INSIDE BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY
University connections abound as Empire State Games return
By : Katie Ellis
President Lois B. DeFleur was joined by Jim Orband, chairman of the local Empire State Games organizing committee last month, as they introduced banners for the Games. The banners were designed and created by Vestal Senior High School students.
Current track coach Mike Thompson has three gold medals to his credit, all earned in open track and field events from 1995-1997. Thompson also owned the ESG pole vault record of 16 feet, 8 inches for five years, but saw it bested during the 2000 Games - the first time the games were held in Binghamton. A former two-time Division II All-American at Northern Colorado,
Thompson finished second in the pole vault last summer at Buffalo, despite an injury. “I only took one jump last year, then pulled my left quadricep and tore it pretty bad,” Thompson said. “I didn’t attempt to vault again until last May 8, and I qualified as one of two successful vaulters out of seven vying for this year Games, jumping 15’8”.”
Thompson focuses on weight training and sprint conditioning to prepare for competition. “It’s all about speed and technique,” he said. “As a pole vaulter, I coach myself and write the workouts. I try to pole vault once a week and as the Games get closer, the volume decreases. I’ll do the same things, but increase the intensity and decrease the volume.”
Don Blake, associate dean of Harpur College of Arts and Science, also has an ESG gold medal plus three silvers to his credit, all acquired at the masters swimming competition in 2000. Blake’s gold came in the 100-meter individual medley, while the silver medals were earned in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle and the 50-meter butterfly events.
A swimmer for 20 years, Blake is a charter member of the Binghamton University Master’s Swim Team — the BUMS — and he has also competed in past Games in Ithaca and Syracuse. Blake will be on the sidelines this year due to a torn rotator cuff, but is anxious to get back to the lanes. “As you get older, you find different ways to release your competitive spirit,” Blake said. “Swimming keeps me in reasonable shape and also relieves stresses and strains from work and other parts of my life.”
BU Hall of Famer Mike Doherty ’83 was the first with campus ties to bring home a gold medal as a member of the winning Central soccer team in 1979 — the Games’ second year. He subsequently earned All-America soccer honors in 1982 and is currently in his 17th season as men’s soccer coach at Colgate.
Christine M. Van Schaick ’02 played volleyball for the Bearcats from 1998-2000 and participated in volleyball for the games in Albany in 1997, playing for the Long Island region. Her team won the gold medal. “It was an awesome experience,” she said.
Matt McGraw ’01 has represented the Central region in swimming and water polo over a number of years, beginning in 1994 when he competed at the scholastic level in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke and the 100-meter butterfly. In 1995 he swam the 100-meter backstroke again, then switched to water polo from 1996 to 2000, winning a silver medal at the scholastic level in 1996. “I always enjoyed the games as they were one of the highlights of my summers,” he said. “Going to Binghamton for the 2000 games, where I was entering my senior year and was on the swim team, was a special pleasure.”
More campus connections Andy Szalaji ’88 - soccer, 1983, 1987
Sean Kelly ’01 - soccer, 2000
Kate Mullins Zanot ’01 - hurdles, 1996, 1998 and pole vault, 2000
Rory Quiller - track athlete - decathlon, 2002
Tom Gates - print shop - bowling, 2000
Eric Storch ’97 - soccer, 1996
Boris Lyubomirsky ’97 - soccer, 1996
Steve Tretola ’97 - soccer, 1996
Tim Desiano ’98 - soccer, 1996
Shannon Jennison - athletics assistant - field hockey, 1990 and 1991
Chris Coleman ’89 - track, 1983, 1984 and 1985
Tim Sinicki - baseball coach - baseball, 1986 and 1987
Kim King - former cross country coach - track, 1988
Andy Wolford ’01 - soccer, 1996
Keith Beck ’98 - track and field, 1995, 1996 and 1998
Chris Schum - son of Tim Schum - soccer in 1978, 1979 and 1980
Jennifer Schum - daughter of Tim Schum soccer, 1986
