SALEM — Salem State University announced its 2016 induction class today for the Salem State Athletic Hall of Fame. All-American Golfer Matt Baran ’07, women’s basketball standout Danielle Jenkins-Herman ’12, All-American soccer player Yuta Kizaki ’09, All-American golfer Jeff Santora ’10, baseball player Joe Sarcia ’93 and former Salem State athletic director and women’s basketball coach Tim Shea ’83G, for service to the athletic department, will be enshrined into the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, September 30th in a ceremony at Veterans Hall on the campus of Salem State University.
“The level of achievement attained by each of the members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2016 is exactly indicative of what a Hall of Fame is intended to be; extraordinary,” added Salem State Athletic Director Peggy Carl. “Each new inductee represents the pinnacle in his/her sport and will serve as a tremendous role model for generations of student-athletes to come. I am so proud to induct each of these individuals into our Hall of Fame – they are truly deserving.”
The event will be held on Friday evening, September 30th at 6:00 p.m. in Veterans Hall, which is located in the Ellison Campus Center at Salem State University. The ceremony, which will be preceded by a dinner, is open to the public. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning in August for $35, and can be purchased online at www.salemstate.edu/alumni/events.
The Salem State Athletic Hall of Fame honors and perpetuates the memory of athletes, friends and coaches, who performed and contributed at the highest level of intercollegiate athletic competition while at Salem State University. Selection is based primarily on athletic accomplishments, integrity, sportsmanship and character. Individuals other than athletes may be named to the Hall of Fame in recognition of their services and dedication to the Salem State University athletic program.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2016
Matt Baran ’07 – Men’s Golf (2002-2003, 2004-2007)
A three-time Division III Ping All-American, Baran helped lead Salem State to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006 and 2007. The 2007 Salem State President’s Cup Winner won seven individual championships during his career, including the Western New England Invitational as a freshman while leading Salem State to an impressive 10 team-tournament titles during his four years. A three-time All-Northeast Region honoree, he was also selected to the New England Intercollegiate Golf Association (NEIGA) Team in 2006. Baran ended his career with 27 top-ten and five runner-up finishes in 43 career tournaments.
Danielle Jenkins-Herman ’12 – Women’s Basketball (2006-2010)
Jenkins-Herman, a four-year starter on the Salem State women’s basketball team, is currently the school’s third all-time leading scorer with 1,664 points, and is one of only four players in Vikings’ history to amass over 1,600 career points. A dominant player from the center position, she was the 2010 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Player of the Year. The three-time all-conference first-team selection and All-New England Women’s Basketball Second Team honoree earned the Salem State President’s Cup as a senior. In 2008, the two-time captain led the Vikings to a 22-7 record and an NCAA Tournament berth. Jenkins-Herman finished the 2009 season ranked seventh nationally with 3.6 blocked shots per game and ended her career second all-time in Salem State history in blocked shots with 247 and third all-time in rebounds with 800.
Yuta Kizaki ’09 – Men’s Soccer (2005-2008)
A two-time All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as a junior and senior, Kizaki was also the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009. A four-time, first-team all-conference selection, the midfielder helped lead the Vikings to four consecutive league championship title game appearances as Salem State compiled an overall record of 52-22-3 during his career. The 2009 President’s Cup Winner led the Vikings to the 2006 MASCAC regular season championship; was also a three-time All-New England selection, finishing his collegiate career with 33 goals and 21 assists.
Jeff Santora ’10 – Men’s Golf (2006-2010)
A two-time all-region golfer, he was named an All-American by the NCAA and the Golf Coaches Association of America in 2009. Santora was recognized as one of the top 25 golfers in the country by the NCAA during his senior year, winning the Guy Tedesco Award as the top collegiate golfer in New England. Awarded the President’s Cup in 2010, he won six individual titles during his career, including the Williams Invitational and the Tim Brown Invitational at Skidmore College, where he shot a tournament-best -66. The three-time co-captain was an Academic All-American, graduating Cum Laude, and was the winner of the 2010 Howard C. Smith Award, which is given annually to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Athlete of the Year.
Joe Sarcia ’93 – Baseball (1986, 1988-1990)
A two-time All-New England selection, who helped Salem State to the 1990 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) championship. Sarcia finished with a career .360 batting average, including hitting .423 his senior season, and is just one of five players in Salem State history to top the 20-home run mark for a career with 26. A two-time All-MASCAC first team selection, he signed as a free agent with the Chicago Cubs after his senior season. He is regarded as one of the finest hitters in Salem State history.
Tim Shea ’83G – Athletic Director (2002-2014), Head Women’s Basketball Coach (1981-2011)
Shea joined Salem State as the full-time women’s basketball coach in 1981 after a successful stint at Salem High School. During his tenure, Salem State dominated the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC), winning a combined 38 championships — (22 regular season and 16 postseason titles). Shea, one of the all-time wins leaders in NCAA Division III women’s basketball history, had an overall record of 649–179 (.784); achieved his greatest accomplishment during the 1985-86 season when he directed the Lady Vikings to the university’s first and – to date – only national team championship. The 1985-86 Lady Vikings posted a 29-1 final record and were ranked No. 1 the entire season. Shea was also cited by the New England Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (NEWBA) and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) with regional and national coach-of-the-year honors.
Before retiring from coaching in 2011, Shea led the school to a record 24 NCAA Division III post-season tournaments, including 14 in a row from 1993-2006, and coached nine NCAA Division III All-Americans during his tenure. The basketball court at Twohig Gymnasium was renamed Tim Shea Court in 2015.
His tenure as athletic director included the addition of several varsity sports, including men’s and women’s lacrosse, and women’s ice hockey. The O’Keefe Sports Complex facilities also received significant upgrades as the department of athletics and recreation expanded with the addition of the new Gassett Fitness Center in 2013. The University also renamed the athletics endowment, the Timothy P. Shea ’83G Athletic Endowment in 2015.
