GLASSBORO, NJ – In its 20th year, the Rowan-Glassboro State Sports Hall of Fame has selected four athletes for induction on Saturday, April 14, 2007.
The four inductees are: Elena (Tiberi) Buccino, basketball (1989); Terrick Grace, football (1999); Craig Naylor, swimming (1992) and Tom Nicell, soccer (1997).
The induction ceremony will be held at the University’s Eynon Ballroom in the Chamberlain Student Center with a social hour at 6 p.m. followed by a sit-down dinner. The cost is $35 per person and reservations can be made by contacting the Alumni Relations Office at 856-256-5400.
The honorees were chosen from more than 100 nominations of outstanding athletes and coaches. The University’s Sports Hall of Fame has a total of 127 members.
The inductees accomplishments are:
Elena (Tiberi) Buccino (Dunellen, NJ) – Buccino played for four years (1985-88) on the women’s basketball team. A guard, she totaled 161 points, 112 rebounds and 79 assists her senior year. In 1988, the women’s basketball team made its first appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament and finished the season with a 21-7 overall record. In 92 career games, Buccino scored 527 points, grabbed 308 rebounds and dished 229 assists. She had a career field goal percentage of .408 and a .756 free throw percentage.
Buccino graduated in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in business. She is a homemaker and a substitute teacher. In addition, Buccino coaches girls’ JV basketball and is a member of the Dunellen Recreation Commission.
She is married to Peter Buccino, a former Prof cross country and track athlete, and they have three children. Buccino is a 1984 graduate from Clinton High School.
Terrick Grace (Lakehurst, NJ) – A defensive back, Grace was a standout for the football team from 1994-97. His senior campaign, he was selected to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III All-America team. Grace was selected to play in the Silver Anniversary 1997 Aztec Bowl in Mexico City.
A captain, he finished the regular season with 28 tackles (13 solo), two interceptions and eight pass breakups. Grace scored two touchdowns with an interception and a kickoff return.
His honors included New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Co-Player of the Year, All-Conference first team and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) All-Star team.
Grace finished his career with 129 tackles (73 solo), five interceptions and 11 pass breakups. He also returned 37 kickoffs for 1,008 yards (27.2 avg.) and 18 punts for 125 yards (6.9 avg.). All four years, Grace was chosen to the NJAC All-Conference first team.
During his career, the football team posted a 37-10-1 record. The Profs won the NJAC title twice (1995, 1997) and they advanced to the NCAA Championship Tournament three times. Rowan played in the national championship, the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, in 1995 and 1996 and reached the semifinals in 1997.
He is currently an instructor for the U.S. Army at Fort Dix. Grace majored in sociology and received his bachelor’s degree in 1999. He attended Marlboro High School and graduated in 1994.
Craig Naylor (Millersville, MD) – Naylor excelled in the pool for the men’s swim team. At the 1992 NCAA Championships, he earned All-America in three individual events. Naylor won the 400 individual medley (4:01.52), took second in the 200 breaststroke (2:06.67) and third in the 200 individual medley (1:52.81). He was on the eighth place 400 medley relay (3:31.91) that earned All-America honors.
In addition, Naylor swam on the 200 medley relay and the 800 freestyle relay that finished 11th (1:36.70) and 15th (7:05.57) respectively and received All-America honorable mention. The men finished ninth overall at the national championships.
At the 1992 Metropolitan Championships, Naylor took first place in the 200 and 400 individual medleys and the 200 breaststroke. He was a member of the winning 200 and 400 medley relays and the second place 800 freestyle relay. Naylor was named the Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet. His senior year, he set four individual and three relay school records. Naylor still holds the school mark for the 200 (1:52.81) and 400 (4:01.52) individual medleys.
Naylor was chosen to the 1992 GTE College Division Academic All-America third team. He was one of 45 athletes named overall and he was eligible for consideration after being selected to the All-District II At-Large team.
A biology major, he received his bachelor’s degree in 1992. Naylor attended Woodstown High School.
Tom Nicell (Glassboro, NJ) – Nicell lettered for the men’s soccer team for four years, 1991-94. He was named the 1994 Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America (ISAA) National Player of the Year for Division III. The honor was voted on by the ISAA membership coaches. He was also chosen to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Mid-Atlantic, the NJAC and the College Soccer Association of New Jersey (CSANJ) All-State first teams.
Nicell started his last season at forward but also saw playing time in the midfield and backfield. He was second in scoring with 11 goals and eight assists for 30 points.
In 80 games, Nicell ended his career with 65 points, 25 goals and 15 assists. The Profs had a 68-11-7 record in Nicell’s four years. The men’s soccer team reached the NCAA Championship Tournament all four seasons and won the NJAC Championship three times (1993, 1992, 1991).
In 1996, Nicell received his bachelor’s degree in business. He is a sales manager for the Coca-Cola Company. Nicell came to the University from Portmarnock, Ireland where he graduated from Portmarnock Community School in 1989.