WAYNE, N.J. – Former Pioneer standouts Vera Blazevska '17, MS '19 (women's swimming), Floriana Borova '14 (women's basketball), Morgan Dunlap '04 (softball), Sabrina Grant (administration), Jack Lipari '04 (baseball) and the 1982-83 women's tennis team became the newest inductees into the William Paterson University Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame when they are enshrined at an event on campus Saturday, Jan. 25. 
 
Additionally, William Joosten '66, MA '69 was honored as the University's first Pioneer of Distinction recipient at the Hall of Fame event. The honorees also were acknowledged at halftime of the women's basketball home game later that day against Stockton.

Blazevska (2013-17) was named the 2016-17 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Women's Swimmer of the Year, the 2015-16 NJAC Co-Women's Swimmer of the Year and the 2013-14 NJAC Co-Rookie of the Year during her illustrious career in the pool. She earned seven first-team all-NJAC awards (2015-16, 100 breaststroke; 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17, 200 breaststroke; 2014-15 and 2015-16, 400 individual medley), as well as three second-team all-conference awards (2014-15 and 2016-17, 100 breaststroke; 2016-17, 400 individual medley). Blazevska never lost a 200 breaststroke race during any dual meet during her entire career, and when she graduated she held six schools records: 50 breast (30.70), 100 breast (1:06.07), 200 breast (2:21.89), 100 IM (1:03.05, *since broken), 200 IM (2:15.37) and 400 IM (4:41.09). As a senior at the 2017 Metropolitan Conference Championships, she reached the 200 breast A Final (second, 2:21.89), 400 IM A Final (third, 4:45.59) and 100 breast A Final (fifth, 1:06.37), and was named the winner of the Metropolitan's Dick Krempecki Outstanding Senior Award. She finished third in the 100 breast A Final (1:06.98), third in the 200 breast A Final (2:24.00) and fourth in the 400 IM A Final (4:42.04) at the 2016 Mets, and was second in the 100 breast A Final (1:06.07), second in the 200 breast A Final (2:22.69) and fifth in the 400 IM A Final (4:44.31) at the 2015 Mets. As a freshman, Blazevska broke the school record and touched fifth in the 200 breast A Final (2:26.84), the best by a Division III swimmer at the Metropolitan Championships, and touched seventh in the 400 IM A Final (4:49.02). 
 
Borova (2010-14) was an all-American point guard on the hardwood, finishing as the Pioneers' career assists and steals leader as well as the program's second-leading scorer. She earned spots on the 2013-14 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-America Honorable Mention and D3hoops.com All-America Fourth Team, as well as the 2012-13 WBCA All-America Honorable Mention, and was a two-time pick to the WBCA All-Atlantic Region First Team (2012-13, 2013-14). The 2012-13 Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Player of the Year, Borova garnered spots on the 2012-13 and 2013-14 All-Met Writers First Teams, the 2012-13 and 2013-14 All-ECAC First Teams, the 2012-13 and 2013-14 All-NJAC First Teams, and the 2011-12 All-NJAC Honorable Mention. On the WP career lists, she ranks first in assists (452), steals (315) and field goals attempted (1,647), second in points (1,740), assists per game (4.15) and three-point field goals attempted (642), third in field goals made (611) and three-point field goals made (198), fourth in points per game (16.0), fifth in steals per game (2.89), sixth in minutes played (3,120), seventh in free throws made (320), ninth in free throws attempted (417) and free-throw percentage (.767), tied-ninth in games started (88), and 10th in games played (109). Borova also remains among WP's top-three on several single-season lists, including field goals attempted (602, first, 2012-13; 511, third, 2013-14), three-point field goals attempted (226, second, 2012-13), assists (145, third, 2012-13), steals (115, first, 2012-13; 92, third, 2013-14), steals per game (3.96, second, 2012-13), points (602, third, 2013-14) and points per game (21.5, second, 2013-14). Borova played on teams that registered a combined record of 91-25 (.784), won the 2010-11 and 2011-12 NJAC Tournament titles, reached three NCAA Tournaments (2010-11 Sweet Sixteen, 2011-12 and 2012-13 second rounds), and advanced to the 2012-13 and 2013-14 NJAC Tournament finals.
 
