Every year, alums from the men’s and women’s basketball teams return to campus for a pair of friendly but hard-fought games at the Athletics and Fitness Center. This year’s reunion was especially meaningful, as the College paid tribute to the 31 players—18 men and 13 women—who scored 1,000 points or more during their Vassar careers. Banners commemorating these accomplishments were unveiled on January 21 in a ceremony that took place between the men’s and women’s varsity contests against Bard College.
Women’s Head Coach Anthony Mason said he enjoyed watching his current players interact with the alums after the ceremony. “They began to appreciate how being a part of the basketball program here at Vassar had helped prepare them for life’s journeys and difficulties and saw that the friendships they forge on the team can last a lifetime,” Mason said.
Men’s Head Coach Ryan Mee said the ceremony was especially meaningful to one of the 1,000-point scorers, Karl Butler ’89, who is battling cancer in Sweden. “Karl was undergoing treatment, but we were able to ‘Zoom’ him and enable him to take part in the event,” Mee said.
“It was great to see the joy on all the faces, both at the alum games that morning and at the ceremony,” the coach added.
The name at the top of the men’s 1,000-point banner belonged to Edward Pittman ’82, who spent much of his post-Vassar basketball career mentoring students and staff at the College. Pittman served in several capacities as a Vassar administrator for 31 years, retiring in 2021.
Pittman was the first member of a Vassar men’s team to score 1,000 points, and he did it in just two seasons after transferring from Dutchess Community College.
Pittman, who played his games at Kenyon Hall, said he often returns to the campus and spends some time shooting baskets on the court at the Athletics and Fitness Center. “When the shots don’t fall,” he said, “I can always look up at the banner and remember the days in Kenyon when they did.”
Members of the women’s team to score 1,000 or more points in their careers:
Maureen McCarthy ’86, 1,056 points; Nicki King ’92, 1,296; Kirsten Vogt ’96, 1,540; Lisa Ercolano ’02, 1,244; Carleen Aubee ’03, 1,334; Emily Haeuser ’10, 1,244; Brittany Parks ’12, 1,582; Cydni Matsuoka ’14, 1,923; Hannah Senftleber ’14, 1,239; Caitlin Drakeley ’16, 1,330; Ariella Rosenthal ’18, 1,360; Sophie Nick ’20, 1,508; and Isa Peczuh ’20, 1,063.
Members of the men’s team to score 1,000 or more points in their careers:
Ed Pittman ’82, 1,000 points; Robert Hochberg ’84, 1,004; Karl Butler ’89, 1,142; Mike Carfey ’90, 1,282; Dave Cronan ’91, 1,298; John Clancy ’92, 1,456; Caleb Wilkinson ’97, 1,567; Tirek Gayle ’01, 1,120; Brian Snodgrass ’03, 1,083; Judson Winton ’05, 1,157; Lawrence Avitabile ’08, 1,484; Tyson Brazell ’08, 1,139; Brian Butterworth ’09, 1,017; Alex Snyder ’15, 1,016; Erikson Wasyl ’16, 1,189; Jesse Browne ’18, 1,261; Paul Grinde ’19, 1,034; and Alex Seff ’19, 1,114.