CALDWELL, N.J. - Caldwell College Athletics, in conjunction with Cougar Pride, will induct five former student-athletes and one contributor into its Hall of Fame this year, the Hall of Fame Committee announced. The 2011 Hall of Fame class will be inducted at the Hall of Fame Dinner on Friday, September 23 in the George R. Newman Center.
The Caldwell College Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 2010 to honor student-athletes, coaches and contributors who have played significant roles in the success of the intercollegiate athletic programs at Caldwell College. Last fall, the college inducted its inaugural class into the Hall of Fame, which is located on the first floor of the Newman Center. The Hall of Fame Dinner is the main fundraising event for Cougar Pride, the official booster club of Caldwell College Athletics.
“I am honored to announce the second Hall of Fame class, and I congratulate all of the inductees,” said
Mark A. Corino, Executive Director of Athletics. “Last year we recognized the people who formed the foundation of our athletic programs in the inaugural Hall of Fame class. This group took the next step and brought our programs to greater heights with their outstanding contributions and performances.”
The 2011 class of the Caldwell College Athletics Hall of Fame includes Sister Vivien Jennings, O.P. '60 (contributor), Nicole Campbell Russo '97 (women's basketball), Emmett Idzahl '97 (men's soccer), Brian Tonkovich '98 (men's basketball), John Pein '99 (baseball), and Corinne Reiser Houser '04 (softball).
Sister Vivien Jennings was President of Caldwell College during an important time, not only for athletics but for the college in general. Early in her tenure as president, which began in 1984, the decision was made to make the transition from an all-women's college to a co-educational college. Expanding the intercollegiate athletics department was an important element in going co-ed, and in 1987 Caldwell fielded its first men's basketball team. The following year, Sister Vivien hired Corino as Caldwell's first full-time director of athletics. Other significant enhancements to the athletic programs include the construction of the athletic field, home of the Cougar soccer and softball teams, the relocation and expansion of the tennis courts, and the addition of men's soccer and tennis.
Sister Vivien, who retired as president in 1994, recognized the impact an intercollegiate athletic program can have in the education of students. “I have always been a strong believer in the value of a well-balanced education, including both academic learning and physical development,” she said. “Obviously, a full athletic program helps to maintain that balance. Especially when we considered the move to co-ed status, we recognized the need to make a serious commitment of money and personnel to expand athletic offerings.”
Nicole Campbell Russo made an immediate impact after arriving at Caldwell in 1993, earning all-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) honors and receiving the CACC Rookie of the Year award. That year, Russo helped the Cougars win the program's first CACC Tournament championship and advance to the national tournament. She went on to become a three-time All-American, the 1996 CACC Player of the Year and the 1997 New Jersey Collegiate Basketball Association Player of the Year. A tenacious rebounder, Russo ranked among the nation's leaders en route to grabbing a school-record 1,334 boards in her career. She currently ranks seventh on Caldwell's all-time scoring list with 1,455 career points. Russo, a native and current resident of North Arlington, N.J., is the principal at Jefferson Elementary School in North Arlington.
Emmett Idzahl manned the goal for the Cougar men's soccer team from 1993 to 1996, keeping the opponents at bay with his athleticism and fearless style. He made an immediate impact in his first season, recording 217 saves to earn All-American honorable mention honors. That season the Cougars tied for the program's first CACC regular-season title and advanced to the finals of the conference tournament. A three-time all-CACC goalkeeper, Idzahl played professionally in the United Soccer League with the Central Jersey Riptide and the New Jersey Stallions, as well as with Hampton Roads of the A-League. He was also a member of Major League Soccer's New York-New Jersey MetroStars for one game. Originally from West Long Branch, N.J., Idzahl is a police officer in Wall, N.J. and lives in Brick, N.J. with his wife Angela and their children Benjamin, Emma and Molly.
Brian Tonkovich was the focal point of two CACC championship teams during the mid-1990s. A 6-foot-8 center, Tonkovich was a three-time all-CACC honoree and a two-time All-American. As a senior in 1998, he was named the CACC Player of the Year and made the All-America third team after averaging 19.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. That year the Cougars finished 23-7, won the CACC Tournament and advanced to the national tournament after ranking as high as 18th nationally. The first of three Tonkovich brothers to attend Caldwell, Tonkovich recorded 1,855 points and 1,043 rebounds in his career to rank third and second, respectively on the school's all-time lists. The Point Pleasant, N.J. native currently lives in Brick, N.J. with his wife Rachel and their children Brian and Ella Jo. He is an analyst for the Department of Defense.
John Pein came to Caldwell as a catcher from Hudson Catholic High School, but would eventually excel on the mound. A freshman on the Cougars' first baseball team in 1996, Pein won 18 games as a pitcher in his four-year career to rank second all-time at Caldwell. Also a threat at the plate, he is second in career batting average, batting .374. His best season was his senior year, when he went 7-4 with 70 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings while batting .398. That year, Pein led the Cougars to a 21-18 record, including a 12-3 mark in conference play, and to the CACC Tournament finals for the first time in the program's history. A native of Secaucus, N.J., Pein attended Hudson Catholic High School. He still lives in Secaucus and is a seventh-grade math teacher at Lincoln Grammar School in North Bergen, N.J.
Corinne Reiser Houser dominated opposing batters for the Cougar softball team from 2001 to 2004, racking up a whopping 782 strikeouts in her career. She also holds school records for earned run average (0.83), winning percentage (.747) and single-season batting average (.492). In 2004, Houser led the Cougars to the CACC regular-season and tournament titles, the NCAA Division II Northeast Region crown and a berth in the Women's College World Series by pitching all nine postseason games. A four-time all-CACC performer, Houser was named a second team All-American in 2004 after going 27-4 with 331 strikeouts and a microscopic ERA of 0.51 that year. A native of West Milford, N.J., Houser lives in Highland Lakes, N.J., with her husband Jeff and their sons Tyler and Trent.
The Hall of Fame Dinner will be held on Friday, September 23 at the George R. Newman Center. The cocktail hour begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Newman Center lobby, followed by dinner and the Hall of Fame ceremony at 7:00 p.m. Cost is $125 per person and $1,250 for a table of 10. All proceeds will go to the Cougar Pride General Fund, which supports the degree completion program and enhancements for the 11 intercollegiate athletic programs. For reservations and more information, contact Caldwell College Athletics at (973) 618-3260.
