ITHACA, N.Y. -- Eleven new members, including five All-Americans, have been selected for induction into the Cornell University Athletics Hall of Fame as the Class of 2024. The ceremony will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Selected to be enshrined in September are Hannah Balleza '14, field hockey; Montez Blair '14, men's track and field; Terry Cullen, special category; Bernie DePalma, special category; Allyson DiMagno '14, women's basketball; Jeff Mathews '14, football; Jason Noble '13, men's lacrosse; Patrick Slogic '14, men's soccer; Rachel Sorna '14, women's track and field/cross country; Jessi Steinberg '12, women's lacrosse; and Catherine White '12, women's ice hockey. Additionally, Olympian Tracy Eisser '12 will be officially inducted after being elected as part of the Class of 2023.
The Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame was initiated in 1978. It became a reality through the thoughtfulness and generosity of the late Ellis H. Robison, Class of 1918, whose devotion, advice and financial support to his alma mater started immediately upon graduation from the university.
A brief biography of each of the 11 inductees follows.
Hannah Balleza '14, Field Hockey
Balleza was a four-time All-Ivy League pick and a two-time second-team NFHCA Mideast All-Region pick. One of the most prolific scorers in Big Red history, Balleza was just the fifth player in Cornell history to earn four All-Ivy selections. She was a second-team selection in 2011 and 2013 and was a first-team honoree in 2012. Balleza finished her career ranked fourth overall in Cornell history for both career points (91) and career assists (21), while ranking third overall in career goals (35). She led the Ivy League with nine assists as a senior and tied the school mark for goals in a single season (14) and second overall for points in a single season (35) as a junior. Balleza was named the 2010 Ivy League co-Rookie of the Year. She was a four-year member of the US National Indoor Squad Team (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) while attending Cornell.
Montez Blair '14, Men's Track & Field
Blair was a six-time NCAA All-American in the high jump, earning a pair of first-team honors (2014 indoors and outdoors) and three second-team accolades (2012 indoors and outdoors, 2013 indoors and outdoors). The USTFCCCA regional Field Athlete of the Year in 2013, he graduated with school records in the indoor (7-5 1/4) and outdoor (7-4 1/2) high jump events, claiming three Heps titles. He also won the NCAA Northeast Regional crown twice (outdoors in 2013 and 2014). Blair was chosen to represent the U.S. at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia in 2013 and earned a bronze medal at the U.S.A. Championships. As a senior, Blair took first place in the high jump and sixth in the long jump at the Indoor Heps and was second in the high jump and fifth in the long jump outdoors. He finished second in the high jump at the IC4A's indoors before placing fourth at the NCAAs. Blair won the NCAA East Preliminary Round outdoors in the high jump and concluded his career with a seventh-place effort at the NCAA meet, earning his final All-America honor. He tied for first indoors at the NCAA Regionals as a junior in 2013 before placing 11th at the national championship, then won the outdoor Heps crown, won the East Regional title and finished 11th at NCAAs. Blair won the IC4A in the high jump as a sophomore and placed ninth at the NCAAs indoors as a sophomore, then won the outdoor Heps, placed third at the ECAC championships, won the NCAA East regional and finished 13th nationally at the NCAA meet. He placed seventh at the 2012 Olympic Trials and qualified for the 2016 Trials. Blair spent one season competing for the basketball team after transferring from the U.S. Naval Academy and Iowa Western CC.
Terry Cullen, Special Category
Cullen served as head coach of the Big Red sprint football program in six decades, taking over as co-head coach along with his father Bob in 1977 after serving as an assistant coach since 1964. In 45 seasons as a head coach and 58 years with the program, Cullen's teams combined for a 143-138-4 record and garnered five of the program's six league championships (1978, 1982, 1984, 1986, 2006) and all three unbeaten seasons (1978, 1982, 2006). He was an assistant coach on the sixth title-winning team (1975), helping Cornell to a 44-31-4 during those seasons. In all, Cullen was involved in 75 percent of the games played in the entire history of the program, which kicked off in 1936. However, more important than the win/loss record, is his impact of the lives for more than 1000 Cornell students who played 150s/Sprint Football. To them he was a life coach, father figure and mentor. Many of his players would say "TC changed my life for the better". He is beloved by the 1,500 Sprint alumni, managers, parents and friends of the program and this is what makes him one of Cornell's legendary Coaches. Cullen's coaching background also included freshman lacrosse (five years) at Cornell. The position was endowed in his name in the fall of 2001 by Jay Carter '71, ME '72 and his wife, Juliann Reisner Carter '71.
