February 26, 2002

GENEVA, N.Y.—William Smith College Director of Athletics Susan Bassett recently announced the Hall of Honor Class of 2002 to be inducted on March 23, 2002. The fourth class of inductees will include: Ann Lynch Burnes ’93, Meghan O’Brien Donaldson ’89, Polly Gnazzo Philbrick ’73, Melissa Crowley Price ’91, and Aliceann Wilber.

The inductions will take on added meaning as William Smith celebrates the 30th anniversary of Title IX and the 20th anniversary of the NCAA’s sponsorship of women’s sports.

“William Smith has always been at the forefront of women’s athletics,” Bassett said. “We look forward to these anniversaries and to celebrating the advances of women’s athletics over the past 30 years, and of course, William Smith’s role in those advances.”

Lynch Burnes, of Natick, Mass., was a four-year starter on the field hockey team. She led the Herons to their first National Championship as a senior. She was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team, as well as earning the New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) Tournament MVP award. A three-time All-American, she received first-team honors as a junior and a senior after earning second-team accolades as a sophomore. Lynch Burnes finished her career with 15 goals and 13 assists for 43 points, and currently ranks 16th in career assists, 19th in career points, and 22nd in career goals.

O’Brien Donaldson, of Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., was an exceptional four-year letter winner on the swimming team. She made an immediate impact as a first-year, winning All-American honors, as well as the Stephanie Christie Award, given to the outstanding William Smith first-year. As a sophomore, she was named the Most Valuable Swimmer at the NYSWCAA Championship Meet and repeated her All-American accolades. O’Brien Donaldson captained the Herons as a senior, once again earning All-American recognition. During her career, she captured State Championships in the 100-yard freestyle, the 200 free, and the 500 free. Her name still adorns the William Smith records record board at Bristol Pool for the 200 free, the 200 free relay, the 400 free relay, and the 800 free relay.

Gnazzo Philbrick, of Baldwin, Md., was a four-sport athlete, competing in basketball, lacrosse, tennis, and volleyball. A founding member of the basketball team, she served the Heron cagers as a captain during her senior year. A leader in William Smith athletics, Gnazzo Philbrick was an active member of the William Smith Athletic Association during her career.

Former Director of Athletics and Hall of Honor member Mary Hosking recalls, “She was a terrific person. She was at William Smith in the days before she could really showcase her
talents, like today’s student-athletes, but she was certainly one of the building blocks of today’s success.”

Crowley Price, of Greenwich, Conn., was an All-American in both field hockey and lacrosse following her junior and senior seasons. A four-year starter in field hockey and a three-year starter in lacrosse, she was named the 1990 WVOR Sportswoman of the Year. In field hockey, Crowley Price graduated as the career leader in goals (57), assists (33), and points (147), and still holds the benchmark for points. In lacrosse, she was the first Heron to earn the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division III Offensive Player of the Year Award in 1991. A participant in the 1991 North-South All-Star Classic, she finished her career with 129 goals, 32 assists, and 161 points.

Wilber is currently the head coach of the William Smith soccer team. The only coach in the 22-year history of the program, she led the Herons to the College’s first National Championship in 1988. A three-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Coach of the Year and a six-time NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year, she has led the Herons to 18 consecutive winning seasons, and a record breaking 15 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including 11 trips to the quarterfinals, four semifinals, and three championship games. Wilber has mentored 14 first-team All-Americans, while compiling a record of 287-91-25 (.743).

Hobart and William Smith Colleges are coordinate, private, liberal arts institutions, located in Geneva, N.Y. Hobart College for men and William Smith College for women share faculty, facilities, and curriculum, but maintain separate dean’s offices, athletics programs, student governments, and traditions. Hobart and William Smith field 21 intercollegiate varsity teams. Over the past 30 years, the Colleges have captured 20 national championships and dozens of conference championships.

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