Morrisville State College will welcome four new members into its Athletics Wall of Fame on Friday, June 21, as announced by Athletic Director Greg Carroll. Slated to be inducted are Susan Schmidtka (grounds staff), Dr. Raymond Cross (President), Elisa Oliver (basketball) and Ousman Jobe (soccer).
Were it not for the selfless commitment to the maintenance of Morrisville State鈥檚 playing and practice fields, the athletic facilities would not have gained the outstanding reputation for excellence that became a hallmark while Sue Schmitdka 鈥95 served as the primary custodian for field care. A graduate of Morrisville State College, from 1996 to 2011 Schmidtka worked tirelessly to maintain all the fields used by Mustang athletes. With an eye for aesthetics, performance and most importantly athlete safety, she always went beyond the score of her duties, often working on the fields long after the game had ended and others had returned home. Schmidtka will be remembered for her true commitment to her duties to Morrisville State and Mustang Athletics.
Wherever one looks on the campus of Morrisville State College you will see something that denotes the tremendous legacy of Dr. Raymond Cross鈥檚 13-year tenure as college President from 1997 - 2011. The driving force behind the college鈥檚 transition to the NCAA Division III, the success associated with the transition would not have possible were it not for Dr. Cross鈥檚 vision to move the athletics program and college forward, which included staff expansion, and more than $20 million in athletic facility improvements. He was a regular at Morrisville State contests and was always proud to wear the college colors and mark of the Mustangs.
Elisa 鈥淟ee鈥 Oliver 鈥04, a native of Morrisville, N.Y., was one of the most dominant women鈥檚 basketball players during her playing career at Morrisville State, within the Mountain Valley Conference and in Region III from 2000-2002. With the Mustangs competing in a tremendously competitive conference, Oliver amassed a career total 811 points in just two seasons of play, a scoring record that still stands today. Aside from holding the top spot in scoring, she also ranks among the leaders in several additional categories, including assists, steals, free throw percentage and field goal percentage. Oliver continued her studies at Morrisville State, earning her bachelor鈥檚 degree in equine science in 2004, and was involved in competitive showing of draft horses for the college.
Regarded as one of the finest National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) players in the country during his time with the Mustangs, Ousman 鈥淧apa鈥 Jobe 鈥77 played a critical role in the success of the men鈥檚 soccer team at the national level from 1975 to 1977. As a Mustang, Jobe was a two-time All-Conference, All-Regional and All-American player, amassing 51 career goals and a season high 66 points in 1976. Receiving his associate鈥檚 degree in business, he continued his playing career at the University of Evansville, earning Most Valuable Player honors at the NCAA Division I Outstanding Senior Game.
There are currently 45 members in the Morrisville State College Athletics Wall of Fame, dating back to the inaugural class induction in 1997.
The ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. in the lobby of the John W. Stewart Center for Student Activities following dinner. Tickets for the event are available for $30 per person ($10 for children ages 7-10). Reservations should be made prior to June 17 by contacting the Morrisville State Alumni Office at (315) 684-6363.