CALDWELL, N.J. – Caldwell College Athletics, in conjunction with Cougar Pride, has established a Hall of Fame to honor student-athletes, coaches and contributors who have played significant roles in the success of the intercollegiate athletic programs at Caldwell College. The Hall of Fame inaugural class, the “Elite Eight,” will be inducted at the Hall of Fame Dinner on Friday, September 24 in the George R. Newman Center.

The members of the inaugural class were selected by the Hall of Fame committee consisting of student-athlete alumni, Cougar Pride board members, athletics administrators and staff. The Hall of Fame has been established as a part of Cougar Pride, the official booster club of Caldwell College Athletics. Having eight in the inaugural class reflects the Division II concept of the Elite Eight, the title of the NCAA national championship tournaments.

“It is truly a pleasure to announce the inaugural Caldwell College Hall of Fame class,” said Mark A. Corino, Executive Director of Athletics. “These eight individuals have provided the foundation of athletics through the years at Caldwell, and we owe them our gratitude for the contributions they have made. I look forward to our first Hall of Fame dinner, where we will celebrate the accomplishments of these pioneers of Caldwell College Athletics.”

The inaugural class of the Caldwell College Athletics Hall of Fame consists of Roberta Caulfield (contributor), Sister Patrice Werner '66 (contributor), Sister Michel Rodgers '62 (contributor), Louise Melleno Pastore '73 (women's basketball), Claire Sacuk Matlon '83 (women's basketball), Gina Borea '88 (women's basketball), Danielle Ciresi Murphy '91 (women's basketball), and Matt Stuart '94 (men's basketball).

Roberta Caulfield came to Caldwell College in 1962 as a physical education lecturer and eventually became an associate professor. She also served as the athletic director, and coached the basketball team, including the 1966-67 squad that won all nine of their contests. During her time at Caldwell, the College fielded intercollegiate teams in basketball, volleyball, fencing, equestrian and platform tennis, which Caulfield herself started in the late 1970s. At a time when athletics was not considered popular among young women, Caulfield was extremely supportive of the students' pursuit of athletic excellence, encouraging everyone to perform at their best.

Caulfield retired from the College in 1984, and passed away in 1996 at the age of 75.

Sister Patrice Werner and Sister Michel Rodgers have been the Cougars' biggest supporters for many years, and attempts to discern which one is the “Number 1” fan are futile and discouraged. Both have contributed to the growth and success of the athletic programs as administrators, both have touched the lives of so many Caldwell student-athletes, and both can still be seen at a variety of Caldwell athletic events.

Sister Patrice is best known as the College's President from 1994 to 2009, following multiple roles including French teacher, Chair of the Foreign Languages Department, Prefect and Academic Dean. During her tenure as President, Sister Patrice oversaw the transition of the athletics programs from the NAIA to the NCAA Division II, which requires a greater institutional commitment. She also approved the construction of the George R. Newman Center, a state-of-the-art multi-use facility that serves as home of the men's and women's basketball teams and the women's volleyball team.

“For 36 years I've counted myself among the athletic department's chief supporters,” Sister Patrice said. “If I have contributed anything to athletics over the years, that contribution pales in the pleasure and sense of pride given me by our coaches and athletes through the years.”

Sister Michel also has held many positions at the College, including sociology professor, Coordinator of Academic Advancement, Director of Residence and Assistant Academic Dean. As Vice President for Student Life from 1996 to 2003, Sister Michel was a strong advocate for the athletic department on the College's executive administration. Like Sister Patrice, she also played an integral role in the transition to the NCAA Division II. As Assistant Academic Dean and later as a tutor in the Academic Support Center, Sister Michel helped many student-athletes with their academics.

“Being able to work with such great people like the coaches, the athletic director and all the student-athletes has been wonderful,” she said.  “It's just been a great experience to see Caldwell College Athletics develop to where it is today.”

Louise Melleno Pastore was better known as “Loukie” during her time as a standout basketball player at St. Dominic High School in Jersey City and Caldwell College. A high-scoring guard, Pastore totaled over 1,600 points for St. Dominic, earning her a spot in the Hudson County Hall of Fame in 1993. By coming to Caldwell, Pastore provided the basketball team with its first true star and put the College on the sports map. She led Caldwell in scoring and was named the team's most valuable player in each of her four seasons.

Claire Sacuk Matlon was the first of a string of outstanding women's basketball players at Caldwell in the 1980s. A forward who excelled in the paint as well as on the perimeter, Matlon was the first Caldwell basketball player to score 1,000 career points. She also was an excellent student, majoring in biology and earning NAIA Academic All-American honors as a senior in 1983. A native of Boonton, N.J., Matlon currently resides in Whippany, N.J.

Gina Borea arrived at Caldwell College the year after Matlon graduated, and immediately took over the scoring responsibilities. An excellent long-range shooter, Borea poured in 1,990 points in her career from 1984 to 1988 to rank second all-time at Caldwell. The Cougars' main scoring threat, she was among the top scorers in New Jersey during her career. Borea, who is from Orange, N.J., and attended Bayley-Ellard High School in Madison, now lives in Whitehouse Station, N.J.

Danielle Ciresi Murphy played alongside Borea for one season, then set to work rewriting the record books. During her senior season, Murphy broke Borea's school record and surpassed 2,000 career points in the same game with her former teammate in the stands. She went on to score 2,491 points, which at the time ranked her fourth all-time among college women's basketball players in the state of New Jersey. Her scoring average of 31.7 points per game as a senior led the nation and was fifth all-time in NAIA scoring history. Murphy attended Pequannock High School and now resides in Pompton Plains, N.J.

When Matt Stuart came to Caldwell from Haddon Heights, N.J., in the fall of 1989, the men's basketball program was beginning its third season of existence. By the time he finished his career in 1994, Stuart had twice earned All-American honors, led the Cougars to their first CACC Tournament championship and helped the team qualify for its first national tournament en route to becoming Caldwell's all-time leading scorer. A 6-foot-11 center, Stuart was named the CACC Player of the Year in both 1993 and 1994 while making the NAIA All-America second team as a junior and first team as a senior. He did this following a serious knee injury that forced him to miss all but five games during the 1990-91 season. In 110 career games for the Cougars, Stuart scored a school-record 1,888 points.

The Hall of Fame Dinner will be held on Friday, September 24 at the George R. Newman Center. The cocktail hour begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Newman Center lobby, followed by dinner and the Hall of Fame ceremony at 7:00 p.m. Cost is $125 per person and $1,000 for a table of 10. All proceeds will go to the Cougar Pride General Fund, which supports the degree completion program and enhancements for the 10 intercollegiate athletic programs. For reservations and more information, contact Caldwell College Athletics at (973) 618-3260.