Syracuse to Honor Six at 51st Annual LetterWinners of Distinction Event
8/5/2015 2:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Football, Men's Lacrosse, Women's Lacrosse, General, Breaking News
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Six of Syracuse University's former athletic standouts will be honored during the annual LetterWinner of Distinction Dinner on Friday, September 11 at the Oncenter in downtown Syracuse. The 2015 honorees include Wayne Catan '86 (wrestling), Anne Flannery '83 (basketball), Gary Gait '91 (lacrosse), Paul Gait '91 (lacrosse), Stevie Thompson '90 (basketball) and Bob Woodruff '73 (football).
Tickets are $100 per person and a table of 10 is $950. A reception begins at 6 p.m. followed by a dinner at 7 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit http://syracuse.imodules.com/LetterWinner or call the Orange Club Office at 315-443-1419.
Wayne Catan '86 (Wrestling)
A two-time All-American, Wayne Catan was dominant on the mat throughout his collegiate career. After an impressive career at Bellport High School on Long Island, Catan enrolled at the University of Tennessee, where he earned All-America honors as a sophomore. He then transferred to Syracuse and became a two-time NCAA finalist, a feat only two other Orange wrestlers share (Jim Nance and Gene Mills). In 1984, he was an alternate for the United States Olympic team.
A 1986 graduate with a degree in speech communications with a focus in advertising, Catan has become a well-regarded communications professional, founding his own business, Catan Communications, in 1997. In 2008, he became vice president of Coyne Public Relations, a position he held for four years. He then became chief public relations strategist for USA Wresting and USA Judo.
Catan has won numerous awards for his work in the communications field, including being named PrWeek's Solo PR Practitioner of the Year. He is now pursuing a new career in education. Catan currently teaches English and coaches wrestling at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix. Additionally, he is working towards a Master's degree in education from the University of Arizona
Generations of wrestlers have benefitted from Catan's knowledge and experience. Prior to his current position at Brophy, he held many other coaching positions. Catan helped make Blair Academy in New Jersey a national powerhouse, leading them to more than 10 consensus No. 1 national rankings. He has also coached at Columbia University and Lehigh University.
Anne Flannery '83 (Basketball)
Anne Flannery has, and continues to represent the Orange profoundly, as she pursues her passion for sports and civic engagement. She transferred to Syracuse from Manhattan College prior to the 1981-82 season and averaged 13.5 points and 6.3 rebounds in her first season with the Orange. She shot 80.3 percent from the free throw line, which ranked 15th in the nation. Flannery was voted a co-captain her senior season when she led the team in scoring, averaging 13.4 points per game. She was an All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention selection in 1982-83. Flannery was also recognized for her achievements off the court, earning regional Academic All-America honors in 1980-81.
In 1983 Flannery graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science, and then went on to further her education at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where she served as a graduate student assistant for the women's basketball team and earned a Master's degree in sport management.
Flannery joined the staff of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) as an assistant executive director in 1989. She was promoted to associate executive director nearly two years later. Flannery successfully transformed the coaches' organization, creating more opportunities for women's basketball on multiple platforms. Her sport expertise was a perfect fit for her next career pursuit at Spalding Sports Worldwide. Her list of accomplishments at Spalding includes creating the Spalding Women's Sport Council, designing, developing, and marketing women's sporting goods, and much more.
After more than five years at Spalding, Flannery became president and CEO at PE4LIFE, where she served as a leader and ambassador for change. She dedicated her work to training community, school, and business leaders across the world, coaching and teaching them how to transform, improve, enhance, and promote a healthy and active lifestyle.
Flannery also served as the vice president of global youth activation and education policy for the Special Olympics for one year and is currently the President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana.
Gary Gait '90 (Lacrosse)
Gary Gait revolutionized the sport of lacrosse by introducing style and excitement to the game. His signature move, the "Air Gait", wowed fans and players alike, as he dunked over the top of the net from behind the goal. His flashy play did not go without results. Gait earned All-America honors all four years, including three first-team selections. In his four years he helped lead the Orange to an overall record of 51-5, three national titles, and two undefeated seasons.
