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NLL Rochester Knighthawks

Rochester Chapter Names 2016 Hall of Fame Class

October 19, 2016 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release


(October 19, 2016)... The Greater Rochester Chapter of U.S. Lacrosse will welcome four new members and two teams into its Hall of Fame with the induction of Tom Kelly, John Price, Heidi Rothfuss Rasmussen, Mike Riorden, and the 1998 Penn Yan Girl's Varsity Lacrosse Team and 2001 Penn Yan Boy's Varsity Lacrosse Team. The 23rd Annual Greater Rochester Chapter of U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame Dinner will take place on Friday, Nov. 4 at the Burgundy Basin Inn at 1361 Marsh Road in Pittsford.

The early bird cost is $35 if you reserve your tickets before Oct. 28. Kids 5 and under are free. The social hour begins at 6:00 p.m. with dinner scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and introductions beginning promptly at 8:00 p.m. To make reservations, please click here for online registration. For further information or questions, please contact Chapter President Alan McLiverty at uslax.gr@gmail.com.

The Greater Rochester Chapter is a Rochester based non-profit organization, a regional chapter of U.S. Lacrosse Inc. committed to supporting the promotion and growth of men's and women's lacrosse in the Greater Rochester region.

Class of 2016

Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly was a standout midfielder at Irondequoit High School during the 1960s. From 1964-1967, Kelly was a major factor in the school's success as he was twice honored by the Upstate Lacrosse Conference, earning First Team accolades in 1966 and Second Team honors in 1967. In 1966, he helped Irondequoit secure a league championship as the Indians, as they were once known, defeated Baldwinsville 20-4 to conclude their season with a 9-1 record.

After graduation, Kelly played one season of club lacrosse for the Long Island Lacrosse Club. During the next two seasons, he made a name for himself at SUNY at Farmingdale. In his first season on campus, he was named team captain and earned Region XV Lacrosse First Team honors. While at Farmingdale, he would earn All-Tournament recognition twice (1969 and 1970), and was named a tri-captain in 1970. In his final season, he led all Region XV midfielders in goals as he repeated as a First Team selection. In 1971, Kelly played at the University of Maryland and advanced to the national championship game.

During and after his collegiate career, Kelly played club ball, competing with the Rochester Lacrosse Club (1967-68) and the Irondequoit Lacrosse Club (1968-73).

John Price

John Price has made a career officiating lacrosse at every level imaginable, which has taken him from fields in Honeoye Falls, NY to the world stage in Perth, Australia. Price, who is a well-respected member of the officiating fraternity, currently serves as an evaluator of officials.

During his days as an official, he compiled an impressive resume. At the high school level, he worked 22 Section V Finals, six New York State Finals and four Empire State Gold Medal games. At the collegiate level, Price has been a member of the National Intercollegiate Lacrosse Officials Organization since 1988. Now approaching 30 years of service officiating NCAA and NJCAA games, his past accomplishments have included national tournament games (one NCAA Semifinal and one NJCAA Championship Game), and numerous conference tournament games and ECAC playoff games.

His passion for lacrosse has even taken him around the world, as he served as a member of the U.S. Lacrosse ILF Officials (International Officials) from 1998 to 2014. He received the opportunity of a lifetime in 2002, as he worked the World Lacrosse Championship in Perth Australia, which included the bronze medal game.

Price's commitment to the game continues to this day as he still maintains his membership with the Genesee Valley Lacrosse Officials Association. Since 1986, he has served in board positions such as secretary and interpreter.

On the player side, Price was the founder and then director of the HF-L lacrosse program from 1996 to 2011. In 2002, he was recognized as the Monroe County Man of the Year and in 2009 was honored as the Monroe County Assistant Coach of the Year.

Heidi Rothfuss Rasmussen

When Heidi enters the Greater Rochester Chapter of U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame, appropriately, her brother, Brent, will serve as her presenter. It's only fitting that the first Rothfuss enshrined in the Hall of Fame inducts the next family member to grace its membership. Heidi Rothfuss Rasmussen will join her brother, a 2012 inductee, as she goes into the prestigious club as part of the Class of 2016.

