Delawter, Cannon, Volleyball Champs Enter Hall

Chesapeake College inducts eighth Athletic Hall of Fame class

WYE MILLS – Will Delawter, G.R. Cannon, and Chesapeake College’s 1972 and ’73 women’s volleyball teams were inducted into the Chesapeake College Athletic Hall of Fame on October 19th.

Delawter led the 2005 baseball team to the NJCAA Division II World Series, Cannon helped the 1999 men’s soccer team to the program’s only winning regular season between 1994 and 2008, and the 13 players who comprised the 1972 and ’73 women’s volleyball teams provided Chesapeake with its only back-to-back state titles in the college’s 46-year history.

Delawter and Cannon both spoke about the value of their time at Chesapeake.

"It was a pivotal time in my life," said Cannon, who singled out Professor Ed Baker and Athletic Director Frank Szymanski as "great role models" during his Chesapeake experience.

"Chesapeake College provided me with a first-class education and an opportunity to grow," said Delawter, who also praised Szymanski’s contributions as his baseball coach. "You are a big reason why I’m standing here tonight. We had good times and rough ones, but now I have a lifelong friend and mentor. "

Janet Fountain – who played on both title teams – spoke for the teams after asking for a moment of silence for the late Mercedes Lesser, who coached both clubs.

"I feel like she is here with us. We were dedicated, motivated, we were a team and we worked hard," said Fountain. "We thank the college for thinking of us."

The induction dinner featured guest speaker Brian Billick, who coached the Baltimore Ravens to their only Super Bowl championship in team history. Billick, speaking to an audience that included the nearly 100 student athletes competing for Chesapeake College this year, told the young adults who will be heading into the workforce soon that employers are looking for the "pigs" of the world.

"I like to refer to the adage of the bacon-and-eggs breakfast," said Billick, who is now a television broadcaster with the NFL Network and Fox. "In the bacon-and-eggs breakfast, the chicken is involved, the pig is committed."

Chesapeake College Athletic Hall of Fame

Established: October 1, 2003

Purpose: To honor those people who have made significant, positive impacts on Chesapeake College athletics and the college community.

Hall of Fame Categories: Student athlete; coach/administrator; benefactor

Election Procedures: Hall of Fame Committee members, college officials, or members of the college community may make Hall of Fame nominations. Nominations should be submitted to the Athletic Director, who will forward them to the committee. The committee will annually select at least one male student athlete and one female student athlete for induction to the Hall of Fame. Additional candidates from any category may be elected by a majority vote of the committee.

Eligibility: Student athletes must have

1. graduated from Chesapeake College or a four-year college or university; or
2. maintained a minimum 2.0 quality-point average while a student at Chesapeake College.

In addition, they must have

1. exhibited good sportsmanship and citizenship while representing Chesapeake College;
2. excelled at one or more sports while at Chesapeake College; and
3. continued to be an exemplary member of their community since leaving Chesapeake College.

Student/athletes must have completed their education at Chesapeake College at least three years prior to their Hall of Fame induction.

Coaches/administrators must have

1. coached/administered a minimum of three years at Chesapeake College;
2. exhibited good sportsmanship, leadership and citizenship while representing Chesapeake College;
3. excelled as a member of the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference athletic community while at Chesapeake College; and
4. continued to be an exemplary member of their community since leaving Chesapeake College.

Coaches/administrators must have completed their coaching/administrating tenure at Chesapeake College at least three years prior to their Hall of Fame induction.

Benefactors will be inducted at the discretion of the Hall of Fame Committee based upon their contributions to the college and the community.

Hall of Fame Committee: The Chesapeake College Athletic Director will be a permanent member of the Hall of Fame Committee. The President of Chesapeake College shall appoint other committee members for three-year terms, with the committee consisting of a minimum of three members and a maximum of five members. It is recommended that the Chesapeake College faculty and administration be represented on the committee. Other constituencies that should be considered for representation include former coaches and former student athletes. The committee shall elect its chair from among its members.

The Chesapeake College Athletic Hall of Fame Committee may change requirements for election to the Hall by a majority vote of the committee.