The induction class for 2008 for the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame has been selected and approved by the US Lacrosse Board of Directors. This year’s class will be inducted in a ceremony on Nov. 8 at The Grand Lodge in Hunt Valley, Md.

The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame is a component of US Lacrosse. The 2008 induction class consists of Roberta Brennan, Lynn Craun, Pat Dillon, Tom Marechek, Chris Sailer, Dom Starsia, George Tracy and Dick Watts.

The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame was established in 1957 to honor men and women, past and present, who by their deeds as players, coaches, officials and/or contributors, and by the example of their lives, personify the great contribution of lacrosse to our way of life. More than 325 lacrosse greats are honored in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, which is located with the Lacrosse Museum at US Lacrosse Headquarters in Baltimore. 

Bios for this year’s inductees follow:

Roberta Brennan (Boston Women’s Lacrosse Association/U.S. National Team)
Brennan was a part of the U.S. National team from 1953 to 1968, including a spot of the undefeated 1957 touring team to Great Britain and Ireland. She was also selected for the 1969 tour to Australia, but was unable to attend due to occupational obligations. Her club career stretched over two decades (1947 to 1969) with the Boston Women’s Lacrosse Association and she also had a distinguished career as a coach and official. She served as a head coach at Lesley College, Cambridge School of Weston, Brandeis University and Cambridge High & Latin. She was a nationally-rated umpire and served in that capacity for 20 years. She was inducted into the Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. She is being inducted as a truly great player. 

Lynn Craun (James Madison University, 1975)
Craun has been one of the top umpires in the country over the last 30 years. A former team captain at James Madison and member of the U.S. team in 1980 and 1982, Craun has officiated at the highest levels of the game nationally and internationally. She worked her first NCAA Division I championship game in 1998 and she has officiated at the last two IFWLA World Cups in addition to the 1999 IFWLA U-19 World Championship. A 1999 inductee into the US Lacrosse Charlottesville Chapter Hall of Fame, Craun has been a frequent instructor to help train new umpires. She’s being inducted as a truly great umpire.

Pat Dillon (Towson University, 1972)
A top-rated college and high school official, and a dedicated national and local leader in lacrosse organizations, Dillon's devotion to the sport has helped nurture its growth at all levels over the last 25 years. She was introduced to the sport at Towson, playing on the newly formed women's lacrosse team, and began her umpiring career in 1983. By 1989, she had earned a National rating and she's gone on to officiate at the championship level in both high school and college. She has a well-earned reputation as one of the sport's best officials. Her contributions, however, extend well beyound the playing lines. She recently completed a decade of service on the Executive Committee of the US Lacrosse Board of Directors, serving as chair of the organization from 2004 to 2006. Prior to that, she also served on the board of the USWLA. Dillon has served as chair of the US Lacrosse Rules Committee since 1991 and as secretary/rules editor of the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Rules Committee since 2006. She is a longtime member of the board of directors for the Potomac Chapter of US Lacrosse, currently serving as its treasurer. She also served on the National Umpiring Committee for 10 years and as the chair of the Washington Lacrosse Umpires Association from 1985 to 2003. Dillon was inducted into the US Lacrosse Potomac Chapter Hall of Fame in 2004. She is being inducted as a truly great contributor.

Tom Marechek (Syracuse University, 1992)
Marechek is one of the most decorated players in the history of the sport. He was a four-time All-American at Syracuse, earning first team honors in 1990, 1991 and 1992 while helping the Orange to two national championships. A six-time USCLA All-Star, he enjoyed a 12-year career with the Philadelphia Wings in the National Lacrosse League. He was an eight-time All-Pro, won four championships, retired as the league’s third all-time leading scorer with 773 points and was the first Wings player to have his number retired. Marechek played seven seasons in Major League Lacrosse for the Bayhawks, earning All-Star honors four times and won two championships. He was a four-time member of the Canadian national team, and was named to the ILF All-World team in 1998. Since 1997 he has served as the head coach at Glenelg (Md.) Country School, leading the team to two league titles. He is being inducted as a truly great player.

