Fisher Celebrates Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2024

During Alumni Weekend, the St. John Fisher University Department of Athletics inducted eight new members in the Athletics Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony, which was held on Friday, Sept. 20, honored the significant contributions each individual made to the University’s athletic programs and reputation.

“Athletics is a big part of the Fisher fabric. We have a storied tradition of athletic excellence that dates back to our founding,” said President Gerard J. Rooney, during the ceremony. “Thank you for your contributions and for being exemplary ambassadors of St. John Fisher University, modeling goodness, discipline, and knowledge during your time with us and in your lives after Fisher.”

The 2024 class includes:

Men’s basketball team member Mike McGee ’06 was one of the top 3-point shooters to have played in the Empire 8 Conference as he connected on a program record 240 triples over his four-year career. To date, McGee ranks 21st all-time in scoring with 1,041 career points in 101 games. Originally from Batavia, New York, McGee was a part of 97 wins from 2002-06 and was a member of four Empire 8 Championship squads. Overall, he was 355-for-807 (.440) from the field while his .835 percentage from the free throw line ranks him fifth all-time in team history. A two-time All-Conference selection, McGee played in the NCAA tournament in each of his four seasons including a trip to the Elite 8 in 2004 and the Sweet 16 in 2006.

Baseball player Chris Botsford ’07 was named the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year in 2004 and was selected First-Team All-Conference in each of his four seasons and was named All-Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association three times. To date, he still appears several times in Fisher's record books including third in RBI - 138 (held record for 10 years), tied for fifth in doubles – 45, fourth in games played – 159, seventh in hits – 202, eighth in batting average - .386, tied for ninth in SAC – 16, and is among the leaders in runs scored – 113. On the single season records, his 48 RBI in 2004 is the sixth-most in program history while his 59 hits in 2006 ranks 10th all-time for a single season.

Perhaps the top goalkeeper to ever play for Fisher’s women’s lacrosse program, Victoria (Vikki) Sahm ’10 helped lead the Cardinals to 41 wins from 2007-10. A three-time Empire 8 All-Conference selection, Sahm was a part of two Empire 8 Championship teams and played in the NCAA Championship twice.  To date, she ranks as the all-times saves leader in program history with 717 – nearly 400 more than anyone else. On the single season list, she ranks first, second, and third in saves.

Women’s volleyball player Rebecca Smith ’12 was named to the Empire 8 All-Conference Second-Team in 2010 and Empire 8 All-Conference First-Team in 2011. At the time of her graduation, Smith was No. 2 all-time in career kills. She ranked No. 3 all-time career digs, and No. 6 all-time career aces. Smith won 20+ matches in each of her 4 seasons and ranked No. 2 and No. 7 in single season kills. In four years, she competed in 515 sets across 143 matches, finishing with 1,305 kills, 97 assists, 168 service aces, 1,809 digs, and 144 total blocks. Smith is one of a select few Cardinals to attain over 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career.

One of the top hitters to ever play in the Empire 8, Kayla Goodberlet ’13 was a four-time All-Region player and was named First-Team All-Conference by the Empire 8 twice. In over 173 career games played, she accounted for 199 hits including 41 doubles, seven triples, 20 home runs, and 124 runs batted in. She had a career batting average of .362, which still ranks 11th all-time. To date, Goodberlet still ranks seventh all-time in career hits, third in doubles, ninth in triples, fifth in home runs, and seventh in career RBIs. On the single season list, her 44 RBI in 2013 is the second-most ever produced by a Cardinal while her 10 home runs in 2013 is still good for the fifth-most in a campaign.

One of the most influential players in men’s basketball history, Jon Richardson ’75 was a first-year role player who evolved into a three-year starter for Coach Bobby Wanzer’s program. Richardson made 402 career field goals, is 11th on the all-time list for the program, and averaged double-figures for his career at 13.1 ppg. His best scoring game came on 2/22/75 where he scored 38 points against SUNY Plattsburgh. A true offensive threat, Richardson was Fisher’s first 1,000-point scorer with 1,050 in his career.

A four-year starter on the men’s basketball team, Mike Goonan ’75 was a pivotal player in Coach Bobby Wanzer’s program. During his career, the team recorded a program to a 55-28. Goonan was a steady producer on the court, averaging 10.3 points per game in his career. His 52 percent field goal percentage is good enough for 11th best in program history. Goonan tallied 426 rebounds in his time on the Cardinal court, leading the team in boards in the 1972-73 season.

Cardinal football assistant coach Bud Sims has made a significant impact in the lives of many young men during his time with the program. He was instrumental in the development of Fisher graduate Mike Kallfelz, who played tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2006, and 2008 graduate Brennan Fortune who was a consensus All-American. Sims guided 2011 graduate Corey Balcerzak, a two-time All-American selection. Under Sims, Fortune earned All-American status in 2007 along with being named to D3football.coms All-Decade Team. He also coached tackle James Thomas, who was selected as a First Team All-American by d3football.com in 2013. Sims coached with former New York Giants head coach and current Jacksonville Jaguars Vice President Tom Coughlin at R.I.T. and then accepted the head coach position at SUNY Brockport. Sims led the Golden Eagles to four consecutive winning seasons and left as the program’s most winningest coach.