* Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Twelve new members, including five All-Americans and an Olympic medalist, have been selected for induction into the Cornell University Athletic Hall of Fame at the 33rd annual ceremonies to be held October 15, on the Cornell campus. After this year's class is inducted, the membership in the Hall will stand at 522.

The All-Americans who will be inducted are Kurt Bettger '81, men's soccer; Greg Bloedorn '96, football; Wade Bollinger '82, men's lacrosse; John Hanson '99, football; and Eric Kusseluk '97, men's soccer. Additionally, Michael Staines '71, rowing, was an Olympic silver medalist at the 1976 Olympic Games.

Also selected to be enshrined in October are Emily Germano Harding '00, track & field and cross country; Amy Finkelstein Snider '94, women's soccer; Bill Walkenbach '98, baseball; Jennifer Watkins '95, track & field; Steve Wilson '97, men's ice hockey; and Raymond Zagars '76, sprint football.

In addition to the formal induction ceremonies on Friday evening, the honorees will be recognized at halftime of the Cornell-Colgate football game on Saturday afternoon.

The Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame was initiated in 1978. It became a reality through the thoughtfulness and generosity of the late Ellis H. Robison '18, whose devotion, advice and financial support to his alma mater started immediately upon graduation from the university.

A brief biography of each of the 12 inductees follows.

Kurt Bettger '81, Men's Soccer
A four-year starter as a back in soccer, Bettger was a two-time All-Ivy first-team selection (1978 and '80) and was named to the second team in '79. He was a two-time All-American, earning second-team honors in 1980 and honorable mention accolades in 1979. Co-captain as a senior, Bettger participated in the Senior Bowl, where he helped the East team to a 3-2 win. He was Cornell's team MVP in 1979 and was co-team MVP in 1980 before being drafted by the Buffalo Stallions of the MISL.

Greg Bloedorn '96, Football
Bloedorn played as a tight end as a freshman in 1991 and was named the team's Most Improved Player. He lettered as a center in 1992, but played only two games in '93 before sitting out the season with an injury. As a junior, Bloedorn was named All-Ivy first team by the Football News and received All-Ivy honorable mention honors. His senior season (1995), Bloedorn received Football News All-Ivy first-team honors, and was All-Ivy first team as voted by the coaches. He was a two-time recipient of the Sid Roth Most Valuable Down Lineman Award. A tri-captain as a senior, he earned National Football Gazette All-America second-team honors. Bloedorn was signed as a free agent by Seattle of the NFL and spent the 1996 season on the practice squad. In 1997, he played in three games as a center and long snapper, and the following spring he participated in NFL Europe with the England Monarchs.

Wade S. Bollinger '82, Men's Lacrosse
Bollinger was a three-time All-America honorable mention attackman in lacrosse. He was also a three-time All-Ivy selection, earning first-team honors in 1981, second team in 1982 and honorable mention in 1980. Over his three-year varsity career, Bollinger accounted for 111 points on 61 goals and 50 assists. He helped the team to the Ivy title each season, and an overall record of 11-2 and a third-place finish at the NCAA championships as a senior tri-captain in 1982. Bollinger served as captain of North squad at the 1982 North-South All-Star Game and was a recipient of the ECAC Merit Medal Scholar-Athlete Award that same year. He went on to coach Cornell's varsity B lacrosse team in 1984.

John Hanson '99, Football
Hanson was named a second-team Division I-AA All-America linebacker by the Football Gazette in 1999. He was a first-team All-Ivy pick in 1999, and was named to the second-team in both 1997 and 1998. As a senior, Hanson led the Big Red in tackles for the third straight year with 135 (100 solo, 35 assists). He finished his Cornell career with 530 tackles (359 solo, 171 assists), breaking the school mark of 512 set by Hall of Famer Chris Zingo '94. As starter in all 40 games during his career, he had a game-high 20 tackles (16 solo, four assists) against Brown on Oct. 31 1998.

Emily Germano Harding '00, Women's Track & Field; Cross Country
Germano was a standout in track and cross country. A two-time Heps champion indoors in both the 3,000- (9:49.14, '99) and 5,000-meters (twice, 17:09.87 in 1999 and 17:10.16 in 2000), she also finished second in outdoor 3,000 (9:45.5, '98), the indoor 3,000 (9:38.14, '98) and outdoor the 5,000 (16:39.73, '98). Her senior year (1999-00) in cross country, she finished second at the Heps with a time of 18:08. Germano was the Heps champion in the outdoor 10,000 (36:37.19, '00). Her sophomore year ('97), she won the ECAC championship in cross country with a time of 17:39.8, becoming the first-ever Cornell woman to do so. As a senior, Germano placed fourth at the ECAC championships in cross country (18:01.1), and was 10th (17:36) at the NCAA District I regional championships, earning All-East and NCAA All-Region honors. The two-time first-team All-Ivy honoree in cross country (97, 98) was a two-time second-team All-Ivy honoree in both the outdoor and indoor 3,000 ('98). She was a two-time cross country team MVP, the Charles H. Moore '51 Outstanding Senior Varsity Athlete and the Cornell Daily Sun Athlete of the Year.

