General | 8/21/2013 11:32:00 AM

ROCHESTER, NY - The Rochester Institute of Technology Sports Hall of Fame class of 2013 has been announced. Six former athletes will be inducted at the 45th annual induction ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013 at Locust Hill Country Club. The six inductees, their sports and year of graduation include: Kasie Strong-Fairbarn (hockey, 2005); Lloyd Kaplan (swimming and diving, 1979); Molly Urquhart (track and field, 2003); Ray Ruliffson (wrestling, 1975); Ross A. "Chick" Di Biase (wrestling, 1954); and Shari McNamara Gerevics (softball, 2005 and 2007).


Kasie Strong-Fairbarn
A two-year women's hockey captain, Kasie Strong-Fairbarn was the 2005 RIT Senior Athlete of the Year and garnered several Eastern College Athletic Conference All-League awards. She holds two school records, including most goals in a game (5) and most points in a game (8). The native of Groton, Mass. ranks fourth in career scoring with 136 points and second in career assists (83). She helped guide RIT to a 73-28-6 record, which included four trips to the ECAC Championships.

Equally impressive in the classroom, the packaging science major earned multiple academic honors in the ECAC, American Women's College Hockey Association and Empire 8 conferences. She was also awarded the prestigious Packaging Science Rock-Tenn Leadership Scholarship.

After RIT, Kasie went on to coach girls' hockey in Texas. While in Texas, she received her USA Hockey Level 4 Coaching Certification. Later she played and coached professionally in Germany and Norway. In Europe, Kasie was the head power skating instructor for local youth programs and remains co-owner of Strong Dynamics Hockey Skating and Agility Training and Swedishstickhandling.com.

A Packaging Engineer at Unilever, she and her husband Ryan (former RIT men's hockey player) live in Guilford, Conn. They are expecting their first child in October.


Lloyd Kaplan
Lloyd Kaplan was first introduced to diving as an RIT freshman. At Croton Harmon High School, Lloyd was an outstanding wrestler. At RIT, he learned diving quickly and went on to qualify for three NCAA Championships, with his best finish of 13th place on the one-meter board in 1979. In Upper New York State Championship competition, Lloyd was a consistent place winner. He helped guide RIT to third place in 1979 against teams from Divisions I, II and III.

He also set three school records, including the three-meter mark of 286.35 points in 1979, a record, which still stands. During his career he scored 295 points.

After RIT, Lloyd relocated to Southern California as a design engineer. He also founded the Pacific Diving Club and established and coached age group programs. He continued to compete, winning one gold and several bronze and silver medals in the Masters Division.

The native of Croton, N.Y. lives in Manhattan Beach, Calif. with his wife Jeanne. They have two children (Stacey and Kevin). Lloyd is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of the iSuppli Corporation, a high technology research and consulting firm.


Molly Urquhart
Molly Urquhart was an outstanding all-around track athlete. Along with two All-American titles in the long jump, she is the school record holder in the outdoor long jump, outdoor high jump and indoor pentathlon. During her career she set five school records and was part of several record-setting relays. She also placed in several Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships.

Her All-American honors came in 2002 and 2003. She was runner-up in the long jump in 2003 with a leap of 19'11.5", the third longest jump in NCAA Division III history. A year earlier she placed seventh in the long jump at the NCAAs (17'9"). In the New York State Championships, she won titles in the indoor pentathlon and outdoor long jump. She was also a multiple place winner at the ECACs.

Academically, the industrial design major was named to the Dean's List several quarters and maintained a 3.4 grade point average. She also minored in Mass Media Communications.

A native of Portland, Maine, Molly and her husband Steve Hemkens live in Arlington, Vt. Molly is Product Manager for Outerwear and Outdoor Lifestyle apparel at Orvis.


Ray Ruliffson
Ray Ruliffson made his presence felt on the wrestling mat. During his four years, he was 61-18-2 overall. He won the New York State Championship in 1972 and was named Outstanding Wrestler. The following year he was runnerup in the state meet. He also competed in three NCAA Championships. He also won three titles in the Independent College Athletic Conference. In 1972 he helped lead the Tigers to the ICAC crown.

Twice team co-captain, the Industrial Engineering major boasted an 11-0-2 record in 1972-73. He also won the RIT Invitational title in 1971-72 and was named Outstanding Wrestler. The 134 and 142-pound grappler was selected as one of the Outstanding College Athletes in America in a 1972 publication.

A native of Conesus, N.Y., Ray was inducted into the Livingston County Athletic Association Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007-08 for his accomplishments in Livingston County and New York State Section V. He also coached at Avon High School.

He and his wife Jonnie live in Geneseo, N.Y. They have four children and three grandchildren. Ray is a senior quality engineer at ALSTOM Corp, where he provides quality assurance for the the railway industry.


Ross A. 'Chick' Di Biase
Ross (Chick) Di Biase had an outstanding wrestling career. In 1954, the food administration/hotel management major led the Tigers to a perfect 10-0 season. He was also champion in the prestigious Niagara District AAU Tournament in 1952. In addition, he placed in the 4-I private conference. In three seasons, Ross won 20 matches, including an undefeated mark (8-0) in 1954.

A three-year captain, the native of Canonsburg, PA guided RIT to a 24-7 mark. As captain, the 157-pound grappler spent countless hours working with fellow wrestlers in all weight classes.

After RIT Ross became the first wrestling coach at Fredonia High School. He earned a black belt in karate and judo and taught self-defense courses in the Buffalo area. He was also a wrestling official for 18 years and founded the Wrestling Officials Association for Chautauqua County in the 1960s.

Now living in Dunkirk, N.Y., he recently celebrated his 81st birthday. Ross and his wife Joanne have three daughters and three grandchildren. They have been married 55 years.


Shari McNamara Gerevics
Shari McNamara Gerevics will long be remembered for her pitching prowess. She helped guide the RIT softball team to a four-year 103-51-3 record that included winning the ECACs in 2004. Four times she was named All-Empire 8, including Player of the Year honors in 2002 and 2003. In 2001 she was the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year. In 2003 she was also named to the ECAC All-Star Team.

She set several school marks, including most career wins (55), shutouts (22) and strikeouts (513). In her four seasons, she had an outstanding 1.59 earned run average. As a freshman, she helped guide RIT to the NCAA Championships in 2001. The native of Rome, NY played in 100 career games, starting 89 and completing 86. She was also named Athlete of the Week multiple times.

Shari received her bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 2005 and her master's degree in Imaging Science in 2007.

She and her husband Jeremy live in Fairport, N.Y. They have one daughter (Macy). Shari is an imaging scientist with Exelis Geospatial Systems.


For information on attending the induction ceremony, please contact the RIT Alumni Relations Office at 585-475-2586.