Alfred University to Induct Six into Athletics Hall of Fame

By: Alfred University Athletic Communications

Six talented Alfred University Alumni will get the department's highest honor, as they will be welcomed into the Alfred University Athletics Hall of Fame, the department announced on Friday, May 15.
 
The Saxon Nation Hall of Fame committee elected Jared Manzer '10 (football), Jesika (LeBarron) King '10 (softball), John 'Skip' Hyde '83 (swimming and diving, men's soccer), Kameron Chambliss '10 (swimming and diving), Bryan J. Hill '90 (men's basketball), and Steven Lester '77 (football), making up the 2020 induction class. The Hall of Fame selection committee also chose Hill as the second recipient of the Distinguished Saxon Alumni award, and Lester will be the second Silver Saxon honoree.
 
All six members will be celebrated as part of the 'Hall of Fame Weekend' festivities. They will be honored at half time of the men's basketball home opener vs. Ithaca on Friday, Nov. 13 as well as during football's regular-season finale vs. St. John Fisher College on Saturday, Nov. 14. An on-campus banquet later that evening will follow, officially inducting the aforementioned AU alumni into the athletic department's hallowed halls.
 
"This is another tremendous Hall of Fame class that truly highlights the accomplishments of Saxon student-athletes in a variety of sports and a group that has continued to be difference makers in our communities after graduation," said Paul Vecchio, Director of Athletics. "In reading through the bios of those inducted they certainly are amongst the finest to wear the Purple & Gold and it's easy to see that the team's they competed on reflect the talent, leadership and determination they each brought to our department."
 
Manzer is one of the more decorated all-around threats in AU's storied football history, suiting up as a wide receiver, free safety, and a return specialist for four seasons (2006-2009). He made an immediate impact as a first-year starter, leading the team with 53 catches for 678 yards and 10 touchdowns, the touchdowns setting an AU single-season record. He was named Rookie of the Year by the Empire 8 as well as the ECAC for his efforts. He broke out again in 2008, setting single-season marks in receptions (69) and receiving yards (1,058), while tying his own mark with 10 touchdowns. Saving his best for last, the senior captain brought in a school-record 15 receiving touchdowns while also compiling five interceptions, returning two for touchdowns in the 2009 season. He was named the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Year and earned his first American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America nod as the Saxons charged to the team's first conference title since 1981, advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Manzer graduated with nearly every receiving record at AU; he has five records that still stand to this day: career receiving yards (3,517), receiving yards in a season (1,058), career receptions (237), touchdown receptions (43), and longest interception return for a touchdown (98 yards vs. Rochester in 2009). He's the only Saxon football player that is currently in the record book for both offense and defense.
 
Manzer graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from AU and embarked on a brief professional playing career, suiting up for an all-star season for the NEPA Miners of the Regional American Football League. His talents were noticed by the Canadian Football League, where he earned a tryout with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He's also appeared on television, suiting up as a contestant on NBC's Spartan Ultimate Team Challenge in 2016. He currently serves as a Youth Counselor for the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.
 
 

 
LeBarron was a four-year starter at third base and in the circle (2007-10), playing a key role in Alfred's first great softball teams in 2010. The three-year team captain was a member of four Saxon teams that all advanced to postseason play, going to the ECAC Tournament in 2007-09, and winning the Empire 8 in 2010, advancing to the program's first NCAA Tournament and a school record 37 victories at the time. Her teams set the school record for victories in each of her four seasons.

Individually, LeBarron was a record-setting threat. As a rookie in 2007, LeBarron showed her power, hitting a school-record six home runs. The next year, she was an all-around threat, hitting .381 with 20 runs scored and 18 RBIs. She also posted an 8-1 record in the circle with a sub- 2.50 earned run average, earning her first of three consecutive National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Northeast Region honors. She then submitted one of the best seasons in AU softball history in 2009, batting .424 with nine home runs, setting new school single-season records for hits (53), runs (32) and RBIs (54). She also became the school's career leader in hits (130), RBIs (93) and home runs (18). She also ranked fifth in the nation in Division III in RBIs per game (1.42) and 35^th in slugging percentage (.784), leading to an All-Empire 8 and ECAC selection, as well as a first-team spot on the NFCA All-Northeast Region squad. In her final season, LeBarron once again earned NFCA All-Regional honors as the squad had its best season in program history at the time. She is still the program's all-time leader in RBI in a season and career walks drawn (62).
 
