February 2006

Six Join GW Athletic Hall of Fame

Representatives from Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, and Wrestling Inducted Feb. 4

The George Washington University inducted six new members, representing four sports, in the GW Athletic Hall of Fame ceremonies at the Marvin Center’s Grand Ballroom, Feb. 4. This year’s Athletic Hall of Fame “Class of 2006” is the 46th elected since the University’s Hall was founded in 1959, and the new members — Leslie Anderson, BA ’78, men’s basketball; Kenneth Lake, BA ’82, baseball; Mario Lone, BA ’93, men’s soccer; Joseph Mannix, BA ’89, wrestling; Kristin McArdle, BA ’92, women’s basketball; and Chemar Smith, BS ’98, women’s soccer — boosted the University’s roster of noted student-athletes to 122 names.

Leslie M. Anderson, who won four letters in men’s basketball at GW between 1974–78, currently ranks 16th on the GW’s all-time leading scoring list (1,377 points) and eighth on the rebounding list (816). A 6-foot-5 forward, his exciting aerial displays led to his appropriate nickname of ‘High Rise.’ He is the 11th GW men’s basketball player to be elected to the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Kenneth E. Lake earned four letters in baseball at GW between 1977–81. A left-handed pitcher and first baseman, Lake came to the Colonials from Peary High School in Rockville, Md., where he had been an All-Met first team selection by The Washington Post and the Montgomery County Player of the Year. In GW’s 1979 NCAA Tournament season, the first tourney appearance in 20 years, Lake set a single season school mark for most innings pitched with 108 2/3, including a start against Arkansas, that season’s eventual NCAA Tournament runner-up in the College World Series at Omaha.

Mario D. Lone won four letters in men’s soccer at GW between 1988–91 and is the University’s career leader in points (117) and goals (50), and is tied for seventh in assists (17). He also owns the single season mark for most points (46 in 1989) and shares the record for most goals in a season (19 in 1989).

Joseph J. Mannix earned four letters in wrestling at GW between 1984–89. During a stellar mat career, Mannix was a starter for the Colonials in the 150- and 158-pound weight class, amassing 137 victories, second on the all-time GW win list. The total included multiple tournament championships, including four place-winning efforts at NCAA Eastern Regional tournaments and a trip to the 1989 NCAA Championships.

Kristin McArdle lettered for four seasons in women’s basketball at GW between 1988–92. Within those four seasons, the Colonials program turned the corner from an Atlantic 10 second division finisher (9–19 in 1989) to a 25–7 conference tournament champion and back-to-back entries in the NCAA Tournament. Totalling a solid 71–47 in her four seasons, McArdle’s junior and senior clubs averaged 24 victories and made the University’s first two women’s NCAA appearances, defeating Richmond and Vermont in ’91 and ’92, respectively.

Chemar I. Smith won four varsity letters in as many years in women’s soccer between 1994–97 and started 80 consecutive matches during that span. She is the program’s all-time leader in points (108) and goals (45) as well as second in assists (18). In doing so, she was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year in 1994, as well as earning A-10 All-Conference first team honors four straight seasons (1994–’97). Smith made an impact on the program from the moment she set foot on campus, including scoring 10 goals in her first 10 collegiate matches.

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