The Greater Binghamton Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025

The Greater Binghamton Sports Hall of Fame is all about honoring our local legends. Every year, they highlight the accomplishments of athletes and coaches, who have made an impact in the sports world, past and present.

Preserving History and Inspiring Future Generations

This year, the Hall of Fame is celebrating their 10th year of the Annual GB Sports HOF Induction Dinner with big-name sports stars as guest speakers. It's a chance to hear their stories and raise funds for the Hall of Fame.

Currently, the Hall is set up at the Visions FCU Veterans Memorial Arena, giving the community a chance to check out the accomplishments of the honorees. They're in the process of getting a new permanent place and want to expand the Museum to show off their artifacts, videos, and info about the inductees.

Supporting Education and Community Initiatives

The Hall of Fame is all about giving back to the community with educational programs, speakers, and handing out college scholarships. They honor one Male and Female Senior High School Student/Athlete of the Year with scholarships to help them on their path. They also give back to local charities to help out with community projects.

Celebrating Outstanding Contributions to Sports

The 10th Annual Greater Binghamton Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner is Monday, April 28th at the DoubleTree by Hilton. Here are the people who will be inducted into the Greater Binghamton Sports Hall of Fame:

Bob Bucher (1920-1981)

Bob Bucher, aka the "Binghamton Bullet," was a sports car racer from 1953 to 1966. He had more than 50 first-place finishes and was one of the big shots in the Northeast racing scene.

Bucher's list of achievements, including being the SCCA National Champion in 1961, taking home the SCCA Northeast "A" Class Sports Racing Championship, clinching the F-Modified Championship, and holding the record for the most wins at Watkins Glen International Raceway. His also has a spot in the Watkins Glen Walk of Fame.

Steve "Red" Chanecka (1918-2000)

Steve "Red" Chanecka, a basketball star at Binghamton Central High School, played and coached pro hoops in the Eastern Basketball League (EBL) and American Basketball League (ABL) for the Wilkes-Barre Barons. He was the team captain and got to raise the championship trophies with the Wilkes-Barre Barons in the EBL (1947-'48) and ABL (1949-'50).

Chanecka also a great golf game, dominating the Golf Club Championship at Wyoming Valley CC for six years straight. His sports skills got him a well-deserved spot in the Luzerne County and Pennsylvania Sports Halls of Fame.

Gary W. Farneti

Gary W. Farneti was a football linebacker at Binghamton North High School, making the All-STAC Conference Team, All-NYS Team, and Scholastic Magazine All-American Team. He was part of the championship-winning football squad at Binghamton North High in 1966.

Farneti attended Harvard University, and lead the football team as Team Captain and winning the Team MVP title. He also was honored with All-Ivy Team and UPI All-East Team selections.

Farneti wasn't just about football; he also dominated in the boxing ring, taking the title of Harvard University Heavyweight Boxing Champion. All these wins landed him in the Harvard University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Karen Cornell Funk

Karen Cornell Funk put in over 50 years coaching field hockey at Marathon High School and notching 600+ wins during that time. The team won 9 NYS Championships, 12 Section-IV Championships, and 25 League/Division Championships.

Before she became a coaching legend, Funk was a standout player on the USA National Field Hockey Team for 7 years. Her contributions to the sport have earned her spots in different Halls of Fame, including SUNY-Cortland C-Club, Section-IV, NYSPHSAA, and the National Field Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame.

Dave Hogan

Dave Hogan was the Football Head Coach and Athletic Director at Chenango Forks High School. Over his 17 seasons at CFHS, he had an impressive overall record of 172-23, along with winning 5 NYS Championships and 12 Section-IV Titles.

Hogan's has been named NYS Coach of the Year a remarkable 5 times. To top it off, he also received the 2024 New York Football Giants and Gatorade, Lou Rettino High School Coach of the Year Award.

Brenda Buglione Kirwood

Brenda Buglione Kirwood is known as an American Alpine Skier and a member of the U.S. Ski Team for 5 years. She won the Overall 1st Place Title in the Nor-Am Cup, North America's premier ski racing circuit, and clinched the Slalom Title in 1980-'81.

Kirwood was a 4-Time NCAA All-American while attending the University of Colorado. Her skiing talents extended to the U.S. Pro Tour and the World Cup Circuit. She also became the host of "Snow Motion," a TV show that won a Telly Award and reached over 96 million households through various broadcasting channels.

