CUA announces 2012 Hall of Fame Class

WASHINGTON – CUA Athletics has announced its 2012 Hall of Fame Class, which includes five inductees.  Formal induction will take place on Saturday, January 28, 2012 inside the Pryzbyla Center.  The newest members of the CUA Hall of Fame are Jim LeBuffe ’70 (basketball), James “Val” Van Deventer ’78 (baseball), Brian Wickes ’81 (football), Kimberly Robinson-Dean ’89 (swimming) and former Track and Field Head Coach Jerry McGee.

A three-year starter, Jim LeBuffe ranks 23rd all-time at CUA with 1,149 career points.  He was just the sixth player in school history to score 1,000 points, and he did so in only three seasons.  As a senior LeBuffe scored a game-high 27 points and pulled down nine rebounds in a 72-55 victory over Towson.  Also that year he netted 22 points vs. local rival American University.

Other career highlights included a 25-point, 18-rebound performance in a 69-56 victory over Gallaudet during his junior season and a 30-point game on 12 of 20 shooting in a win over Old Dominion in the Mason-Dixon Conference Tournament.  LeBuffe was a teammate of two current CUA Hall of Famers, Jack Bruen ’72 and Bill Wilson ’69.

A member of the 1977 CUA baseball team that earned a trip to the Division I NCAA Tournament, James “Val” Van Deventer was a four-year starting centerfielder for the Cardinals under Hall of Famers Bob Talbot and Tim McCormick. 

Van Deventer hit .450 in 1976 to go along with 15 runs batted in and five doubles and was named a University Baseball League All-Star for his efforts.  The next year he hit .398 with 37 hits, five home runs and 29 RBI and helped lead CUA to a record of 18-8, which included a pair of wins over nationally ranked St. John’s in the ECAC Tournament, which propelled the Cardinals into the NCAA Tournament. 

Following his time at CUA Van Deventer was drafted by the Atlanta Braves and spent a year-and-a-half in their minor league system before injury cut his career short.

Brian Wickes was a dominant offensive lineman for the CUA football team.  A three-year starter at right tackle, Wickes also played defensive tackle on goal line situations for Cardinals Hall of Fame Head Coach Joe Pascale.  Wickes helped lead CUA to four straight winning seasons during his career, including back-to-back wins over Georgetown, who was the Cardinals biggest rival at the time.

Wickes, who was a member of the first recruiting class to play their entire career at the Division III level, helped pave the way for CUA quarterback Steve Stanislav and wide receiver Mike Stotz, both members of the school’s Hall of Fame.  In his final career game, Wickes anchored the offensive line and allowed Stanislav to throw for a then school-record 465 yards in a 31-15 victory over Bridgewater.  In addition to being a devastating blocker, Wickes also kicked the game-winning field goal vs. Washington & Jefferson in the 1980 season opener.

Kimberly Robinson-Dean went undefeated as a diver during her four years in the red and black, often competing vs. male divers.  She was the Cardinals lone diver during her career after turning down scholarship offers to Boston College and Division III powerhouse Kenyon College.

Robinson-Dean qualified for NCAA Nationals in 1989, which took place on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.  A year earlier she helped lead CUA to a record of 8-4 and an appearance at the Tri-State Championship, which was a first for the Cardinals.  Robinson-Dean placed third in the 1 and 3 meter diving at the event.

As a senior, Robinson-Dean was honored with the Rosemary Donley Cup, which is given to CUA’s outstanding female student-athlete, and she led the Cardinals diving team to its first-ever conference championship.

Longtime Track and Field Head Coach Jerry McGee served as the Cardinals leader for more than 40 years before retiring at the conclusion of the 2006 outdoor season.  During his tenure, McGee helped to develop a pair of National Champions, 38 All-Americans and countless All-Conference performers.  He was a coach and mentor to innumerable student-athletes as well as a valued colleague to the CUA coaching staff.

In both 1976 and 1979 McGee was selected to coach the American track and field squad, which competed against the U.S.S.R. and won both meets.  McGee was selected as one of the top 100 athletes in the last 100 years in his home state of New Jersey.

McGee passed away in 2008 at the age of 74.