Sen. Peter Oberacker Inducted into SUNY Delhi Athletics Hall of Fame

DELHI—Senator Peter Oberacker of Schenevus was one of four new members of the SUNY Delhi Athletics Hall of Fame honored last month. The college’s 15th induction class included Oberacker ’83 (baseball and basketball), Kevin Parrott ‘84 (wrestling), Cedric Hawkins ‘94 (track and field), and James Gordon ‘00 (lacrosse). The quartet was recognized October 14-15 in numerous events around Delhi, including a special reception and a halftime introduction at the women’s soccer match.

“We are deeply honored to have such a diverse group join our Hall of Fame this year,” said Director of Athletics and Committee Chair Bob Backus. “Through our four inductees, we have six SUNY Delhi athletic programs featured.”

Oberacker was a dual-sport athlete, participating in basketball and baseball at SUNY Delhi from 1981-1983, and a standout pitcher. His freshman year showcased a strong performance, accumulating a 3-1 record with an impressive 2.50 ERA. In his second season, Oberacker continued to excel on the mound as a captain, achieving a remarkable 4-0 record and an outstanding 1.98 ERA, and contributing to the Broncos’ advancement to post-season regional play.

Upon graduating with an associate’s degree in food sale and distribution in 1983, Oberacker harnessed his educational foundation from Delhi to establish his own venture, Formtech Solutions Inc. As chief executive officer of this international food ingredient and research development company, he has remained at the forefront of pioneering new and integrated products for the food industry.

Demonstrating a strong sense of community, Oberacker has taken up pivotal leadership roles in government, including serving as town supervisor in his hometown of Maryland, as Otsego County representative, and currently as New York State senator. First elected to the state senate in 2020, Oberacker represents the 51st Senate District. Additionally, he is an active member of his local fire department and EMS squad, as well as the Masonic Lodge.

“The recognition from SUNY Delhi was unexpected and incredibly heartwarming,” Oberacker said. “Sharing stories with my fellow inductees, comparing notes about our days in the Bronco uniform, and reliving our experiences on campus was a thrill. I can’t say thank you enough to everyone with the SUNY Delhi Athletic Department and the Alumni Association for making the weekend so special for me and my entire family.”

Kevin Parrott ’84 was an outstanding wrestler in the 142-pound weight class on the SUNY Delhi Broncos wrestling squad during the Broncos “era of dominance” in the NJCAA during the early eighties. He achieved two-time Region III Champion status and secured NJCAA All-American honors in 1984 with a third-place finish at Nationals. Parrott earned the “Delhi Outstanding Wrestler Award” and captained the squad during his second season in the green and gold.

After earning an associate’s degree in applied science in building construction in 1984, he continued wrestling at Carson Newman in Tennessee. He later coached youth wrestling in Whitehall, New York and currently serves as the director of facilities at Lake George High School.

Cedric Hawkins ’94 attended SUNY Delhi from 1992-1994, participating in the men’s indoor and outdoor track and field program for two seasons. Specializing in the high hurdles and the high jump events, Hawkins achieved remarkable success by becoming a Region III Champion in indoor track at the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 7.5 seconds. He also clinched the title of Region III Champion in outdoor track at the 110-meter hurdles, with an impressive time of 14.42 seconds. Notably, both of these hurdle performances remain as enduring SUNY Delhi School records. Furthermore, his exceptional performance in the 110 high hurdles still holds the record for the Region III Championship Meet. Hawkins’ prowess extended to the high jump, where his achievement of clearing 6′ 10″ at the 1993 Outdoor Track & Field Championships earned him NJCAA All-American honors and a podium placement.

After his time at Delhi, Hawkins pursued education at Hunter College, earning a bachelor’s degree in 2003, and later obtaining a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from the College of New Rochelle in 2006. Currently residing with his family in the Bronx, New York, Hawkins has served as a high school guidance counselor since 2006. In this role, he has been dedicated to assisting and guiding high-school students in making informed decisions about their college education and future career paths.

James Gordon ’00 attended SUNY Delhi from 1998-2000 and played midfield on the men’s lacrosse team for two seasons during the early pioneering days of the newly established men’s lacrosse program which officially began in 1998. During the 1999 and 2000 seasons, Gordon helped the Broncos to establish the foundation for the future success of the program. He served as a team captain both seasons and twice earned All-Conference honors and was a Coaches Award recipient. Statistically, during his two seasons, he totaled 61 goals and 25 assists over his career, which were both SUNY Delhi program records at the time of his graduation. The 2000 team was the Mountain Valley Conference co-Champions and Gordon was recognized with NJCAA All American-Honorable Mention Honors.

After completing his associate’s degree in business administration from SUNY Delhi in 2000, he went on to attend West Chester University, Pennsylvania, where he also participated on the men’s lacrosse team.

For more information about SUNY Delhi Athletics, please www.delhibroncos.com