Athletics

12 Outstanding Stevens Athletes from Throughout Stevens History

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These ducks have flown high on the court, in the classroom and in their communities

Stevens Athletics has evolved dramatically throughout the university’s 150-year history. Once an all-male institution with a limited number of sports programs, the university has grown to offer a total of 25 men’s and women’s varsity sports, several of which have earned national titles. Here, Stevens honors a selection of 12 outstanding scholar-athletes from throughout university history. Whether on the field, in the classroom or in their communities, these individuals have made an impact, exemplify excellence and are part of our proud legacy.

Ralph “Swede” Carlson Class of 1921

Stevens Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 1990 (Inaugural Class)

Sports: Football, Basketball, Baseball

Career Highlights:

Called the “Greatest Athlete in the History of Stevens” by one Hudson County sportswriter
Member of two undefeated football teams
Played professional basketball with Wilkes-Barre in the Pennsylvania State League
Served in the U.S. Navy

Zach Carr ’11 M.Eng. ’13

Stevens Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2016

Sport: Soccer

Career Highlights:

During Carr’s four seasons as a goalkeeper, the Ducks went 68-9-12 and won four conference titles
Piloted the team to the 2008 Division III national championship match
All-time NCAA Division III leader in career shutouts (55)
Two-time First Team All-American and two-time First Team Academic
All-American Division III Academic All-American of the Year, 2010
Received the 2011 NCAA Top VIII Award for success in his sport, in the classroom and community
Program manager, biologics and drug delivery at ClearPoint Neuro, Inc.

Tim Ferriter ’17

Sport: Volleyball

Career Highlights:

Helped lead the Ducks to the only team national championship in university history in 2015
Most Valuable Player of the 2015 NCAA DIII National Championship match
Four-time First Team American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American
Current program manager with Weiss-Aug surgical products division

ToyKen Yee ’85

Stevens Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 1991

Sport: Fencing

Career Highlights:

Member of the 1982 women’s fencing team — the first women’s varsity team to reach their sport’s respective NCAA Tournament
Finished 14th at the 1982 NCAA Individual Finals; the only student-athlete in program history to reach the NCAAs
Senior adviser, Hudson Financial Group, Inc.

Victor Starzenski Class of 1907

Stevens Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 1991

Sport: Lacrosse

Career Highlights:

Coached and founded lacrosse programs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Union College and the University of New Mexico
Elected to the Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame
Memorialized with the Starzenski Award, presented to the Stevens men’s lacrosse program’s most improved sophomore

Gladys Njoku ’16

Sport: Track & Field

Career Highlights:

Won the high jump at the 2015 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships
Won a second national championship title in 2016
Named 2015 Division III Indoor Field Athlete of the Year
Production control manager at Allied Beverage Group

Waleed Farid ’08

Stevens Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2013

Sport: Basketball

Career Highlights:

Led the basketball program to their first:
- NCAA Tournament appearance (2007)
- ECAC Championship (2008)
Two-time All-Met Basketball Writers selection
Played professional basketball in Egypt for one season
Current head men’s basketball coach at Hartwick College

Laura Barito ’11

Stevens Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2016

Sports: Swimming, Track & Field

Career Highlights:

National champion in each of her sports: 50-yard freestyle (swimming) and outdoor 400-meter hurdles (track & field)
22-time All-American
Two-time Academic All-American
Named 2011 NCAA Woman of the Year
Nationally ranked weightlifter as well as owner and coach of White Buffalo Training Systems in Louisville, Kentucky

Aracely Cruz ’05

Stevens Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2010

Sports: Basketball, Tennis

Career Highlights:

Two-time Skyline Conference Player of the Year in basketball
Seven all-conference selections
Played professional basketball in Puerto Rico
Currently an engineer at Kreisler Manufacturing Corporation

Matthew Heinrich ’16

Sport: Tennis

Career Highlights:

Victories at both the NCAA Individual and Doubles Championships
Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Rookie of the Year, 2013
NCAA Elite 89 Award winner in 2015, for the highest GPA among all players at the tennis national championship
Earned a 4.0 during his time at Stevens and graduated (tied) first in his class
D. candidate in mechanical engineering at Princeton University

Valerie Barnhart ’06

Stevens Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2011

Sports: Soccer, Lacrosse, Field Hockey, Equestrian

Career Highlights:

Guided the women’s soccer program to three NCAA Tournament appearances
Helped the women’s lacrosse program to three conference championships and one trip to the NCAA Tournament
Earned three All-America selections
Works in AIO IT design and development for AIG and as assistant coach with the Stevens women’s soccer program