MMA adding five to Hall

By John Garner Jr., Cape Cod Times Sports

Early this summer, Massachusetts Maritime Academy will welcome five former standouts into its Athletics Hall of Fame, making it an even 50 honorees during the past decade.

Members of this year's class were standouts in football, baseball and wrestling, along with a longtime member of the Buccaneers athletic staff. They will be enshrined on June 6 in Buzzards Bay.

"The contributions these five individuals have made to the tradition of Massachusetts Maritime athletics is something the entire academy takes great pride in," said MMA director of athletics Bob Corradi. "Their legacy of excellence has made them an integral part of our athletic family."

Heading the Class of 2009 is Skip Thompson, the former MMA assistant director of athletics and sports information director. Thompson retired last fall after 35 years at the Academy.

As MMA's men's basketball coach, Thompson guided the Bucs to the 1981 MASCAC championship and remains as the program's all-time winningest coach. He also served as assistant football coach and, in addition to overseeing athletic publicity, Thompson served as compliance officer and several other administrative duties during his tenure.

Joining Thompson are football standout Deron Jozokos and two-sport performer Mike Kelley from the Class of 1999. Jozokos ranks fifth on MMA's career lists for pass completions (254), yards (3,456) and touchdowns (25) and was named New England Football Conference's Offensive Player of the Year in 1995. He was selected as a Division III all-star, participated in the Aztec Bowl, and holds the school single-game record for completion percentage (80 percent). Jozokos served as team captain and was named an ECAC all-star.

A captain in both football and baseball, Kelley was an all-conference performer in both sports for the Bucs. He holds the career football record for receptions with 121 for 1,634 yards and was an ECAC all-star. On the diamond, Kelley was a two-time all-MASCAC pick who led the conference in triples and was named as the Bucs Male Athlete of the Year.

The final two inductees are three-sport standout Tom Latronica (1978) and wrestling great Chris Scyocurka ('83). Latronica starred in football, wrestling and lacrosse at the Academy, serving as wrestling captain for the Bucs, while Scyocurka placed third in the New England Division III Wrestling Championships and was the recipient of the MMA Athlete of the Year Award as well as the MASCAC's Howard C. Smith Award.