Jack Lipari was shocked when he got the call that he would be inducted today into the William Paterson Athletic Hall of Fame.

He shouldn’t have been.

A baseball player from 1998 to 2001, Lipari was a cog on the 1999 Pioneers team that finished third in the Division III College World Series. During the 2001 season, he was an All-American, hitting .436 with six home runs and 49 RBIs.

“I think I was in the position there as a veteran and leader,” Lipari told the Beacon, “and I felt responsible to be a role model for the younger players.”

Lipari will be inducted by legendary William Paterson coach Jeff Albies. “There was a culture that that went along with his reputation,” Lipari said. “And William Paterson, that culture of success, that culture of camaraderie.”

Other inductees include Sabrina Grant, a former athletic director who worked for William Paterson from 1983 to 2021; swimmer Vera Blazevska ‘17, MS ’19, who set six university records; basketball player Floriana Borova ’14, the Pioneers’ all-time steals and assists leader and second all-time in scoring; softball player Morgan Dunlap ’04, who is fourth in university history in games played and doubles; and the 1982-83 women’s tennis team, which ranked fifth nationally with a 16-6 record.

The induction will take place at 9:30 a.m. in the University Commons Ballrooms.

The William Paterson Alumni Association has inducted athletes into the Hall of Fame since 1978.