Longtime coach, Oswego resident inducted to college's Athletic Hall of Fame

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Kenneth Peterson, second from right, honored

OSWEGO, NY (12/09/2011)(readMedia)-- Longtime soccer coach and Oswego resident Kenneth Peterson was inducted recently into the SUNY Oswego Athletic Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Hewitt Union ballroom on campus.

Peterson taught in the athletic and wellness departments from 1968 to 2010. During his time as men's soccer coach, he received SUNY Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1987, 1988 and 1993. He has coached 105 All-SUNYAC players, 25 All-New York state players and four of his players received SUNYAC Player of the Year awards.

"All through my career early on, I thought it was about the wins, ties and records," Peterson said. "I came to realize it was more about the young people you were working with and all the people you met."

Peterson also coached varsity women's soccer from 1997 to 2004, during which he coached 18 All-SUNYAC players, one Player of the Year and one first-year Player of the Year.

Peterson was ranked 42nd in the nation in NCAA Division III for most wins at the time of his retirement.

"It was 1959 when I went away to college," Peterson told the audience at the induction ceremony. "Almost 52 years later, I would still be in college."

Coached All-Americans

With a career spanning 37 years, Peterson also coached track at Oswego from 1968 to 1980. He started the men's indoor track program in 1971, coaching eight All-Americans and one national champion.

Accompanying Peterson into the Oswego Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011 was former lacrosse player Ken Walker, a 1980 SUNY Oswego graduate. Walker is the all-time scoring points leader with 205 points and was among the top 10 scorers in the nation in 1979 and 1980.

"We had a lot of talent and worked toward a common goal," Walker said of his Oswego lacrosse team. "When you put those two things together, you accomplish a lot."

Charles Stanek, a 1965 graduate of SUNY Oswego, was also inducted into the Oswego Athletic Hall of Fame, for his achievements in men's basketball, baseball and soccer and for his dedication to teaching. Stanek has won Athlete of the Year in 1964 and Athlete of the Year runner-up in 1963. Co-captain of both the men's soccer and baseball teams in 1964 and co-captain of varsity men's soccer in 1963, Stanek also received the Block "O" Award in 1964.

During his time at Oswego, Stanek learned the principles of fair play and teamwork, which helped him face both personal and professional challenges of life.

"I would like to thank each of them for passing me the ball," Stanek said of his teammates.

Also inducted was 1965 Oswego graduate Harold Furrer, who was honored for his achievements in wrestling. The two-time captain qualified for the NCAA tournament in 1964 and 1965. He was also SUNY champion in the 130-pound weight class from 1963 to 1965. Furrer was undefeated in 44 dual-meet matches.

"I thank you very much for this induction and Jim Howard, my coach, who did a hell of a job," Furrer said before focusing on how much Oswego meant to him. "The school has grown a lot bigger, but it is still a beautiful Oswego."

Diane Gilligan, a 1985 graduate of SUNY Oswego, was also honored at the 2011 Oswego Athletic Hall of Fame inductions, but was unable to attend. Gilligan was the all-time leading scorer in women's field hockey with 162 points.

PHOTO CAPTION 1: Peterson honored -- Ken Peterson of Oswego, second from right, who coached for 37 years at SUNY Oswego, receives a plaque detailing his achievements as a men's and women's soccer coach and founder and coach of the indoor soccer program during the induction ceremony for the Oswego Athletics Hall of Fame. His presenters were his children, from left, Gretchen Milanese, Bradford Peterson and Daryle Peterson.

PHOTO CAPTION 2: Honorees all -- The SUNY Oswego Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2011 brought four former athletes and coaches to the stage of Hewitt Union ballroom: from left are Kenneth Peterson of Oswego, longtime coach of men's and women's soccer and founder and coach of the indoor track program; Charles Stanek of Diamond Point, a three-sport star in the '60s; Ken Walker of Moorestown, a high-scoring lacrosse player in the '80s; and Harold Furrer of Lindenhurst, who was undefeated in 44 dual-meet matches as a wrestler at SUNY Oswego. A fifth honoree, Diane Gilligan, a 1985 graduate and all-time leading scorer in field hockey, could not attend the ceremony.