SOURCE: ritathletics.com

October 08, 2021

HOF | #RIT announces Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2021 - https://t.co/H8NVyUt6zz pic.twitter.com/gMSL5vfdC0

— RIT Athletics (@RITathletics) October 7, 2021

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Ten individuals have been selected for induction into the RIT Sports Hall of Fame. Included in the Class of 2021 are Andy Demetres '87 (men's lacrosse), Michael W. Dempsey '14 (men's track & field), Julie (Gibbs) Heuer '94 (women's volleyball), Sandy (Southworth) Jackson '85, '87 (women's soccer), Todd Paulauskas '94 (men's basketball), Isabelle Richard '09 (women's hockey), Ronald S. Ricotta '79 (distinguished service, wrestling), Justin D. Smith '11 (baseball), Mike Tarantino '04 (men's hockey), and Shelby Vakiener '14 (women's lacrosse, women's soccer, women's basketball).

Due to ongoing pandemic concerns, the class will be celebrated at a later date, anticipated in the Fall of 2022.

"It is unfortunate that we must postpone our inductions," stated Jackie Nicholson, executive director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "We want to honor our inductees appropriately and look forward to welcoming the Class of 2021 next year."

Ronald S. Ricotta BS '79 (Distinguished Service, Wrestling)

Ronald Ricotta, a member of the RIT Board of Trustees as well as an alumnus (1979) and former wrestler, made a generous donation to renovate and expand the wrestling locker room, including new lockers, lighting, furniture and sound system. This locker room was dedicated as the "Ronald S. Ricotta Wrestling Locker" on Feb. 6, 2017. An Accounting major, his continual support has helped propel RIT wrestling into a nationally-ranked power. In addition to wrestling, Ron continues to support RIT through his efforts as a Trustee and his contributions to the Saunders College of Business, Kate Gleason College of Engineering, College of Engineering Technology, as well as providing general scholarships, and contributing to other financial needs of RIT. He also believes athletics and wrestling were important to his success. He is the CEO and co-owner of Century Mold Company, a large North American manufacturer.

The native of East Rochester, N.Y. is also a current member of the RIT President's Roundtable. Ricotta established his own endowed scholarship for the Saunders College of Business students in 2004. Ricotta has received multiple honors in recent years, including RIT's Herbert W. Vanden Brul Entrepreneurial Award in 2014 and induction into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame in 2015. That success, combined with his support of RIT as a volunteer and donor, also earned him the Saunders College of Business Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005.

Ron and his wife Kelly live in Pittsford, N.Y. They have four children (Matthew, Jeffrey, Katie and Steven), and five grandchildren.