Emily Mackay

Emily Mackay has had an amazing career as an Olympic middle-distance runner. She started by winning big at the 2014 NYS High School Indoor Championships, representing Union-Endicott HS in the 1,500 with a time of 4:49.76. In college at Binghamton University, Mackay won 5 NCAA D-I All-American titles in track and cross country and 7 America East Individual Titles.

She qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 1,500, making it to the semi-finals and won a Bronze Medal at the 2023 World Indoor Championships. Mackay is the 13th American woman to break the 4-minute mark in the 1,500, hitting a personal best of 3:55.90 that puts her 3rd in U.S. history. She went pro in 2022, joining the New Balance Boston team.

Clarence "Bucky" McGill

Clarence "Bucky" McGill is a football legend who has left his mark in the game. From being a key player in the championship-winning Binghamton North High School Team of '66 to earning a football scholarship and playing as Defensive End at Syracuse University,

In 2006, McGill was recognized with the Chancellor's Medal for Extraordinary Courage for his role in the "Syracuse 8," a group of teammates who took a stand against structural racism in the University's Athletic Program in the '70s. Today, McGill's impact lives on through a mural honoring the "Syracuse 8" in the University's JMA Dome.

John A. Moreau

John A. Moreau is a big deal in fencing and modern pentathlon. He competed in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics in the Men's Team Epee Event and is a 7-Times National Champion in the Team Epee Event. As a fencing coach at Texas State University, Moreau has led his team to victory with 15 State Championships under his belt.

He also holds the prestigious title of #1 International Judge in the U.S. for Modern Pentathlon. Moreau has been inducted into the Binghamton University Athletic Hall of Fame and the U.S. Fencing Hall of Fame, sealing his reputation as a respected figure in fencing and modern pentathlon.

Brad Penrith

Brad Penrith, a wrestling star, went to Windsor High School and made a big impact at the University of Iowa with many Tournament Wins. While at Iowa, the team won the Big-10 Championship, and Brad was named Outstanding Wrestler. He also took home the 126-LB. Championship at the NCAA's, helping Iowa clinch the Team Title in 1986.

Penrith's earned a Silver Medal at the 1991 World Championships and Gold Medals at the 1989 and 1991 Pan American Games. After hanging up his wrestling shoes, Penrith became the Head Wrestling Coach at the University of Northern Iowa, passing on his passion and know-how to the next wrestling generation. Penrith has received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award from the NY Chapter of the National Hall of Fame.

Vickie "Coach" Sax

Vickie Sax, fondly known as "Coach," had an impressive coaching career spanning 42 years at the scholastic and collegiate levels across four sports, with a record of over 850 wins.

Her athletic journey began as a three-sport athlete at Vestal High School, and she excelled as a two-sport Division-1 athlete at the University of Iowa. Sax's leadership extended to her roles as the Head Softball Coach at Colgate University for 13 seasons. During her time there, she established herself as the winningest softball coach in Colgate's history.

The team won 3 Patriot League Championships and made 3 appearances in the NCAA Tournament. She also was the Head Field Hockey Coach at Vestal High School for 23 years, during which the team clinched the NYS Class "B" Field Hockey Championship twice and won the Section-IV Championship 9 times. Sax was named NYS Field Hockey and Softball Coach of the Year.

Alesha Widdall

Alesha Widdall is a field hockey powerhouse, excelling as a goalie at Whitney Point High School, the University of Massachusetts, and with the National USA Team. At U-Mass, she was a two-time NFHCA All-American and named the Atlantic-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. Widdall played a big role in her team's four consecutive A-10 Championship victories.

From 2011 to 2018, she represented the Senior USA Women's National Field Hockey Team, and was selected as an Alternate for the Summer Olympics in Brazil. Widdall's achievements include winning Gold at the 2014 Champions Challenge in Scotland, the 2013 World League Round in Brazil, and the 2008 Junior Pan American Games in Mexico.

Triple Cities Jets Football Team (1970)

In 1970, the Triple Cities Jets Football Team made a remarkable debut, finishing their first semi-professional season with a perfect 12-0 record and won the Empire Football League (EFL) Championship. They dominated with a huge 731 to 13 scoring margin, earning them widespread acclaim in the Greater Binghamton Area. The team was founded by Ray Stanton and was the General Manager, Head Coach, and Quarterback.

Stanton was inducted in the Greater Binghamton Sports Hall of Fame in 2015 for his contributions. Several TC Jets players, including Stanton, Dave Burch, and Joe Grecco, also earned tryouts with the New York Jets.

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Induction Dinner Ticket Information

Induction dinner tickets will be available for $75.00 per ticket, including a meal, guest speaker, and the chance to meet some honored athletes. You can buy tickets here.