Four New Members Inducted into New Paltz Athletics Hall of Fame

NEW PALTZ – — The SUNY New Paltz Athletics Hall of Fame grew by four following a ceremony in Elting Gym on May 3. The class of 2003, which featured athletes from four different decades, included Frank Manzi, Art Kramer, Abdi Yunas and Adamilka (Gil) Wood.

Manzi was a member of the men’s basketball team for three years under legendary New Paltz coach and athletics director Loren Campbell. A 1952 graduate of New Paltz, Manzi also participated in all intramural sports offered at that time. He served as the president of his class in his sophomore and junior years and was elected president of the student council his senior year.

Following his graduation, Manzi remained active with The College and served as the president of the alumni association. He and his wife Geraldine, a 1952 New Paltz graduate as well, were also instrumental in making the Hopfer Alumni Center a reality.

He taught in the West Babylon School District for many years and retired in 1986. He and his wife now reside in Albuquerque, NM.

Kramer was a diver from 1965-69 for long-time SUNY New Paltz swimming coach Art Stockin. He was the one-meter SUNYAC diving champion in 1967 and 1969. Kramer finished fourth on the three-meter board at the 1968 NCAA Atlantic Coast Regional Championship and 13th at the 1969 NCAA Division II Championship.

He graduated from New Paltz in 1969 and has been an earth science and physics teacher for the last 33 years. He currently teaches at Jericho (NY) High School and continues to coach diving near his hometown of Greenlawn, NY.

Yunas, who earned degrees from New Paltz in 1966 and 1972, was a midfielder on the men’s soccer team from 1967-69 and earned All-SUNYAC and all-state recognition in 1969.

Yunas works for the World Skills Center in Ottawa, Canada, where he teaches and trains immigrants to become teachers.

(Gil) Wood was a standout hitter for women’s volleyball team from 1993-96. During her four-year career, the Hawks had a record of 99-38 for an impressive .723 winning percentage. As a junior in 1995, she finished seventh in Division III in kills per game (4.95) and ninth in hitting percentage (.407). At New Paltz she earned the Carol Eckman Award in 1996 and 1997 and was the recipient of the Heinz Ahlmeyer Award in 1997.

(Gil) Wood graduated from New Paltz 1997 and is now a high school teacher in Kingston. She resides in New Paltz with her husband Ben and their daughter Alexandra.