Union, N.J. (7/29/21) – The Kean University Athletic Department is proud to announce the 2021 Benisch Athletics Hall of Fame induction class.
This year's class features four standout athletes as well as two accomplished teams.
The induction ceremony will take place during Homecoming weekend on October 17, 2021. Further information about how to reserve tickets for the event will be released later this summer.
Rich Cheifitz (Men's Lacrosse – 2011-2014)
Cheifitz was a key member of the Cougars during his four-year career, earning All-American honors three times. He garnered Skyline Conference Player of the Year honors in his junior and senior campaigns and was selected to play in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association North-South All-Star game at the conclusion of his collegiate career. Off the field, he received USILA Scholar All-American honors.
In 69 games played, he collected 165 goals and 88 assists good for 253 points. He also scooped up 113 groundballs. He is currently ranked sixth all-time in program history in goals scored.
Upon graduation, Cheifitz competed in the World Lacrosse Championships as a member of Team Israel. The team finished seventh (out of 38 teams) as Cheifitz recorded three goals and two assists while playing all eight games. He is currently an active military member of the United States Coast Guard.
Kevin Herget (Baseball - 2010-2013)
Herget has left his name all over the Kean record books as he has thrown the most innings of any player in program history with over 345 innings logged. In addition, his name stands next to most strikeouts with 356 along with most wins (31). During his senior campaign, he posted a 10-2 record with a 1.62 ERA and 106 strikeouts. His 106 strikeouts were the second-most in all of Division III that season. For his efforts, Herget was recognized as a second-team American Baseball Coaches Association All-American, New Jersey Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year and Eastern College Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year.
He was a part of three NJAC Championships, three NCAA Regional Championships and advanced to the NCAA Division III World Series for three straight seasons (2011-2013). In addition to his career marks, he holds the single-season records for wins (10) and strikeouts (136).
Herget was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2013 MLB draft and is currently a member of the Cleveland Indians organization at Triple-A Columbus. In his minor league career, he has amassed 44 wins and 32 saves with 530 strikeouts.
Marissa Robinson (Field Hockey - 2012-2015)
Robinson was an all-around All-American for the Cougars during her four-year career at Kean. While earning National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-American honors her senior season for her success on the field, she also earned CoSIDA Academic All-American honors for success in the classroom. Additional accolades included NJAC Midfielder of the Year, selection to the NFHCA Senior All-Star game and three ECAC tournament appearances.
One accolade that Robinson can say is hers alone in Kean history is being named an NCAA Woman of the Year Top 10 finalist.
She recorded 107 points on the field (42 goals, 23 assists and 11 game-winning goals).
Off the field, she was a member of the Kean University, NJAC and NCAA National Student-Athlete Advisory Committees. Robinson later joined the leadership development department as an intern in the NCAA Postgraduate Internship Program. Upon completion of the program, she joined the NCAA full-time as an assistant director of leadership development. In her role, she was responsible for minority initiatives such as the Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute, the Achieving Communication Success Workshop and the McLendon Summit, as well as primary administrator responsibilities for the Division II and Division III Pathway Program, the NCAA and NFL Coaches Academy and the Student-Athlete Leadership Forum. She was twice recognized for her work with top 10 nominations for the NCAA's President's Award, celebrating the contributions of NCAA employees.
Robinson is currently the Executive Director for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Athletics at Georgetown University.
Courtney Yard (Softball – 2012-2015)
You can find Yard's name all over the Kean softball record book as she currently holds over 10 records. Most notably she has the best ERA (1.45), most strikeouts (847), and most innings pitched (897.2). In addition, she threw two perfect games and a no-hitter. To date, no other player in program history has recorded a perfect game.
She collected National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American honors in addition to being selected to the all-region team four times. Her accomplishments include NJAC Pitcher of the Year, NJAC Rookie of the Year, and ECAC Pitcher of the Year honors. Yard advanced to the NCAA tournament three times in her career, culminating with a World Series appearance her senior season and a fifth-place finish.
Off the field, she earned CoSIDA Academic All-American and All-District honors.
Yard is currently a high school mathematics educator and high school softball coach.
2007 Baseball Team
For the first time in the program's history and during the team's fifth appearance in the national tournament, the 2007 baseball team took home the biggest prize in Division III baseball with a 5-4, 10-inning victory over Emory University to win the 2007 NCAA Division III National Championship. It's the second NCAA national title for any sport in Kean history.
The Cougars finished with a 43-8 overall record and did not lose a single game in the NCAA Tournament, winning eight straight games between regional and world series competitions. In an ironic twist, Kean had identical scores (5-4 in 10 innings) to win both brackets (regional and world series).
Dan Mattonelli led the way offensively as he batted .351 with 48 RBI. Ryan Clark started every game in 2007 and recorded 44 RBI with 13 extra base hits. Hall of Famer Perry Schatzow also started every game that season and batted .337 with 68 hits, none bigger than the game-winning hit deep in the shortstop hole to score Joe D'Andrea from third. The offensive unit batted .306 with 26 home runs and 401 runs scored. Known for their small ball, the team had 118 stolen bases with 30 from Maikel De La Rosa.
On the mound, Joe Augustine and Hall of Famer Dan Zeffiro combined for 18 wins in 23 starts with 13 complete games to their credit. Each would go on to sign MLB minor league contracts after the season.
1986-87 Women's Basketball Team
The women's basketball team finished the 86-87 season with a remarkable 27-4 overall mark under first-year head coach Rich Wilson and advanced all the way to the NCAA Final Four. The season featured winning streaks of 13 and 11, respectively, as Kean captured its fourth consecutive New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship.
Co-captain Torrie Rumph led the team in scoring and crossed the 1,000 point mark for her career. For her efforts, she was named first-team All-American and later was inducted into the 1994 Athletic Hall of Fame class. Krystal Green and Alicia Griffin also collected 1,000 career points. Griffin joined Rumph with first-team NJAC honors while Rumph and Wendy Norris garnered first-team All-ECAC accolades.
