Hall of Honor inductees 2026
The Hall of Honor inductees were honored during Saturday's Colgate Football game.

Colgate Welcomes 13 Inductees to Hall of Honor

Colgate Athletics Greats Recognized During Homecoming Weekend

By Rodrigo Santiago
Hall of Honor 2026 Photo Gallery

Throughout Colgate’s history, thousands of student-athletes have represented the University, with only a select few earning a place among the most distinguished competitors. On Saturday, Oct. 17, as part of Colgate’s Homecoming celebration, 13 such individuals were recognized for their remarkable achievements when they were officially inducted into the Colgate Athletics Hall of Honor. Together, the group brings the Hall of Honor’s total membership to 286 Raiders.

“The Colgate Athletics Hall of Honor was founded to honor those persons who have made outstanding contributions to Colgate Athletics,” Yariv Amir ’01, vice president and director of athletics, said before introducing the class. “They represent the gold standard of Raider Athletics — leaders who set precedents in competition, in the classroom, and beyond.”

National Runs, Historic Firsts, and Unforgettable Teammates
 

While each formal introduction highlighted extraordinary individual accolades, the inductees themselves consistently brought the focus back to the relationships and support that defined their time in Hamilton. John Frieser ’04, co-captain on the historic 2003 football team that reached the NCAA Division I-AA national championship game, recalled the bond that carried them through that postseason run. “Our run to the national championship game is the greatest memory that I have as an athlete, not because of the wins, but because of the camaraderie and brotherhood,” Frieser said. “I proudly stand here today to represent all of you.”

The historic nature of the ceremony was underscored by Jessie Eldridge ’19, whose enshrinement as the first women's hockey inductee celebrated a program that she helped elevate onto the national stage. Reflecting on leading Colgate to its historic 2018 Frozen Four appearance and national championship game berth, Eldridge recalled the humble beginnings of her collegiate career. “When I arrived, the women’s hockey team was near the bottom of the standings,” Eldridge said. “My hope was that we would make the playoffs at least once... I don’t think any of us could have imagined what those years would become or how much we could accomplish together.”

Jessie Eldridge Hall of Honor inductees 2026

For women’s basketball star Emily Braseth (Riddle) ’05—inducted in 2024 and celebrated with Saturday’s class—taking the podium brought back a flood of memories. She recalled a pivotal eighth-grade scrimmage where she collided head-first with ninth-grader Malissa Burke '02 (Hall of Honor Class of 2022), coming away with a broken nose while Burke came away with the loose ball. Braseth paid tribute to mother-in-law Sherri and her late father-in-law Brock, and shared how her husband, Jeff, digitized her old VHS tapes so their children, Maddie and Ryan, could see "what a badass their mom was." Reflecting on the journey, Braseth concluded, “At 21, I was caught up with getting decent grades, playing well for my team, and winning. At 43, I see it has always been about who was in the gym with me. Who sat in the stands. Who welcomed me to Hamilton... and who broke my nose.”

On the ice, hockey standout Austin Smith ’12 shared a story about the quiet, behind-the-scenes care that defines the Colgate program. As a kid coming from Texas, Smith recalled how he was failing to adapt to the long, grey winters of Central New York. Seeing his player struggling, former head coach Don Vaughan went out and bought bright fluorescent lights to install in the locker room to brighten things up and cut through the dark days. Vaughan never brought it up or looked for credit; he simply did it because he cared and wanted to help.

On the court, volleyball icon Alli Lowe ’21 was introduced in an emotional speech by head coach Ryan Baker, who held back tears as he remembered her immediate impact on the program: “From the moment she arrived on campus, Alli was unstoppable,” Baker said. Lowe delighted the audience by sharing her genuine surprise upon learning of her selection: “When Ryan called me this summer to give me the news... I thought he was calling to give me an update on the new gym. Once we hung up, my first reaction was to call my parents and we just reminisced about everything that happened at Colgate.”

Inductees with the Colgate Athletics Hall of Honors are recognized on the field at Andy Kerr Stadium during Homecoming Weekend 2026 as the Colgate Raiders take on Georgetown, Saturday, October 17, 2026.

Stories of Resilience, Humility, and the "Ultimate Team Sport"

As the afternoon progressed, a humorous running joke emerged among the speakers. When Alli Lowe took the podium, she praised volleyball as the "ultimate team sport" while thanking her teammates. That phrase, unbeknownst to each other, also led to inductees and presenters—including Maureen Lynch, Austin Smith, and Matt Karweck— claiming their own sport as holding that title. Smith drew big laughs from the crowd when he pointed out the trend, joking that the inductees were going to need to start brainstorming some new clichés since everyone kept claiming their sport was the ultimate team sport.

