Class of 2012 (Inducted Jan. 28, 2012)
James LeBuffe '70 - Men's Basketball
Jim LeBuffe was the sixth player in CUA history to score 1,000 career points. And he did it in just three years on the varsity. He finished with 1,149 points and currently ranks 23rd among the school’s all-time leading scorers. The Washington Post often took notice of his scoring exploits, including this item from Jan. 19,1970: “Jim LeBuffe of Catholic University continued his move on George Washington’s Mike Tallent in the area university scoring race. While Tallent was idle, LeBuffe scored 50 points in two games to improve his average to 22.6, compared to Tallent’s 24.1.” Because freshmen were not eligible to play varsity basketball during his era, LeBuffe had to wait until his sophomore year to begin his assault on the CUA record book. He didn’t wait long. In a game against Mt. Saint Mary’s in January 1968, he tallied a career-high 33 points. In an 82-78 victory over Old Dominion in the 1968 Mason-Dixon Conference Tournament, he scored 30 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, both game highs. He also had a 28-point effort in 73-60 win at Loyola (Md.).
As a junior, LeBuffe had 25 points and 18 boards in a victory at Gallaudet and, against Mt. Saint Mary’s, produced 19 points and a career-high 20 rebounds.
LeBuffe, a team captain his final year (1969-70), started strong with 27 points and nine rebounds against Towson in the season opener, followed by 17 points and 13 boards at Delaware. The next game, a 76-62 victory over Washington (Md.) College, he collected 10 rebounds and tallied 26 points on 12 of 14 shooting. “A few choice words from coach Bob Reese at halftime and hot shooting by senior forward Jim LeBuffe shook Catholic University loose from first-half doldrums and the Cardinals came from arrears for a 76-62 Mason-Dixon Conference conquest of Washington College …” (The Washington Post, Dec. 10, 1969). His 3-point play with nine seconds to go forced overtime in an 83-80 loss at Louisiana State-New Orleans. He finished with 31 points.
A graduate of nearby Gonzaga College High School, LeBuffe played with his brother, Vince, and two CUA Hall of Famers, Jack Bruen ’72 and Bill Wilson ’69.
James Vandeventer '78 – Baseball
Val Vandeventer was a three-year starting center fielder and the first Cardinal drafted to play professional baseball. After playing for Coach Branson Ferry at nearby St. John’s College High School, Vandeventer played under CUA Hall of Famers Bob Talbot and Tim McCormick. He led the Redbirds in batting three straight seasons and possessed what Talbot called “probably the best arm of anyone to play at Catholic University.”
In his first start (1974), he threw out two Howard runners at home plate – in the same inning. He hit .346 that season and, during the summer, he and McCormick represented the United States in a series of exhibition games in Korea.
In 1977 Vandeventer batted .432 with 37 hits, five home runs and 29 RBIs to help lead CUA (18-8-1) to the only NCAA Division I Tournament (1977) in school history. He was named first-team All-District and to ECAC and NCAA All-Star teams. In the NCAA playoffs, despite an injured thumb, he smacked a two-run homer against Temple and had two doubles and an RBI vs. No. 12 St. John’s. That summer he played in the prestigious invitation-only Cape Cod League. Nine players from that club were drafted by Major League Baseball teams.
During his senior year (1978), Vandeventer had a .408 batting average – 34th highest in the nation – and a .643 on-base percentage. The Atlanta Braves drafted him in the 17th round and assigned him to Bradenton, Fla., in the Gulf Coast League. His career was interrupted a month later by a high-speed collision with the right fielder that resulted in a broken left hand. He played the next season, but with his hand not healing properly, lost his position to eventual Major Leaguer Milt Thompson.
Hank Aaron signed his release papers.
McCormick, his teammate for three years and coach for one, remembers him throwing out five Howard base runners as a starting freshman left fielder in a fall doubleheader.
“Val was an outstanding defensive outfielder with a cannon for an arm,” he said. “He grew into a great senior leader who, through his work ethic, made all those he played with better.”
Brian Wickes '81 – Football
Brian Wickes did a little of everything on the gridiron at CUA and helped the program make a successful leap from the club level to NCAA Division III. A three-year starter at right tackle, he also played defensive tackle on goal line situations and was a part-time place kicker. As a 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior, he was the Cardinals’ biggest offensive lineman. His coach, CUA Hall of Famer Joe Pascale, thinks highly of the man who anchored his offensive line.
“Without reservation, I consider Brian one of the best offensive linemen to play for me during my 36 years as a college coach,” Pascale said. “We have very little statistics on offensive linemen. However, our success during his years playing at CUA is directly related to his play and leadership on offense.”
Wickes’ run and pass blocking helped the Cardinals post a four-year record of 24-13, including a 7-3 slate in 1978. In the 1980 season opener – a 3-0 victory over Washington & Jefferson – he accounted for the only points with a 25-year field goal. Later that season, in a 28-6 win over Niagara, he helped the Cards rush for 180 yards.
Quarterback Steve Stanislav and wide receiver Mike Stotz – both CUA Hall of Famers – were the principal beneficiaries of his pass protection ability. Stanislav in 1980 averaged 209.5 yards passing a game, while Stotz hauled in 42 passes for a 19.6-yard average. In Wickes’ career finale, he helped Stanislav throw for a then school-record 465 yards in a 31-15 victory over Bridgewater. The signal caller also became the first Cardinal to pass for more than 5,000 career yards.
Wickes, a member of the first Cardinal recruiting class to play its entire career in Division III, helped the Cards make a successful D-III debut with a 27-22 win over nationally ranked Georgetown. CUA was 3-1 against the Hoyas, at the time the Cardinals’ biggest rival. The winner received the Steve Dean Memorial Trophy, and in Wickes’ final clash with Georgetown, the trophy remained with CUA following the Cards’ 33-8 victory. Stanislav ran for a touchdown in that game and was 16 of 21 for 202 yards and two TDs.