During her playing days, Rothfuss Rasmussen was a three-time All-County selection at Penfield High School and a four-time team captain. In 1997, the attacker earned All-American honors and was named to the national team. After her brilliant high school career, Rothfuss Rasmussen completed a successful four-year collegiate career at Penn State University (1997-2001).

In 2001, she began the next phase of her lacrosse career as a coach, teacher and mentor. That year, Rothfuss Rasmussen took the reins as the head coach of the Pittsford High School Girl's Varsity Lacrosse team. Over her 13 years at the helm, she built Pittsford into one of the area's premier programs. In 2010 and 2011, the girls won their first sectional crowns, which earned Heidi back-to-back Monroe County Coach of the Year and Greater Rochester Coach of the Year honors. The 2011 team made a historic run to the state championship game, but fell just short in double overtime. Pittsford finished the campaign with an impressive 21-1 record.

While coaching high school lacrosse was one of her main focuses, she also began raising a family and creating more opportunities for girls to play lacrosse. In 2001, Rothfuss Rasmussen accepted the director of program management position for Pittsford Youth Girl's Lacrosse. For 13 years, she coached kids from kindergarten through sixth grade, and modified teams in the summer and fall tournaments.

In 2001, she founded Lady Panthers Incorporated to offer lacrosse to girls from ages 3 to 14 years old. From her chair as the program's director, she organizes, plans and coaches tournament and youth level teams. Over the past six years, Rothfuss Rasmussen has also coached teams for Penfield Youth Lacrosse and Penfield Recreation. She has continued to focus on running several camps and clinics throughout the year that are intended to help youth players advance their skills, fundamentals, understanding, and love of the game of lacrosse.

Mike Riorden

Long before he was working the room as the Master of Ceremonies for the Annual U.S. Lacrosse Greater Rochester Chapter Hall of Fame Dinner, Mike Riorden was trailblazer in the Rochester lacrosse community. The former Rush-Henrietta High School and North County Community College player has devoted his life to growing the game in Monroe County and throughout New York state.

Since 1983, Riorden has organized and played on men's teams in the area. For the past 20 years, he has played and run teams at the prestigious Lake Placid Summit Classic. In 1995, the Henrietta, NY native was a partner in Intense Sports, which was the first indoor lacrosse facility in Rochester. Riorden was a driving force behind running youth leagues, clinics and tournaments there until 1999.

Beginning in 1998, he fully invested himself into his local community of Fairport, NY, serving as a coach, organizer and high school lacrosse official. He started working as a youth coach in Fairport and two years later established a travel program. In 2000, he also found the time to begin his seven-year tenure as a lacrosse official.

Over the past decade, Riorden has coached at U.S. Lacrosse youth tournaments, worked as a coach for Blaze Lacrosse, and handled coaching duties with the Fairport High School JV and Varsity programs. And lastly, in 2008, Mike volunteered to MC the Hall of Fame Dinners and has been doing so ever since.

1998 Penn Yan Girl's Varsity Lacrosse Team

The 1998 Girl's team, who were coached by 2012 Greater Rochester Chapter Hall of Fame inductee Patty Queener and assistant coach Jennifer Trombley, completed the perfect season as they recorded a 24-0 record. The Mustangs defeated Garden City 13-6 in the championship game. What made the feat more impressive was that season marked the first time that the team competed in Section V. The 1998 team was inducted into the Penn Yan Academy Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.

2001 Penn Yan Boy's Varsity Lacrosse Team

The 2001 team made Penn Yan and local lacrosse history as the first Section V boy's team to win a state championship. Coached by 2004 Greater Rochester Chapter Hall of Fame inductee Harry Queener and assistant coach Brian Hobart, the Mustangs finished the campaign with a 21-1 record and knocked off Gowanda, Skaneateles and Manhasset en route to the state title. Mike Vanaman was named the Offensive MVP of the Championship.

To learn more about the Greater Rochester Chapter of U.S. Lacrosse, check out the organization's website at www.uslacrossechapters.org/greaterrochester/ or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/41124093252/.

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