Members of the North Country Community College 1993 men’s soccer team celebrate their induction into the college’s athletic Hall of Fame during a ceremony Friday, Sept. 12 at the Harrietstown Town Hall in Saranac Lake. Pictured from left are Steven Peretta, Andy Wood, Bill Hoffnagle, Forrest Lottie, Owen Lunt, Darin Lane and Chad LaDue. (Photo provided)

SARANAC LAKE — More than 160 people who have made significant contributions to North Country Community College athletics — coaches, contributors, athletes, and entire teams — were enshrined into the college’s Athletic Hall of Fame before a packed house of enthusiastic family, friends and college supporters on Friday, Sept. 12.

The dinner and Hall of Fame induction ceremony, held in the Harrietstown Town Hall auditorium, felt more like a family reunion. Former teammates who hadn’t seen each other in years reunited with smiles, handshakes and bear hugs. Coaches shared laughs and reminisced with their former players.

“This night was about more than just recognizing achievements — it was about celebrating the spirit of North Country athletics and the lasting connections forged through competition, teamwork, and pride in our college,” said NCCC Athletic Director Chad LaDue. “The Hall of Fame is our way of honoring those who shaped our program’s legacy, and seeing so many familiar faces back together made it feel like a true homecoming.”

This is the second class of inductees to the Athletic Hall of Fame — the first was in 2017 — and represents 20 years of North Country’s athletic program, from 1997 to 2017. Nominations were sought by a committee of current and former coaches, administrators and players. The inductees who were selected “have helped bring recognition, honor, distinction and excellence to North Country Community College and its intercollegiate athletic programs,” per the Hall of Fame’s mission statement.

The class of 2025 includes 168 student-athletes from men’s and women’s ice hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s softball, men’s cross-country and women’s lacrosse. Several inductees were selected as multi-sport athletes at the college.

Also enshrined Friday were four teams — the 1982 women’s soccer team, the 1993 men’s soccer team, the 2002 men’s soccer team and the 2004-05 men’s basketball team — and nine coaches, administrators, distinguished alumni and contributors to the college’s athletic program.

The induction ceremony was the kick-off to an alumni weekend of events at the college that also included a men’s soccer game and barbecue on Saturday, a reception at Mount Pisgah Ski Center on Saturday night, and alumni soccer and basketball games on Sunday.

The next Hall of Fame class will be inducted in 2030. For a complete list of this year’s or past inductees, or to nominate someone to the Hall of Fame, visit https://nccc.prestosports.com/alumni/halloffame.