Bernie DePalma, Special Category
A legendary figure in Big Red athletics, DePalma served generations of student-athletes and shaped one of the nation's most respected sports medicine departments over 42 years. After arriving at Cornell in 1980 as Head of Physical Therapy and Supervisor of Athletic Training and Rehabilitation and taking over as head athletic trainer three years later, DePalma's expertise provided a significant impact on national athletics legislation. He served on numerous NCAA committees, including the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport Safety, which he chaired; the NCAA special committee on student-athlete welfare, access and equity; and the national athletic trainer's task force which developed medical coverage guidelines for all intercollegiate athletic programs. He played an important role in the initial development of the Ivy League's collaboration with the Big Ten on concussion research while developing return to academics and play protocols in the league and nationwide. DePalma was honored in 2001 by the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) with the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. That same year he was honored with the Thomas Sheehan Award for character, commitment and achievement in athletic training by the New York State Athletic Trainers' Association. He presented at numerous national conventions, published dozens of papers and written chapters in textbooks that are used in Athletic Training curriculums, and served on professional committees at the university, state, regional and national levels as a recognized expert in various topics around health and safety. He has been instrumental in developing and implementing various programs, including strength and conditioning initiatives when he arrived at Cornell, graduate assistant internship programs and undergraduate athletic training student clinical experiences. One of DePalma's outstanding achievements was his innovative approach to injury prevention and rehabilitation as seen in his many publications and invited national presentations. His enduring commitment to athletic training, dedication to the athlete's health, safety and welfare, leadership in the profession and pioneering contributions to sports medicine contributed to his impact on the profession of athletic training.
Allyson DiMagno '14, Women's Basketball
DiMagno was a three-time All-Ivy League selection, including a second-team pick as a junior and senior and an honorable mention honoree as a sophomore. The three-time CoSIDA Academic all-district first teamer was just the 10th player in conference history, and the first-ever in Cornell history, to reach 1,300 career points and 900 career rebounds. DiMagno concluded her time on East Hill as the all-time career rebounding leader in Big Red history and set career records for offensive rebounds (347), defensive rebounds (591), games played (112) and minutes played (3663). She ranked second in Cornell history for career free throw percentage (.837) and was third all-time in career points (1,329), behind only Karen Walker and Keri Farley. Additionally, she ranked in the top-10 in free throws made (fourth – 328), steals (fifth – 173), field goals made (sixth – 457), 3-point field goal percentage (seventh –.354) and field goal percentage (ninth – .440). In terms of single-season performances, she also set the school record for rebounds (321), offensive rebounds (125) and defensive rebounds (196) in 2012-13. She finished that year ranked 13th in the nation in rebounds per game. DiMagno set the school record for Ivy League Player of the Week selections in a season (four) in 2012-13. Over the course of her final two seasons, she recorded a double-double in nearly half of the games she played in (26-of-56) and of those 26 double-doubles, 17 came during 28 Ivy League games. She was named Ivy Player of the Week six times, good for 12th overall in conference history. As a junior, she led the Big Red in both points and rebounds, averaging a double-double for the season with 14.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game and had 22 boards in a double overtime win over Columbia.
Jeff Mathews '14, Football
Mathews, a two-time All-American, ended his storied Cornell career as the most prolific quarterback in Ivy League history and one of the top in all of college football. He ranks among the top 20 all-time in career passing yards in the FCS and set the Ivy League's all-time passing record by more than 2,000 yards. Mathews owns 47 Big Red school records and 18 Ivy League marks for passing and total offense. The three-year team captain was named one of 16 finalists for the National Football Foundation's William V. Campbell Trophy which recognizes the top football scholar-athlete in the nation. The three-time All-Ivy selection was a Capital One Academic All-District first-team selection and a two-time finalist for the Bushnell Cup for the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year, winning in 2011. Mathews also was a two-time member of the Walter Payton Award Watch List as FCS national player of the year. After the season, Mathews became the fifth Cornellian to accept an invite to the East-West Shrine game, serving as a team captain for the East team, and also accepted an invitation to the NFL Draft Combine before signing a contract with the Atlanta Falcons. Mathews also spent time on the practice squad with the Indianapolis Colts and the Arizona Cardinals before playing four seasons in the CFL, including winning a Grey Cup in 2017 with the Toronto Argonauts.
