August 12, 2009
LE MOYNE TO ENSHRINE THREE IN GOLD WAVE HALL OF FAME
Syracuse, N.Y. - The Le Moyne College Gold Wave will enshrine three new members of the Gold Wave Hall of Fame on September 26, 2009. Softball standout Carol Welch Jones '93, former men's lacrosse coach Shane Lynch and baseball standout Richard Woodridge '94 make up the Class of 2009.
Welch Jones, a 1993 graduate of Le Moyne College, started four seasons for former softball coach Christine Rizzeri and played one year of basketball under the direction of Tom Cooney. Welch Jones ranks fifth all-time with a .347 career batting average and third on the career charts with a .552 slugging percentage, while posting the highest on-base percentage (.434) in career annals. Welch Jones also connected for 11 career triples, the second-highest total in program history. At the time of her graduation, Welch Jones held the career stolen base mark with 19 stolen bases. In the single-season history, Welch Jones sits atop batting average and on-base percentage charts after hitting at a .486 clip and recording a .534 on-base percentage during her senior year, while slugging .724 to rank second. In her final collegiate season, Welch Jones led the Dolphins to their then-highest win total in the program's history. Welch, a member of the Gold Wave Executive Committee and Vice President of Finance, has been an Accountant/Auditor for the New York State Unified Court System for the past 11 years.
Lynch, an honorary inductee, served two years as the head coach of the men's lacrosse team before passing away on January 31, 1998 after a two-month battle with cancer. After inheriting a team that went 4-8 in 1995, Lynch guided the Dolphins to a 5-7 record in 1996. The following season, Lynch earned Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Years honors after posting an 8-5 record (5-0 in league play) and leading Le Moyne to the Northeast-10 Championship in its first season in the league.
Woodridge, a 1994 graduate of Le Moyne College, lettered two seasons for former head coach and Director of Athletics Dick Rockwell on the baseball team. After two seasons with the Dolphins, he was drafted in the 31st round (870th pick) of the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft by the San Diego Padres. An all-conference selection in 1993, Woodridge led Division I in hitting after registering a .476 batting average, while also recording a .580 on-base percentage, the best in the program's Division I era, and stealing 21 bases, tied for fifth-best on the school's single-season charts. Woodridge tops the program's Division I charts with a .403 batting average and .525 on-base percentage over 64 games played, while ranking sixth with a .570 slugging percentage and eighth with 38 stolen bases. Woodridge, who became a certified public accountant in 2001, is self-employed and runs Sports Zone and Sports Center 481, while also coaching summer baseball in the C. Frank Harrigan Syracuse Classic League.
The Gold Wave Hall of Fame, dedicated to longtime Athletic
Director and men's basketball coach Thomas J. Niland, was
established to honor those men and women who have been affiliated
with Le Moyne College who have exhibited a degree of accomplishment
and have established themselves in their field of endeavor. To be
eligible, candidates must be a graduate of Le Moyne College (at
least 10 years ago), distinct participation in a minimum two years
of varsity athletics and exhibit exceptional accomplishments in
professional endeavors and interpersonal relationships which
reflect well on the honoree, his/her character and the alma mater.
Honorary candidates are those who are ineligible under the
selection criteria, but have distinguished themselves as supporters
of athletics at Le Moyne College, and exhibit exceptional
accomplishments in professional endeavors and interpersonal
relationships which reflects well on the honoree's character as
well as on the college.
The 2009 Gold Wave Hall of Fame ceremony will take place on
Saturday, Sept. 26 on the Le Moyne College campus as part of Le
Moyne College's Family Weekend and Athletic Homecoming.