After moving on from Alfred University, LeBarron spent a majority of her summers still on the ball field, traveling from PA, to Maryland and Florida at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex playing competitive travel coed ball and enjoyed a few seasons coaching the JV softball team at her high school before becoming a mother. Her time is now spent coaching her son's baseball team with her husband, gymnastics and t-ball for their daughter, and following their son around on the wrestling mat as well. 
 
LeBarron graduated from Alfred with a BA of Science in Chemistry and has been with Corning Incorporated as a Research Technician since 2012.
 

 
Hyde is known as a consummate leader, excelling as a two-sport athlete and captain in his dominance of the soccer field as well as in the swimming pool. When Hyde arrived in 1979, the men's swimming and diving roster was small in number, but mighty. 'Skip' played the role of trailblazer for the program, sowing the seeds for its dominant run in the 80s. After competing in the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships for the first time in 1981 in the 100-yard butterfly, he earned NCAA All-America honors in 1982 as part of the 400-yard medley relay team with Tim Schaeberle '85, Howard Seidman '84, and the late Tim Jaenecke '84, finishing 12^th at the NCAA Championships. All four members of that relay team are now in the AU Athletics Hall of Fame. As a senior captain, Hyde led his team to an undefeated dual season and State and ICAC titles in 1982-83, the start of a record 29-dual meet winning streak.
 
On the soccer field, Hyde was a goal-scoring dynamo at midfield, earning all-conference honors. Like his tenure in the pool, the team transformed during his tenure, culminating in one of the finest soccer seasons in program history in 1982. That squad went 11-5-1, winning the ECAC Championship as the fourth seed. It began with a 2-1 road victory at Fredonia on Friday, Nov. 12. Hyde and his teammates then traveled up to the North Country for Sunday's championship contest against Plattsburgh State. Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Hyde tallied two assists, including the overtime game-winner to Charlie Gilje in AU's upset 2-1 victory against the top seed. Hyde has the rare distinction of leading two teams to postseason championships during his senior year. He broke several college records, all in the pool, breaking marks in the 200-IM, 100- and 200-butterfly, the 400- and 800- freestyle relays, as well as the aforementioned 400-medley relay.
 
Hyde graduated AU with a bachelor's degree in general studies in 1983 and stayed for graduate school, eventually earning his MSEd in Coaching in 1987. He served as an assistant coach for both the men's soccer as well as the swimming and diving programs. Hyde currently works in New York City, working with the Data Science Institute at Columbia University as the Assistant Director of Career Development and Alumni Services. He spent 12 years as the Dean and Executive Director of Career Services at New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). Hyde continues to be heavily involved in alumni engagement and mentorship with current Saxon swimmers and divers.
 
Said teammate and 2009 Hall of Famer Rob Lattimer '83: "I cannot think of a greater advocate for the University than Skip…He has a special gift to affect people in a way that is a positive experience. Skip's athletic accomplishments stand alone as great achievements, but this is a small component of the impact he has had on AU and its community."
 

 
There have been few divers in AU's rich swimming and diving history more accomplished than Chambliss. Chambliss' AU story begins in 2006 as a 17-year old walk-on with just a few years of diving experience under his belt. By the end of the year, Chambliss impressed head coach Brian Striker '00 and the coaching staff as he finished his rookie season sixth on the 1-meter championship platform, as the Saxons swam away with the Upper New York State Collegiate Swimming Association (UNYSCSA) title. He was a big part of the team's 27-meet winning streak in dual competition from 2006-2009.
 
Individually, Chambliss broke out as a junior in the 2008-09 season, winning both the 1- and 3-meter Empire 8 diving titles at the UNYSCSA Championships, earning Empire 8 Diver of the Meet. Earning the role of team captain prior to the 2009-10 season, Chambliss had his best season, breaking the AU 1- and 3- meter voluntary and championship diving records, en route to winning his first state titles in both diving events. He was named UNYSCSA and Empire 8 Diver of the Year and earned the Douglass McDevitt award, which was given annually by the UNYSCSA to a senior swimmer or diver, recognizing their career accolades both athletically and academically. He finished his stellar career with his first appearance in the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships, finishing fifth in the nation at 3-meters and sixth on the 1-meter platform.
 
Brynja Seagren '08, a teammate of Chambliss, notes: "Kameron is a quiet but determined leader – the type of leader that sometimes gets overshadowed by the boisterous and vocal types. Kameron is not and was not the leader who led the rally cries or team chants. Kameron was the leader that pulled you aside individually and told you that 'You got this. Go for it.' His balanced approach and sincere belief in the capabilities of others is truly what set him apart from other leaders."
 