Jason Noble '13, Men's Lacrosse
Noble was a three time All-America selection, being chosen to the first-team in 2013 after a second-team selection in 2012 and an honorable mention nod in 2011. Noble was also a two-time first-team All-Ivy pick after earning honorable mention accolades his sophomore season. As a senior, he was the anchor of the 15th best defense in the nation, allowing opponents just 9.06 goals per game, and he ranked 16th in the nation in caused turnovers (1.8 per game). Noble registered at least one ground ball in all but one game during his career and left Cornell ranking 10th overall with 216 career ground balls. After holding the reigning Tewaaraton Trophy winner, Colgate's Peter Baum, to just one meaningless assist and only three shots, none of which were one goal, Noble was named the Ivy League Co-Player of the Week on March 4, 2013, becoming the first defensemen to win the award since the 2010 campaign. That same week, he was honored as the National Player of the Week by the Baltimore Sun. Noble was the 10th overall pick in the 2013 MLL draft and also spent time playing in the NLL and PLL. He was named the 2017 NLL Defensive Player of the Year in leading the Georgia Swarm to the league title.
Patrick Slogic '14, Men's Soccer
A three-time first-team All-Ivy selection in the back, Slogic was named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. A two-time MAC Hermann Watch List selection for national player of the year, he earned first-team all-region accolades in each of his final three seasons. A weapon on set pieces on offense, he tallied eight goals and four assists for 22 points, including four game-winning goals, while starting 64 of the 65 games he appeared in during his career. He ended his college career on a consecutive minutes streak of 5,123 and graduated with a school record 5,894 minutes played and with 64 consecutive career starts. A candidate for the Senior CLASS Award in 2013, he was an academic all-district choice in his final campaign. Slogic's teams sported a 35-17-15 record, including a 15-2 mark and an Ivy title in 2012. Slogic was drafted by the Columbus Crew in the MLS SuperDraft and played professionally for four seasons in the MLS and the USL.
Rachel Sorna '14, Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Sorna was a five-time All-American, earning accolades twice in cross country and three times in track and field. A two-time first-team All-Ivy League and NCAA all-region selection in cross country, she was a six-time All-Ivy League selection in track. Sorna graduated with the school and Ivy League record in the 3,000 steeplechase, finishing fourth outdoors in both 2013 and 2014 at the NCAA Championships to earn first-team All-America honors. She also set school records in the 3000 meters and indoor and outdoor in the 5000 meters. She captured second-team All-America accolades as a junior in the 5,000 meters indoors. In cross country, Sorna placed 14th at the 2013 NCAA cross country championship and 34th at the 2012 meet. She won the Penn Relays 3000 meter event in 2013 and the outdoor Heps steeplechase titles in both 2013 and 2014, becoming the first Cornellian to win the event in back-to-back years. Her school record time of 9:43.48 in the event was more than 23 seconds faster than the next closest mark at Cornell. Sorna was a cross country and track and field captain who was a part of four Heps team titles (two in cross country and two in track and field), winning the Charles H. Moore Award as Cornell's top senior athlete in 2014.
Jessi Steinberg '12, Women's Lacrosse
Steinberg was a three-time first-team All-Ivy League selection and a three-time IWLCA Northeast All-Region pick. The two-year captain graduated with the fourth-most points (177), third-most goals (136) and eighth-most assists (41) in school history. Her senior season total of 65 points was also the third-best single season ever at Cornell. Steinberg was a four-time Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week selection during her career. She earned second-team All-Region honors as a sophomore and junior and first team as a senior. Steinberg was the leading scorer for the Israeli national team that competed at the 2017 FIL World Cup and again competed in 2022.
Catherine White '12, Women's Ice Hockey
A second-team All-American in 2010, White was named ECAC Hockey and Ivy League Player of the Year that season. The ECAC Hockey and Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2009, she was a three-time all-ECAC Hockey selection and part of teams that made three NCAA Frozen Four appearances, including finishing as national runner-up in 2020, to go along with three ECAC Hockey and Ivy League regular season titles and a pair of ECAC Hockey tournament crowns. White was a Patty Kazmaier Award nominee in 2010. She finished her career ranked sixth on the school's career scoring list with 167 points, including fourth in assists (101) and ninth in goals (66). Her 10-game winning goals and 19 power play scores both ranked among the school's all-time top 10 marks and her +80 plus/minus over her career ranked second at graduation. In seven career postseason games, she scored nine points (six goals, three assists), including the overtime game-winner in the national semifinal against Mercyhurst, handing the top-ranked Lakers their only loss of the season. She was a member of Canada's U18 and U22 teams while enrolled at Cornell, winning a silver medal at the 2008 U18 IIHF World Championships and the gold cup at the 2010 and 2011 MLP Cup, scoring a goal in the 2011 finals.
