Gordon in the News: last updated 01/08/2010
By Annie Cameron ’09
Their work on and off the fields or courts was well-known when they were student-athletes at Gordon College. Now the efforts of four alumni will be recognized again as they are inducted Saturday, January 23, 2010, into the Athletic Hall of Honor. To celebrate these athletes and their outstanding achievements, Gordon’s Highlander Club will host a day of friendly competition, entertainment, and the fourth annual awards banquet held at the Peabody Marriot in Peabody, Massachusetts, at 6:30 p.m.
This year’s Hall of Honor inductees, who represent a range of sports, include both women and men from Gordon College and Barrington College (which merged with Gordon in 1985). The awards recognize the legacy and character of those student-athletes who have helped build Gordon’s successful athletic programs to reflect the mission of the College.
“Our Hall of Honor represents the best that Gordon and Barrington have ever had to offer,” said Jon Tymann, director of athletics and head of the Highlander Club, which sponsors the awards. “This year’s group will add to that level of excellence we’ve seen building in each program over the years.”
The four inductees are as follows: As the leading scorer in the history of women’s basketball at Gordon, Sarah DeLuca ’05 of Beverly, Massachusetts, will be inducted. DeLuca, a math and secondary education major during her time at Gordon, now teaches math at Manchester-Essex Regional Middle and High School, advises the high school student council and coaches junior varsity girl’s basketball.
For her contributions in women’s tennis during her time at Gordon, Christine (Scruton) Richenburg ’94, formerly of Woburn, Massachusetts, will also be inducted. Richenburg, a movement science major, currently serves in various capacities in her church and community in Wethersfield, Connecticut, where her husband, Deryk ’94, is senior minister at First Church of Christ in Wethersfield.
For his leadership in men’s soccer, Dana Taylor ’85B of Corvallis, Oregon, a recreation major from Barrington College, will be honored. Taylor has enjoyed considerable success as a head coach in soccer since he graduated, and most recently he built the men’s soccer team at Oregon State University to elite status before taking a new coaching position at California State University—Stanislaus.
For his contributions to baseball Ryan Whitehouse ’01 of Hamilton, Massachusetts, will also be inducted. Whitehouse, a business administration major while at Gordon, currently works in Marblehead as a project manager for Novell Corporation.
The celebration will begin at 9 a.m. with men and women’s alumni basketball games. After breaking for lunch, inductees and their families are invited to Gordon’s varsity basketball games against Curry College in the Bennett Center. The women’s game begins at 2 p.m. and the men’s game will follow at 4 p.m. The awards banquet will directly follow the basketball game and will be held at the Peabody Marriott.
During the men’s halftime, the inductees will be introduced and recognized for their individual athletic accomplishments during their time at Gordon. Tymann will emcee the awards banquet, where each athlete will receive a special plaque that will be placed in the Hall of Honor in the Bennett Athletic and Recreation Center.
Two of last year's Hall of Honor inductees are now current coaches at Gordon. Bess Watson ’02 was inducted for her outstanding excellence in both soccer and lacrosse and is the head women’s lacrosse coach for Gordon. Whitey Davis ’61 was honored for his baseball skills and has returned to the College to coach women’s tennis.
For more information please visit www.gordon.edu/athletics/hallofhonor.