Sept. 5, 2010
NORFOLK--The 2010 Old Dominion University Sports Hall of Fame induction class features long-timeathletic director, the NCAA's all-time field hockey scorer, an All-Conference Lady Monarch Basketballdefensive standout, a two-time lacrosse All-American and standout an All-American men's basketball player.
The 2010 Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will be held Saturday, Oct. 2nd at the Ted Constant Convocation Center at 1 pm. The inductees will also be honored during the ODU-Gardner Webb football contest. This year's class incudes: Jim Jarrett (former athletic director), Marina DiGiacomo (field hockey), Anne Windover (women's lacrosse), Mery Andrade (women's basketball) and Skip Noble (men's basketball).
Jim Jarrett served as the athletic director at ODU for 40 years until the end of June. As one of the youngest athletic directors in the nation when in 1970, Jarrett quickly began to make a name for himself and ODU. In 1974, Jarrett became the first athletic director in the Commonwealth of Virginia to award scholarships to women student-athletes. Under his leadership ODU intercollegiate teams won 28team national championships, hosted the first two NCAA Women's Basketball" Final Fours" at the Norfolk Scope and athletic venues tripled. Jarrett was given the Lifetime Achievement awards from NACDA, VaSID, the Collegiate Director's Award from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, and named the Norfolk Sports Club man of the Year. Jarrett served as a member of the NCAA Women's Basketball Committee, and is a past president of the CAA and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame in October 2009. He and wife Sugie reside in Norfolk.
Marina DiGiacomo was a two-time All-American and the 2000 Honda Award winner. A four-time CAA Player of the Year and CAA Tournament MVP, DeGiacomo led ODU to national championships in 1998 and 2000. She is still the NCAA all-time leader in points with 414 and second in NCAA history in goals scored with 167. In the 2008 Olympic games, she helped her native Argentina win the bronze medal in field hockey. Last year, DiGiacomo was named to the CAA's 25th Anniversary All-Time field hockey squad, then capped it off by being selected to the CAA's Silver Star team as one of the CAA's 25 greatest athletes in any sport. Now a U.S. citizen, she is married with one child and currently lives in Brea, CA.
Mery Andrade was the heart and soul of Lady Monarch teams from 1995-99. The Lisbon, Portugal native was the CAA co-Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 1998-99. She ranks fourth all-time in CAA history with 382 career steals. Andrade was also a three-time All-CAA selection and three-time CAA All-Defensive team selection. The Lady Monarchs reached the NCAA round of 16 threetimes and in 1997 advanced to the National Championship game. Mery played five years in the WNBAmostly with Cleveland, and is currently playing professionally in Italy. She graduated from ODU in 1998.
Anne Windover starred for the Lady Monarchs from 1993-96. She led ODU in scoring four straight years. She poured in 44 points with 38 goals and six assists as a senior in 1996. Windover completed her career at ODU with 165 goals, 39 assists and 204 career points. Her point total ranks second all-time at ODU. In 1995, she scored 30 goals to help Lead the Lady Monarchs to their first CAA Championship. She was named honorable mention All-American in 1993, and a second team All-American by the ILWCA in 1994. She was a three-time All-CAA and four-time All-South Region selection. The native from Ajax, Ontario in Canada ranks among ODU's top three in career goals. Windover graduated with a degree in health and physical education in May of 1997. Last year, Windover was named to the CAA 25th anniversary women's lacrosse squad. She now resides in Niagara on the Lakes, Ontario.
George "Skip" Noble completed his career at Old Dominion with 1,193 points for a 13.4 point per gameAverage. As a senior in 1970-71, the St. Albans, W.VA. native scored 549 points for a 20.3 per game average which helped the Monarchs reach the NCAA Division II finals. Noble scored 36 points and hauled down 24 rebounds at the national tournament which earned him All-Tournament honors.He was also named to the 1971 South Atlantic Regionals after scoring 26 points and 17 rebounds in the regional finals against Norfolk State. Noble earned honorable mention Little All-American honorsin 1971 and was selected in the 10th round of the NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. Skip graduatedwith a degree in physical education, and now resides in Orange Beach, Ala.
The induction luncheon and ceremony begins at 1 p.m. on Oct. 2 in the lobby of the Ted Constant Convocation Center. The inductees will also be honored during the ODU/Gardner-Webb football game that evening at 6 p.m. Tickets for the Hall of Fame luncheon are $25. For more information, please call the athletic ticket office at 683-4444.