Gait still holds the single-season school record for goals, which he set in 1988 when he found the back of the net 70 times. He is a two-time winner of the Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award as the Division I Outstanding Player, and claimed the 1988 and 1989 Lt. Donald C. MacLaughlin Jr. Award as the top midfielder in Division I.
In 1991, Gait entered the National Lacrosse League (NLL) where he continued his dominance. He played 17 seasons in the NLL with the Detroit Turbos, Philadelphia Wings, Baltimore Thunder, Pittsburgh CrossFire, Washington Power, and Colorado Mammoth. He won league MVP honors six times, was All-Pro every season and left the league as the all-time leading scorer, tallying 1,091 points when he first retired in 2005. In 2009, Gait came out of retirement to play for the Rochester Knighthawks, coached by his brother Paul. He also played in the MLL for five seasons, compiling three championships. Gait is a member of both the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2005) and the NLL Hall of Fame (2006). In 2013, he was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame.
Currently, Gait is the head coach of the Syracuse women's lacrosse team. In his nine seasons at the helm of the Orange program, his teams have made the NCAA Tournament eight years, advancing to the national semifinals six times and to the national championship game twice. Gait is a three-time IWLCA Regional Coach of the Year and conference Coach of the Year honoree.
Prior to returning to his alma mater, Gait had coaching stints with the MLL's Baltimore Bayhawks, the NLL's Colorado Mammoth and for the Canadian under-19 national team. In addition, he spent nine seasons as an assistant coach for the University of Maryland's women's lacrosse squad. During his tenure, the Terrapins compiled a record of 164-16 (.911) and won seven consecutive national championships (1995-2001).
Gait dedicates himself to promoting the growth of the sport. He serves as president of NDP Lacrosse, a national lacrosse development and education program. He was also the chairman of the 2007 Under Armour Boys All-America selection committee.
Paul Gait '90 (Lacrosse)
Paul Gait is widely considered to be the one of greatest lacrosse players of all-time. He was part of a Syracuse dynasty that won three consecutive NCAA titles and posted two undefeated seasons. In the 1988 NCAA title game against Johns Hopkins, he scored four goals and tacked on two assists. The three-time first-team All-American was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player in 1989. Gait finished his career with the Orange with 212 points, scoring 127 goals and notching 85 assists. The NCAA named him to its 25th Anniversary Team.
Professionally, Gait played 13 seasons in the NLL with Detroit, Philadelphia, Rochester, Syracuse, Washington, and Colorado. He won three championships and holds the record for most goals in a league championship game with eight in the 1994 title game with Philadelphia. Gait also played two seasons in the MLL with the Long Island Lizards and the Boston Cannons, leading the Lizards to the championship in the league's inaugural season. Gait was inducted into the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2005), was one of the charter members of the NLL's Hall of Fame (2006), and was also elected to The British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame (2011). In addition, Lacrosse Magazine named him to its All-20th Century Team. He is a 2006 Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame inductee.
In 2009, Gait returned to Rochester, taking the head coaching position for his former team. In his first year as head coach, the Knighthawks advanced to the East Division semifinals. After two years as head coach, he took on a new role with the team, serving as vice president of lacrosse. Under his direction Rochester won three consecutive Champion's Cups from 2012-14.
Stephen Thompson '90 (Basketball)
Stephen Thompson helped the Orange to the NCAA national championship game as a freshman in 1987 and went on to score 1,956 points in his career, which rank seventh in school history. He is second all-time on Syracuse's games played, appearing in 144 contests. The two-time All-American and two-time team captain holds the second-highest shooting percentage in NCAA Tournament history, shooting 68.4 percent from the field. He was also honored for his work in the classroom, earning the 1990 BIG EAST Conference's Men's Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year award.
