MASCAC Announces 2019 Hall of Fame Class -- Eddie Bynum III '09, John Galaris '67 & 1986 National Champion Women's Basketball Team To Be Inducted
SALEM, MASS. -- Salem State University will be well represented in the next Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Hall of Fame Class presented by GEICO as Eddie Bynum III '09 (Track & Field), John Galaris '67 (Men's Basketball, Athletic Director) and the 1986 NCAA National Championship women's basketball team were selected to be inducted into the MASCAC Hall of Fame by the conference on Wednesday, May 29.
The five categories for nomination are: student-athlete from a men's team, student-athlete from a women's team, overall team, coach and administrator.
The 2019 MASCAC Hall of Fame Class is as follows:
Eddie Bynum III, Salem State University -- As a track and field student-athlete for Salem State, Bynum III was a six-time NCAA All-American who won the NCAA Division 3 55-meter indoor national championship in 2007 and 2008. A three-time MASCAC indoor 55 meter champion and three-time New England 55 meter indoor champion record holder, Bynum III twice won the ECAC 55 meter championship, going undefeated in the event. A two-time New England Division III champion in the 100 and 200 meters, he qualified for the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 100 and 200 meters, earning All-American honors in both events. He also served as the anchor leg on the school record-breaking, New England Alliance champion 4x100 team. A two-time President's Cup winner at Salem State, Bynum was named the top Division III outdoor track athlete in the nation in 2007.
John Galaris, Salem State University -- As a 1967 graduate of Salem State, John Galaris couldn't stay away from athletics after graduation. He became the school's first full-time Athletic Director and held the job for over 20 years. During that time, he was instrumental in expanding the department's exposure on campus, and the role college athletics would play within the state college system of the Commonwealth. He implemented many new practices that would be adopted by the other state colleges in Massachusetts. In 1982, Salem State became the first state college to hire full-time athletic coaches and administrators. Mr. Galaris created an endowment specifically for athletics and led a successful campaign to upgrade the facilities on campus. He helped expand the Sport and Movement Science program, and increased the number of varsity sports teams from 15 to 22. Under his leadership, Salem State won 112 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) championships. He was also instrumental in promoting women's sports, culminating in the creation of post-season tournaments for women's athletic teams. His influence helped change the landscape of Division III athletics in Massachusetts and, in 1990, he began a seven-year stint as the third commissioner of the MASCAC.
Salem State Women's Basketball Team (1985-86) -- The 1985-86 Salem State College national champion women's basketball team was led by head coach Tim Shea and three-time All-American guard Evelyn Oquendo, who guided the Lady Vikings to the college's first NCAA crown. During that season, the Lady Vikings posted a 29-1 record en route to the 1986 NCAA Division III Title. Shea and Oquendo and the entire '86 squad were inducted into the New England Hall of Fame's inaugural group in 2003. Salem State defeated Bishop College of Dallas, TX, 89-85 on March 16, 1986 at the O'Keefe Sports Center to capture the NCAA Division III championship. The Lady Vikings, who won 23 straight to start that season, won the MASCAC Championship and finished their title run with a program best ever 29-1 record. The Lady Vikings were the first college women's basketball team from New England to win an NCAA championship. The 1985-86 team earned induction into the Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1996.
Jen Goodwin, Bridgewater State University -- Goodwin played softball from 1993 to 1996 at Bridgewater State. A three-time NCAA All-American, including being named to the first team in 1996, she was also the ECAC Player of the Year in 1995 and 1996 and the MASCAC Player of the Year in 1996. In 1993, Goodwin was named the Bridgewater Freshman Athlete of the Year and in 1995 was named the Female Athlete of the Year. Goodwin currently owns numerous batting records at Bridgewater State as she is the all-time leader in batting average (.462), home runs (38), extra base hits (103), runs batted in (200) doubles (48) and slugging percentage (.875). She also holds the single season marks for batting average (.504) and home runs (14) which were set in 1993 and 1995 respectively. Her 38 career home runs ranked fifth all-time in NCAA Division III softball history at the time of her induction, and she was also ranked in the top 10 in RBI and slugging percentage. In 1994, Goodwin helped the Bears advance all the way to the championship game of the NCAA Division III Softball Finals (world series). The Bears also competed in the NCAA Tournament in 1993 and 1996. She graduated from Bridgewater State in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education. Following graduation, she played for the Stratford Brakettes, where she was a third-team ASA All-American at third base. Goodwin just completed her seventh season as the head coach of the Yale University softball team. Prior to Yale, Goodwin spent two years as the Assistant Executive Director for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).
Joe Zavattaro, MCLA -- For MCLA formerly North Adams State College, Zavattaro etched his name into the baseball history books as a coach. He led the program to 11 MASCAC championships and collected almost 500 wins at the helm. His teams made seven NCAA Tournament appearances, including one regional final. During his tenure, he coached 23 student-athletes to All-New England honors which included four All-Americans and saw eight sign professional contracts. He served on the NCAA Baseball Committee, including a stint as the National Chair. He was inducted into the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association Hall of Fame Inaugural Class in 2017. Throughout his time at North Adams State, he was not only the baseball coach, but he also served as the department's first Athletic Director.
The inductees will be recognized at a formal MASCAC Hall of Fame induction which will be coupled with a MASCAC athletic championship or event at the site in which the individual competed or was housed during the 2019-20 year.