SUNY Delhi Inducts Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2016

DELHI, NY (06/01/2016)(readMedia)-- SUNY Delhi will induct three members into its Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 4, at 3 p.m. in the Clark Field House as part of the college's Alumni Weekend celebration. Inductees include James McCloe '71, wrestling, Michael Cebula '05, cross country and track and field, and Gary Cole, Athletic Director and coach from 1980 to 2006.

James McCloe entered SUNY Delhi as a stand-out athlete from Waverly High School. At Delhi, he earned a National Junior College Championship in wrestling in 1971. He was then recruited to North Carolina University, where he won multiple titles, including two-time North Carolina Collegiate Champion, Southern Conference Champion, first and fourth places at the prestigious Wilkes Tournament, two-time First Colonies Champion, Pembroke Open Champion, and Maryland Federation Tournament Champion.

He continued his education, earning a master's degree from West Chester University, before returning to his hometown of Waverly, N.Y., to begin a distinguished 33-year career as Head Wrestling Coach and Director of Athletics at Waverly High School. During that time, he also owned and operated Camp Olympia, a sports and recreation camp focused on wrestling, swimming and day camps. Upon his retirement in 2007, he had coached 14 Section IV Team Champions, 40 Section IV Individual Champions, seven New York State (NYS) Champions, and 21 NYS place winners, including eight runners-up and six National High School All-Americans. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2008 and Section IV Hall of Fame in 2009. Jim and his wife, Cynthia, are the proud parents of three daughters.

Michael Cebula is a five-time NJCAA All-American in Cross Country and Track and Field. He was a member of the Relay Teams that established school records in the indoor 4x800 meters and outdoor 4x1600 meters. He won the individual Conference Championship in Cross Country in 2004, becoming one of only four SUNY Delhi runners to ever break 27 minutes on Delhi's home course. He received the Coach's Award in 2004 and 2005 and played a critical role in three National Team Titles, two in Outdoor Track and Field, and one in Cross Country.

Cebula continued to excel at Southern Connecticut State University where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees. He became Southern Connecticut's first student athlete to earn All-American honors in the 1500 meters, breaking a school record that had stood for 26 years. He currently works as a physical education teacher in Hamden, Conn., and was named District Teacher of the Year, an honor that was also recognized at the state level.

In his 26-year career as Coach and then Athletics Director, Gary Cole led the men's and women's Cross Country, Track and Field, Golf, and Basketball teams to some of their most successful seasons. In the 14 years that Cole served as Head Basketball Coach, the Broncos built a 252-149 record. As Athletic Director, he was deeply involved with the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) as Assistant Regional Director and served on numerous national committees. One of his greatest accomplishments was bringing the NJCAA III National Tournaments in Cross Country, Track and Field and Men's Basketball to Delhi. He was honored as 1992 NYS Basketball Coach of the Year and NJCAA Men's Division III National Coach of the Year. In 1993, he received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service, and in 1994, the New York State Legislature adopted a resolution honoring Cole's career as SUNY Delhi's Basketball Coach and Athletic Director.

As a testament to his national contributions, Cole received the 2006 NJCAA National Service Award and the Coach of the Tournament Award for the NJCAA Division III Men's National Basketball Championships.

There is no fee to attend the induction ceremony, but reservations are encouraged. Please contact the SUNY Delhi Alumni Office at 607-746-4600 or alumni@delhi.edu to make a reservation.