After his collegiate career, Thompson played professionally in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets before heading overseas. He played in Europe and Japan, where he led the league in scoring twice. Thompson also played in the CBA, earning Rookie of the Year honors as well as becoming a two-time leading scorer and two-time all-star.
In 2002, the Los Angeles native accepted an assistant coaching position at California State University Los Angeles. He assumed the head coaching role in 2005. In his third season at the helm of the program, he led the Golden Eagles to their first winning season in seven years. In his tenure at CSULA, Thompson compiled a record of 143-122, In 2014, he left CSULA to become an assistant coach at Oregon State.
Thompson is a member of the Hardwood Club and is a Vic Hanson Medal of Excellence award winner. He co-founded and directed the Give 'N Go Basketball Academy, which offers basketball camps and one-on-one tutoring lessons to youth players. He also served as a coach for the Southern California All-Stars, an AAU team in Los Angeles. In addition, Thompson supports the Union Rescue Mission and the Red Cross.
Robert Woodruff '73 (Football)
A three-year letterman, Robert Woodruff was an integral part of the 1971 and 1972 Syracuse football teams as he led the team in passing yards in each season. After accumulating 1,646 total passing yards throughout his career at Syracuse, Woodruff, a member of the Dean's List, graduated with a degree in political science in 1973. He furthered his education at Fordham Law School where he earned a J.D. in 1976.
Woodruff went on to a very successful and distinguished law career in the state of New Jersey, where he has been recognized as "New Jersey Lawyers Magazine Outstanding Lawyer". He has also been named "New Jersey Super Lawyers Top Lawyer".
Woodruff continued his affiliation with Syracuse University as a member of the National Alumni Board of Directors from 1997-2003. He is the current mayor of Berkeley Heights, N.J. and has served as chairman of the Berkeley Heights Board of Recreation and as a Berkeley Heights Councilman. In addition, Woodruff transferred his skills on the field to the sidelines as he has coached New Providence High School, leading his squad to five state and conference championships, as well as youth leagues in Berkeley Heights. He served as a volunteer coach for three sports in the PAL league for 30 seasons. Woodruff continues to give back to the community in several ways. Woodruff has served on the Berkeley Heights PAL Board of Directors, as well as the commissioner of PAL football.
Tickets are $100 per person and a table of 10 is $950. A reception begins at 6 p.m. followed by a dinner at 7 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit http://syracuse.imodules.com/LetterWinner or call the Orange Club Office at 315-443-1419.
Wayne Catan '86 (Wrestling)
A two-time All-American, Wayne Catan was dominant on the mat throughout his collegiate career. After an impressive career at Bellport High School on Long Island, Catan enrolled at the University of Tennessee, where he earned All-America honors as a sophomore. He then transferred to Syracuse and became a two-time NCAA finalist, a feat only two other Orange wrestlers share (Jim Nance and Gene Mills). In 1984, he was an alternate for the United States Olympic team.
A 1986 graduate with a degree in speech communications with a focus in advertising, Catan has become a well-regarded communications professional, founding his own business, Catan Communications, in 1997. In 2008, he became vice president of Coyne Public Relations, a position he held for four years. He then became chief public relations strategist for USA Wresting and USA Judo.
Catan has won numerous awards for his work in the communications field, including being named PrWeek's Solo PR Practitioner of the Year. He is now pursuing a new career in education. Catan currently teaches English and coaches wrestling at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix. Additionally, he is working towards a Master's degree in education from the University of Arizona
Generations of wrestlers have benefitted from Catan's knowledge and experience. Prior to his current position at Brophy, he held many other coaching positions. Catan helped make Blair Academy in New Jersey a national powerhouse, leading them to more than 10 consensus No. 1 national rankings. He has also coached at Columbia University and Lehigh University.