Chris Sailer (Harvard University, 1981)
Sailer has been one of the nation’s top coaches since taking over the Princeton University program in 1986. A three-time IWLCA Division I Coach of the Year, Sailer has led Princeton to 17 NCAA tournament appearances, nine Ivy League titles, 11 NCAA Final Fours and national championships in 1994, 2002 and 2003. Her 282 career victories through the end of the 2008 season rank second among active coaches. Prior to beginning her coaching career, she was a two-time All-Ivy League selection at Harvard and a member of the 1983 U.S. national team. She has been inducted into the Haverford High School, Harvard Varsity Club, and the US Lacrosse New England and Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania halls of fame. She is being inducted as a truly great coach.

Dom Starsia (Brown University, 1974)
One of the most successful coaches in the sport’s history, Starsia is one of just three men’s coaches to have won at least 100 games at two schools. He coached at Brown from 1982 to 1992, compiling a record of 101-46, leading his alma mater to two Ivy League titles and five NCAA tournament berths while being named the USILA Morris Touchstone Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1991. In 1993, he took over at Virginia and has since led the Cavaliers to three national championships (1999, 2003 and 2006). At Virginia he has a record of 184-62 (through the end of the 2008 season) and has led the Cavaliers to 10 NCAA semifinal appearances. An outstanding defenseman, Starsia earned All-America honors twice at Brown, was a four-time All-Club player and a member of the 1978 U.S. team. He has been inducted into the Brown University Athletic, US Lacrosse New England and Charlottesville Chapter halls of fame. He is being inducted as a truly great coach.

George Tracy (United States Naval Academy, 1963)
A three-time All-American, Tracy was one of the leaders on Navy teams that captured three consecutive USILA national championships from 1961 to 1963. An attackman and midfielder, Tracy was captain of the 1963 team and played in that year’s North-South game, scoring three goals. Tracy developed his early lacrosse skills on Baltimore's Bolton Hill, inspired in part by his lacrosse cousins, the Corrigans. A three-sport athlete at Loyola High School who also played football and ice hockey, Tracy contributed two goals to help Loyola win the final MSA hockey championship in 1956. Following the 1962 collegiate season, Tracy had the opportunity to help pioneer televised box lacrosse as a member of the Collegians team that won the championship of that summer's Maryland series. Tracy's awards include the U.S. Naval Academy's Stuart Oxnard Miller Memorial Lacrosse Cup (1963), the Navy Commendation Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (three stars) and the National Defense Service Medal. Following his collegiate career, Tracy played and coached for 15 years on the club level in five different states. He has been inducted into the USNA Athletic and US Lacrosse Greater Baltimore Chapter halls of fame. He is being inducted as a truly great player.

Dick Watts (Johns Hopkins University, 1956)
An outstanding player, coach, administrator and supporter, Watts has played been dedicated to the sport and its growth throughout his life. Watts earned All-America honors as a defenseman at Johns Hopkins and played in the 1956 USILA North-South game. Following college, he remained an active player on the Mt. Washington Club team. He was a coach at the high school, collegiate and club level, enjoying his greatest success at UMBC, where he coached from 1971 to 1993. He led the Retrievers to the 1980 NCAA Division II championship when he was named the USILA’s Coach of the Year. Watts was a member of the US Lacrosse Foundation Board of Directors from 1977 to 1980 and again from 1984 to 1986. He served as USILA President from 1974-76 and was a member of the organization’s Executive Board from 1967 to 1994. He was the first president of the US Lacrosse Greater Baltimore Chapter and also chaired the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Committee from 1981 to 1986. Watts has been inducted into the UMBC Athletic and US Lacrosse Greater Baltimore Chapter halls of fame. He is being inducted as a truly great contributor.