Chambliss earned a Bachelor of Science degree in materials science and engineering from AU in 2010. He then served as a graduate assistant for the men's and women's swimming and diving program for two seasons while obtaining his master's degree in materials science and engineering at the University.  Chambliss is currently employed by Corning Inc. in Corning, N.Y., serving as a senior development engineer. He has continued to help, support, and stay involved with the program.  Like Hyde, Chambliss has played a very active role in keeping alumni engaged with the program over the past five years as well as continuing provide his expertise and knowledge to help coach and mentor current student-athletes.
 

 
Hill is the second Saxon alumni to be honored as the Distinguished Saxon Alumni award. This award, established in 2018, recognizes Alfred University student-athletes for outstanding achievement following their playing career at Alfred University. The award is not necessarily based on athletic achievement, but on the nominees' career success following graduation via leadership, service, advancement, or other similar means.
 
Hill was a two-year letter winner of the men's basketball team from 1985-87. Affectionately nicknamed "Thrill" by his peers, Hill helped run the offense as a point guard off the bench. He played a role in helping the Saxons to a 25-3 record, the best in program history, and a trip to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball East Regional Championship game. He graduated Alfred in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in public administration and earned an MPA in from the University of Southern California in 1995.
 
Hill then embarked on a remarkable career in finance. Hill served as the vice chancellor for finance and operations at the University of South Carolina's Beaufort/Bluffton Campus, and as the director of finance for the University of Maryland's Office of Information and Technology as well as director of administration for the Department of Aerospace Engineering. In 2008, Hill held his first governmental role, serving as deputy county administrator in Beaufort County, S.C., a role he would hold until 2014. He then moved to James City County, Va., a then-struggling county of about 73,000 people, serving as the chief administrative officer and clerk to the county board. His infrastructure and economic proposals helped turn the county around, triggering financial stability for the county's residents and businesses.
 
He then got the call to lead Virginia's most populous county, earning the position of county executive in Fairfax in 2018, overseeing 12,000 employees, 1.3 million residents, and a $4.29 billion general fund budget, one of the highest county budgets in the country. He also serves as a member of the International City/County Management Association's Advisory Board on Graduate Education, a nod to his academic roots.
 
Hill has earned numerous awards in his professional career, receiving an award for academic excellence from the American Association of Budget and Program Analysts and also earned the A. James Clark Schol of Engineering Staff Award at Maryland, while also receiving a commendation from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at its 50^th anniversary celebration. He's also given back to AU, serving as a Saxon Circle member, mentor to students, and also participates in the VISA recruitment program. He also served as the keynote speaker at Alfred University's Opening Convocation in 2019.
 

 
Lester is the second Saxon alumni to be bestowed with the Silver Saxon award. This award, created in 2018, honors student-athletes from early eras (before 1979) at Alfred University for outstanding athletic achievement, but may lack statistical information that puts nominees at a significant disadvantage when assessing them against contemporary student-athletes.
 
Lester was a four-year letter-winner of the AU football team from 1973-76 under legendary coach Alex Yunevich, anchoring the team's stout defensive line. Lester was named team captain and MVP of the 1976 season in what was the final season of Yunevich's coaching tenure. The 1976 team was strong defensively, allowing just 26 points in ICAC conference action, en route to a 3-0-1 record against conference foes. Lester proved to be a big-time play-maker, recovering a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in the conference finale against RIT, helping to seal a conference title in a 37-15 victory on Merrill Field. Lester's teams went 22-10-2 in his four years at AU.
 
After earning a bachelor's degree in 1977, Lester stayed at AU to earn his master's degree, serving as a graduate assistant on the football staff for the '77 and '78 seasons while also serving as a Resident Hall Director on campus. He earned his master's degree in education from AU in 1979 and returned to coach the defensive line in the '84 and '85 seasons. Lester worked for 15 years at Alfred State College as the Director of Facilities and Physical Plant Operations. In 1995 he headed to Atlanta, working at Georgia State University as the Associate Director of Housing, eventually earning a promotion to Associate Director. While in Atlanta, Lester had the opportunity to serve as the Director of the Gold Zone, part of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. He currently works at Clark-Atlanta University as the Manager of Maintenance HVAC Lockshop Operations. Lester is married to his wife, Collier, and has five children and four grandchildren.
 

 
The Alfred University Athletics Hall of Fame was created in 1973 to honor athletes, coaches, athletic administrators and friends of Alfred University for outstanding achievement, involvement and service to Alfred University Athletics. Since its inception, 197 Alfred University student-athletes have been inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame.