Wilkes Honors Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

Six alumni athletes were honored with induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame. A ceremony was held on Jan. 26, 2013 following a Freedom Conference basketball doubleheader at the Marts Center. This year’s inductees, representing five different men’s and women’s sports, are among the best players to ever suit up for the Colonels.

Player biographies by Vince Scalzo

Chad Fabian ’00

Men’s Basketball

Chad Fabian is one of the most decorated shooters in Wilkes men’s basketball history. His10 three-point shots against FDU-Madison in 1999 gave Fabian the school record for made threes in a game as he was named Second Team All-Freedom Conference as a junior. With 232 career makes from behind the arc, he ranks second all-time in three-pointers in school history. His 632 three-pointers attempted also rank second all-time at Wilkes. As a senior, Fabian earned First Team All-Freedom honors averaging 20.7 points per game, good for the eighth all-time scoring average in a single season. He finished his career with 1,295 points, ranking 14^th on the school’s all-time scoring list. Fabian is now a resident of Linden, Pa.

 

Robyn Mendygral Hoban ’01

Softball

A four-time All-Freedom Conference performer, Robyn Mendygral Hoban stands as one of the most decorated softball players in Wilkes University history. Hoban holds five career records and five single-season records. A four-year shortstop in the Navy and Gold, Mendygral stands first in career records of batting average (.435), runs (141), triples (18), sacrifice hits (17), and stolen bases (62), while setting single-season marks in runs (41), slugging percentage (.836), stolen bases (25), and on-base percentage (.540). She is second all-time in total games played (148), hits (191), runs batted in (110), and slugging percentage (.677) while ranking third all-time in doubles (31), fourth in home runs (13), and fifth in walks (35).  In 1999, she was named the Freedom Conference and ECAC South Player of the Year while earning a spot on the All-ECAC squad, NFCA All-East Regional First-Team, and NFCA Second-Team All-American. While being named to the Freedom Conference First-Team in her final three years, Hoban was also selected to the NFCA All-East Regional Third Team twice. Hoban also was a member of the women’s basketball team for three years. She is a resident of Mountain Top, Pa.

 

Tony Couto ’78

Football

A four-year varsity letter winner playing under legendary coach Rollie Schmidt, Tony Couto was a three-time All-MAC middle linebacker for the Navy and Gold. A tri-captain, Couto recorded more than 500 tackles, 12 forced fumbles, and eight interceptions in his career while being named the Middle Atlantic Conference Most Valuable Player in 1977.  Couto was the first Wilkes linebacker and defensive player in school history to win the award. Couto was also tabbed the overall Player of the Year by Wilkes and was slated to be the “Best of the Best” at his position by his coaches following the 1977 season. During his playing career, he was voted Game MVP by WBRE radio eight times, while leading Wilkes to the 1974 Middle Atlantic Conference Championship. Couto lives in Sarasota, Fla.

 

Cathy Dudick Gagliardi ’82

Volleyball

A three-year captain and letterwoman for the Wilkes volleyball team, Cathy Dudick Gagliardi was an anchor during her four-year career. She held several Wilkes records upon graduation, two of which still stand today. She recorded a school record 318 service aces while breaking the single-match aces record when she posted 17 service aces in a 1982 match against The University of Scranton. A First Team All-MAC selection in 1981, Gagliardi was also named the Times Leader “Athlete of the Week” and Wilkes volleyball most valuable player as a senior. Gagliardi is a Wilkes-Barre resident.

 

Amy Rosengrant Rau’99

Softball

A four-year starting pitcher for the Lady Colonel softball team, Amy Rosengrant Rau was more than just a consistent performer at Wilkes. A two-time First Team All-Freedom selection, she recorded a 1.74 career earned run average during her stellar time in the circle. She dominated opposing hitters, recording a 31-16 career record with four saves and seven shutouts throughout her career. She also finished with 169 strikeouts while allowing only 49 free passes. Rau also had some skill swinging the bat, as she batted .316 during her career with six doubles. Rau lives in Wilkes-Barre.

 

Cesar Vinces ’98

Men’s Soccer

A three-time All-Freedom selection, Cesar Vinces proved to be an integral part of the Colonels men’s soccer lineup during his career. As a senior, he was named an NSCAA Regional All-American Honorable Mention after recording five goals and six assists in 20 games.

He was also named First Team All-Freedom and All-Mid Atlantic Third Team. As a freshman, Vinces scored five goals and assisted on three others in 19 games, earning First Team All-Freedom honors. During his sophomore season, he scored three goals and two assists on his way to his second First Team All-Freedom selection.  Vinces is a resident of Piscataway, N.J.