Galloway, N.J. – Stockton Athletics inducted its Hall of Fame class of 2024 at a banquet held in the Stockton Campus Center Event Room on October 18. The inductees were softball player Joey Afflitto 12, track & field and cross country runners Alicia Belko '17 and Cassandra Hrusko '17, and men's soccer coach Tim Lenahan '83
Approximately 150 people attended the dinner, which was part of Stockton's University Weekend celebration. The ceremony was the 13th for the Stockton Athletics Hall of Fame, which was founded in 2010 and now includes 52 individuals plus seven Osprey teams.
Belko was the first honoree to the podium following an introduction by Jayson Resch, head men's track & field and cross country coach. She is the only cross country All-American in Stockton history, and she earned All-American status in the 3000m steeplechase during 2017 outdoor track & field season.
"I am forever grateful that Stockton connected me with role models in peer form," Belko said in reference to her teammates, a group that included fellow inductee Hrusko. Belko later commented, "The sweetest belief that we have is the belief in ourself and the belief in possibility."
Afflitto made her way to the stage after an introduction by her coach at Stockton, Val Julien. "Feeling blessed is an understatement," Afflitto stated regarding the emotions of the night. The two-time NFCA All-Region and three-time NJAC All-Conference player added, "Stockton Softball has forever changed my life."
Hrusko was introduced by Resch after dinner and mentioned a few noteworthy connections. She was coached in high school by Resch's father Thomas, who was in attendance. Hrusko also was a recipient of the Tara Barker Scholarship, named for the Hall of Fame softball player who passed away due to cancer, and she met Barker's parents at the Hall of Fame banquet on Friday.
Hrusko, a 2017 All-American in the 3000m steeplechase as well as a four-time All-Region runner in cross country and track, recognized Jayson Resch by saying "I truly can't thank you enough for being a mentor to me." She also stated, "I have met so many people through the sport that shaped me into the person that I am."
Lenahan, the final inductee of the night, was introduced by associate athletic director Jeff Haines, who was hired by Lenahan as an assistant men's soccer coach at Stockton and later succeeded him as the head coach of the Ospreys.
Lenahan was a three-time NJAC Coach of the Year at Stockton, his alma mater, and he went on to win two Patriot League titles as head coach at Lafayette College and record nine NCAA Tournament berths in 20 seasons at Northwestern University.
He called Stockton's 3-0 victory at Rowan in the 1995 NCAA Tournament the most special win of his career. The triumph was Stockton's first-ever over the rival Profs. "Stockton means so much to me," Lenahan said. "No matter where I went in the country, I've always been just a Division III guy from Stockton." The quote was very appropriate for the Stockton Athletics Hall of Fame.