MAC Hall of Fame
ANNVILLE, Pa. (Conference News) – The Middle Atlantic Conferences (MAC) and Executive Director Ken Andrews are proud to announce the MAC Hall of Fame Class of 2017. This year’s class, the sixth class, has 19 inductees from current and former member institutions.
“We are delighted to announce the 2017 MAC Hall of Fame,” said Andrews. “This is an exceptional group that represents the best of the Middle Atlantic Conference. It is an honor to recognize these contributors to the MAC legacy.”
Middle Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame Class of 2017
Leo Disend, Albright College – Football, Track & Field
Royce Eyer, Lycoming College – Wrestling
Aftan Fisher, Messiah College – Field Hockey
Don Johnson, Lebanon Valley College – Basketball
Irv Johnson, University of Scranton – Basketball
Adam Knoblauch, Delaware Valley University – Football
Ned McGinley, King’s College – Wrestling Coach
Brian O’Keefe, Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus – Lacrosse
Heidi Wolfsberger Peoples, Moravian College – Cross Country, Track & Field
Emilie Heck Petrone, Haverford College – Field Hockey, Lacrosse
Joanne Polakoski, King’s College – Basketball
Kevin Quinn, Saint Joseph’s University – Cross Country and Track & Field Coach
Harold R. “Tubby” Raymond, University of Delaware – Football and Baseball Coach
Christina Scherwin, Moravian College – Track & Field
Deborah Smuda Williams, Widener University – Track & Field
Randy Sturm, DeSales University – Soccer
John Wagner, Rider University – Soccer, Baseball
James Ward, Gettysburg College –Baseball, Basketball, Football
Hayden Woodworth, Messiah College – Soccer
Leo Disend, Albright College
Football, Track & Field, Class of 1938
Disend, a three-sport student-athlete who participated in football, basketball, and track & field, was largely known for his success on the football field. He was named a Little All-American twice during his playing years at Albright, and went on to play three seasons in the National Football League (one of only five Albright student-athletes to do so). He played tackle for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Green Bay Packers, playing in a total of 27 NFL games. After his playing career, Disend went on to teach and coach at the high school level in football, track & field, and bowling for 37 years. He also refereed professional and semi-professional football and basketball for 30 years. He was inducted into the Albright Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990 for his success in football and track & field, and is a member of the MAC All-Century Team.
Royce Eyer, Lycoming College
Wrestling, Class of 2001
Eyer capped off his wrestling career with back-to-back NCAA Division III All-American accolades, finishing fourth at 149 pounds in 2000 before winning a National title at 157 pounds in 2001. He won consecutive MAC Championships in 2000 (149 pounds) and 2001 (157 pounds), and was a third-place finisher in both 1998 and 1999. Eyer was a three-time NWCA Scholar All-American and a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2001. Currently, he holds Lycoming College records for single season wins (46, 2000-01), and career pins (51), while his record 127 career wins was finally surpassed this winter. He was inducted into the Lycoming College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010, and is a 2014 inductee of the West Branch Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
Aftan Fisher, Messiah College
Field Hockey, Class of 2006
Fisher graduated in 2006 after completing a four-year career with field hockey that rivals most others in NCAA Division III history. She was named the 2005 NFHCA National Player of the Year, and was both a four-time NFHCA First Team All-American and four-time First Team NFHCA All-Region player. She was named the Commonwealth Conference Rookie of the Year in 2002, the player of the year in 2005 and was named first team all-conference in each season. Fisher helped the team finish as conference champions in each of her four seasons, and she twice helped the Falcons to Division III National Runner-Up finishes. Along the way, she collected 226 career points and 58 career assists, both second in program history. Fisher is also third in program history with 84 career goals.
