TGFC - Hall of Fame Members - Class of 2001
Paul Amodio
Paul Amodio, '55, MA '60, of Kent, Ohio, served as Kent State University's Director of Intercollegiate Athletes from August 1980 until January 1994. Under his leadership, the university completed construction on the Field House and renovated the MAC Center. During that time he also served on the NCAA Athletic Council and renovated the MAC Center. During that time he also served on the NCAA Athletic Council, the NACDA Fund Raising Committee, the NCAA Division I-A MAC committee and the MAC compliance committee. As a student at Kent State, Amodio lettered in football, serving as team captain in 1952 under coach Trevor Rees.
Gary Bishop
While a student at Kent State University, Gary Bishop, '75, a six-time MAC Champion, qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1972 and set a three-year MAC record on the low and high boards. Bishop was MAC champion in 1-meter and 3-meter diving in 1970,'71 and '72. He qualified for the NCAA championships in 1971, '72 and '73. After graduation , he appeared as an actor and stuntman on several popular television shows, including The Incredible Hulk, CHIPs, T.J. Hooker, The Love Boat, Amazing Stories and Scarecrow and Mrs. Kent.
Carla Brookbank
In addition to earning a degree in nursing while an undergraduate at Kent State, Carla Brookbank, '95, MSN '00, also set 11 Kent State records as a softball player. She pitched a perfect game against Ball State in 1992 and was MAC Player of the Year in 1995. Joining the Women's Professional Softball League (WPSL) in 1996, she was named to the All-Star team twice and was named the leagues most valuable player in 1997. As a member of the WPSL's Akron Racers she continues to excel, and is ranked first all-time in games pitched, second in games started and innings pitched, third in saves and fourth in wins and complete games.
Mary Bukovac
Holds the Kent State career record for blocked shots with 250 and was MAC Player of the Year in 1989. She earned spots on the All-MAC First Team in 1988 and 1989. A four-year starter for the Golden Flash Women's Basketball Team, she was also selected as one of the Outstanding College Students of America. After graduation, she continued her career on the basketball court, becoming the first American to play for Clube Independente de Basquetbol Feminino. She led the team in rebounding and was second in scoring.
Teri (Connelly) Campisano
Made her mark as a field hockey player early in her career at Kent State, being named MAC Freshman of the Year in 1991. She followed up this impressive start as a four-time member of the All-MAC First Team in 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1995 and was MAC Player of the Year in 1995. After graduating from Kent State with a degree in secondary education, she returned to Assumption High School in Louisville to work with a new generation of students. A math teacher at the high school, she has served as the school's assistant junior varsity and varsity coach for the past two seasons.Â
Debbie Duplay-Blank
Debbie Blank, MA '93 holds the Kent State record for the indoor mile and the outdoor 1,500 meters. During her Kent State career, she lettered in both track and cross country, serving as cross country captain in 1992 and track captain in 1993. The MAC champion in 1,500 meters in 1993, she was selected for the All-MAC champion in 1,500 meters in 1993, she was selected for the All-MAC Cross Country Team in 1992 and was All -American in the outdoor 800 meters in 1993. She was the first woman to qualify as a track NCAA All-American and was nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year award in 1993.
Shelly Stambaugh
Shelly Stambaugh, '97, of Defiance, Ohio earned her place in history as the first MAC gymnast to score a perfect 10, a feat she accomplished four times on the vault. A member of the All-MAC First Team in 1993, '94, '95 and '96, she became the first Kent State gymnast to qualify for the NCAA Championships. She made a second appearance at the NCAA Championships in 1996, placing 19th in the nation in the all around and 20th in the nation on the vault. She holds the Kent State record for the vault. After graduation, she coached preschool, pre-team, and competitive team levels at FLYTZ USA Gymnastics in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
