The Johnson State College Athletics Hall of Fame Board is proud to announce that four individuals and one team will be inducted into the Johnson State Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, September 20th, 2014. The induction Class of 2014 will include Daniel Greenleaf ‘90, Rachel Peterson-Lemke ‘07, Michael Towne ‘90, Charlie Viana ‘08, and the 1988 men’s soccer team.
“Our rich athletics history is an important part of Johnson athletics’ future growth. We are honored to induct this group of talented athletes,” said Director of Athletics and Recreation Jamey Ventura. “We talk a lot about the Johnson athletics family in our department—the Athletics Hall of Fame is just one of many ways we celebrate and recognize the achievements our family.”
Johnson State College 2014 Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees
During his time at Johnson State, Daniel Greenleaf was both a competitive soccer player and ski racer. Greenleaf was also a proud member of the 1988 men’s soccer team who is also being inducted into the Johnson State Athletics Hall of Fame this year. In the winter months of ‘87, ‘88 and ‘89, Greenleaf competed regionally for Johnson after transferring from nearby Lyndon State. As racer, and captain of the Nordic ski team for the ’88 and ’89 seasons, Greenleaf consistently finished top five in races at Harvard, M.I.T, the Norwich and multiple Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA) qualifying races. Notably, Greenleaf earned All EISA individual honors for all three seasons he raced at Johnson. EISA remains one of the country’s top collegiate ski conferences to this day. After graduation, Greenleaf returned to Johnson to coach the Nordic team for the 1990 ski season. Off the field, Greenleaf was also a residential assistant in the dormitories and was an active member in the College’s Education Club. Greenleaf teaches 6th grade at Waitsfield Elementary School and has been nominated multiple times for Vermont Teacher of the Year.
Rachel Peterson Lemke’s impact on Johnson athletics lives on in the Johnson women’s soccer record books, as she is currently first in career saves, stopping a total of 590 shots in net, first in career wins earning a “W” in 25 games, tied for second in career shutouts, blanking her opponents nine times and is tied for first in single-game saves turning away an impressive 22 shots during Johnson’s game against Green Mountain in 2002. Peterson Lemke also earned NAC First Team honors in 2002 and 2003 and was named to the NAC Second Team in 2004. Soccer only tells part of the story, however, as Peterson Lemke was also a basketball and softball player during her career at Johnson and still holds the record for fifth most career doubles in Johnson’s softball record book. Peterson Lemke was also an active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee while at Johnson and is still involved in sports as a youth coach in Connecticut where she and her family reside. Peterson Lemke currently works for Adelbrook Behavioral Development Services.
The second of two inductees being honored as individuals and as part of the 1988 men’s soccer team, Michael Towne is only one of only four Johnson State men’s soccer players to have earned National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-American honors. That same year, Towne helped the men’s soccer team earn the Mayflower Conference championship title and was named to the NAIA District 5 First Team. Towne and his teammates were part of a Johnson men’s soccer legacy that went on to capture five more consecutive conference titles. A dual sport athlete, Towne also competed for Johnson State on the varsity baseball team in 1988. Currently, Towne resides in Ohio with his family and is employed by South-Western City Schools. For the 2001-02 school year, Towne was awarded the Darby Woods Outstanding Elementary Educator award.
The Johnson State College men’s basketball record book is full of Charlie Viana’s career and single game records. Viana is currently third in career points, having scored a total of 1674 over his four year career. He is eighth for career assists, fifth in rebounds and second in career field goals made, having bucketed 613 points overall. Viana is also first in 3-point field goals made and 9th in steals. For single game records, Viaina is second for most points scored, racking up 42 points in Johnson’s game against Elms College his senior season. Viana also earned North Atlantic Conference (NAC) First-Team honors in 2008. As a first-year, Viana earned NAC First-Team honors as a Johnson men’s lacrosse player. After graduation, Viana went on to work as a sports information intern at nearby St. Michael’s College and then completed his graduate degree from St. Mike’s in 2011. Currently, Viana resides in New York and works on major capital campaigns throughout the country.
Under the leadership of head coach Peter Albright, the 1988 men’s soccer team captured a Mayflower Conference championship title, an NAIA Region 5 Western Champions title and produced three NAIA All-Americans: Michael Towne, Todd Wennar and Jim DeRose. Patrick Flanagan, also on the 1988 roster, is Johnson’s only other NAIA All-American and was honored the following year as such. The team finished with a 14-3-2 overall record, which is Johnson men’s soccer’s fourth most winningest season and were ranked 20th in the country overall. The program produced high-quality soccer minds as many members of this team went on to coach locally and around the country.
The Johnson State College Hall of Fame Class of 2013 will be inducted at Johnson State College’s annual Hall of Fame Banquet, which will be held on campus Sept. 20 during Alumni & Family Reunion Weekend.
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