school record and tied an NCAA mark with eight stolen bases in a game against Wagner in 2001 as well as setting a school mark with nine RBI in a game against C.W. Post that same spring.
He capped his career as the co-recipient of the 2002 Vincent T. Lombardi Award in his junior season.
Following his junior year, Kingsbury was drafted in the eighth round by the Pittsburgh Pirates and he currently plays in the Pirates' minor league system.
Kingsbury also has international baseball experience, appearing in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens as a member of the Greek National Baseball team.
A native of Lyndhurst, Ohio where he graduated from Notre Dame Cathedral Latin, Kingsbury resides in Beachwood, Ohio.
DAMON LOPEZ, FCRH '91, BASKETBALL
Damon Lopez, a 1991 Fordham College graduate, was a three-year letter winner with the men's basketball team after transferring to Fordham from Westchester Community College.
In just three years, Lopez left his mark on the Fordham men's basketball program, graduating as the school's career field goal percentage and blocked shots leader as well as ranking among the top ten in career rebounding. He finished his career with 1,101 points, good for 21st on the all-time scoring list, and 801 rebounds, good for sixth on the all-time rebounding list.
Over his career, Lopez set the school record for field goal percentage in a season (.616 in 1990-91) and in a career (.589). He also holds school records for most blocks in a game (10 - which he did twice), most blocks in a season (100 in 1990-91) and most blocks in a career (258).
The 1991 Patriot League Player of the Year, Lopez was named First Team All-Patriot League and First Team All-NIT as a senior, leading the team in scoring (17.7) and rebounding (9.5) as the Rams won the 1991 Patriot League championship. He capped his senior season by winning the Vincent T. Lombardi Award as the male athlete of the year at Fordham.
As a junior, he was named Second Team All-MAAC and Second Team All-NIT, leading the MAAC and setting a school record with 67 blocks.
Following graduation, Lopez had a tryout with the Portland Trailblazers and Denver Nuggets before playing professionally for eight years overseas in Croatia, Spain, Venezuela, Portugal, Iceland and Turkey as well as in the United States in the USBL, GBA and CBA.
A native of the Bronx where he attended Cardinal Hayes High School, Lopez and his wife, Rosa Molina, reside the in Bronx with their two children, Dana and Jeneè. He currently serves as a counselor for the Jewish Board and Family Children Services in Westchester.
JOHN "JACK" PIERACINI, FCRH '98, FOOTBALL
Jack Pieracini, a stalwart linebacker with the football squad from 1994-97, is a 1998 graduate of Fordham College.
A 1997 Football Gazette All-American as a senior, Pieracini closed out his Fordham career that fall with 385 career tackles, a school record. He was one of only two Rams to record over 100 tackles for three straight years, joining fellow Hall of Famer Mark Blazejewski.
A three-time Second Team All-Patriot League selection (1995, 1996, 1997), Pieracini led the team in tackles for three years (1995, 1996, 1997) while serving as a team captain his junior and senior seasons.
Following his senior year, Pieracini received the 1997 Edward Danowski Award, given to the senior player who through his leadership, sacrifice, and commitment to excellence upon the field of play and within the University community, exemplifies the character of Danowski.
A native of McAdoo, Pennsylvania, where he attended Marian Catholic High School, Pieracini currently resides in Fort Lee, New Jersey. He is employed as an Account Executive for IBM.
Vincent Porricelli HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER
A mainstay with the Fordham Athletics program, Vinny Porricelli has been with the Athletic Training Room since joining the program part-time in 1982. He was promoted to Head Athletic Trainer in 1999, becoming one of just four people to hold the position in Fordham history.
Besides serving as an Athletic Trainer at Fordham, Porricelli has also been a full-time physical therapist for the Rams. His duties at Fordham include the rehabilitation of all male and female athletes. Porricelli's enthusiasm and concern for all the school's athletes make him a favorite among the students and coaches alike.
Porricelli graduated from Manhattan College in 1973 with a Bachelors of Science in Physical Education. He received his Certificate in Physical Therapy from Columbia University in 1975, and five years later, a Masters in Exercise Physiology at the New York City-based school. He joined the Fordham training staff in a part-time capacity in 1982 before becoming full-time three years later. He previously was a trainer at nearby Lehman College in the Bronx.
In 2003 Porricelli became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) by the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA). More recently, always trying to reinvent himself, he became a Certified Golf Fitness Instructor (C.G.F.I.) by the Titleist Performance Institute in Oceanside, California.