Personal stories and humor continued with Amanda Brickell (Conklin) ’03, who shared the story of her single career home run across 522 at-bats, remembering how long-time sports information director Bob Cornell hugged her afterward and joked, “Even a blind squirrel can find an acorn once in a while.” Brickell, now Managing Director of Division I at the NCAA, thanked her family, coaches, and Cornell—who nominated her—citing Alex Haley’s adage: “When you see a turtle on a fence post, you know it had some help getting there. I am that turtle. This honor may carry my name, but it belongs to every person who believed, sacrificed, opened a door, or reached down to lift me onto that fence post.”

That spirit of selflessness echoed through the induction of rowing legend Maureen Lynch ’06, who made her own case for crew as the ultimate team endeavor, directing all praise back to her boatmates: “It feels odd to honor myself when we physically could not move the boat without my teammates,” Lynch said, dedicating her honor to her fellow rowers. Women’s lacrosse star Heidi Ross (Sullivan) ’06 was celebrated for her durability and leadership as a two-time captain who started every single game of her collegiate career and anchored back-to-back Patriot League championship squads, before returning years later as an assistant coach to mentor the next generation of championship Raiders.

Two-time tennis captain Martin MacIntyre ’09 brought laughter to the room with a story illustrating the extraordinary family support behind every athlete. MacIntyre recalled a junior tournament where he accidentally locked all his tennis rackets inside the trunk of his family's car and couldn't find the key. Forced to compete with whatever random rackets he could borrow from other players on-site, MacIntyre proceeded to break strings on several of them mid-match. Just as he was running out of options, he looked up to see his father walking toward his court carrying a fresh set of rackets he had somehow procured—a mysterious rescue operation Martin still doesn't quite understand to this day, but one that perfectly captured the quiet dedication of the parents who helped the inductees achieve so much.

For distance running standout Chelsea Burns ’12, returning to Hamilton marked her very first time stepping foot back on Colgate's campus since her graduation 14 years ago. She shared how being back in Hamilton brought back a rush of incredible memories and gave her a chance to reflect on just how far her time as a Raider student-athlete had propelled her—from setting school records in the 5,000 meters and capturing Patriot League crowns to competing on the international triathlon stage.

Honoring Legacy, Institutional Pillars, and Living Life to the Fullest
 

The ceremony turned deeply meaningful with the posthumous induction of basketball great Bill Dodd ’53, a two-time All-American who led Colgate in scoring for three straight seasons in the 1950s and famously chose Columbia Medical School over an NBA career with the Philadelphia Warriors. His son, John Dodd, accepted the award on his father’s behalf, sharing how his father’s Raider bond lasted a lifetime: “The award would have meant so much to my father,” John Dodd said. “His Colgate team meant a great deal to him. He kept talking about the team years after he graduated.”

The institutional impact of Mike Herling ’79, H’24, P’08,’09,’12 was also celebrated, honoring a legacy etched into the very fabric of Colgate Athletics. Recognized for his extraordinary stewardship as former Chair of the Board of Trustees and Chair of Athletic Affairs, Herling was lauded for his instrumental role in creating the Class of 1965 Arena, the Carey Center, and the Trudy Fitness Center. In his remarks, Herling shared his deep conviction in the importance and impact of Division I athletics at Colgate, emphasizing that it exemplifies the very best of what the University stands for. It is that conviction that drives him and his close friends—fellow Hall of Honor inductees Barry Small ’76 (Hall of Honor Class of 2007) and Brion Applegate ’76 (Hall of Honor Class of 2017)—to continually support Raider Athletics and ensure future generations of student-athletes have the opportunity to thrive.

Before introducing former men's lacrosse standout Brett Tucker ’98, presenter Matt Karweck naturally couldn't resist joining the running joke, declaring lacrosse as the real ultimate team sport. Tucker then took the stage, bringing a high-energy, infectious enthusiasm that provided the perfect wrap-up to the morning. Playfully warning the audience that, as his wife well knows, he is a "wildcard who can't be trusted in front of an open microphone," Tucker delivered an inspiring and heartfelt message. He urged his fellow Raiders not to let life's opportunities pass by—whether that means finally doing that thing you've been putting off or picking up the phone to call an old friend you haven't spoken to in years. Reminding the crowd that life is short and to live every day to the fullest, Tucker's remarks brought a warm, triumphant close to the proceedings.

As the morning turned to afternoon, the overarching message of the day was clear: while athletic achievements earned these 13 inductees their place in the Hall of Honor, it was the support of family, caring coaches, lifelong teammates, and a lifetime of laughter and memories that made their Colgate journeys truly unforgettable.