Don Johnson, Lebanon Valley College
Basketball, Class of 1973
Johnson culminated his prolific career at Lebanon Valley by leading the Dutchmen to a 24-3 season in his senior year, where they won the MAC Championship and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in two decades. He was the first student-athlete at Lebanon Valley to be named an NABC All-American (Third Team, 1972-73), and graduated as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,976 points (now ranked third all-time). Additionally, Johnson ranks third all-time in rebounds (863), and holds the record for most field goals made in a single game (24). He is one of only five players to have his number retired, is a member of Lebanon Valley’s Athletics Hall of Fame, and is also a member of the MAC All-Century Team.
Irv Johnson, University of Scranton
Basketball, Class of 1980
During his time at Scranton, Johnson was a three-time All-American (First Team: 1977, 1978; Third Team: 1980) and a three-time NABC First-Team All-Middle Atlantic Region (1977, 1978, 1980). He was also a three-time First Team MAC Northern Division all-star (1977, 1978, 1980), and started at center in Scranton’s first NCAA championship in 1976. In the Scranton record books, he ranks third all-time in scoring (1,859), first all-time in rebounds (1,299), eighth in blocks (119), first in field goals made (807), second in field goal attempts (1,432), fourth in field goal percentage (.564), first in games played (121), and is tied at second for blocks in a single game (9). Johnson was a co-recipient of the John “Les” Dickman Award in 1980, a 1992 inductee in The University of Scranton Wall of Fame, and a member of the MAC All-Century Team.
Adam Knoblauch, Delaware Valley University
Football, Class of 2006
Knoblauch saw multiple awards following his 2005 senior season at Delaware Valley, being named an All-American, a Gagliardi Trophy finalist, MAC and ECAC Offensive Player of the Year, Maxwell Football Club Tri-State Player of the Year, and Philadelphia Area’s Top Amateur Athlete. He earned First Team All-MAC and All-ECAC honors in 2004 and was named the 2002 MAC Rookie of the Year. Playing for the Aggies, Knoblauch lead the team to a 9-2 record and ECAC title in 2003, and 12-1 records in 2004 and 2005 (earning MAC Championships and trips to NCAA Quarterfinals both years). He graduated with 17 school records, and became the sixth quarterback in NCAA history (all levels) to pass for 10,000 yards (11,284) and rush for 1,000 yards (1,549) in a career. At the end of his playing career, he ranked second all-time in total offense in Division III history (12,833), fifth all-time in passing yards (11,284), and tenth all-time in passing touchdowns (102). He is a 2016 inductee into the Delaware Valley University Hall of Fame and a member of the MAC All-Century Team.
Ned McGinley, King’s College
Wrestling Coach, 1969-2017
McGinley was the longest tenured coach at all levels of the NCAA, and coached at Kings for 48 years. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association in 2008. He is a two-time MAC Coach of the Year, and holds a record of 452-447-1 in dual meets. McGinley coached 45 College Division/Division III national tournament qualifiers, 18 NCAA Division III All-Americans, two NCAA Division III National Champions, four NCAA Division III National Runner-Ups, 20 Middle Atlantic Conference individual champions, 32 NCAA Division III Scholar All-Americans, and 13 wrestlers who compiled undefeated season records. His 2001-02 squad went24-2 and placed fourth in NWCA National Duals while finishing fourth in the final NWCA National Coaches Poll. McGinley had at least one wrestler qualify for NCAA Division III Nationals every year from 2001 to 2014, and had teams ranked first nationally in team GPA by the NWCA in 2015 and 2016. Prior to his coaching career, McGinley was a MAC Runner-Up for Wilkes in 1964-65 and was a two-time NCAA College Division national qualifier.
Brian O’Keefe, Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
Lacrosse, Class of 1988
Brian O'Keefe played lacrosse for FDU from 1985 to 1988. He garnered First Team All-Middle Atlantic Conference honors in 1986 and made Second Team in 1988. His 251 career points rank second all-time at FDU. O'Keefe put up a school-record 16 points against Widener in 1986. His nine goals in that same game is also a single-game school record. His 108 points in 1986 is an FDU record, and his 64 goals that year also mark a school best. After playing three years on offense, O'Keefe took over at goalie for his senior year and was as spectacular defending the cage as he was attacking it. He set FDU's record for most saves by a goalkeeper in a game when he made 45 against Rutgers in 1987. After graduating from FDU, O'Keefe played professional lacrosse for the New York Saints of the National Lacrosse League from 1994 to 1998. He is a 2000 inductee of the Fairleigh Dickinson University Hall of Fame and is a member of the MAC All-Century Team.
