Induction Ceremony Tickets

THROGGS NECK, NY – Maritime College is pleased to announce that six individuals have been elected to the Maritime Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024.  The induction ceremony will be held on Thursday, April 24 at 6 p.m. in the Maritime Academic Center.

This year's inductees are:

• Charlie Munsch '73 (Football – Coach)
• Dick Sadler '76 (Sailing)
• Rick Smith '81 (Rowing – Coach)
• Peter Vecchio '92 (Swimming & Diving – Coach)
• Ashley O'Brien '17 (Swimming & Diving)
• Patrick MacDonald '18 (Basketball)

 
Charlie Munsch played football at Maritime, then served as the team's head coach from 1975-82.  He also played a key role in the football program's 2005 revival after the College went more than a decade without a team.  Munsch, who has been a Professor of Engineering at Maritime for many years, received the Fort Schuyler Football Booster Club Outstanding Service Award for his contributions to the program.

Dick Sadler was named an All-American by College Sailing in 1976.  The following year, he was a member of Ted Turner's crew (along with fellow Maritime Hall of Famer Gary Jobson) that won the America's Cup.  Sadler is still active with the sailing program, lending his expertise and insight as a volunteer coach.

Rick Smith was a four-year member of the rowing team, serving as team captain as a senior.  He then became the program's head coach in 1986 and held that position for more than 30 years.  During his tenure, Maritime sailed in some of the most prestigious regattas along the East Coast and the Privateers won five gold medals at the Dad Vail Regatta.  In addition, Capt. Smith was Master of the Training Ship Empire State from 1999-2018.

Peter Vecchio led the Maritime men's swimming & diving team to nine consecutive Skyline Conference Championships from 2008-16.  In 2000, the women's program was formed, and Vecchio coached both squads until 2022.  He was named Skyline Coach of the Year three times and coached three Skyline Swimmers of the Year.  Vecchio is an active member of the Maritime faculty, serving as Chair of the Marine Transportation Department, as well as Relief Chief Mate on the Training Ship Empire State VII.

Ashley O'Brien was one of the most versatile members of the women's swimming & diving team during her time with the Privateers, swimming every freestyle event, as well as each of the other strokes.  She was a two-time team captain and two-time recipient of the Coaches Award.  O'Brien also maintained a leadership role in the Regiment of Cadets.  She currently works as Project Manager for Engineering at Port Tampa Bay while also working as a youth swim coach in the Tampa area.

Patrick MacDonald is the only player in program history with 1,000 career rebounds, and he also tallied more than 1,500 points and 100 blocks.  He was a three-time First Team All-Skyline selection and twice named to the All-Metropolitan Team.  As a senior in 2017-18, MacDonald was one of 10 finalists nationally for the Jostens Trophy as Division III Player of the Year.  Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an Officer in the United States Navy.

They will be honored during the Maritime Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on April 24.  Tickets for the event can be purchased for $50 and are available now.