Manatee Review

State College of Florida recently issued the following announcement.

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) inducted five new members into its Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Jan. 21 at SCF Bradenton.

This year’s inductees represent SCF’s baseball, tennis and volleyball programs. They are:

Randy Beam ‘02, a Booker High School graduate, played for the college from 2000-2002. The pitcher earned the 2001 Suncoast Conference Fireman of the Year award. In 2002 he was named first team All-Conference and All-State. He earned All-Tournament honors at the FCSAA State Tournament and the NJCAA JUCO World Series. He was also named the JUCO World Series Outstanding Pitcher. He led his team to a win at the 2002 FCSAA State Championship and a runner-up finish at the JUCO World Series. Beam went on to play at Florida Atlantic University before being drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 18th round of the 2004 draft.  He played three years in the Red Sox minor leagues. Beam still holds three SCF single-season records for innings pitched (154), strikeouts (169) and wins (16).

Randy Gailey ‘70 played baseball for Hall of Fame coach Bob Wynn during the 1969 and 1970 seasons. The outfielder started for the 1969 state championship team and had three hits in the championship game. After his sophomore season, he was selected for All-Conference, All-State and All-South honors. He was drafted in both 1969 and 1970 but chose to attend Florida State University (FSU).  After FSU, Gailey played semi-pro and international baseball. He became a coach and coached at high schools, junior college, and NCAA division I levels, earning many accolades at each level. 

Betsy Nagelsen McCormack, the first coach for the women’s tennis program, is credited with launching the college to national prominence in the sport. She coached tennis from its inception in 2010 through the 2014 season. Nagelsen McCormack’s teams finished as state champion or runner up in each of the four seasons she coached, and she was twice named FCSAA Coach of the Year. The 2012 team delivered the college’s first state championship in women’s tennis and highest finish at nationals (second). In her final year at the helm, the Manatees delivered a remarkable state championship victory. Each of her teams qualified for the NJCAA national tournament and finished in the top 20. She coached SCF Hall of Fame member Mariana Palacios and current SCF Head Coach Chloe Murphy. She also produced SCF’s first FCSAA Player of the Year in Laurence Porry. Nagelsen McCormack coached three Fall ITA regional champions (Palacios, Murphy, and Miranda Talbert). Her contributions to the program go beyond coaching tennis as she was integral in securing the funding to build the current SCF tennis courts.

Maja Ristic ‘15 was a dominant outside hitter and an influential all-around volleyball player. She played for the college from 2013-2015. Ristic led her team to an NJCAA district championship, runner up in the region, and berth in the NJCAA national tournament. In her freshman campaign, she was named first team All-Conference and All-State, as the team finished as district runner up. In her sophomore season, she was a force to be reckoned with. She was ranked sixth in the nation in kills per set and fifth in the nation for points per set.  She led her team on a 24-match win streak, resulting in the first qualification to the NJCAA national tournament in 26 years. Maja earned first team All-Conference, All-State and All-American. She was also named Suncoast Conference Player of the Year. Ristic earned All-Conference and All-State academic honors in both years at the college. Maja Ristic finished her education and athletic competition at Florida Atlantic University, where she earned Conference USA first team All-Conference honors for indoor volleyball. She also played one season of beach volleyball at FAU. 

Paul Susce, a Sarasota High School alumnus, was a high school teacher in Sarasota and later in Richmond, Virginia.  He built a bond with legendary Manatees Coach Robert C. Wynn. Susce became a champion for Coach Wynn and the Manatee Junior College (MJC) baseball program. He encouraged baseball players to consider MJC and worked with Coach Wynn to recruit from the Sarasota and Richmond areas. He was an influential voice to students who loved baseball and had the skills to play college baseball, but lacked the finances to attend college. Between 1964 and 1971, Coach Susce assisted Coach Wynn with the recruitment of over 25 baseball players. These student-athletes include six SCF Hall of Fame members, Harry Saferight, Mac Scarce, John Grubb, Rick Langford, Nick Cafaro and Pat Osburn, and numerous other players on the 1968 and 1972 National Runner Up teams. His recruits helped MJC reach three JUCO World Series. Susce was an exceptional athlete in his own playing career, earning All-American honors as a pitcher at Auburn University. He still holds the Auburn record for lowest ERA in a season (0.99).

SCF established the Athletics Hall of Fame to honor those whose achievements have distinguished the college and its teams. Student-athletes, coaches, staff members, teams and community members are eligible for nomination. A committee of Hall of Fame honorees, community members, athletic coaches, staff and faculty evaluates the nominees to select the inductees.

The ceremony also featured a tribute to Robert C. Wynn, the College’s first baseball coach. He guided the program to 576 wins, seven state championships and national prominence. He served as athletic director after his coaching career. Attendees at the ceremony honored Wynn, who passed away last year, with contributions to the Robert C. Wynn Scholarship Fund.

For information, visit SCFManatees.com/Athletics/HallofFame.

Original source can be found here.