VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton Athletics celebrated its newest Hall of Fame inductees Saturday morning with a breakfast ceremony in the Events Center.

In the 28th Annual Induction, the division welcomed basketball player Daye Kaba, basketball player Cathy Mackin, baseball player Jake Thomas, lacrosse player Lauren Wetherell and the 1991 women's soccer team. The celebration included a kickoff reception Friday night and concluded with a special ceremony to begin a busy day of Homecoming events Saturday. 

"I want to congratulate all of our inductees," Director of Athletics Eugene Marshall, Jr. said in his opening remarks. "You have laid the foundation for the student-athletes behind you to prosper. The tradition we now have comes off your shoulders. And for that we are thankful. I also want to welcome you back to campus. Some of you may not recognize campus ... it's not the same one that you left. We take great pride in our athletics facilities and if it wasn't for your hard work, dedication and commitment, we wouldn't be where we are today."

Kaba was a two-time high jump All-American who placed as high as third at the NCAA Division III Championships. His track participation began only after he finished his two basketball seasons, when he earned a pair of all-conference honors after leading the team in both scoring and blocks.

"I can truly speak about my experiences as a student-athlete at Binghamton all day," Kaba said in his acceptance speech. "It truly helped shape me into the man I have become and I'm extremely grateful."

Mackin was a 1,000-point basketball player who opened her collegiate career with a pair of conference tennis titles. But on the inside court, she was a sharpshooter who tallied 1,269 points and was a two-time first team all-conference selection. Her 3-point field goal percentage hovered near 40 percent and she led the Colonials to four NCAA tournament bids in four years.

"My time at Binghamton was truly one of the impactful experiences of my life," Mackin shared. "And there hasn't been a day that's gone by where I haven't thought about my time here in some way. It made me stronger ... it showed me that perseverance pays off and to never underestimate the power of a group of strong, hardworking women." 

Thomas was a four-year starting outfielder for a baseball squad that captured America East titles and advanced to the NCAA Regionals twice during his tenure. He was a three-time first team all-conference selection and as a sophomore, ranked second in the nation in on-base percentage (.517). Thomas was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 27^th round of the 2015 Draft, the earliest a BU field position player went in 25 years.

"No other school I visited during my recruiting visits gave me the feeling this campus did," Thomas shared. "The next four years were some of the best of my life. This prestigious university enabled me to receive an education second to none, while on a path to pursue my dream of playing professional baseball."

Wetherell began her career when the school's lacrosse team was just in its second year of existence and she spearheaded the team's challenging path of becoming a contender in the America East. Wetherell was a two-time all-conference selection who also was an America East All-Rookie choice in 2003. She is the program's all-time assists leader (74) and ranks among the top-5 in points (144) and draw controls (135). She will become the first women's lacrosse player inducted.

"Coach Frost saw something in me that I didn't see in myself," Wetherell recalled about her first lacrosse coach at Binghamton. "Her belief in my potential led me to play for Binghamton, where I not only grew as a player but as an individual. This honor is as much for my teammates as it's mine. Together we faced many challenges, celebrated victories and created unforgettable memories."

In just the program's seventh year of existence, the 1991 women's soccer team went 14-5-4 to set a school record for wins. The team broke through a crowd of New York state rivals and NCAA champions (Cortland, Ithaca, Rochester, William Smith) to earn one of just 16 berths to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The team outscored opponents 41-18, produced 10 shutouts and was ranked as high as No. 14 in the nation. They also tied both eventual NCAA finalists (Ithaca and Rochester).

"All of you made us realize we had the talent to go far, building a culture of hard work and fun, pushing us all to succeed and catapulting us to the next level," team co-captain Debra Beato Randazzo mentioned in thanking the team's coaches. "We would like to thank our families, who made sacrifices so we could play this crazy sport growing up, attend this great university and then to come watch us play. Together everyone achieves more. Teamwork really did make the dream work for us."