36th UB Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Set for Oct. 17

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Seven University at Buffalo alumni will be inducted into the Dr. and Mrs. Edmond J. Gicewicz Family UB Athletics Hall of Fame during the 36th Hall of Fame ceremony to be held Oct. 17 in Alumni Arena on the UB North (Amherst) Campus. Another individual will be honored for his ongoing support to the university's athletics program.

Part of UB's True Blue Weekend, the ceremony will begin with a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception in Alumni Arena, followed by the induction ceremony on the floor of the arena.

The Pioneering Award will be given to Gayle Terwilliger Michalak, EdB '62, of Gainesville, Fla. This award honors the accomplishments of outstanding participants during the years in UB history that women were not given an outlet for their athletic ability, and recognizes the advocacy of women's athletics by athletes, coaches and administrators.

While representing UB in badminton, Michalak captured the Eastern Intercollegiate doubles title at the University of Rochester. However, it was on the golf course where she made a name for herself. As an 18-year-old sophomore, she shocked the Western New York golfing community by capturing the 1959 Women's Buffalo District Golf Championship. Along the way in the match-play tournament, she eliminated three former champions of the event, one also a former New York State champion. As a senior, Michalak won the Women's Golf Association of Western New York crown (which includes Rochester) while also holding the Lancaster Country Club women's championship, and was runner-up the following year.

Distinguished Alumni Awards will be given to Bill Bilowus, EdM '69 and EdB '65, of East Aurora, and Larry Gergley, EdB '64, of Orlando, Fla.

In Bilowus's senior year, the varsity basketball team progressed to the NCAA College Division Tournament, but lost in the second round. He went on to become one of the most successful high school basketball coaches in Western New York history for Lackawanna High School. His 1979 team won the New York State championship and he led others to 17 straight Erie County Interscholastic Conference titles, eight sectional championships and three super-sectional games. In 1985 his squad bowed in the New York State title game. During his tenure, Bilowus's teams achieved a record of 76 straight wins, a Western New York record, against teams from this area. They had an ECIC divisional record of 209-8 and a career mark of 329-54. Bilowus also coached boys' high school soccer and captured back-to-back Class A sectional titles.

While at UB, Gergley was a player and a leader of the football, baseball and wrestling teams. He went on to become a football coach, and upon his retirement last year he was the winningest high school football coach in the talent-rich area of Central Florida. During his 38-year career, most of them spent at Winter Park High School, he compiled a record of 274-109-2, ranking him eighth all-time in Florida prep school history. During the 1980s, Winter Park was the winningest program in Florida with an 87-13 mark and reached the state semifinal game twice.

Other inductees nominated for the Dr. and Mrs. Edmond J. Gicewicz Family UB Athletics Hall of Fame are:

Ron Brandt, EdB '72 and BS '72, of Grayson, Ga. A native of Long Island, Brandt transferred from Moorhead State to Corning Community College to wrestle for Coach Ed Michael. He enrolled in UB in 1969 as a two-year starter, and in his first varsity season, he compiled an overall record of 34-1-1 and was 20-0-1 in dual matches. He also placed first in his weight class in four tournaments, was the team co-captain and was named most valuable player. A year later, he posted a 20-2 mark overall, was 17-1 in dual matches and finished third in the NCAA Eastern Regional Championships, which earned him a berth in the NCAA championships.

Mike Groh, BS '78, of Buffalo, who primarily played second base and batted .464 his senior year, finishing among the top 10 in batting average in NCAA Division I play. Upon graduation, he held nine UB records: five career marks and four single-season records. He was a tri-captain his last two seasons, ECAC first-team District II in 1977-78 and a second-teamer the year before. Groh was inducted into the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.

Paula Listrani Starwald, EdM '03, BA '01 and BA '01, of Hilton, N.Y., was a three-time, first-team all-MAC soccer player at forward; in midfield she was selected first-team all-Northeast Region in 1999; and a second- and third-teamer in other years. She was team captain in 1999 and 2000, and first team all-MAC Academic in 1998. Starwald is the career leader in goals, assists and points, first and seventh in single season assists, fourth and fifth for single-season goals. She was named MAC player of the week twice and earned UB female student-athlete of the year honors in 2001.

For nearly 26 years Mike Rielly of North Tonawanda served as UB's head athletic trainer. During his tenure budgets were tight, but according to Bill Dando, former Bulls football coach, Rielly served with distinction and never at the expense of cutting corners, while putting his athletes' health and welfare at the forefront. In support of his induction, many UB Hall of Famers extolled Rielly's "human" side, noting that he was always there no matter the time or inconvenience, and the one who became a true confidant.

The Russell J. Gugino Award will be given to Ronald Balter, BA '80, of Brooklyn. Named in honor of past UB Alumni Association president and UB athletics supporter Russell J. Gugino, the award recognizes UB alumni (an individual, couple or group) who have made significant contributions of time and resources to the university's athletics program.

It would be difficult to find a more loyal fan of UB football than one of its former managers, attorney Ronald Balter. Considered a significant asset to the athletic program, he frequently assisted UB football equipment staff at home and away games in setting up the locker room. He was a major supporter of the UB Golf Classic, both the Buffalo-area event and one that had been staged for a handful of years in metro New York. He is a past member of the New York City alumni chapter board and has been active in recruiting New York-area alumni to contribute on behalf of the athletic program. Balter is also a long-time member of the Blue and White Club board.

Tickets for the 36th annual UB Athletic Hall of Fame are available through the UB Office of Alumni Relations at 716-645-3312. Tickets are $65 for members of either the UB Alumni Association or UB Blue and White Club, $75 for non-members.

For more information about the Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the rest of the True Blue Weekend festivities, go to http://www.alumni.buffalo.edu/homecoming.