Anne Flannery '83 (Basketball)
Anne Flannery has, and continues to represent the Orange profoundly, as she pursues her passion for sports and civic engagement. She transferred to Syracuse from Manhattan College prior to the 1981-82 season and averaged 13.5 points and 6.3 rebounds in her first season with the Orange. She shot 80.3 percent from the free throw line, which ranked 15th in the nation. Flannery was voted a co-captain her senior season when she led the team in scoring, averaging 13.4 points per game. She was an All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention selection in 1982-83. Flannery was also recognized for her achievements off the court, earning regional Academic All-America honors in 1980-81.
In 1983 Flannery graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science, and then went on to further her education at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where she served as a graduate student assistant for the women's basketball team and earned a Master's degree in sport management.
Flannery joined the staff of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) as an assistant executive director in 1989. She was promoted to associate executive director nearly two years later. Flannery successfully transformed the coaches' organization, creating more opportunities for women's basketball on multiple platforms. Her sport expertise was a perfect fit for her next career pursuit at Spalding Sports Worldwide. Her list of accomplishments at Spalding includes creating the Spalding Women's Sport Council, designing, developing, and marketing women's sporting goods, and much more.
After more than five years at Spalding, Flannery became president and CEO at PE4LIFE, where she served as a leader and ambassador for change. She dedicated her work to training community, school, and business leaders across the world, coaching and teaching them how to transform, improve, enhance, and promote a healthy and active lifestyle.
Flannery also served as the vice president of global youth activation and education policy for the Special Olympics for one year and is currently the President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana.
Gary Gait '90 (Lacrosse)
Gary Gait revolutionized the sport of lacrosse by introducing style and excitement to the game. His signature move, the "Air Gait", wowed fans and players alike, as he dunked over the top of the net from behind the goal. His flashy play did not go without results. Gait earned All-America honors all four years, including three first-team selections. In his four years he helped lead the Orange to an overall record of 51-5, three national titles, and two undefeated seasons.
Gait still holds the single-season school record for goals, which he set in 1988 when he found the back of the net 70 times. He is a two-time winner of the Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award as the Division I Outstanding Player, and claimed the 1988 and 1989 Lt. Donald C. MacLaughlin Jr. Award as the top midfielder in Division I.
In 1991, Gait entered the National Lacrosse League (NLL) where he continued his dominance. He played 17 seasons in the NLL with the Detroit Turbos, Philadelphia Wings, Baltimore Thunder, Pittsburgh CrossFire, Washington Power, and Colorado Mammoth. He won league MVP honors six times, was All-Pro every season and left the league as the all-time leading scorer, tallying 1,091 points when he first retired in 2005. In 2009, Gait came out of retirement to play for the Rochester Knighthawks, coached by his brother Paul. He also played in the MLL for five seasons, compiling three championships. Gait is a member of both the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2005) and the NLL Hall of Fame (2006). In 2013, he was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame.
Currently, Gait is the head coach of the Syracuse women's lacrosse team. In his nine seasons at the helm of the Orange program, his teams have made the NCAA Tournament eight years, advancing to the national semifinals six times and to the national championship game twice. Gait is a three-time IWLCA Regional Coach of the Year and conference Coach of the Year honoree.
Prior to returning to his alma mater, Gait had coaching stints with the MLL's Baltimore Bayhawks, the NLL's Colorado Mammoth and for the Canadian under-19 national team. In addition, he spent nine seasons as an assistant coach for the University of Maryland's women's lacrosse squad. During his tenure, the Terrapins compiled a record of 164-16 (.911) and won seven consecutive national championships (1995-2001).
Gait dedicates himself to promoting the growth of the sport. He serves as president of NDP Lacrosse, a national lacrosse development and education program. He was also the chairman of the 2007 Under Armour Boys All-America selection committee.
