Neil Sesselman, Former Athlete, to be Inducted into Sports Hall of Fame Oct. 17

October 13, 2003

PLATTSBURGH, NY __ Neil E. Sesselman, a 1963 alumnus and former athlete at Plattsburgh State University of New York, will be inducted into the Cardinal Sports Hall of Fame, Friday, Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. The ceremony will be held in the Sports Hall of Fame Exhibit Area in the Lobby of Memorial Hall and is open to the public.

Kristian Doorey, head men's baseball coach at Plattsburgh State, will introduce Sesselman during the induction ceremony.

Neil Sesselman came to Plattsburgh State in 1959 with the idea of becoming a teacher. His athletic talent led him to participate on the men's baseball team for four years and men's basketball team for two years during his sophomore and junior years while attending Plattsburgh State.

He is remembered for playing second base for the Cardinals and leading the team in the rankings in several categories. He had a career high of 42 runs (including 22 runs in one year) and 57 hits, and he established single-season records of 22 runs, 29 hits, four triples, 45 stolen bases, 17 walks, and a .475 batting average. He had a slugging percentage of .738 and an on-base percentage of .595.

In 1962, Neil was named the team's Most Valuable Player and was additionally honored by being named to the NAIA All-American Second Team and the SUNYAC Second Team.

Following graduation in 1963, Sesselman was hired by the Hadley-Luzerne Central School District as an elementary teacher. For the next 32 years, he taught children in the fifth grade through eighth grades until his retirement in 1995.

Sesselman and his wife, Beverly, are the proud parents of seven children and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, many who live near their Lake Luzerne home.

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