BALTIMORE, May 20, 2015 — The 2015 induction class for the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame has been approved by the US Lacrosse Board of Directors. This year’s nine-person class will be officially inducted in a ceremony on Saturday, October 24, at The Grand Lodge in Hunt Valley, Md.
The 2015 inductees are: Jake Curran, Dom Fin, Diane Geppi-Aikens (posthumous), Bob Hartranft, Julie Hull Elicker, Charlie Lockwood, Sarah Nelson, Maggie Vaughan and Brian Voelker.
Tickets for the 2015 National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, sponsored by RPS Bollinger and the Markel Insurance Company, will be available to the public for purchase beginning August 1. Tickets will be sold online at uslacrosse.org/HOF.
The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, a program of US Lacrosse, was established in 1957 to honor men and women who by their deeds as players, coaches, officials and/or contributors, and by the example of their lives, personify the great contribution of lacrosse to our way of life. Just over 400 lacrosse greats are honored in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, which is located with the Lacrosse Museum at US Lacrosse Headquarters in Baltimore.
Brief bios for this year’s inductees follow, with more detailed career accomplishments listed further below.
Jake Curran
Curran will be inducted as a truly great contributor. For 40 years, Curran was recognized as one of the top officials in boys’ and men’s lacrosse. Based in Syracuse, he served as a high school and college official from 1964-2004, and worked five NCAA men’s championship games. Curran also officiated on the international level for 30 years, working in numerous World Championships, Canadian Championships and European Championships. He was one of the founding members of the International Federation of Lacrosse’s (now FIL) Referees Association, and served as the group’s first president. Curran was also referee-in-chief for three FIL World Championships. Curran has been the recipient of numerous awards, including both the Silver Whistle Award and Gold Whistle Award in New York, and the USILA’s Frenchy Julien Service Award.
Dom Fin
Fin will be inducted as a truly great player. Following an outstanding prep career at Yorktown (N.Y.) High School, Fin became a three-time first team All-American as a midfielder at Syracuse University, earning the honor in 1992, 1993 and 1994. He was selected as the winner of the USILA’s McLaughlin Award as the national midfielder of the year as a senior in 1994, and was also named MVP of the USILA’s North-South All-Star Game that season. Fin helped lead Syracuse to the 1993 NCAA title, and served as a team captain in 1994 in leading the Orange to the NCAA semifinals. Fin was previously inducted to the US Lacrosse Hudson Valley Chapter Hall of Fame in 1999.
Diane Geppi-Aikens
Geppi-Aikens will be inducted posthumously as a truly great coach. She served as head coach at her alma mater, Loyola University Maryland (formerly Loyola College) from 1989-2003, where she amassed a record of 197-71, with 10 NCAA Tournament appearances. Geppi-Aikens was selected as the IWLCA’s Division I coach of the year three times, winning the honor in 1996, 1997 and 2003. She also produced 29 All-American players during her tenure. Geppi-Aikens served as a member of the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Committee from 1995-99, and was chairperson of the committee for two years. She received the Tewaaraton Lifetime Recognition Award in 2001, and both the NCAA’s Inspiration Award and the ECAC’s Award of Valor in 2003. Geppi-Aikens has previously been inducted to two other halls of fame. She passed away in 2003.
Bob Hartranft
Hartranft will be inducted as a truly great coach. Still active, he recently completed his 48th season as head coach at Farmingdale (N.Y.) High School. Through the 2015 season, Hartranft has 694 wins, ranking third all-time among boys’ high school coaches. Hartranft led Farmingdale to the New York state championship in 2011, and also finished as state runner-up in 1978 and 2003. His teams have captured 13 Nassau County championships and made 37 consecutive playoff appearances. He has been selected as the conference coach of the year 10 times, and tabbed as the Nassau County coach of the year twice. In addition, Hartranft served as head coach of the U.S. Men’s Under-19 National Team in 1992 and led Team USA to the world championship. He was named winner of the US Lacrosse Gerry Carroll Award as the national coach of the year in 2013.
Julie Hull Elicker
Elicker will be inducted as a truly great player. After a four-year career at James Madison University, where she served as a team captain and led the Dukes to a conference championship, Elicker became a member of the U.S. National Team program from 1981-86. She competed as a member of Team USA at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, helping to capture the gold medal in 1982. She also served as a team captain for the 1986 squad that finished in second place to Australia. Elicker competed for 10 years as a post-collegiate club player, and was recipient of the Beth Allen Award in 1985 as the most outstanding U.S. team player at the US Lacrosse Women’s National Tournament.