“Both Mike [Stotz] and I would say that Brian was one of the major reasons for our success and induction into the CUA Hall of Fame,” Stanislav said. “Brian exemplified the Catholic University athlete at that time – an outstanding football player and dedicated to his studies.”
Kimberly Robinson '89 - Women's Swimming & Diving
Kimberly Robinson Dean concluded her record-setting diving career at Catholic University by competing in the 1989 NCAA Division III Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships. She qualified for the national meet – at the University of Notre Dame – with outstanding performances all season, punctuated by a “superb meet’ against St. Mary’s (Md.). “The senior diver had the meet of her life,” CUA’s student newspaper, The Tower, reported. “She won the preliminary dive … and on the last regular season dive of her collegiate career, Kim qualified for the National Championships.”
Robinson Dean came to CUA after turning down scholarship offers from Boston College and Division III powerhouse Kenyon College. As a sophomore, she was the only Cardinal to win an event against a powerful Mary Washington squad. “Robinson came in first in the required diving, and also placed first in the optional diving,” according to The Tower. “Robinson, to date, remains undefeated in diving this year,” a record she maintained for the entire season.
In 1987-88, she helped the Cardinals post an 8-4 record and advance to the Tri-State Swimming & Diving Championships for the first time. Featuring Division I, II and III teams at Bryn Mawr College outside Philadelphia, CUA finished seventh. She placed third in 1-meter and 3-meter diving. As a senior, Robinson Dean led the Cardinals to a 10-2 record, including victories over three Division I squads. CUA hosted the Tri-State Championships and placed fourth. This time Robinson Dean was the meet diving champ.
She placed first 55 times during her illustrious career, but because the Cards competed as an independent, she never garnered the All-Conference recognition she otherwise would have achieved.
Kyra Lyons, executive director of the CUA Office of Alumni Relations who swam for the Cardinals during Robinson Dean’s tenure, said, “Kim made diving look effortless. I always watched in amazement as she would tuck, spin and twist with so much gracefulness.” After concluding her career at nationals, she was honored with the Sister Rosemary Donley Cup as CUA’s outstanding female student-athlete.
Gerry McGee - Men's Track & Field Coach
Gerry McGee brought fame and accolades to Catholic University from all across the United States and various parts of the world. But simply calling him an outstanding track and field coach would not begin to capture the positive impact he had on the countless young men he developed during his 41-year CUA coaching career.
“Gerry dedicated his career to training and mentoring hundreds of student-athletes at Catholic University,” said Dr. Tom Fitzpatrick, an All-American in the mile relay in 1969. “He not only trained his teams in track and field techniques, but also prepared them for life decisions after college. His untiring efforts significantly affected the lives of his team members, and he left a lasting impression on the CUA athletic program.”
McGee’s coaching ability and guiding hand helped his athletes win three national championships and attain All-American status 38 times. He was twice (1975, ’79) selected to coach the USA national team and led the American squad to victories over the Soviet Union. Nearly every school record was set during his tenure.
McGee, who ran at Maryland from 1953-57, came to CUA after coaching at nearby Bladensburg and Richard Montgomery high schools. In just his second year (1966), he led the undefeated Cardinal cross country team (9-0) to its first appearance in the NCAA College Division Men’s Cross Country Championship. CUA, one of 48 teams, placed 24th. In the first 18 Mason-Dixon Conference cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field championships contested under his leadership (1965-71), the Cardinals won 14 titles. He concluded his career as cross country coach with Mason-Dixon championships in 1973 and ’74.
“Shortly after he arrived, the nation’s top runners began to dread facing an opponent wearing Catholic on his chest,” said Kevin Keating, who ran four years of track and cross country for McGee from 1969-73. “They knew when they stepped to the line they had a fight on their hands, a fight they would inevitably lose. All of our successes were a tribute to the man’s talent.”
Mark Robinson became McGee’s first athlete to capture a national championship when he won the 1974 Division II 800-meter outdoor title at Eastern Illinois. The two-time All-American repeated the feat the next year at Cal State-Sacramento. In 1976, Robinson qualified for U.S. Olympic Trials.
From 1976-81, CUA competed at the Division I level. Tom Caffrey became McGee’s second national champion when he won the 1991 1500-meter outdoor crown at the NCAA Division III Men’s Track & Field Championships. Four-time All-American Paul Drumgoole, competing in the 800 meters in the mid-90s, was a national runner-up three times. Joe Fisher, a 1975 NCAA All-American and the Cardinals’ longtime women’s cross country and track and field coach, teamed with Keating, Robinson and Jim Blackburn to place third in the two-mile relay at the 1973 AAU national championships in Madison Square Garden.
Sean Duggan was McGee’s final All-American, which is awarded to the top eight performers at the NCAA championships. Duggan in 2004 was named Capital Athletic Conference
Men’s Track & Field Athlete of the Year and placed fourth in the NCAA shot put and hammer throw in Decatur, Ill.
McGee, a five-time New Jersey champion in cross country and track at Seton Hall Prep, was honored by his home state as one of the top 100 athletes of the last 100 years. He was inducted into his high school’s Hall of Fame in 1999. Soon after his 2006 retirement, he was honored with a CUA Lifetime Achievement Award. Coach McGee died in 2008 at 74 after dedicating his life to the service of others. “Only a great coach can mold unheralded raw talent into winners,” Keating said. “The breadth of his accomplishments ranged from the international stage to the collegiate level. He was so brilliant his Division III teams would often bump off Division I opponents. He was that good.”