A native of the Bronx where he attended Cardinal Hayes High School, Porricelli resides in New Rochelle, New York, with his wife, Paula. They are the parents of two Fordham graduates: Melissa, a 2002 College of Business Administration graduate, and Matthew, a 2006 College of Business Administration graduate who is currently enrolled in Fordham's Graduate School of Education.
SAMANTHA SMITH, FCRH '99, ROWING
Samantha Smith, a 1999 graduate of Fordham College, was a four-year member of the varsity crew for the Rams, leading the top shell to four straight Atlantic 10 titles, a first for a Fordham women's rower.
As a freshman, Smith walked on to the squad and made the top crew, the varsity open weight four, helping the crew win the Atlantic 10 Championship and finish second at the Dad Vail Regatta.
As a sophomore, Smith again made the top crew and again won the Atlantic 10 title. That year, she also won the Dad Vail and would have qualified for the NCAA Championships as the Dad Vail winner received an automatic bid. Unfortunately, Fordham was not eligible that season because of their club status.
Smith did go on to race at Women's Henley in England as a sophomore and made the final four of thirty international college crews.
In her junior year, Smith was in the top four again, winning the Atlantic 10 championship for the third year in a row and also repeating as the Dad Vail Champion.
Smith's senior year brought her another Atlantic 10 Championship and Dad Vail title. Her crew also went undefeated for the spring season and added a New York State Championship to their list of accomplishments.
As a senior, Smith made a return trip to Henley where she suffered a severe injury during the regatta. After receiving medical clearance, she went on to race three more times and made the final four among twenty-nine international university crews.
Smith's three victories at the Dad Vail mark the only victories the Fordham women have ever had at the Dad Vail.
Smith, a native of Middletown, New York, where she attended John S. Burke Catholic High School, currently resides in Anchorage, Alaska. She is employed as an attorney with Keesal Young and Logan.
PAUL D. SMITH, JR., CBA '93, SWIMMING
Paul Smith, a record-setting member of the men's swimming program, is a 1993 College of Business Administration graduate.
Over his Fordham career, Smith set three individual records which have stood for over 15 years. In 1992, he clocked Fordham marks in the 500 freestyle (4:31.35), 1000 freestyle (9:21.80) and 1650 freestyle (15:32.76), with all three records still standing today. His 15:32.76 time in the 1650 freestyle at the 1992 Patriot League Championship set a league record which also still stands today.
Smith won the 1650 freestyle at the 1991 and 1992 Patriot League championships as well as winning the 500 freestyle at the 1992 Patriot League championships. He helped the 1991-92 team go undefeated and win the Patriot League title.
Smith was also a member of the 1992 school record-setting 800 freestyle relay team, a record which stood until 2000.
In 2001, Smith was named to the Patriot League's All-Decade Team for men's swimming.
A native of Hunstville, Alabama, where he graduated from Grissom High School, Smith currently resides in Clover, South Carolina, with his wife, Dina, and their children, Delilah and Jeremy.
RALPH ST. PIERRE, FCRH '41, TRACK & FIELD
Ralph St. Pierre, a 1941 Fordham College graduate and world record setter, holds the oldest school record in Fordham men's track and field history.
As the lead-off man on the Fordham 1600-meter relay in 1939, he teamed with Wesley Wallace, Frank Slater and George Leary to break the National AAU indoor record. The four runners also joined forces to set the world record in the one-mile relay that same year at Dartmouth College as well as setting the track record at the Boston Garden.
In 1939, St. Pierre set the Fordham indoor and outdoor long jump record, leaping 23' 1" indoors and 24' 1.875" outdoors, setting the stadium long jump record at West Point. Both those Fordham records still stand today, the longest standing track and field marks at Fordham.
St. Pierre was a Metropolitan Intercollegiate Conference champion and record holder in the long jump, and he led the team in scoring at all dual and intercollegiate track meets.
Following graduation, St. Pierre went on to win three Adirondack AAU long jump titles, the last at age 28.
A native of Glens Falls, New York, St. Pierre was inducted into the Glens Falls Heritage Hall of Fame in 1988, and the Glens Falls High School Hall of Fame in 2007.
St. Pierre is a cancer survivor and now wears a pacemaker, but still kids that at 90 years of age, he could beat most of us in a power walk around the track. He currently resides in Queensbury, New York.