Charlie Lockwood
Lockwood will be inducted as a truly great player. He was a four-time All-American as a midfielder at the Syracuse University, earning first team honors in 1992, second team honors in 1993 and 1994, and third team status in 1991. Additionally, Lockwood was selected to the All-NCAA Tournament team in both 1992 and 1993. Along with fellow inductee Dom Fin, Lockwood helped lead Syracuse to the 1993 NCAA title. He also played in the USILA’s North-South All-Star Game as a senior in 1994. Lockwood was a two-time member of the U.S. Men’s National Team and helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the 1994 and 1998 world championships. As a post-collegiate player, he competed as a member of the Reebok Lacrosse Club for three seasons and earned All-Club honors in 1996 and 1997.
Sarah Nelson
Nelson will be inducted as a truly great player. Nelson was a two-time collegiate All-American as a midfielder at Harvard University, earning second team honors in both 1992 and 1994. She helped to lead Harvard to the Ivy League championship in both 1991 and 1992, and received All-Ivy League recognition in 1992 and 1994. Nelson was also selected for the North-South All-Star Game following her senior season in 1994. Nelson was a three-time member of U.S. World Cup Team, helping Team USA to capture the world championship in both 1997 and 2001, and place second in 2005. All told, she was a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team program for 11 years. Nelson was the recipient of US Lacrosse’s Beth Allen Award in 2002 as the most outstanding U.S. team player at the Women’s National Tournament.
Maggie Vaughan
Vaughan will be inducted as a truly great player. Similar to Nelson, Vaughan enjoyed an All-American career as a collegiate player at Harvard University. She was a two-time All-American as a defender, earning first team honors in 1989 and 1990. Vaughan helped lead Harvard to its first NCAA title in 1990 as the Crimson defeated Maryland in the national championship game. In addition to earning All-Ivy League honors four times, she was the Ivy League’s rookie of the year as a freshman in 1987 and the Ivy League’s player of the year as a senior in 1990. Vaughan was also the recipient of an NCAA post-graduate scholarship in 1990. She was a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team program for seven years, and helped lead Team USA to the gold medal as a member of the World Cup team in both 1993 and 1997.
Brian Voelker
Voelker will be inducted as a truly great player. Voelker was a three-time All-American as a defenseman at Johns Hopkins University, earning third team status in 1989 and 1990, and first team honors as a senior in 1991. He was also selected to play in the North-South All-Star Game in 1991. As a professional, Voelker played seven indoor seasons with the Philadelphia Wings, winning three championships, and then played two seasons in Major League Lacrosse, adding another championship with the Long Island Lizards in 2003. Voelker helped the U.S. National Team to the gold medal in both 1994 and 1998. He was selected to the 1998 All-World Team and also chosen as the World’s Best Defenseman following the 1998 World Games.
A detailed listing of each inductee’s career accomplishments follows below.
Jake Curran
• High school boys’ game official, Onondaga County League, Syracuse, New York (1964-2004)
• College men’s game official (1964-2004)
• International men’s game official (1974-2005)
• NCAA Championship Games officiated, Div. I, II, III (1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980)
• World Championships officiated (1974, 1978, 1988)
• European Championships officiated (1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004)
• Canadian Championships officiated (1976, 1982)
• Referee-in-Chief in three World Championships
• Silver Whistle Award, Central New York (1989)
• USILA French Julien Service Award (1997)
• Gold Whistle Award, Upstate New York (2002)
• Inducted previously into the US Lacrosse Upstate New York Chapter Hall of Fame (1995)
Dom Fin
• Four-year high school player at Yorktown (N.Y.) High School (1987-1990)
• Selected three times as All-County player (1988-1990)
• Selected twice as a member of the N.Y. Empire State Team (1988, 1989)
• Selected as a high school All-American (1990)
• Three-time All-American at Syracuse University: 1st Team (1992, 1993, 1994)
• Winner of the USILA’s Midfielder of the Year Award (1994)
• Helped Syracuse to win NCAA championship (1993)
• Served as Syracuse team captain (1994)
• Named North team MVP in North-South All Star Game (1994)
• Inducted previously into the US Lacrosse Hudson Valley Chapter Hall of Fame (1994)
Diane Geppi-Aikens
• Head coach at Loyola University Maryland from 1989-2003)
• Compiled a coaching record of 197-71 at Loyola.
