DURHAM COLLEGE SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY A BIG SUCCESS

Speeches: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkEM4L7aXPk
Photos: www.flickr.com/photos/durhamlords/sets/72157660621845009
History of the Lords: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzSNHdUh3M4

OSHAWA, Ont. - Friday night was a very special evening for Durham College as the department of athletics held the 17th DC Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre.

The induction class for the Hall of Fame included student-athlete Erin Smith (fastball/volleyball) along with former soccer athletes/coaches David Staley and Stan Bombino.

"It was an amazing evening as we welcomed back three of the all-time greats," said Ken Babcock, athletic director. "It was wonderful to have such a great turnout at the event and to welcome back so many familiar faces. What a great night for everyone involved."

Family and friends, current Hall of Famers, staff, faculty, administration, past athletes of the year, student association representatives, current and past coaches, team captains and members of the alumni association were all in attendance at the ceremony.

Erin Smith - Athlete (Fastball/Volleyball)

Erin Smith of Stratford came to Durham College in the fall of 2001. She graduated in 2005 having left her mark on Lords history as one of its greatest dual-sport athletes.

On the fastball diamond, Smith was dominant on both sides of the ball, posting a .403 career batting average (60 for 149) with 34 runs batted in and 47 runs scored in 45 games.

On the mound, she was nearly unhittable, posting a 24-0 career record with a 1.04 earned-run average and 156 strikeouts. She finished on a high, posting a 6-0 record allowing no earned runs in the 2004-05 season, where she was named the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association's player of the year.

Smith led the Lords to an OCAA silver medal in 2001-02, followed by three straight gold medals from 2002-03 to 2004-05. Smith racked up the accolades in her four seasons; she was the team's most valuable player every year, an OCAA all-star three times (2001-02, 2002-03, 2004-05), the OCAA's top pitcher three times (2001-02, 2002-03, 2004-05), the most valuable player at the OCAA Championships twice (2002-03, 2003-04), and the top pitcher at the OCAA Championships twice (2002-03, 2003-04).

She was also a key contributor to Durham's OCAA-record 56-game winning streak, stretching from the 2002-03 season through the 2005-06 season. In addition, her No. 11 jersey was retired upon her graduation.

However, Smith was also a force on the volleyball court for the Lords. She was a four-year starter for the Lords, her statistics improving with every season. All told, she finished her tenure with 564 points, second-most in Durham College history, though her 3.6 points per game is the all-time record among Lords who have played in at least 21 games.

The volleyball team made the OCAA's Final Four every year Smith was there, highlighted by a gold medal in 2001-02. The 2003-04 season proved to be Smith's biggest as she recorded 203 points in 47 games to lead the OCAA's Central East Division in scoring, earning OCAA All-Star and CCAA All-Canadian honours in the process.

Stan Bombino - Athlete/Coach (Soccer)

Stan Bomino came to Durham College in 1977 from Oshawa, Ont. Bombino made headlines in his freshman year when he became the first Lord to win the OCAA scoring title, when he scored 13 goals. The following year, he finished second in league scoring with nine goals in eight games, accounting for more than half of the Lords' offence. His 22 goals still ranks third in Durham College all-time scoring.

During Bombino's 16 years as head coach, the Lords men's soccer program posted an amazing overall record of 119-66-20. The Lords were always contenders qualifying for the OCAA final eight in nine times in his career.

In his first season as head coach, the Lords upset the undefeated Algonquin Thunder to advance to the OCAA championship, where they would finish in fourth place overall.

The following season, the Lords went 9-1-0 during the regular season and ended up winning a bronze medal at the OCAA championship. As hosts of the CCAA national championship that season, the Lords found themselves back on the podium as they earned a national bronze medal, beating Dawson College of Quebec 1-0. In the indoor circuit, Durham won a silver medal in 2004.

David Staley - Athlete/Coach (Soccer)

Staley is one of the most successful athletes in Durham College history.

In his freshman season in 1996, the Lords finished with an undefeated record of 4-0-2, winning the OCAA east region while allowing a league-low four goals in six games. Staley was named the OCAA league top goalkeeper. At the OCAA championship, the Lords advanced to the gold medal game with a 1-0 shutout over Humber, but eventually fell to the Fanshawe Falcons losing 2-1 in penalty kicks.

In 1997, the Lords were once again dominant during the regular season with a 5-1-0 record, only allowing five goals against in six games. At the OCAA championship hosted by Durham, the Lords avenged their loss against the Falcons in the semi-finals with a 2-1 victory. In the gold medal game, Durham defeated Humber 3-2 to win their second ever title in men's soccer. At the CCAA national championship in Quebec, the Lords finished in fourth place overall, dropping a 2-0 decision to Langara in the bronze medal game. That year, Staley was named the Durham College men's soccer MVP and an OCAA All-Star.

The following year, Staley continued his dominance on the pitch as he was named a CCAA All-Canadian, the Durham College men's soccer MVP and the Durham College overall athlete of the year. The Lords cruised through the regular season with a 4-2-0 record allowing only seven goals in six games and finished in fourth place overall at the provincial finals.

Following his career, Durham officially retired Staley's jersey for his success and contribution to the college and sport.

ALL-TIME HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES (44)

The Durham College Sports Hall of Fame officially opened in the spring of 1997 in order to recognize significant achievements and accomplishments of Durham student-athletes, coaches and builders. On behalf of Durham College and the Durham College Athletic Department we are pleased to announce the formal induction of outstanding individuals into the Durham College Sports Hall of Fame and we salute their many contributions and achievements during their time at Durham.

David Stewart inducted in 1997
Gerry Pettit inducted in 1997
Vaso Vujanovic inducted in 1997
Ted Harrison inducted in 1997
Carol Hart (Cruwys) inducted in 1997
Leslie Pellerin (Seeley) inducted in 1997

Herb Kirkconnell inducted in 1998
Jill Drinkwater inducted in 1998
Richard Snowden inducted in 1998

Ernie Rainbow inducted in 1999
Susan Scobie (Smith) inducted in 1999
Allen Gates inducted in 1999

Julie Hornsby inducted in 2000
Ryan Hughes inducted in 2000
James Buck inducted in 2000

Stan Marchut inducted in 2001
Michael Stauffer inducted in 2001

Gary Polonsky inducted in 2002
Augusto Duquesne inducted in 2002

Dave Dobson inducted in 2003
Joanna Van Dyke inducted in 2003

Anne Weir inducted in 2004
Julie Goedhuis inducted in 2004

Dave Cutler inducted 2005
Tammy Baker inducted 2005

Samantha Langford inducted on November 18, 2005 10th Anniversary Edition
O'neil Brown inducted on November 18, 2005 10th Anniversary Edition

Laurence Bishop inducted 2006
Bill Crowdis inducted 2006

Mike Timpano inducted in 2007
Darlene Cook (Anderson) inducted in 2007
Laurie Castator (Thompson) inducted in 2007

Mario Bruno inducted in 2008
Ron Winterink inducted in 2008

Rick Debres inducted in 2009
Stephanie Axford inducted in 2009

Frank Bruno inducted in 2011
Kerry Vinson inducted in 2011
Joe Fitzpatrick inducted in 2011

1985-86 Women's Volleyball Team inducted in 2013
1987-88 Men's Soccer Team inducted in 2013

Stan Bombino inducted in 2015
Dave Staley inducted in 2015
Erin Smith inducted in 2015

Source: Durham College

Photo Credit: Al Fournier