SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine— Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) Athletics inducted four alumni as part of the class of 2017 to the SeaWolves Hall of Fame on Saturday, Nov. 4. Tommy Stirling, Nick Link, Nate Leeman, and Dan Walker joined 26 individuals and one team for their elite accomplishments on the playing surface and for their service to SMCC athletics and the community.
The 12th annual event was held in the Ortiz Atrium on the South Portland campus met with friends and family of the inductees in addition to faculty, staff, and student-athlete support—this year’s class was the largest since the induction of four in 2007. Director of Athletics Matt Richards MC’d the ceremony among speeches from the inductors, inductees, and SeaWolves Athletic Club President Eric Bruneau.
Tommy Stirling (‘11 Golf)
Stirling golfed two seasons for the SeaWolves in 2010 and 2011. Spanning 13 rounds, Stirling averaged a 75.8 which ranks him lowest all-time in program history. Stirling is a Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) champion and earned All-Conference and United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) All-American selections in both seasons he played. He made consecutive USCAA National Tournament appearances when he won the event in 2011 shooting a combined 140 (-4 par)—a record that still stands today.
Nick Link (‘11 Men’s Soccer)
Link played four seasons for the SeaWolves from 2008-11. A forward converted a defenseman, Link was a three-season team captain, two-time YSCC All-Conference selection, and a USCAA All-American in 2011. He tallied eight goals, four assists, and 20 points as a member of the men's soccer program.
Nate Leeman (‘10 Baseball)
Leeman played two seasons as a member of the SMCC baseball team in 2009 and 2010. He was selected to the YSCC All-Conference team both seasons. Leeman ranks ninth all-time in hits recording 67 in 191 at-bats. He ranks seventh all-time in batting average, a career .351 hitter, and ranks fourth in program history collecting 61 RBI.
Dan Walker (‘10 Baseball)
Walker also played two seasons as a member of the baseball program in 2009 and 2010. A dominant pitcher in his two-year career, Walker ranks first all-time in ERA (3.50) among pitchers with 100 or more innings pitched. Tallying 9.64 strikeouts per nine innings, the 13-game winner cumulated 135 total strikeouts in 21 appearances. This inductee threw 13 complete games, another program best.
Richards summed up the event stating, “The four individuals inducted truly exemplify outstanding student-athletes in performance and character which is what our Hall of Fame represents. I’m extremely pleased that these four were named the class of 2017.”
View the photo gallery of the event HERE.
For a detailed description of induction criteria and a complete listing of Hall of Fame inductees click HERE.
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