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NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara University Department of Athletics held the 43^rd Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on October 21 at the Russell J. Salvatore Dining Commons on the campus of Niagara University.

The 2017 Hall of Fame Class is comprised of: Walter Garcia '08 (men's tennis), Tyrone Lewis '10 (men's basketball), Rosie (Luzak) Lamphere '11 (women's soccer), Rev. Vincent J. O'Malley, C.M., and the 2009 women's volleyball team. 

Walter Garcia
Walter Garcia is the all-time leader in singles wins (73) in Niagara University men's tennis history. Garcia bookended his career with MAAC Rookie of the Year (2005) and MAAC Player of the Year (2008) honors. As a freshman during the 2004-05 season, Garcia posted a team-best 22-10 overall singles record, including a 9-5 record at No. 1 singles, a 3-1 record at No. 2 singles and he was 5-1 in conference matches.

He earned All-MAAC Second Team honors in No. 2 singles in 2006 with a 17-7 overall record, including going 5-1 in conference matches. As a junior during the 2006-07 season, Garcia posted a team-best 19-9 singles record, including a 12-5 record in No. 1 singles.

Garcia concluded his career by being named 2008 MAAC Tennis Player of the Year. Garcia finished the season with a 16-1 record in No. 1 singles and went 5-0 in conference play. Garcia ended the season on a 12-match winning streak at No. 1 singles en route to also being named to the All-MAAC First Team. Garcia and doubles partner Alex Abji went 12-2 overall, including finishing the year with a seven-match undefeated streak, to earn All-MAAC Second Team honors in No. 2 doubles.

In June 2016, Garcia was named to the MAAC 35^th Anniversary Second Team.  

Tyrone Lewis
Tyrone Lewis made an instant impact on the Purple Eagle basketball program as a freshman en route to having one of the best careers in program history. Lewis became the first freshman in conference history to earn MAAC Tournament MVP as he helped led Niagara to the 2007 MAAC title to earn Niagara's third NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Purple Eagles defeated Florida A&M in the opening round for the program's first win in the NCAA Tournament in 37 years and advanced to the next round, where they faced No. 1 seed Kansas. He followed his freshman year by earning All-MAAC Second Team honors in 2008 after starting in all 29 games while averaging 16.1 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game.

Lewis' breakout season was his junior campaign. Lewis earned All-MAAC First-Team, NABC All-District I Second Team and MAAC Defensive Player of the Year honors helping the team to 26 wins, the second-most in program history. He etched his named in the defensive record book as he set the then Niagara single-season record in steals with a conference-leading 91 and 2.6 steals per game. Offensively, Lewis averaged 16.2 points per game and was a threat from behind the arc.  Lewis set the school single-season record with 99 3-pointers and led the MAAC. Lewis completed his senior season by earning All-MAAC Second Team recognition and was named to the 2010 Mid-Major Defensive All-America Team.

Lewis is fourth all-time in scoring (1,849 points), first in steals (250) and 3-pointers made (290) and tenth in blocks (76). Lewis finished his career as the first player in MAAC history to record 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists and 200 steals. He totaled 1,849 points, 523 boards, 222 assists and 250 steals while adding 290 3-pointers. His 86 wins are the most by a Purple Eagle. He was inducted into the MAAC Basketball Honor Roll in 2014. 
 
After his collegiate career concluded, Lewis played professionally in Israel and in Germany. He returned to the United States to start his coaching career first at Bensalem High School in Bensalem, Pa. as an assistant coach on the varsity team, then at Widener University, an NCAA Division III program in Chester, Pa., before being hired as head coach at Bristol Barrow High School in Bristol, Pa. where he led the team to consecutive district titles.

He was hired as the Director of Basketball Operations for the Niagara University men's basketball program in September 2015.

Rosie (Luzak) Lamphere
Rosie (Luzak) Lamphere is the most prolific goal scorer in Niagara and MAAC women's soccer history. Lamphere accumulated 69 career goals in four years and her 158 career points are second most in program and conference history.

As a freshman, she started in all 18 games, leading the team in goals (14) and points (33) en route to being named MAAC Rookie of the Year and earning a spot on the All-MAAC First Team. The following season, Lamphere led the conference with 46 points, was second in the NCAA in goals per game (1.12) and in points per game (2.71). She was named to the All-Northeast Region Third Team and All-MAAC First Team. 