Dunlap (2000-03) was twice named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Second Team (2001, 2002), and the catcher also garnered spots on the 2001 and 2002 NFCA All-Region First Teams, the 2001 and 2002 All-NJAC First Teams, and the 2003 All-NJAC Second Team. On the Pioneer career charts, she remains tied-fourth in games played (166) and doubles (36), sixth in home runs (11), and eighth in runs scored (103). Dunlap also rates among the program's single-season leaders in games played (49, tied-first, 2001), RBI (46, second, 2001), home runs (10, second, 2001), hits (56, tied-sixth, 2001) and runs (33, tied-eighth, 2001). While a Pioneer, she played on teams that posted a 123-42-1 (.744) combined record, winning the 2001 NCAA Tournament East Regional to advance to the team's first Championship Finals (College World Series). WP also captured the 2003 NJAC Tournament title to earn a spot in that year's NCAA Tournament field.
 
Grant (1983-2021) joined the WP Athletics staff in 1983 as the Assistant Director of Athletics. In October of 1994, she became the Associate Director of Athletics, a position she held until 2002 when she served as the Interim Director of Athletics. Grant was officially appointed Director of Athletics in 2003, tallying 38 years overall at William Paterson and 18 years as the leader of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics when she retired in 2021. Grant was present for many exciting times at William Paterson, including the 1992 and 1996 baseball national championships and the 2001 men's basketball national runner-up finish. The Pioneers made 70 NCAA Tournament appearances and won 26 NJAC titles during her tenure, and she made her mark on every part of the department, including operations, student-athlete support, budget, scheduling and staffing. Among her notable accomplishments were the establishment of the Faculty Athletic Support Team (FAST) in 2013 and the Student-Athlete Mentors (SAMs) program in 2019. Grant's impact on the Pioneers' facilities was one of her lasting legacies, as she spearheaded four construction projects from 2003-21 that created brand-new practice/competition sites for the baseball, field hockey, football, tennis and men's and women's soccer programs. She also was key to important upgrades made to the sites used by WP's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, softball and men's and women's swimming and diving teams.
 
Lipari (1998-2001) capped his career in the Pioneer outfield by garnering bids to the 2001 All-America Second Team and All-Region First Team, adding first-team all-NJAC laurels as well, after producing one of the greatest single-season efforts in WP baseball history with a .436 batting average, 65 hits, 17 doubles, five triples, six home runs, 49 RBI and 54 runs scored. Still tied-ninth in career triples (10), he also remains tied-10th in doubles (17, 2001) on the single-season chart. The Pioneers were 97-58-1 (.625) during his tenure, winning the 1999 NCAA Tournament Mid-Atlantic Regional and finishing third overall nationally at the College World Series.
 
The 1982-83 women's tennis team was the most dominant WP tennis team during a dominating stretch for the Pioneers, finishing 16-6 overall and fifth nationally. Led by Head Coach Dr. Ginny Overdorf and Assistant Coach Marla Zeller, both of whom are WP Hall of Famers, William Paterson won the prestigious MALTA Tournament and the Division III Regional Tournament before finishing fifth at the national tourney. All-American Nancy Sharkey, who also is a WP Hall of Famer individually, was 13-4 at first singles, earning a national ranking of second. Other standouts included Adelita Bonet (18-5, second-fourth singles, second in MALTA Flight II singles), Lori Bulwith (9-0, sixth singles), Anne Galpern (18-3, fifth-sixth singles, first in MALTA Flight III singles, second in MALTA Flight II doubles), Pam Gomez (5-5, second singles; 5-7, first singles), Lisa Malloy (21-2 at fourth-fifth singles, second in MALTA Flight III singles, second in MALTA Flight II doubles) and Sue O'Malley (13-10, second-third singles).
 
Joosten is the inaugural Pioneer of Distinction, given to an individual who was a student-athlete at a time when the structure of athletics, and the awards available, were different (for instance, no conferences), and/or documentation was not readily available. Joosten was a three-sport student-athlete and eight-time letterwinner at Paterson State College (1962-66), playing four seasons of baseball, three of basketball and one of soccer. On the diamond, he was a co-captain and team MVP as a senior, playing every position except catcher while a Pioneer and registering an 11-3 career record on the mound. He was a three-year basketball starter, electing not to play as a senior due to his student teaching commitment, and was a co-captain while often drawing the team's toughest perimeter defensive assignment. Joosten also joined the soccer team as a senior and was the team's second-leading scorer while playing the sport for the very first time.
 
Founded in 1978, the William Paterson University Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame honors student-athletes, coaches and support persons who have made outstanding contributions to Pioneer Athletics. In all, 161 individuals and seven teams have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

In order to be considered for induction into the Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame, former student-athletes must be alumni and must have ceased playing a minimum of five years prior to nomination. Coaches and support staff are eligible immediately after their last year working in Athletics, but may still be employed at the University in another capacity. Only athletic achievements from their time at WP are considered when induction decisions are made regarding former student-athletes, coaches and support staff. Teams become eligible for induction five years after the completion of that season.
 
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