Herkimer College 2022 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Reception

Herkimer College will hold its 2022 Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony and reception on Friday, September 30, 2022. The event will begin at 5 p.m. with a strolling buffet and cash bar. The ceremony will begin at 6:45 p.m., followed by a social hours and desserts. Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased at www.herkimer.edu/ahof.

This will be the fifth class to enter the Herkimer Generals Athletic Hall of Fame. Athletic Hall of Fame nominees are former athletes, coaches, teams, or individuals who have made significant contributions to the success of the College through intercollegiate competition. The 2022 class includes: Kenneth Black, Wendall Williams, Victoria Campanian, Dani Nicosia, Jimmy Smith, Gino Barbuto, Hank Testa, the 2013 Herkimer College Softball Team, and the 1992 Herkimer College Men’s Lacrosse Team.

Kenneth Black, of New York City, NY, was a standout basketball player under legendary head coach Jack Alofs in 1978. Black was the first Herkimer College student-athlete to be named an All-American.

Wendall Williams ‘14, of Syracuse, NY, won six national championships in four separate track and field events while attending Herkimer College. He also played for the men’s basketball program for one season, averaging 18 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. He set the school record for most points scored in a single season (630). Williams was signed to an NFL contract by the Houston Texans in 2016 as an undrafted free agent and is the only Herkimer College alumnus to have played in the NFL.

Victoria Campanian ‘15, of Glenfield, NY, won the 2014 national championship in the 10,000 Meter race, and was a two-time NJCAA All-American runner. Campanian was named Herkimer College Women’s Athlete of the Year in 2014 and 2015. She is the only woman in school history to win the award twice. Additionally, she earned All-Region and All-Conference honors in each of her two years attending Herkimer College.

Dani Nicosia ‘15, of Oneonta, NY, was a two-time NJCAA All-American for women’s soccer and was named Team MVP twice. Nicosia totaled 22 goals and 12 assists in her two years at Herkimer. She continued her academic and athletic career at Queens University in Charlotte, NC, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management and a master’s degree in Communication. Nicosia is an assistant athletic director for digital and creative media at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, NC.

Jimmy Smith ’87, of Utica, NY, led the Generals to a fourth-place finish in the 1987 Division I NJCAA Basketball National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. Since there was no separation in division levels at the time, Smith was the anchor of the only non-scholarship team. He led the tournament in scoring and was named the Most Valuable Player over former NBA All Star Mookie Blaylock.

Gino Barbuto ’86, of Syracuse, NY, was a two-year player on the men’s soccer team earning Second Team All-Region honors in 1986. His team was the first in school history to qualify for the regional soccer playoffs. Throughout his career, Barbuto has helped recruit players for the Herkimer Generals and has been a generous supporter and donor to the athletic program.

Hank Testa ‘79, of Ilion NY, served as a faculty member, administrator, and coach for more than 40 years. Upon his retirement in 2014, Testa was recognized with the honorable title of associate dean emeritus. Testa was the head coach for baseball Hank served as the men’s baseball coach from 1995 to 2005, assistant men’s basketball coach from 1996 to 2004, and associate head coach for men’s basketball from 2004 to present. He helped aid the 2019 team to a national championship victory. Among his awards are the Region III Coach of the Year and Mountain Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors.

The 2013 Herkimer College softball team, under the leadership of Coach PJ Anadio, won the first and only to date softball national championship in school history. The team holds the record for highest win percentage in a single season by a Herkimer softball team (.956%), after a 43-2 season. The team led the country in batting average, slugging percentage, and home runs. They were also in the top three for hits, runs, RBI, on-base percentage, and fielding percentage. The team compiled three First Team All-Americans and two Second Team All-Americans.

The 1992 Herkimer College men’s lacrosse team was the first the first lacrosse team in school history to complete an undefeated season and win a national championship. Under the leadership of Coach Paul Wehrum, the 1992 team finished 18-0, averaging 19.8 goals per game while allowing just 5.8 per game. Fifteen players from the 1992 team received Division I scholarships as a result.

Herkimer College’s athletic program is a Division III member of the National Junior College Athletic Association offering 20 varsity and one junior varsity teams. The program has amassed 65 national championships, 131 Region III titles, 176 Mountain Valley Collegiate Conference championships and 31 National Academic Team of the Year awards. Herkimer College won the National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) Cup, now called the Daktronics Cup, in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2020 ranking the Herkimer Generals athletic program first in the nation among non-scholarship two-year athletic programs, based on national championship competition. For more information about the Herkimer Generals, visit www.herkimergenerals.com.