HAMILTON – Colgate Athletics opened Homecoming festivities Friday night with an evening to remember for its 2019 Hall of Honor class.

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Four women and six men representing eight teams that combined to win 13 championships made up this year's induction class in front of a crowd of family members, former classmates and well-wishers.
 
Earlier Friday, the inductees posed for photographs and showed off their names on the Hall of Honor Wall of Fame inside Huntington Gym. They are scheduled to be introduced during Saturday's football and women's soccer games.
 
"What a wonder group of honorees," Colgate Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Nicki Moore said. "We are so grateful that all of you took the time to come back. We appreciate all you have contributed to what Colgate is and what we are becoming. This is an incredible place, and I hope that we will make you proud for years to come."
 
Here are the 2019 Colgate Athletics Hall of Honor inductees and their accomplishments, along with brief comments from selected honorees:
 
Carl Braun '47 (Men's Basketball)
Braun played basketball for Colgate from 1945-47, going on to become an All-NBA player and NBA champion. He joined the New York Knicks in 1947, and in 740 games with the Knicks over 12 seasons, Braun left the team as the all-time leading scorer (currently fifth all-time) with 10,449 points. He made the NBA All-Star Team every year from 1953-57, and in 1948 he set a then-NBA game scoring record with 47 points. The Knicks made the NBA finals three times with Braun, but it wasn't until he joined the Celtics for one season in 1961-62 that he won an NBA championship. Braun was inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this year. Following his playing days, Braun worked as a stockbroker on Wall Street before retiring to Florida. He died in February 2010.



Dan Hurwitz '86 (Contributions to Colgate Athletics)
A football player at Colgate, Hurwitz's service and contribution to athletics extend well beyond the playing field. As a member of the Board of Trustees, which he joined in 2009 and served as Chair from 2015-19, he participated on numerous committees, providing counsel and insight to athletics leadership in strategic planning and operations. Under his leadership, the university invested more than $100 million over several years to enhance the student experience, improve athletics facilities, construct two new residences halls, and bring about the completion of Benton Hall. Hurwitz is an advocate for athletics as a vital part of the overall success of the University, and his leadership financial contributions have inspired transformational giving by others. Hurwitz is founder and CEO of Raider Hill Advisors. He is a Maroon Citation winner and a member of the James B. Colgate Society.
Hurwitz (On an undergraduate remembrance that fostered your love for Colgate): "The things that turned me onto Colgate the most are honestly the people in this room. My teammates, my friends, my coach, my coach's wife, Debbie Rhyde. The people who never allowed me to feel homesick in four years; never allowed me to feel like I wasn't important, even though I was not a good football player; that allowed me to feel important in a program that was doing things in a first-class way. I left this campus with a bond because of many of the people in this room and it was a unique experience.
"I had a lot of friends from high school and we all got recruited to a lot of schools. A lot of us played football and none of them, none of them, left their institutions with the feeling of the love for their college that I did for Colgate. I'm honored to be here tonight and it's an honor for you to do this, but really the honor is mine toward you. I work really hard to make all of you proud. I worked hard to make my teammates proud of me, and I still feel like I'm part of the team. I thank Colgate for that."
(On his biggest hope for Colgate Athletics): "I would hope that the athletics program continues to be an enormous source of pride for the institution. Colgate is on a path to true commitment to excellence in everything we do. Excellence should be expected at all times at Colgate. And if people learn that, no matter what their experiences here on campus, they will be absolutely successful in life. That's really our job, to prepare people for the next level. A true commitment to excellence, broadly across the entire university, will make this an even better place. We are absolutely on our way there and the Colgate Athletics Department is going to play an absolutely critical role in achieving that excellence."



Jillian Kinter '13 (Women's Soccer)
Kinter was Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012, and she led the team in scoring all four years. She started her career by being selected to the All-Patriot League Second Team her rookie season, and followed that up with a selection to the First Team the following three years. Kinter also was named to the NSCAA All-Mid-Atlantic Second Team her final two years, and named Colgate Female Athlete of the Year as a senior. She finished sixth in Colgate history with 21 career assists, eighth with 32 career goals, sixth with 14 goals in a season, third with 37 season points, and fifth with 11 career game-winning goals. Kinter had a brief stint with the Boston Breakers Reserves after her graduation in 2013. She was a sociology and anthropology major at Colgate and works in digital media.
Kinter (On personal growth during career): "I was so fortunate to have played with so many incredible players and under such great coaches; that was a huge part of my success. Every year, I was just so excited to get back on the field and start the season again fresh, with old faces and new faces. I really owe all of my success to my teammates over the four years I played here and, of course, the coaches."
(On what it took to win championships) "Freshman year, I came in and we won right away and it was amazing. Then over the next two years, I realized how hard it was to get to that level, how much time and energy you have to invest and how hard you have to practice. And then it kind of came full circle senior year, so it couldn't have been a better feeling to tie it all together."
(On the bonds between teams): "It seemed like we were friends with everyone. The men's soccer team, the women's hockey team. I'm in Boston now and just the Colgate community we've created in Boston is incredible. Men's hockey, lacrosse, women's hockey – it's been awesome."
(On her biggest hope for Colgate Athletics): "Don't take it for granted. Six years out I look back and you're like, Wow, that was incredible."
 
Samantha Kohn '99 (Women's Tennis)
Kohn was selected to the Patriot League's All-Decade Team (1990-2000) for her accomplishments on and off the court during her career at Colgate. Kohn was the Patriot League Women's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1997 and 1999, and she helped the Raiders win Patriot League championships in 1996 and 1997. She was the Patriot League singles champion in 1996, 1997 and 1998, while also winning a doubles title in 1996. Kohn earned All-Patriot League First Team four times in doubles and three times in singles. She also was a three-time member of the Patriot League's Academic Honor Roll from 1995-97, and she won the 1996 John "Pat" Rooney Award as Patriot League Tournament MVP. Kohn was a french and sociology and anthropology double major at Colgate and owns and operates a luxury travel company in Costa Rica.



Rob Lowe '93 (Men's Lacrosse)
Lowe was a four-year letterman and two-year captain who started every game of his collegiate career -- 47 out of 47. Lowe finished third on the Colgate all-time scoring list with 171 points, and he was second in assists with 88. He led the Patriot League and finished fourth nationally in 1993 with 33 assists, missing the Colgate record by one. The Raiders went 9-3 that season as Lowe compiled 59 total points. It was the third-best tally in the Patriot League that season and the fourth-best by a Colgate Raider at that point in program history. In addition, Lowe reached the Colgate career top 10 in ground balls with 259. Lowe was a history major at Colgate and currently serves as a managing director at Allen & Company.
Lowe (On his leadership strategies): "What was most important to me was getting on the field, and I started every game in college. To do that, you do the little things. In work, I recruit athletes and I couldn't be stronger about that. Someone who hasn't played on a team, there's just so much guess work. When they've been on a team, I give them the benefit of the doubt and 90 percent of the time I'm right."
(On staying connected to Colgate Men's Lacrosse): "I'm lucky because the lacrosse team has gotten so much better since I left that I get to ride the coattails of their success. Now I'm hoping Matt can bring us a national championship, and then it really looks good!
"I feel very fortunate to have been at Colgate. The more my teammates and I can circle back and the more we can get involved, it's a true win-win. We're following the scores and we're hoping the team wins, and if the players can benefit from that as well – whether it's just figuring out their next steps or helping their careers – I enjoy it."
(On his biggest hope for Colgate Athletics): "Colgate is so unique. Anyone who asks me about Colgate thinks we're a 5,000-to-8,000-student school. When they hear it's 2,700 or whatever they number is, they're shocked. Almost every fourth freshman room has a student who plays a sport, and Colgate is unique almost all of the sports are played at a really high level. My hope would be that perception gets known. We're not apologizing for it but we're flaunting it, that we're doing all this with this size."

Tem Lukabu '04 (Football)
Lukabu was the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year in 2002 and 2003, becoming the first player in history to win that honor twice. He helped the Raiders win back-to-back Patriot League championships in 2002 and 2003, the first Colgate football team to achieve that feat. As a tri-captain his senior year, Lukabu led his team to the national championship game. His senior year, he was selected to the Associated Press All-America Third Team, as well as ECAC All-Star First Team and All-Atlantic Region First Team by the Football Gazette. Lukabu was selected to the All-Patriot League First Team in 2002 and 2003, and he was Colgate's leading tackler his final two seasons. He finished his career with 266 tackles. A history major at Colgate, Lukabu has coached football since 2006 – including a 2014 stint at his alma mater – and currently serves as linebackers coach with the Cincinnati Bengals.


 
Steven Miller '12 (Men's Soccer)
Miller is ranked fourth in program history in career goals and sixth in career points, with 61 points from 27 goals and seven assists. In his senior season, the co-captain helped lead the team to the 2011 Patriot League championship and an NCAA First Round appearance. He is fourth and tied for seventh in program history for most goals and points in a season, respectively. He also led the Patriot League in points, points per game, goals and goals per game, earning him the 2011 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Award, All-Patriot League First Team honors and Patriot League Tournament MVP. Miller that same season was selected to the NSCAA All-Mid-Atlantic First Team and the ECAC Men's Soccer All-Star Second Team. He was a two-time All-Patriot League Second Team selection in 2008 and 2010, and he was named the Male Co-Rookie of the Year at Colgate's first Golden Gates banquet in 2007. Miller double majored in math and sociology and anthropology at Colgate and currently plays professionally for North Carolina FC.
Miller (On sayings or remembrances from head coach Erik Ronning): "If you're on time, you're late! That was definitely one of them. But he made such an impact on my life, and he was the reason I came to Colgate. He took a chance on me and I knew if I came here, I was going to be successful. He trusted me and I trusted him. And I carry that with me today."
(On his biggest hope for Colgate Athletics): "My hope is not sell yourself short. Set the standing high. It doesn't matter that Colgate is a small school because we can compete and we can win. There have been times when my teams and I have respected teams a little bit too much. We're just as good; we can do this. Why not? Why can't we win the Patriot League every year? Why can't somebody win a national championship?
(On how Colgate prepared you): "For me, I look at the future maybe a little bit more. This place taught me to be prepared and have that next step because careers end. It was a really great experience and this place taught me so much."



Amanda Paolucci '02 (Softball)
Paolucci earned All-Patriot League First Team in 2000 and 2001, and she was an All-Patriot League Second Team pick in 1999 and 2002. She ended her career as Colgate's career leader in runs, hits, RBIs, home runs, doubles, total bases and stolen bases. Paolucci was a four-year starter who played in a school record 197 games. She currently sits fourth all-time for at bats (576), fourth for total bases (291), sixth in both hits (174) and home runs (19), and seventh in runs (106). Paolucci was named the 2001 Softball Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and she was selected All-Mid Atlantic First Team the same year. She was awarded the Patriot League Tournament MVP her rookie season as the Raiders won their first of three program tournament championships. Paolucci majored in art and art history and she works as a middle and high school art teacher.
Paoluccu (On her early impact at Colgate): "I remember things happening but it was such a blur. We beat Holy Cross for the Patriot League championship and I was named Patriot League MVP, which I didn't even know was a thing you could do. They kept calling my name and handing me this giant sculpture. I remember riding the bus home and thinking, 'This is amazing!' So we went to Washington and it was the first time Colgate had made it to the NCAA playoffs. We made a great showing; very respectable. But I was a freshman and I didn't know at the time how well the start of my career was going. It's amazing when you look back at all that happened."



Nicholas Scaccia '71 (Men's Basketball)
Scaccia played in 74 games for the Raiders, scoring 1,267 points and grabbing 526 rebounds. He graduated fourth on the all-time Colgate scoring list (now 13th), and his average of 17.1 points per game is the ninth best in Colgate history. Scaccia was a senior captain who led the Raiders to multiple winning seasons. After his graduation, he was drafted by the Denver Rockets of the American Basketball Association. He played one season professionally in Italy before attending law school, and he was named to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. Scaccia majored in political science and has worked as an attorney/parter in civil litigation.
Scaccia (On the evening): "As much as this is a great honor, the deeper feeling is for the friends and former teammates who showed up from far and wide. In my year, I combined with a very special player to score more than 40 points a game. I hadn't seen him since then – until tonight. My friend, Don Ward."
(On the bonds between teams): "Cornell was like THE game that caused an additional intensity, almost like an electricity either when we were in Ithaca or on Cotterell Court. We didn't have a Patriot League.
"It was February 1970 or 1971 and we were heading off to Cornell. Freezing cold, deep snow – the whole thing you all know so well. The bus gets loaded and behind us there were four or five cars filled with Colgate football players and hockey players and baseball players in a caravan going to Cornell.
"It was a big crowd from Cornell but our guys in the stands were really screaming. And it was one of those moments when you realize that you are going to beat a team that you're not supposed to beat. We were going down to the wire with about a minute to go and we were down by three. Donnie Ward drives the baseline and hits a layup to cut it to one. Timeout, Cornell. They come down, shoot, we get the rebound and then we make the winning jump shot from the corner.
"And our football guys and hockey guys, swimmers and baseball guys – everybody went nuts and we had a really good ride home!"



Katrina Zawojski '09 (Volleyball)
Zawojski started every match for the Raiders during her four-year career, and she still holds the Colgate record for all-time kills with 1,668. That number placed her on the Patriot League top-10 list as well. Zawojski was an All-Patriot League First Team selection from 2006-08 after being selected to the Second Team her rookie year. She broke two freshman records for kills in a season with 410 and total number of attacks in a season with 1,071. Zawojski is currently fifth for kills in a season with 439, and she also holds the sixth, seventh, and ninth spots on that list. She had a total of 36 double-doubles during her playing career and recorded multiple games with 30 kills. A psychology major at Colgate, Zawojski works as a copywriter.
Zawojski (On your most memorable accomplishment): "It was the whole picture. I tried to be an athlete, not just during the season but over the summer. I was eating right and always just so excited to get back in the gym. Preseason was like Christmas. The whole experience is what I remember."
(On landing at Colgate): "I'm a California kid and I really wanted to experience the East Coast and try something different. I had a great visit here and I remember feeling very nurtured and very close to the team. It was an easy decision for me."
(On the bonds between teams): "Nothing against fraternities and sororities but I felt like every athletics team was its own fraternity or sorority. Very open and engaging with so many good memories."