Student–Athletes Category

Ross Aresco '00 (Baseball)

Ross Aresco's remarkable career in Thoroughbred baseball has few rivals. His records for highest batting average (.455), greatest slugging percentage in one season, and most hits (55), total bases, and runs batted in remain unchallenged. Ranked first in all-time home runs, doubles, total bases, RBI, base on balls, put outs, and games played, Aresco is second in all-time hits and slugging percentage.

He was named All-Conference his sophomore, junior, and senior years and All-Region once. Nationally ranked in batting average and slugging percentage, he led the Thoroughbreds to a first ever Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Conference Championship in 1999. Aresco's leadership was instrumental in the team's success throughout 1996 to 2000. Team captain in his senior season, he was also honored as Senior Male Athlete of the Year. Says Aresco, "It's an incredible honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I'm extremely proud of the baseball program and I'm excited to represent it in this way."

David Burch '99 (Basketball)

David Burch '99 has racked up more honors and set more records than any other basketball player in Skidmore history. A three-time All-Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association selection, he made First Team in 1999, and Second Team in 1997 and 1998. He received UCAA weekly honors 24 times during his career, including nine Player of the Week awards. Men's Basketball MVP for three consecutive years (1997, 1998, 1999), he received Skidmore's Male Senior Athlete of the Year Award in 1999. By the time he graduated, Burch had set multiple records, including 41 points against Union College, 14 made free throws against Swarthmore, 17 field goals each against Union and Hobart, and a season average of 21.0 points per game.

A double figure scorer for 38 consecutive games, he achieved more than 10 points and 10 rebounds in a single game 31 times. He is second in career points with 1521 and ranks first in all time career rebounds at 785. One of three Skidmore athletes to play professional basketball, he was a scoring leader on four professional teams in England and Norway, two of which he captained. Burch reflects, "I grew so much as a student, basketball player, and a staff member at Skidmore. I am so happy to be forever a part of the college as a member of its Athletics Hall of Fame."

Courtney Lee '01 (Volleyball)

Courtney Lee's exemplary leadership catapulted Skidmore Volleyball to one of the top twelve teams in New York State. As team captain from 1999 to 2001, she competed in two National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III tournaments (1999 and 2000). Recognized as the greatest setter in Skidmore volleyball history, she is one of the best to compete at the NCAA Division III level.

In her rookie year, Courtney established Skidmore's single season and career assist record and was named Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Rookie of the Year. As a sophomore, she not only set a Skidmore record for single service aces per game but led NCAA Division III nationally. During her junior season, she captained the team to its first NCAA Championship appearance and Skidmore's first New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) Championship.

Capping her Skidmore career, the senior became the first Skidmore player to be recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association as a Regional All-American and the first Skidmore volleyball player to be recognized as a Verizon Academic All-American. She earned UCAA Player of the Year honors as a junior and senior. Courtney was the 2001 recipient of Skidmore's Senior Athlete and Scholar-Athlete awards.

"It is such an honor to be recognized for something that I truly enjoyed and loved so much. Some of my greatest lessons, memories, and friends came from playing volleyball at Skidmore. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had this experience, which was such an integral part of my life."

Pamela Thompson Saffran '87 (Tennis)

One of the most successful and accomplished athletes in Skidmore history, Pam Thompson Saffran '87 established many firsts for herself, Thoroughbred Women's Tennis, and Skidmore Athletics.

Regarded as Skidmore's first national level player, she was the College's first tennis All-American (1985, 1986). She qualified for National Collegiate Athletic Association individual national championships in 1985, 1986, and 1987, the first Thoroughbred to do so. The top singles player on the first Skidmore team to qualify for an NCAA

national tournament (1987), she led the Thoroughbreds to an unprecedented 8th ranked position that year.  Thompson-Saffran was MVP her sophomore and junior years and Senior Athlete of the Year in 1987.

The first Skidmore player to receive an NCAA ranking in any sport (#7 in 1985 and #3 in 1986), she also captured three New York State singles titles (1984, 1985, and 1986). Thompson-Saffran scored two New York State doubles titles (#2 in 1985 and 1986) and, along with partner Kim Burnet Hall '89, earned three All-New York State Awards (1984, 1985, and 1986). She was named New York State Female Athlete of the Year in 1986. "Aside from the academics," she observes, "the most important part of my Skidmore experience was playing on the tennis team and having Jeff Segrave as my coach."

Special Recognition Category

Anne Ross Fairbanks

Known worldwide as the "Queen of Springboard Diving," Anne Ross Fairbanks was a member of the 1944 U.S. Olympic Diving Team, (cancelled due to World War II). The first woman to execute five dives never before performed in competition, she captured nine Amateur Athletic Union National Championships.

As associate professor emerita of physical education at Skidmore from 1967 to 1985, she directed the aquatics program, taught swimming and diving, and established and coached the swim and diving teams. She led Skidmore to a second place finish in the 1970 New England Intercollegiate Championships. Fairbanks coached Sally Lundt '72 to fifth place in the National Division of Girls' and Women's Sports Intercollegiate Championships.

Fairbanks conducted national conferences on aquatics and her book, Teaching for Springboard Diving, remains the definitive text for teachers and coaches nationwide. In 1984, she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame and honored by President George H.W. Bush that year for her extensive volunteer work on behalf of the American Red Cross and her community. Of her experience as a competitive diver and a faculty member at Skidmore, Anne notes, "I was simply doing what I liked to do. I enjoyed every minute of it."

Administrative Staff

Jeffrey Segrave

An internationally recognized scholar of the Olympics and sports studies, Jeffrey Segrave has also served Skidmore as championship coach, exceptional educator, dedicated athletics director, and respected mentor for 29 years. Since his arrival in 1978, Segrave has played an integral role in building Skidmore's Athletics program. In addition to teaching over twelve academic courses, he coached the Women's Tennis Team to a stunning number of victories. With an overall record of 362 to 137, he led the team to 17 New York State Women's Collegiate Athletics Association Championships. The Thoroughbreds were four-time North Atlantic Conference and six-time Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Champions, capturing the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Championship in 1998. He coached individual players to first place in nine New York State Singles and 11 Doubles competitions.

Eight of his players were NCAA All-Americans, including Jamie Levine '98, who captured an NCAA singles title in 1998 and Inke Noel '99 and Lisa Powers '01, NCAA doubles champions in 1999. Ninety-six players were NYSWCAA All-State. The Thoroughbreds were nationally ranked from 1981 to 1991 and 1994 to 2001, making the top ten seven times.

A four-time Rolex Regional Singles and six-time Doubles Championship coach, Segrave was named NSWCCA Coach of the Year twice and UCAA Coach of the Year in 1997. He is the recipient of numerous International Tennis Association regional and national coaching honors.

"Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is the ultimate fulfillment of my professional career in athletics. It is an honor to join those athletes, administrators, and friends who have already been recognized for their singular contributions to the remarkable growth and success of Skidmore athletics."