Sept. 20, 2009
NORFOLK, VA--The 2009 Old Dominion University Sports Hall of Fame induction class features awrestling All-American, Sailing All-American, an All-Conference baseball player, and the school's first full-time sports information director.
The 2009 Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will be held Friday, Oct. 9th at the Constant Center, at 7 p.m. The inductees will also behonored during the ODU-Presbyterian Football Game, on Oct. 10.
This year's class includes Nick Hall (Wrestling), Christine Accetella (Sailing), Scott Thompson (Baseball),and Joe Law (Administration,) posthumously.
Nick Hall, was arguably one of the top wrestlers in ODU's history. The heavyweight wrestler finished fifth at the 1995 NCAA Championships.In 1995-96 season he ranked third nationally by the national services and finished the season 36-1. In the national quarterfinals he suffered aserious spinal injury, rupturing his fifth and sixth discs. He lost and was not able to continue in the tournament which kept him from repeatingas an All-American. Hall completed his career with a 115-18-3 record which ranks him fourth on ODU's all-time list. He is also tied for first with 29career pins. Hall was an NCAA qualifier three successive years from 1994 to 1996. He captured the Colonial Athletic Association titles in 1995 and1996, and was named CAA Wrestler of the year both of those years.
Hall graduated in 1996 from ODU with a degree in psychology. He returned to his home in the LongIsland area of New York, where he is the father of a daughter, Tori and four sons; Nick, Tyler, Rocco and Jacob. Hall is an account managerin the wine and spirits industry, and also a volunteer wrestling coach at his high school, Longwood In Middle Island, NY, where his oldest son is following in his footsteps.
Scott Thomson came to Old Dominion in 1987 as the Maryland High School Baseball Player of the Year.During his four seasons at ODU, Thomson displayed his durability and consistency. He still ranks in thetop four in seven ODU career baseball records. He ranks number one in career games started with 220, second in doubles with 63 and triples with 16,and ranks third with 278 career base hits.
As a freshman, Thomson was named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Rookie squad and led the Monarchswith 31 RBI. In his junior season, he was selected pre-season All-American by Baseball America. Thatseason, he led the nation in triples with eight, hit .399 and was named first team All-Sun Belt as ODU ranked as high as 23rd in the nation.The Monarchs also reached the Sun Belt Conference finals and played in the NCAA Regionals at the University of Texas where Thomson ledthe game off against Cal State Fullerton with a home run. He later hit another homer in that game.
In 1991, Thomson led the team in homeruns, was named first team All-Sun Belt Conference and wasThe Virginia College Player of the Year. ODU won 39 games that year and again reached the finals of theSun Belt Conference. Thomson played two seasons of minor league baseball, then returned to schoolto complete his degree in physical education at Western Maryland University.
Scott has been the head baseball coach at Mount St. Mary's for the past 12 years. In 2007, the Mountshad the best record In their history and Thomson was named NEC Coach of the Year, winning the leagueand advancing to the NCAA regionals. Scott and his wife Heather have three children, Braden, Beccaand Allie.
Christine Accettella was a first team All-American sailor in 1994. She served as team captain and earned MVP honors on the squad. In 1991,she was part of the second-place finish in the B-Division at the 1991 ICYRA Women's Sailing National Championships. She also skippered acrew to a first place finish in A-division of the 1993 Navy Fall Women's regatta. In 1993, Accetella placed seventh in the ICYRA Women'sNational Championships. In 1993-94, she won the women's intersectionals , and placed second at the Mid Atlantic Sailing Championshipsand the MAISA Women's District Championships. The Babylon, NYnative competed in the Gaastra J22 World 2000 Championships.
A native of Babylon, NY, Accettella graduated from ODU in 1994 with a degree in sports medicine and in 1996 earned a masters in physical therapy.She served as an assistant coach at ODU for three years, and currently works in the physical therapy field in the Hampton Roads area.
Joe Law served as the University's first full-time sports Information Director from 1972-79.A native of House, NM., Joe became the sports information director at ODU afterretiring from the Navy. Joe served on various CoSIDA (College Sports Information Director's ofAmerica) committees, and his publications won various awards from the Organization.
A tireless worker, Joe was a mentor to many in the field of sports media relations. He also implemented much of the athletic photography andhistorical record archives. Joe played a major part in the development of the ODU Sports Hall of Fame and remained on the committee until 2005.After leaving ODU, he served as public affairs officer at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for 14 Years. Joe passed away on Sept. 24, 2007.
The evening begins with a social at 7 p.m. followed by the Hall of Fame Ceremony at 8 p.m. Tickets for the event are $35. For more information,please call the athletic ticket office at 683-4444.