Hall of Fame
Kathryn Idelson Noftzger ‘82 (Gymnastics, 1978-82) became the first-ever All-American in any sport at Longwood in 1979 when as a freshman she finished seventh in the floor exercise at the 1979 Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Small College Gymnastics Tournament in Topeka, Kansas. She was selected as the 1979 Longwood Female Athlete of the Year, and was a four-time qualifier to the AIAW Division II national tournament (1979-82) in the all-around, including floor, balance beam, vault, and uneven bars. Idelson Noftzger was commended by the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1980, and placed eighth on the beam at the nationals in 1981, the only year that the AIAW did not name the top 10 as All-Americans. She led the program to a four-year record of 28-13, including a school-record 8-1 during 1979-80, and earned numerous individual event wins as gymnastics enjoyed its finest successes during her four years.
"Being inducted into the Hall of Fame was a momentous experience!," said Idelson Noftzger. "It was wonderful to return to the Longwood campus and get together with my college gymnastics coach, Dr. Ruth Budd, and two local residents, Sheila Feinman Mason and Cheryl Feinman Vassar who took gymnastics in the youth program we taught on Saturday mornings to the Farmville community. I am overwhelmed by the support of these three individuals as well as many others who supported this honor! Many thanks to Dr. Cormier, Diane Easter, Troy Austin and the selection committee for a tremendous Saturday evening event!"
A native of Annapolis, Maryland, Idelson Noftzger is a 1982 graduate as a modern language / Spanish major. She earned her master’s degree from Indiana State University and is married to Mike Noftzger, and the couple have four children (Michael Noftzger, 28; Danielle Noftzger Lucas, 24; Andrew Wrist, 17; Lexi Wrist, 13); they now live in Charlotte, North Carolina where Idelson Noftzger recently took a medical retirement from USAirways as a flight attendant. Most-recently, Idelson Noftzger has volunteered extensively and supported both USA Swimming and North Carolina High School Swimming by directing and managing swim meets at the state, regional and national levels.