Heidi Wolfsberger Peoples, Moravian College
Cross Country & Track & Field, Class of 2002
Peoples, who graduated in 2002, was a four-year standout on both the women's cross country and track & field teams for the Greyhounds, and was Moravian's Outstanding Senior Female Athlete in 2002. Peoples captured the 2001 NCAA Division III National Championship in the 1,500-meter run indoors, and she was the runner-up in the 1,500-meter run three other times in her career. She was also a two-time runner-up at the NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships, and she completed her career as a 12-time All-American. Peoples helped the Greyhounds to four Middle Atlantic Conference Cross Country Championships, and was a three-time Most Outstanding Performer at the MAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She won 14 MAC individual titles, and she was part of several more championships as a member of relay squads. Peoples continued to run after graduation, and she is a two-time United States Women's Marathon Olympic Trials qualifier and a two-time winner of the Steamtown Marathon including the course record. She was inducted into the Moravian College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012, and is a member of the MAC All-Century Team.
Emilie Heck Petrone, Haverford College
Field Hockey & Lacrosse, Class of 1991
Heck Petrone was a two-time lacrosse All-American (1990, 1991), a Regional All-American in field hockey (1990), a five-time Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) All-Star, and a two-time PAIAW lacrosse All-Star (1990, 1991). In the fall of her senior year, the Haverford field hockey team finished with a 12-3-3 mark setting a still-unmatched program record for most wins in a season. Heck Petrone's field hockey career culminated with a third MAC All-Star honor and her selection as the team MVP. In a four-year career, Heck Petrone started 71 of 72 games and her 13 career assists ranks third on the program's all-time list. She and her teammates finished her final lacrosse season with a 12-4 record and No. 8 Division III national ranking. The Fords and Heck Petrone earned a bid to the 1991 NCAA national tournament where their season ended in the quarterfinals. The team's 12 wins tied for the most single season victories in program history and is yet to be matched. With 268 ground balls to her credit, Heck Petrone ranks second all-time at Haverford and her average of 4.54 ground balls per game tops the program rankings. A four-year starter in lacrosse, Heck Petrone was in the starting line-up 59 times missing only a 10-game stretch during her sophomore season with an injury. Voted the team's most improved player following the '88 lacrosse season, Heck Petrone burst onto the national scene after her senior year when she was selected for the United States women's lacrosse team roster, a feat duplicated in '92. Playing on even footing with the nation's elite lacrosse players, Heck Petrone was chosen for the South roster in the national North-South Senior All-Star game where she was in a starting line-up that included teammates from Division I powers Penn State and Maryland. This multitude of career accomplishments and honors resulted in the Bethlehem, Pa., native being awarded the 1991 Stephen G. Cary '37 Award from the athletic department, given for the most "outstanding dedication and achievement in women's athletics." She is also a 2009 inductee of the Thomas Glasser ’82 Hall of Achievement at Haverford.
Joanne Polakoski, King’s College
Basketball, Class of 2000
Polakoski enjoyed a brilliant career for King's from 1997-2000, graduating as King's second all-time career scoring leader with 1,971 points and ranking second with 987 rebounds. She concluded her career as a four-time All-Freedom Conference selection, a three-time Division III All-American, and was the 2000 Division III National Player of the Year. She also owns the Lady Monarchs' best career shooting percentage, connecting on 56.3 (792-1,406) percent of her shots. Polakoski owns the top three single-season shooting percentages, making 59.2 (186-314) percent in 1997-98, 58.4 (156-267) percent in 1996-97, and 57.0 (199-349) percent in 1989-99.