Paul Gait '90 (Lacrosse)
Paul Gait is widely considered to be the one of greatest lacrosse players of all-time. He was part of a Syracuse dynasty that won three consecutive NCAA titles and posted two undefeated seasons. In the 1988 NCAA title game against Johns Hopkins, he scored four goals and tacked on two assists. The three-time first-team All-American was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player in 1989. Gait finished his career with the Orange with 212 points, scoring 127 goals and notching 85 assists. The NCAA named him to its 25th Anniversary Team.
Professionally, Gait played 13 seasons in the NLL with Detroit, Philadelphia, Rochester, Syracuse, Washington, and Colorado. He won three championships and holds the record for most goals in a league championship game with eight in the 1994 title game with Philadelphia. Gait also played two seasons in the MLL with the Long Island Lizards and the Boston Cannons, leading the Lizards to the championship in the league's inaugural season. Gait was inducted into the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2005), was one of the charter members of the NLL's Hall of Fame (2006), and was also elected to The British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame (2011). In addition, Lacrosse Magazine named him to its All-20th Century Team. He is a 2006 Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame inductee.
In 2009, Gait returned to Rochester, taking the head coaching position for his former team. In his first year as head coach, the Knighthawks advanced to the East Division semifinals. After two years as head coach, he took on a new role with the team, serving as vice president of lacrosse. Under his direction Rochester won three consecutive Champion's Cups from 2012-14.
Stephen Thompson '90 (Basketball)
Stephen Thompson helped the Orange to the NCAA national championship game as a freshman in 1987 and went on to score 1,956 points in his career, which rank seventh in school history. He is second all-time on Syracuse's games played, appearing in 144 contests. The two-time All-American and two-time team captain holds the second-highest shooting percentage in NCAA Tournament history, shooting 68.4 percent from the field. He was also honored for his work in the classroom, earning the 1990 BIG EAST Conference's Men's Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year award.
After his collegiate career, Thompson played professionally in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets before heading overseas. He played in Europe and Japan, where he led the league in scoring twice. Thompson also played in the CBA, earning Rookie of the Year honors as well as becoming a two-time leading scorer and two-time all-star.
In 2002, the Los Angeles native accepted an assistant coaching position at California State University Los Angeles. He assumed the head coaching role in 2005. In his third season at the helm of the program, he led the Golden Eagles to their first winning season in seven years. In his tenure at CSULA, Thompson compiled a record of 143-122, In 2014, he left CSULA to become an assistant coach at Oregon State.
Thompson is a member of the Hardwood Club and is a Vic Hanson Medal of Excellence award winner. He co-founded and directed the Give 'N Go Basketball Academy, which offers basketball camps and one-on-one tutoring lessons to youth players. He also served as a coach for the Southern California All-Stars, an AAU team in Los Angeles. In addition, Thompson supports the Union Rescue Mission and the Red Cross.
Robert Woodruff '73 (Football)
A three-year letterman, Robert Woodruff was an integral part of the 1971 and 1972 Syracuse football teams as he led the team in passing yards in each season. After accumulating 1,646 total passing yards throughout his career at Syracuse, Woodruff, a member of the Dean's List, graduated with a degree in political science in 1973. He furthered his education at Fordham Law School where he earned a J.D. in 1976.
Woodruff went on to a very successful and distinguished law career in the state of New Jersey, where he has been recognized as "New Jersey Lawyers Magazine Outstanding Lawyer". He has also been named "New Jersey Super Lawyers Top Lawyer".
Woodruff continued his affiliation with Syracuse University as a member of the National Alumni Board of Directors from 1997-2003. He is the current mayor of Berkeley Heights, N.J. and has served as chairman of the Berkeley Heights Board of Recreation and as a Berkeley Heights Councilman. In addition, Woodruff transferred his skills on the field to the sidelines as he has coached New Providence High School, leading his squad to five state and conference championships, as well as youth leagues in Berkeley Heights. He served as a volunteer coach for three sports in the PAL league for 30 seasons. Woodruff continues to give back to the community in several ways. Woodruff has served on the Berkeley Heights PAL Board of Directors, as well as the commissioner of PAL football.