Lamphere had a record setting junior campaign. The Youngstown, New York native led the NCAA in goals per game and was second in points per game. Her single-season 1.39 goals per game was then the 19th best in NCAA Division I history.  Lamphere set the MAAC single-season record in points with 57, points per game with 3.17, goals with 25 and goals per game with 1.39; she is still the record holder in all four categories. She finished the season earning Second Team All-Northeast Region and All-MAAC First Team honors, as well as MAAC Player of the Year accolades.

Prior to the start of her senior season, Lamphere was named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year for the second straight season. She helped the Purple Eagles advance to the program's first-ever MAAC Championship Final.  Lamphere led Niagara with 11 goals and 23 points on her way to her fourth consecutive All-MAAC First Team selection.

In January 2016, Lamphere was named to the MAAC 35th Anniversary Second Team.

Rev. Vincent J. O'Malley, C.M.
Father O'Malley has played a major role in Niagara University Athletics throughout his decades of service. While serving as Executive Vice President, he took on the additional responsibility of developing the university's athletic fundraising efforts in coordination with the advancement office.

In senior administration for 11 years, Father O'Malley was instrumental in the hiring of the first men's and women's hockey coaches, the construction of Dwyer Arena and renovations to the Gallagher Center, including the Athletics Hall of Fame, the current seating structure and wall-to-wall floor boards.

Father O'Malley initiated the process of elevating part time head coaches to full-time coaches, which led to better retention and academic and athletic performance by student-athletes. Father O'Malley served as the men's basketball team chaplain for 11 years and is currently the team chaplain for the men's hockey team.

One of his biggest impacts on Niagara University was when he and Dr. Jan H. van Harssel established the university's sport management degree program.

A true advocate for all student-athletes, the Father Vincent O'Malley Award was established and is presented annually to a male and female student-athlete for a season of outstanding athletic performance and accomplishments.

2009 Volleyball Team
The 2009 volleyball team captured the program's first-ever MAAC Championship to start one of the most dominant dynasties in MAAC volleyball history. One year removed from being the youngest team in the nation, the Purple Eagles capped off the 2009 season with the biggest turnaround in the nation with a plus-17 win increase from the previous season.

The Purple Eagles won a then-program record 23 matches, including a then-program record 14 conference matches. Niagara opened the season by winning the Niagara Invitational to improve to 3-0 for the first-time in program history.

Niagara entered the MAAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed. In the semifinals, the Purple Eagles eliminated the four-time defending champion Siena Saints in five sets to advance to the program's second-ever MAAC Final. Niagara swept the Marist Red Foxes in the MAAC Championship match. In the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, the Purple Eagles faced the No. 13 seed Michigan Wolverines in the 2009 NCAA Tournament First Round where they fell to the Wolverines in three sets.

The Purple Eagles finished the season second in the MAAC in hitting percentage (.220), opponent hitting percentage (.182), assists per set (12.19) and kills per set (13.35). Three Purple Eagles set single-season records. Michelle James, the career leader in assists, led the MAAC in assists with 10.61 per set and her 1,199 assists were a then-program record (now is third). Sam Morgan, the program's career leader in digs, set a then-program record with 613 digs; she led the MAAC in digs (613) and digs per set (5.19). Hannah Hedrick set a then-program record with 472 kills on a program record 1,305 attacks. Hedrick was third in the conference in kills per set (4.0) and points per set (4.43).

Niagara boasted the National Coach of the Year by College Volleyball Update and the MAAC Coach of the Year (Susan Clements), the MAAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, and Honorable Mention All-American (Hannah Hedrick) and the MAAC Setter of the Year (Michelle James). Niagara placed two on the MAAC All-Tournament Team (Amanda Wilken and Michelle James), two on the All-MAAC First Team (Hannah Hedrick and Michelle James) and one on the All-MAAC Second Team (Kari Honomichl). Seven Purple Eagles were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team.

Niagara went on to win the 2010 and 2011 MAAC Tournaments to become the fourth program in MAAC history to win three straight tournament titles.