During the 1999-2000 campaign, her 632 points and 332 rebounds both stand as the second-highest single-season totals in school history. In 1999-2000 she made good on 251 field goals, the most ever at King's, while her 792 career field goals are second all-time. Polakoski was honored as a member of the MAC All-Century team in 2013.
Kevin Quinn, Saint Joseph’s University
Cross Country and Track & Field Coach, 1966-2015
On the track, Quinn is a two-time MAC cross country individual champion and a two-time MAC mile champion and record holder. He was a two-time NCAA qualifier in the mile, and, at one time, held Saint Joseph’s records in the mile and two-mile runs. He was the first American to cross the finish line of the 1961 IC4A Cross Country Championships, placing third overall. After graduating from Saint Joseph’s, Quinn won the famed Berwick Marathon and is now a member of the Saint Joseph’s Track Hall of Fame, the Saint Joseph’s Athletics Hall of Fame, and the MAC All-Century Team. Before retiring in 2015, Quinn also spent a combined 49 years as head coach of Saint Joseph’s men’s and women’s cross country and track & field programs. Throughout his coaching career, he was a two-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year in cross country, served as the president of the IC4A and ECAC Coaches Associations (the only individual to do so), coached Saint Joseph’s only National Champion, as well as eight All-Americans, 2 Junior National Champions, five IC4A Champions, and 5 ECAC Champions.
Harold R. “Tubby” Raymond, University of Delaware
Football and Baseball Coach, 1954-2001
Harold R. “Tubby” Raymond capped one of the most successful coaching tenures in the history of college football when he retired following the 2001 season. A member of the University of Delaware coaching staff since 1954, Raymond served as assistant coach under David Nelson for 12 years before taking over the program in 1966. He went on to have a stellar 36-year career and compiled a record of 300-119-3, three national titles, 16 NCAA playoff appearances, nine ECAC Team of the Year awards, and nine conference titles. He led teams to MAC titles in 1966, 1968, and 1969 before Delaware became an independent. He also served as head baseball coach at Delaware from 1956 to 1964, leading the Blue Hens to a record of 142-54-2. In that time, he guided the team to four MAC titles and a 1956 NCAA Tournament appearance. He was inducted into the Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
Christina Scherwin, Moravian College
Track & Field, Class of 2005
At Moravian, Scherwin won the NCAA title in the javelin in 2002 and 2003, missing the 2001 meet due to an injury and the 2004 championships while training for the Olympics. In addition to setting what is still the NCAA Division III meet record in 2003 with a toss of 55.34 meters (181-7), she also earned All-America honors in the shot put both indoors and outdoors in 2003 and competed in the event outdoors in 2002 with a ninth-place finish. Scherwin captured seven Middle Atlantic Conference titles in just four meets, winning the shot put both indoors and outdoors in 2002 and 2003, the javelin both years and the discus outdoors in 2003. She also finished as the runner-up in the high jump at the MAC indoor meet in 2003 and was third in the long jump in the same meet. Scherwin was a two-time winner of the College Women's Javelin Throw at the prestigious Penn Relays. In addition to collegiate success, she competed in both the 2004 (Athens, Greece) and 2008 (Beijing, China) Olympic Games for her native Denmark. She was 29th in the javelin in 2004 and 44th in 2008. During her international career, Scherwin finished as high as fourth at the 2005 World Championships. She was inducted into the Moravian College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015 and is a member of the MAC All-Century Team.
Deborah Smuda Williams, Widener University
Track & Field, Class of 1992
Deborah Smuda Williams is one of the most decorated female track & field athletes in Widener track & field history. She was an All-American in the indoor triple jump in 1991 and 1993 as well as the outdoor triple jump in 1993. Smuda was also a CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team selection in 1992 and a Second Team selection a year later, becoming the first student-athlete in any sport at Widener to be recognized more than once. She graduated first in school history in the 400-meter dash (indoor and outdoor), long jump (indoor and outdoor) and triple jump (indoor and outdoor) and her indoor standard of 37-feet, 5.25-inches established at the Middle Atlantic Conference Championships is the longest-standing school record in the program annals. Smuda, was inducted into the Widener University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016 and is also a member of the MAC All-Century Team.