• Led Loyola to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances
• Produced 29 All-American players during her tenure at Loyola
• Selected as the IWLCA’s Division I Coach of the Year three times (1996, 1997, 2003)
• Named IWLCA South Region Coach of the Year four times
• Served as a member of the NCAA’s Women’s Lacrosse Committee (1995-1999)
• Winner of the Tewaaraton Lifetime Recognition Award (2001)
• Winner of the NCAA’s Inspiration Award (2003)
• Winner of the ECAC’s Award of Valor (2003)
• Previously inducted into US Lacrosse Greater Baltimore Chapter Hall of Fame (2001)
• Previously inducted into Loyola University Maryland’s Athletics Hall of Fame (1991)
Bob Hartranft
• Head coach at Farmingdale (N.Y.) High School (1968-present)
• Amassed 694 wins through the 2015 season, third most all-time among high school coaches
• New York state champions (2011)
• Finished as state championship runner-up twice (1978, 2003)
• Led Farmingdale to 13 Nassau County championships
• Has had 46 players become collegiate All-Americans
• Head coach for U.S. Men’s National U-19 men’s team (1992)
• Named Newsday’s Long Island Coach of the Year (2003)
• Named Nassau County Lacrosse Coaches Association Coach of the Year (1998, 1999)
• Named US Lacrosse Gerry Carroll Coaching Award winner (2013)
• Previously inducted into US Lacrosse Long Island Metro Chapter Hall of Fame (1992)
Julie Hull Elicker
• Four-year high school player at Great Valley (Pa.) High School (1972-1975)
• Served as team captain while leading Great Valley to league championships (1974, 1975)
• Four-year player at James Madison University (1976-1979)
• Team captain for JMU’s conference championship team (1978)
• Winner of JMU’s Female Leadership Award (1979)
• Active post-collegiate club player (1981-1991)
• Two-time member of the U.S. Women’s World Cup Team (1982, 1986)
• Served as team captain for 1986 World Cup team
• Winner of Beth Allen Award as outstanding U.S. team player at National Tournament (1985)
• Previously inducted into US Lacrosse Charlottesville Chapter Hall of Fame (2012)
• Previously inducted into James Madison University Athletics Hall of Fame (2000)
Charlie Lockwood
• Three-year player at West Genesee (N.Y.) High School (1988-1990)
• Helped West Genesee to New York state championship (1990)
• Selected as a high school All-American (1990)
• Four-time All-American at Syracuse Univ: 1st Team (1992); 2nd Team (1993, 1994); 3rd Team (1991)
• Helped Syracuse to win NCAA championship (1993)
• Named to the All-NCAA Tournament Team (1992, 1993)
• Selected to North-South All Star Game (1994)
• Active post-collegiate player for three years with Reebok Lacrosse Club (1996-1998)
• Selected twice to All-Club Team (1996, 1997)
• Two-time member of the gold medal winning U.S. Men’s National Team (1994, 1998)
• Previously inducted into US Lacrosse Upstate New York Chapter Hall of Fame (2012)
Sarah Nelson
• Four-year high school player at Phillips Exeter (N.H.) Academy (1987-1990)
• Selected as a high school All-American (1990)
• Four-year player as a midfielder at Harvard University (1991-1994)
• Selected twice as a second team All-American (1992, 1994)
• Selected twice to the All-Ivy League Team (1992, 1994)
• Helped Harvard win the Ivy League championship twice (1991, 1992)
• Selected for the North-South All-Star Game as a senior in 1994
• Three-time member of the U.S. Women’s World Cup Team (1997, 2001, 2005)
• Served as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team program for 11 years (1994-2005)
• Winner of Beth Allen Award as outstanding U.S. Team player at National Tournament (2002)
• Previously inducted into US Lacrosse New England Chapter Hall of Fame (2005)
Maggie Vaughan
• Three-year high school player at St. Agnes (Va.) School (1984-1986)
• Selected twice as a high school All-American (1985, 1986)
• Four-year player at Harvard University (1987-1990)
• Helped Harvard win the NCAA championship in 1990
• Selected twice as a first team All-American defender (1989, 1990)
• Selected four times to the All-Ivy League Team (1987-1990)
• Named as the Ivy League player of the year (1990)
• Named as the Ivy League rookie of the year (1987
• Two-time member of the gold medal winning U.S. Women’s World Cup Team (1993, 1997)
• Member of U.S. Women’s National Team Program (1990-1997)
• Previously inducted into US Lacrosse Potomac Chapter Hall of Fame (2008)
• Previously inducted into Harvard University’s Athletics Hall of Fame (2005)
• Previously inducted into St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes Hall of Fame (1997)
Brian Voelker
• Three-year player at Gilman School (Md.) (1985-1987)
• Selected as Baltimore All-Metro player (1986)
• Three-time All-American defenseman at Johns Hopkins: 1st Team (1991); 3rd Team (1989, 1990)
• Selected to North-South All Star Game (1991)
• Active post-collegiate player for two years (1992, 1993)
• Professional indoor league player with Philadelphia Wings for seven seasons (1992-1998)
• Professional outdoor league player for two seasons (Boston Cannons,2002; L.I. Lizards,2003)
• Two-time member of the gold medal winning U.S. Men’s National Team (1994, 1998)
• Named to the All-World Team in 1998
• Named World’s Best Defenseman in 1998
• Previously inducted into US Lacrosse Greater Baltimore Chapter Hall of Fame (2010)
About US Lacrosse
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