Coast Guard to induct seven into Athletic Hall
New London — Coast Guard Academy announced its Class of 2017 Athletic Hall of Fame on Tuesday, a seven-member group that will be inducted during the annual Hall of Fame Banquet on Oct. 19 at the Otto Graham Hall of Athletic Excellence in Billard Hall as part of Homecoming Weekend.
The new class includes three members of the Class of 1996 — Robert Hueller, Gretchen (Wagner) Jones and Drew Orsinger — along with Craig Sattergren (1981), Christian Lee (1997), Hayley (Feindel) Greaver (2012) and Bill Zack (1980), who was named as an honorary member.
"Our 2017 Hall of Fame class here at the Coast Guard Academy will go down in history as one of the finest ever selected," athletic director Tim Fitzpatrick said in a release. "When you look at the athletic accomplishments and successes this group achieved during their cadet years, coupled with the outstanding service they rendered — and in several cases are still rendering — to the Coast Guard as officers and leaders of character it is truly inspiring.
"Their credentials and achievements as NCAA champions, All-America selections and record holders nationally, regionally as well as at the academy is impressive beyond belief."
Following is a capsule look at the Class of 2017:
• Robert Hueller was the first and only two-time national champion swimmer CGA history, winning the 200 backstroke in 1995 and 1996. He also won the New England title both years, was a seven-time All-American, did not lose a dual meet in the 200 back during his entire career and still holds the school record (1:15.07).
• Gretchen (Wagner) Jones was a two-time All-American in cross country (1994 and 1995), finishing 12th in 1994 and 21st in 1995. She was a three-time All-American in the 5,000 meters and still holds three school records (5,000 both indoor and outdoor and as part of the 4x800 outdoor relay).
• Drew Orsinger qualified for the NCAA Championships in the pole vault all eight seasons and won the 1995 indoor national title, the first CGA track national championship, and placed second outdoors. He was a five-time All-American and still holds the indoor (17 feet, 1 inch) and outdoor (16-9.75) school record, a mark he broke 15 times while placing first in 36 meets during his career.
• Craig Sattergren was an All-American heavyweight wrestler in 1981, placing sixth at the NCAA Division III Championships. He was a three-time All-New England selection, placing second once and third twice, and was part of two New England Championship teams (1980, 1981). He led the team in pins in 1980 and 1981 and was inducted into the New England Wrestling Association Hall of Fame in 2012.
• Christian Lee was a threesport performer (football, baseball, track) who was named CGA's most outstanding senior athlete in 1997. He was a starting wide receiver for four years, setting a single-season record with 938 receiving yards while setting career marks with 149 receptions, 23 touchdowns and 2,356 receiving yards (which still stands). He was captain of the 1996 team which made the first NCAA playoff appearance in program history. In baseball, he hit .321 in 1997 while leading the Bears in stolen bases (15) and runs scored (24), and in track he was part of the 4x100 relay team which set the school record and qualified for the New England Championships and Penn Relays.
• Hayley (Feindel) Greaver is the only Coast Guard athlete to have her number retired, finishing her magnificent softball career as the NCAA Div. III all-time leader in wins (124), strikeouts (1,457), innings pitched (1,029.7), games (160), games started (156) and complete games (140), and is second all-time in Division III with 62 shutouts. She had a career-record of 124-30 with nine no-hitters and a pair of perfect games. She led the Bears to four straight NCAA tournament appearances, three straight NEWMAC regular season (2009, 2010, 2011) and tournament championships (2010, 2011, 2012). She was the 2011 New England Player of the Year and a threetime New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year.
• Bill Zack won three gold medals at the Dad Vail Regatta, a silver in the Freshman 8 in 1977, a gold in the JV 8 in 1978 and a silver in the JV 8 in 1979. He attended Olympic Development Camp in 1977 and 1979. Zack, an assistant men's rowing coach at CGA from 1986-91, is currently the head women's coach at San Diego State. He has also been involved in USRowing at every level, serving as a team leader for the Pan-American Games, World Rowing Championships and Junior World Rowing Championships.