Best of the best entering Athletic Hall of Fame
The Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2012. From left: Ryan Janzen, Peter Preocanin, Tom Casey, Sarah Cameron and Joanne Malar.
The starting lineup for this year’s Athletic Hall of Fame has been announced, and it includes four elite athletes and one legendary coach.
With representation from the court, the field and the pool, McMaster Athletics is pleased to present the Class of 2012 inductees:
Sarah Cameron ’02 (Basketball): A true impact player, Cameron had an illustrious four-year career for the maroon and grey – dominating the hardcourt from 1998 to 2002. She was a major contributor to McMaster’s first-ever OUA women’s basketball championship in 1999, and was recognized as an OUA All-Star every season she played. Cameron graduated as the all-time leader in rebounding for the OUA, and remains among the league’s top career rebounders. Cameron helped establish a culture of winning at McMaster, and later spent one season as member of the Marauders coaching staff.
Ryan Janzen ’00 (Football): A record-setting wide receiver for the Marauders, Janzen helped develop the football program into a national contender. The native of Port Elgin was a four-time OUA All-Star and a two-time CIS All-Canadian during his five varsity seasons. In 2000, he was a key member of McMaster’s first-ever Yates Cup Championship team, and graduated as the OUA and CIS all-time leader in receiving yards, and the OUA single-season leader for receiving yards. Janzen is a member of the “Marauder Team of the Decade” for the 1990s, and was also named to McMaster’s “Football Team of the Century” (1990-99).
Joanne Malar’02 (Swimming): One of Canada’s top medley swimmers and a three-time Olympian, Malar spent three record-setting seasons at McMaster. To date, she holds OUA records in the 200M and 400M individual medley events, and helped McMaster capture the OUA Championship all three years she competed. Malar’s varsity career was highlighted by eight OUA gold medals and seven CIS gold medals. In 1995 and 1996, Hamilton-born Malar was recognized as CIS Swimmer of the Year, and was also named McMaster’s Female Athlete of the Year.
Peter Preocanin ’92 (Volleyball): Team stalwart Peter Preocanin is the first men’s varsity volleyball player to be named to the McMaster Athletic Hall of Fame. Suiting up for McMaster between 1987 and 1992, Preocanin became the first Marauder to be named an OUA All-Star a remarkable five times. He led the men’s volleyball team to an OUA west division title in 1991, and added the program’s first OUA Championship in 1992. A Hamilton native, Preocanin ended his outstanding career in 1992 as a CIS All-Canadian.
Tom Casey (Men’s Soccer Coach): After joining the program in 1991, longtime Hamiltonian Tom Casey turned the McMaster men’s soccer team into one of the premier programs in Canada. He guided the Marauders to an OUA Championship in 1992, two CIS silver medals in 1991 and 1992 and a CIS bronze medal in 1994. Recognized as the OUA west division Coach of the Year four times, Casey was also the 1995 CIS Coach of the Year – after his Marauder team went undefeated in league play. In total, Casey spent 17 years on the sideline, and coached the Marauders to four CIS national tournaments.
The inductions will take place Friday, Oct. 12 in the David Braley Athletic Centre Sport Hall. The evening begins with a cocktail reception at 5 p.m., followed by the induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. This year’s keynote speaker is four-time Olympic medalist and McMaster alumnus Adam van Koeverden.
