Reunions and celebrations as D'Youville Athletics honors 2024-25 Hall of Fame inductees

There are moments in life that bring family and old friends together. Some are joyful like weddings, graduations, and birthdays, and some, like funerals, are more challenging.

On the evening of February 15, 2025, it was all smiles on the D’Youville campus as the university Athletics Department celebrated the 2024-25 Hall of Fame inductees.

Image

Members of this newest class of athletic elites included Danielle Kabel (Gehen) ’14 (women's soccer), the entire 2011 Softball Team, and a well-known, active community member in Buffalo and Western New York, Drew Cerza ’84 (men's basketball).

“This is our fourth class of honorees to be inducted into the D’Youville University Athletic Hall of Fame, and it’s a very special group of former student-athletes” said Ona Halladay, Vice President for Athletics & Special Projects. “How does it get any better than inducting an entire team, and the 2011 championship softball team was so incredible, the entire team needed to be recognized.”

Halladay continued, “Danielle Kabel (Gehen) and Drew Cerza are also deserving inductees. Danielle earned just about every school, team, and conference recognition during her years on the soccer team. And Drew, the Wing King, went from being MVP on the D’Youville basketball team in the early 1980s to being recognized as a valued and respected servant-leader in the Buffalo community.”

A recap of the 2024-25 D’Youville University Athletics Hall of Fame inductees.

Danielle Kabel (Gehen), Women's Soccer (2010-2014)

Image

Danielle Kabel (Gehen) ’14, was a four-year member of the D'Youville women's soccer team and had a decorated career. Kabel was a three-time Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference First Team selection and was named the DYU Female Athlete of the Year and Team MVP during the 2011-12 academic year.

Kabel had a knack for finding the back of the net, whether it was by scoring a goal or assisting on one, finishing with 48 goals and 28 assists throughout her career. During her junior season, Kabel became the all-time career points leader, career goal scorer, and career assist leader.

During her time with the team, Kabel helped them reach the AMCC Championships in all four seasons, including a pair of trips to the AMCC Championship Semifinals during her last two seasons with the team.

The team held an overall record of 41-26-5 and a conference record of 22-12-2 during her four years with the team.

Gehen graduated from D'Youville in the spring of 2014 with a degree in Education.

Drew Cerza, Men's Basketball (1982-1984)

Image

Drew Cerza was a two-year member of the D'Youville men's basketball team and was named the team MVP during the 1982-83 season.

Cerza, or better known as "The Wing King", has been a pillar in the Western New York Community as he founded the National Buffalo Wing Festival in 2002. Cerza has become the “wing ambassador” throughout the country, traveling the country in search of unique wings that capture the local flavors of different regions.

Cerza's National Buffalo Wing Festival has been serving WNY and beyond for over 21 years. In that time, the festival has generated more than $440,000 for local charities. The festival has proudly supported Meals on Wheels, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and most recently FeedMore WNY and the Alzheimer's Association of WNY. Additionally, the event has recognized and celebrated veteran and active military, and honored Western New York Heroes Chris Krieger with a community service award.

The festival, held at the end of every summer, has drawn nationwide attention, and has provided an opportunity for the city of Buffalo to become a vacation destination, helping boost the local economy from restaurants to hotels. This past August, the festival featured around 20 wing specialists from all over the country. Cerza noted to WKBW after the event that “in 2023, the festival tracked 46 different states and 20 countries.”

Cerza has appeared on many media outlets including the Food Network, Travel Channel, NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX Network, PBS, and the BBC

Cerza graduated from D'Youville in the spring of 1984 with a degree in Business Management.

2011 Softball Team

Image

Under the guidance of Angie Churchill, the 2011 D'Youville softball team put together a record of 21-10 and won the AMCC Softball Championship as the second seed. In addition to the championship win, Churchill was named AMCC Coach of the Year while members of her program earned the AMCC Pitcher of the Year and three AMCC All-Conference selections.

Hannah Norton was named Pitcher of the Year as well as First Team All-Conference in 2011. Norton had 16 wins in the circle, striking out 146 batters, and having an ERA of 2.51.

Rachel Cirello and Danielle Phillips also received All-AMCC honors, being named to the Second Team.

During the 2011 AMCC Championships, the Saints beat Penn State Behrend 4-3 in the first round and then beat Penn State Altoona 8-5 in the second round. In the championship game, DYU defeated Mount Aloysius 1-0 and were crowned champions and earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament.

Members of the 2011 D’Youville Softball team inducted into the Hall of Fame:

• Christa Campbell
• Rachael Cirello
• Erica Comisso
• Kristen Deschenes
• Cassy Engle
• Shannon Evans
• Gabby Lathrop
• Hannah Norton
• Lisa Petty
• Danielle Phillips
• Kristie Ryan
• Chelsea Stoeckl
• Shannon Sutton
• Alexis Walser
• Angie Churchill, Head Coach

The induction ceremony was held on Saturday, February 15 in the Health Professions HUB.

Image