Eric Kusseluk '97, Men's Soccer
Kusseluk was a third-team All-America selection and two-time first-team All-Ivy selection during his career. He led the Big Red in scoring his junior and senior seasons and ended his career in second place in career points (72) and tied for second in goals scored (32) in school history. Kusseluk also remains tied for second in season goals scored (18) and in third place for season points (37). He received the 1996 men's Outstanding Senior Varsity Athlete Award, given to the senior student-athlete whose level of play distinguished him within the team, Ivy League and nation. Kusseluk led the Big Red to two NCAA appearances, in 1995 against Lafayette and 1996 against Rutgers. He was also part of the 1995 squad that co-shared the Ivy title with Brown.

Amy Finkelstein Snider '94, Women's Soccer
Finkelstein was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 1990, as well as All-Ivy first team. She was a second-team All-Ivy pick in 1994 and an honorable mention All-Ivy selection in 1993. Finkelstein earned a spot on the All-Northeast second team as sophomore. She missed her junior year with injury before coming back to play the 1994 season. Finkelstein served as team co-captain in 1993 and 1994. She set a Cornell record for season points (27 in 1990) as a freshman and graduated tied third for career goals (21) and third in career points (59), as well as tied for first in career assists (17).

Michael Staines '71, Heavyweight Rowing
Staines was a three-year varsity letterman in heavyweight crew (1969-70-71). He rowed in the No. 3 seat of the varsity eight-oared crew that won the IRA national championship in 1971. Staines was a two-time competitor in the Olympic Games, winning a silver medal in the pairs without coxswain at the 1976 Olympic Games, and he also competed in the 1972 Olympic Games as a member of the U.S. Rowing team coxed pair, which was eliminated in the semifinals.

Bill Walkenbach '98, Baseball
Walkenbach was a four-time All-Ivy selection at shortstop, including a first-team pick in his freshman and sophomore campaigns and a second-team selection as a junior and senior. He is the only player in school history to capture the Dr. Albert H. Sharpe Award as team MVP for three seasons. The unanimous Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 1995, he stands among the all-time leaders in numerous categories and remains the schools' career leader in home runs (21). Walkenbach also ranks among the top five all-time in career hits (fourth, 174), doubles (fifth, 36), runs scored (third, 134), RBI (third, 120), stolen bases (third, 47) and walks (second, 82). He was co-captain of the team as both a junior and senior. Walkenbach served as an assistant coach for two seasons for the Big Red, helping Cornell to the 2005 Gehrig Division title, its first in school history, then took over the head coaching position in 2009.

Jennifer Watkins '95, Women's Track & Field
Named Outstanding Performer at the 1995 Outdoor Heptagonal Games, Watkins placed first in the javelin with a toss of 149-8, currently the school record. She holds the second-best record in the discus (156-5), and fourth-best in shot-put (45-01/2). A four-time All-Ivy Academic selection and first-team District I Academic All-America honoree, Watkins was the 1993 outdoor Heps champion in the discus.

Steve Wilson '97, Men's Ice Hockey
Wilson was a three-time first-team All-Ivy and a two-time All-ECAC first-team selection. A defenseman, he had 16 goals, 74 assists, and 91 points for his career. He also graduated with the most games played in Cornell history (128), missing only one contest in four years. Wilson played on two ECAC championship teams (1996 and '97), two Ivy League championship teams (1996 and '97) and two NCAA tournament squads. Wilson was named to the 1993-94 All-ECAC Rookie Team. A three-time recipient of the Wendell and Francella Earle Award for outstanding academic achievement, he served as co-captain his senior year when the Big Red made it to the NCAA quarterfinals before falling to North Dakota. 

Raymond Zagars '76, Sprint Football
Zagars was named to the All-Eastern Lightweight Football League first team as a halfback in 1975. He led the team in rushing as a junior (143x784) and (108x501) and paced the team in scoring as a junior (78 points) and senior (36 points). Zagars also was the team's receiving leader (11x194) as a senior. He played special teams positions of kick-off and punt returner (no statistics were recorded in the 1970's). Zagars scored four touchdowns in the 1975 ELFL championship game, helping to secure Cornell's first-ever ELFL title. He won letters in 1974 and 1975. Zagars was tri-captain and co-team MVP in 1975, when Cornell tied for the ELFL team title. He did not play as a sophomore due to an injured knee.