Photo Gallery l Induction Ceremony Video
HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College Department of Athletics celebrated its proud history on Friday night as five new members were inducted into the Thomas Glasser '82 Hall of Achievement. Sol Tollin '51, Stuart Levitt '63, Stephanie B. James '87, Amy Furr Stilwell '90, and Matt Leighninger '92 entered the department's hall of fame during a ceremony at Founders Great Hall in conjunction with the College's Alumni Weekend.
Attendees enjoyed a reception and dinner honoring the eighth induction class in the history of the Hall of Achievement which every two years recognizes selected alumni who have made significant contributions to the success of Haverford College athletics. Through their outstanding achievements, these individuals helped to define excellence for and bring distinction to Haverford and its athletic program.
Master of ceremonies Kevin Foley '83, a 2008 inductee, kicked off the night by sharing stories about Glasser and how it is fitting that the College's Hall of Achievement is dedicated in his close friend's memory. Glasser was Haverford's Varsity Cup winner as the outstanding athlete in the Class of 1982 and a gold medal winner in the 4x400-meter relay at the 1981 Maccabiah Games in Israel.
Sol Tollin '51, presented by long time Haverford head coach Tony Zanin, made a big impact on the Haverford College men's basketball team despite standing at just five feet, seven inches tall. Labeled by the local media as 'one of the deadliest outside men in Philadelphia basketball circles', Tollin lived up to his billing as he led the Middle Atlantic Conference in scoring during his senior year and graduated with a program record 898 points in just 50 career games. During his senior season, Tollin poured in 21.5 points per game. That scoring averaging represented the second straight year in which he averaged 20-plus points per game, both marks that continue to rank among the top 10 single-season performances in school history.
Stuart Levitt '63, presented by Kevin Foley '83, was the first national champion in the history of the storied Haverford College men's track & field team. Levitt achieved national prominence with his javelin ability. His competition came from all over, but he still captured individual championships at the prestigious Penn and Florida Relays. After winning the College Division Championship, Levitt entered the University National Championship and placed seventh against a field in which each of the other All-Americans came from Division I programs. His school record throw of 238 feet, 11 and a half inches was over 43 feet clear of the previous school record set in 1958. His personal best in the event stood as a Division III record for nearly 12 years and still ranks as the fourth-best throw among all Division III athletes.
Stephanie B. James '87, presented by former women's basketball head coach Linda McConnell, starred in basketball and lacrosse. Her athletic exploits garnered her the recognition of the 1987 Varsity Cup. In basketball, James was a three-time Philadelphia Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (PAIAW) All-Star. She graduated with the College's career records for assists, steals, free throws made, and free throw percentage. On the lacrosse field, she was a first-team and second-team IWLCA/Brine All-American selection and a two-time honorable mention All-American honoree on the U.S. Lacrosse team. James helped lead the Fords to three PAIAW Championships, one Middle Atlantic Conference Championship, and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals during two consecutive seasons. Her 85 points stood as a school single-season record until the turn of the century and continue to rank second all-time.
Amy Furr Stilwell '90, presented by teammate Wendy Smith '87, was one of the first stars for the women's soccer program. During the program's infant stages, she set school records that have not been matched to this day as she scored 48 goals and accounted for 115 career points. Her 19 career assists are still the second highest mark in school history. Furr Stilwell's strongest statistical season came in 1988 when she scored a school record 19 goals and finished the year with a program record 46 points. During that campaign, she was named a first-team All-Middle Atlantic Conference selection. Rising to the occasion in every big moment, Furr Stilwell scored in 28 different contests during her college career, recording multiple goals during 13 of those contests.
Matt Leighninger '92, presented by head coach Tom Donnelly, was a two-time national champion and seven-time All-American. He was a part of five Middle Atlantic Conference Championship teams during his Haverford career. Epitomizing the true student-athlete, Leighninger was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship upon his graduation and was honored as both a Varsity Cup and Gregory Kannerstein '63 Award recipient. A captain of both the cross country and track & field teams, Leighninger won his first national championship in the winter of 1991 when he captured the 1,500 meter title. Leighninger's outdoor track & field national championship came in the steeplechase during that same decorated 1991 season.