NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University Athletic Department will honor a group of five outstanding former student-athletes and an outstanding volunteer with induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame at a luncheon on May 5 in the Heritage Room.

The 2006 class of Niagara’s Athletics Hall of Fame included former student-athletes, Greg Gardner (men’s hockey, 1999-00 to 1996-97), Sheryl Klick (women’s basketball, 1996-97 to 1999-00), Dan O’Connor (football & track, 1948 to 1952), John Ruffolo (men’s swimming, 1991-92 to 1994-95), and Phil Ware (men’s swimming, 1951 to 1954), as well as former basketball scorekeeper Dr. William Price.

The class is the 36th class in the history of the Niagara Athletics Hall of Fame. Tickets for the luncheon and ceremony are $25 and can be purchase by calling the Athletics Department at 716-286-8600.

The following is a quick look at the 2006 Hall of Famers...

GREG GARDNER - Men’s Hockey, 1999-00 to 1996-97 - Member of the 1999-00 NCAA Team...Named CHA Player of the Year in 1999-00...First team All-CHA in 1999-00...CHA All-Tournament Team 1999-00...CHA All-Academic in 1999-00...Ranked 20th in the NCAA in winning percentage in 1996-97...First signee of the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets in 2000...Ranked first in saves (2639), save percentage (.907), goals-against average (2.44), games (113), minutes (6638.39), wins (64) and shutouts (16) on the career lists...Holds the single-season records for saves (937), save percentage (.936), goals-against average (1.53), games (41), minutes (2503:20), wins (29) and shutouts (12)...Won the team MVP award in 1997-98 and 1999-00.

            SHERYL KLICK - Women’s Basketball, 1996-97 to 1999-00 - First-team All-MAAC in 1999-00 and to the second team in 1998-99...Named to the 1996-97 MAAC All-Tournament Team...Two-time MAAC All-Academic...Honored as the MAAC Player of the Week three times as a senior...Second in career assists (487) set in 2004-05...Ranks second in steals (312), three-pointers (223) and three-points attempts (638), fourth in free throws (305), free-throw attempts (413) and games played (112), sixth in three-point percentage (.349), eighth in scoring (1,402) and field-goal attempts (1,114), 10th in scoring average (12.5) and field goals (437)...Holds the single-season record for steals (109).

                DAN O’CONNOR - Football & Track, 1948 to 1952 - Played football for three years...Scored five touchdowns in 1951, including two vs. Buffalo...He recovered a fumble for a touchdown vs. Quantico...Won the 220 dash at the Little Three track meet in 1952.

              JOHN RUFFOLO - Men’s Swimming, 1991-92 to 1994-95 - Member of 1994 MAAC Championship team, winning the 100 and 200 breaststroke events and finishing first as part of two relay teams...Won the 100 and 200 breaststroke as a senior...Swim team MVP as a senior...Finished second in the 100 and third in the 200 breaststroke...Three-time MAAC All-Academic selection...Swimming MVP in 1995.

            PHIL WARE - Men’s Swimming, 1951 to 1954 - Broke Johnny Weissmuller’s world record in the 100 free in a 20 yard pool...Broke the Niagara pool record in the 220 free...Led the team to 32-straight wins from 1950 to 1953...Part of the No. 1 Catholic team in the nation...Led team to winning the Western New York State meets in four years...Won the Outstanding Athlete in ROTC in 1954...Participated in the Olympic trials.

                DR. WILLIAM PRICE - Basketball scorekeeper, 1971-72 to 2004-05 - Niagara’s long-time official basketball scorekeeper...Joined the table crew at Niagara men’s basketball games in 1971-72 and stayed there for 34 years...Accepted lineups from Frank Layden, Dan Raskin, Pete Lonergan, Andy Walker, Jack Armstrong, and Joe Mihalich. Became women’s basketball official scorekeeper in 1995-96...Was Niagara’s official basketball scorer for 368 basketball games.