EMMITSBURG, Md. (January 22, 2024) – Mount St. Mary's University is set to induct six new members to the Athletics Hall of Fame. Among the group entering are four track & field athletes, a pair of men's lacrosse players, and athletic director and administrator Lynne Robinson.
Contributions in the class include an Olympic competitor, pioneers who started new varsity programs, school record holders, and numerous championship performances.
Lynne Phelan Robinson
'79, Athletic Director, Administrator, Coach, Women's Basketball/Field Hockey/Tennis
If there was ever a consideration for Mount St. Mary's lifer, Lynne Phelan Robinson would fit the criteria. Daughter of legendary men's basketball coach Jim Phelan and a 1979 graduate with a degree in political science, she was a three-sport student-athlete, competing in basketball, field hockey and tennis.
But this proved to be the beginning, with many significant and memorable contributions to come. She served as women's cross country and track & field coach in the 1980s, tutoring a squad paced by five All-Americans to numerous conference championships during her tenure. In 1988, Robinson left coaching to become a full-time athletic administrator as the Mount transitioned to Division I.
In 2007, she received promotion to the Director of Athletics chair, a position she would hold for 16 years. That span saw the Mount increase its offering of varsity sports from 16 to 24, and its student-athlete population nearly double over a six-year span. During this time, athletic development revenues of over $15 million have led to major facility upgrades and renovations to athletic venues. Robinson has enjoyed significant success as Athletic Director, with 23 conference championships and several NCAA tournament appearances. Last year, in her ultimate year running the department, she helped oversee the school's transition to becoming a full member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference after a successful run in the Northeast Conference.
Clifford Wong
'99, Men's Track & Field
Wong became a member of the Mount St. Mary's track & field team in 1995 and made an immediate impact on the world stage. He became the 12
th Mountaineer to compete as an Olympian, running for his native Guyana at the Games of the XXVI Olympiad in Atlanta, Georgia as a member of the 4x400 relay team.
Competing for the school, Wong won eight Northeast Conference Championships for events and was on the roster for the three-peat Outdoor Track & Field Champions from 1996-1998. He would make the finals in the 400 meter dash at NEC Outdoor Championships every year, winning the event in 1996 and again as an indoor competitor the following season. This would be paired with being an IC4A finalist as a freshman.
Wong still holds three places in the school's top 10 record book - a 4x400 indoor relay, the outdoor 200m dash (7
th) and the outdoor 400m dash (5
th).
Gerard "Wahoo" Middlemiss
'70, Men's Lacrosse, Spike Cogan Award
Middlemiss came to the Mount from Brooklyn in the late 1960s. Although not a native son of the Old Line State, he developed a liking to the state's official team sport of lacrosse and was instrumental in getting a varsity program to the Mount. Using shrewd negotiating tactics and some borrowed equipment from the Naval Academy, his dream was realized in his ultimate year, as he suited up for the team wearing number 22. Coached by Randy Kilgore, the team competed in nine contests that season, according to results in the 1970 Pridwin.
Upon graduating with a History Education degree, Middlemiss continued to be an ambassador for the sport. He coached at the high school level for Paul VI, Hightstown, and Notre Dame, all in New Jersey. At Notre Dame, Wahoo finished 71-37 and won the Mercer County Tournament in 2011. Along with coaching interscholastically he helped establish college programs at DeSales in Pennsylvania and The College of New Jersey, both of which are at varsity level status today.
Morgan Lisby
'02, Men's Track & Field
Lisby was a five-time Northeast Conference champion, competing as a hurdler. An All-NEC performer in each of his seasons at the Mount, he went on to compete in the IC4A where he became an All-East awardee in the 60-meter hurdles during his senior year.
When he graduated, Lisby was the record holder in the 60 meters for both the school and the Northeast Conference. At present, he stands fifth for the 110m and 60m hurdles, seventh in the 400-meter hurdles and eighth in the 55m hurdles.
Lisby was also an active member in Campus Life, specifically with the Center for Intercultural Development during his time as an undergraduate. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. In his professional life, he went on to run, with his wife Adenah, M&D Timing LLC; operating the timing structure for meets around the Mid-Atlantic, including the Mount 5K Duals during the cross-country season along with other events.
Nina Victorin
'07, Women's Track & Field
Victorin's legacy as a thrower for the track & field team is still etched in the Mount's record books. Upon graduating in 2007, she held five school records and continues to hold the top mark for the outdoor shot put and discus throw.
During her time at the Mount, Nina produced some high placements at the NEC Championships. In 2006 she was named Most Outstanding Field Performer at the Outdoor Championships, winning the discus and shot put. She would go on to advance to the NCAA Regionals in both events. Over her undergraduate career, Victorin earned seven top five postseason finishes.
Record breaking began in her sophomore season during the indoor season, taking the shot put at the Maryland Terrapin Invitational and the weight throw at NEC's. Nina would go on to reset the record in her junior and senior seasons.
Pat Farrell
'06, Men's Lacrosse
Farrell played four years on the Mount St. Mary's men's lacrosse team, culminating in being selected the 2006 Defensive Player of the Year for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Farrell was also a First Team All-MAAC player that same year, and a Second Team selection the year prior.
He was on the 2003 team that delivered the program's first-ever NCAA tournament berth. Later in his career, he boosted the Mountaineers to win in the 2005 and 2006 conference tournament, being named All-Tournament both years.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2024 receive formal induction on the morning of Saturday, January 27 in the Dillon Field House before the Winter Homecoming basketball games and will be honored again prior to the men's basketball contest against Rider.
