Seated, L-R: Kim Poirier, ’89; Dr. Barbara Smith; Reed Taws; Tommy Lohren, ’88; Gretchen Pugh, ’88; Standing, L-R: Kathryn Idelson Noftzger, ’82; Tina Barrett, ’88; Leslie Oscovitch Gartner, ’87; Ray Jones, ’90; Marcia Melone, ’88; Leigh Russell Woody, ’88; AD Troy Austin
Third Hall of Fame Class Inducted Greg Prouty Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations Longwood University inducted its third Athletics Hall
the program to a four-year record of 28-13, including a school-record 8-1 during 1979-80, and earned numerous individual event wins as
of Fame Class on November 14, 2009 at the Dorrill Dining Hall on-campus in Farmville.
gymnastics enjoyed its finest successes during her four years. “ Being inducted into the Hall of Fame was a momentous experience!” said Idelson Noftzger. “It was wonderful to return to the Longwood
The Class of 2009 included Kathryn Idelson Noftzger, ’82, the first-ever
campus and get together with my college gymnastics coach, Dr. Ruth
All-American in any sport at Longwood and a four-time National
Budd, and two local residents, Sheila Feinman Mason and Cheryl
Qualifier in gymnastics; the late Olive T. Iler, ’31, a former instructor,
Feinman Vassar, who took gymnastics in the youth program we taught
professor, and chairperson of department of health and physical
on Saturday mornings to the Farmville community. I am overwhelmed
education as well as a head coach for basketball, field hockey, and tennis;
by the support of these three individuals as well as many others who
Ray Jones, ’90, a two-time All-American in men’s soccer; Sue Rama, ’78,
supported this honor! Many thanks to Dr. Cormier, Diane Easter, Troy
the 1976 Virginia College Player of Year in women’s basketball; along
Austin and the selection committee for a tremendous event!”
with the 1987 and 1988 Women’s Golf Teams that won the school’s first-ever team national championships in any sport.
Idelson Noftzger is a 1982 graduate as a modern language / Spanish major. She earned her master’s degree from Indiana State University and
Kathryn Idelson Noftzger, ’82, became the first-ever All-
is married to Mike Noftzger, and the couple has four children (Michael
American in any sport at Longwood in 1979 when as a freshman she
Noftzger, 28; Danielle Noftzger Lucas, 24; Andrew Wrist, 17; Lexi Wrist,
finished seventh in the floor exercise at the 1979 Association for
13); they live in Charlotte, North Carolina where Idelson Noftzger
Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Small College
recently took a medical retirement from USAirways.
Gymnastics Tournament in Topeka, Kansas. She was selected as the 1979 Longwood Female Athlete of the Year, and was a four-time
Olive T. Iler, ’31, is considered the matriarch of Longwood
qualifier to the AIAW Division II national tournament (1979-82) in the
athletics and served the school for 41 years. She was an instructor and
all-around, including floor, balance beam, vault, and uneven bars.
then assistant professor of health and physical education (1925-49),
Idelson Noftzger was commended by the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in
associate professor and chairperson of the health and physical education
1980, and placed eighth on the beam at the nationals in 1981, the only
department (1949-62), and lastly an associate professor of health and
year that the AIAW did not name the top 10 as All-Americans. She led
physical education (1962-66). During Iler’s tenure, she coached women’s basketball, field hockey, and women’s tennis while very active and
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influential in State and National organizations, including service on innumerable committees for the State Department of Education.