THROGGS NECK, NY – The Maritime College Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024 induction ceremony was held on Thursday, April 24.  Six individuals—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) and Patrick MacDonald '18 (Basketball)—were honored for their outstanding careers and their contributions to Maritime Athletics.

Charlie Munsch played defensive tackle for the Privateers, then spent 11 years as the program's head coach, overseeing its growth from a 25-member club to a 40-player Division III varsity team.  After the program was revived in 2005, he received the Outstanding Service Award from both the Fort Schuyler Football Booster Club and Organization of Black Maritime Graduates.  Munsch is also a longtime professor in the College's Department of Engineering.

Dick Sadler was named All-American in 1976, becoming just the second Maritime sailor ever to receive that honor.  The following year, he joined his friend and fellow Maritime Hall of Fame member Gary Jobson on Ted Turner's crew aboard Courageous that won the 1977 America's Cup.  That was the first of three straight America's Cup in which Sadler would take part in different capacities.  He's still a regular presence on the Waterfront, serving as a volunteer coach with the sailing program.

Rick Smith joined the rowing program's coaching staff in 1986 before being elevated to Head Coach the following year after the passing of Jim Lynch.  He would go on to hold the position for more than 30 years, and later added duties as head coach of the women's program after its 1989 reestablishment.  Smith's rowers, many of whom had no prior experience, became medal-winners at some of the most prestigious events in collegiate rowing.  In addition, he was Master of the Training Ship Empire State from 1999-2018.

Peter Vecchio spent 23 years as head coach of the men's swimming & diving program from 1999-2022, and 22 years as head coach of the women's team after the program was established in 2000.  A three-time Skyline Conference Coach of the Year, he led the Privateer men to nine consecutive Skyline titles from 2008-16 and runner-up finishes every year from 2017-22.  Vecchio mentored three Skyline Athletes of the Year, and the men's team broke 10 long-standing school records under his guidance.  He's currently the Chair of the Marine Transportation Department and relief Chief Mate on the Training Ship Empire State.

Ashley O'Brien reached the final of the 200 yard freestyle at the Skyline Conference Championships as a freshman in 2014 and helped the Privateers to a fourth-place finish, their best result ever at the time, in 2016.  A two-time team captain, she was also a two-time recipient of the Coaches' Award.  In addition, O'Brien helped establish a relationship with the annual Special Olympics swim meet and served as a coach with the SUNY Maritime College Junior Swim Team.  She now works at Port Tampa Bay in Tampa, FL, and is the Tampa Bay Chapter President of the Maritime College Alumni Association.

Patrick MacDonald was a three-time First Team All-Skyline selection, two-time Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association First Team All-Met choice, and two-time D3hoops.com All-Atlantic Region Second Team honoree.  He's the only player in program history with 1,000 rebounds, and he also recorded 1,532 points and 118 blocks in 100 career games.  MacDonald was a finalist for the Jostens Trophy as Division III National Player of the Year in 2017-18, as well as Maritime's 2016-17 Male Athlete of the Year.  He's presently an active duty Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy, stationed at Naval Reactor Headquarters in Washington, DC.

This induction class is the first since 2019 and brings the Hall of Fame's total membership to 85 honorees.  Another induction ceremony, honoring the Class of 2025, is planned for the Fall, with the date and time to be announced.