POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam Athletics Hall of Fame will induct its Class of 2025 at its annual ceremony on Saturday, July 12. The Bears will enshrine three championship teams, the 1976-77 and 1977-78 men's swimming and diving teams and the 1978-79 men's basketball team. The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. in Knowles Hall.
Led by Bears Hall of Fame Coach Dave Allen, the 1976-77 swimming and diving team (9-2) was a deeply talented squad that overpowered its opponents, while cruising to the program's first SUNYAC Championship. The team finished 110 points ahead of the second-place program and had a program record nine Bears qualify for the NCAA Championships, where Potsdam placed 15th. The roster featured All-Americans Steve Auburn '77, Tom Carvotta '77, Dan Wall '77, Peter Eberhardt '77, Dan Matthews '80 and Bob Byron '80. Allen (1997), Auburn (1989), Wall (1989), Eberhardt (2008), Carvotta (2009) and Michael Spencer '79 (2009) have already been inducted into the hall of fame.
The 1977-78 swimming and diving team (9-3) produced one of the most unexpected titles in Potsdam Athletics history. Having dominated the year before, the Bears lost their coach and three All-Americans to graduation. Nevertheless, the team was on a mission to defend its conference title. Under the leadership of new coach Jim Kelly and team captain Peter Eberhardt, the Bears outworked and outstrategized their opponents. After grinding its way up the standings over the first two days of the SUNYAC Championships, the team completed its title chase on the third day. The Bears edged the next closest team by just 10 points despite winning just one individual event. Seven members qualified for the NCAA Championships. Michael Spencer earned All-American honors. The team also featured Michael Taber '79, who won three gold medals and set three world records at the National Championships for Blind Athletes a month later.
The 1978-79 men's basketball team (24-7) started the Bears' incredible run of reaching the national championship game five times in an eight-year stretch. Potsdam legend Jerry Welsh and fellow hall of famer Stan Cohen guided the team to its third straight SUNYAC Championship and second of 13 straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Fran Demyan '79 and Jack Bissetta '79 captained the team that also featured SUNYAC Most Outstanding Player Ed Jachim '81 and first team all-conference center Derrick Rowland '81. The Bears downed Stony Brook, St. Lawrence, Clark and Centre in the NCAA Tournament before just falling short to defending champ North Park in the title matchup. Welsh (1992), Cohen (2006), Bissetta (2009), Jachim (1992) and Rowland (1992) have already been inducted into the hall of fame.
The other four teams that preceded this group into the hall are the 1972-73 wrestling team (2013), the 1980-81 and 1985-86 men's basketball teams (2000) and the 1995-96 men's hockey team (1995-96).