Randy Sturm, DeSales University
Men’s Soccer, Class of 2007
Sturm’s accolades are endless and include being named to the All-Freedom Conference team all four years of his career, including Second Team honors as a freshman and First Team honors his final three years. He was named the Freedom Conference Player of the Year twice in 2005 and 2006, was named to the NSCAA All-Region Third Team in 2005 and First Team in 2006, and was honored on the CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team in 2005 and 2006. Additionally, Sturm was named to the NSCAA All-American Third Team and to the CoSida Academic All-American Second Team in 2006. He was also named the MAC Men’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete as a senior in 2006 and was honored on the MAC All-Century Team. His career totals still rank among the all-time leaders ranking second all-time in goals scored (57) and is the all-time leader in both assists (25) and total points (139). Sturm’s teams had tremendous success as well winning the MAC Freedom title in both 2005 and 2006 and advancing to the NCAA Tournament both years. Those two championships and berths into the NCAA Tournament were the first-ever for the DeSales University men’s soccer program.
John Wagner, Rider University
Soccer and Baseball, Class of 1967
Wagner was an All-American soccer player who was also the captain and starting catcher on the Rider baseball team that placed fifth in the nation at the College World Series. Named the MVP of MAC Northern Division, Wagner was a defender who led Rider to five shutout victories in 1966 and went on to play professional soccer. Wagner earned Honorable Mention All-East honors as a junior on 1965 team, and after his junior year was one of 75 players from the East invited to the Olympic tryout. From there, he made the final 15 before going to the national tryout for the Olympics. After Rider, Wagner became a renowned coach, earning New Jersey Coach of the year honors while wining several New Jersey High School Soccer titles at Hightstown High. He was inducted into the Rider Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002 and is a member of the MAC All-Century Team.
James Ward, Gettysburg College
Football, Baseball, and Basketball, Class of 1966
In the 1964 season, Ward led the Bullets to a 7-2 record and the MAC University Division title. The following year, he set 12 school records as a quarterback on the football team. He was voted the most valuable player in the MAC University Division, where he led the conference in total offense, passing, punting and scoring. He was named the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year. On top of being ranked among the nation's top total offense leaders, he was the second leading scorer in the state of Pennsylvania. In consecutive seasons, he won the prestigious Maxwell Club Award, was named to the All-State, All-East and All-Conference teams. He also received honorable mention Little All-America accolades twice. In Gettysburg records, he currently ranks sixth in completions (230), fifth in passing yards (3,174), fourth in touchdown passes (32), ninth in total offense (3,758), and third in touchdowns responsible for (51). He played two years as a reserve basketball player, and was a three-year starter at third base in baseball for the Bullets. He was the conference's leading hitter and was recognized for his powerful throwing arm. Following graduation, he was a 14th round draft choice of the Baltimore Colts and spent nine years as a quarterback in the NFL serving as the back-up for Pro Football Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas for much of that time. Ward was inducted into the Gettysburg Hall of Athletic Honor in 1985.
Hayden Woodworth, Messiah College
Soccer, Class of 2003
Woodworth was a standout midfielder for the Falcons and a key contributor to the program's first NCAA Division III National Championship in 2000. He was also a part of the Falcons' 2002 National Championship and that year also earned the College's first-ever National Player of the Year honor. Over the course of his career he was also three-time all-conference, two-time all-region, two-time all-American, the 1999 Commonwealth Conference Rookie of the Year, and the 2000 Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year. Woodworth was inducted into the Messiah College Hall of Honor in 2014 and is a member of the MAC All-Century Team.