S E P T E M B E R 2 6 , 2 0 1 4 • N O R T H D I N I N G , M A N S E R

The Mansfield University Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1983, largely through the efforts of MU alumni in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognize the efforts and achievements of the many outstanding individuals who have so honorably enhanced the reputation of Mansfield University over the years. It has been underwritten in part since its inception by First Citizens Community Bank.

The induction ceremony is held each year in conjunction with Homecoming Weekend. Individual members are honored by having their portraits permanently displayed in the Hall of Fame exhibit in the lobby of Decker Gymnasium.

Membership into the Hall of Fame may be conferred in two categories: member (player, coach or other individual, team) or legend.

Member CategoryPlayers (who are alumni of Mansfield University), coaches or other individuals who have made a significant contribution to Mansfield University athletics (ex. trainers, assistant coaches, equipment managers, etc.) are eligible for nomination to the Hall of Fame. Nominations may also include persons who did not play or coach while at Mansfield, or who had a very limited career in athletics, but who later achieved great success in athletics as a coach at another institution, as a coach or player in professional sports, or as an administrator in college or professional athletics. For a team to be considered, it must have demonstrated an unusually high degree of success during any given season, including earning a post-season championship.

Legend's CategoryThe Legend’s category was established in 1992 to honor outstanding student-athletes and coaches who participated prior to 1927. Until that year, Mansfield University was known as Mansfield State Normal School, an institution whose main purpose was training students for the teaching profession. With no records to formally document their achievements, these outstanding individuals could not be recognized under the original Hall of Fame selection criteria. Inductees in the Legend’s category were some of the most prominent athletes and coaches in the country during their era. In 2013 the criteria for consideration was amended and the Legend’s category is now able to recognize contributions of those who graduated at least 50 years prior to selection.

QualificationsThe sport must have been on the varsity level for at least one season during the individual’s period of contribution.

Players must be alumni of Mansfield University, have completed their final year of competition and graduated at least five years prior to selection and may be living or deceased.

Coaches must have demonstrated an unusually high degree of success both in their sport(s) and in the development of their student athletes. They should have coached the same sport for more than one full season and not have left the sport or MU for reasons detrimental to the image of

MU. Coaches must have left the coaching position at least five years prior to selection and may be living or deceased.

Other individuals must have demonstrated a strong and preferably unique interest in Mansfield University. This could include persons who did not play or coach while at Mansfield, or who had a

very limited career in athletics, but who later achieved great success in athletics as a coach at another institution, as a coach or player in professional sports, or as an administrator in college or

MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

professional athletics. These nominees must have graduated or left the university at least five years prior to selection and may be living or deceased.

A team must have earned a post-season championship and cannot be considered for nomination until 10 years after the championship has been completed.

Nomination ProcessAnyone may nominate a qualified candidate for the MU Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame. Nominations, in writing, must be submitted to the alumni director by December 30 to be considered for the following year’s induction. There is an on-line nomination form available at http://gomounties.com or the following information can be provided to Denise Berg, MU Director of Alumni Relations, G9 Alumni Hall, Mansfield, PA 16933

1) Nominee's Name2) Nominee's current address, phone number and email address3) Nominee's year of graduation, if applicable, and sport4) Narrative citing why the nominee should be considered for induction

into the Hall of FamePlease include your name, relationship and contact information. For additional information: 570-662-4853, 888-305-6505 or dberg@mansfield.edu.

Nominations are researched through the university’s sports information office to confirm eligibility.

Nominees are held in consideration for five years, and if not selected, are moved to a secondary list and remain eligible for consideration.

The MU Hall of Fame selection committee is comprised of the directors of alumni, athletics, and sports information, current and former university-affiliated individuals, and alumni. The committee meets annually to review and discuss nominations and select new members for induction.

Denise Berg, chairBill Bradshaw '49David Cheplick '48Bruce Dart '68

Kris Decker Tom Dickinson '84Tom ElsasserSteve McCloskey '91

Steve Orner '81Rodney Pursell '88Bernie SabolRobert Stackhouse '62

*deceased

Honorary Committee MembersJohn "Jake" Hyder '37*

Frank “Chic” Marra ’47* Chester “Chet” Wasilewski ’48*

Selection Committee

1992 Michael “Gazook” Gazella ’18; Peter Overfield 1892; Edward Russell ’12;

Orson Wilcox ’151993 F. Joseph Bedenk ’16-17;

John Edwards 18911994 Ralph T. Davis 1895-96;

Karl Van Norman ’071995 George “Doc” Fenton ’07;

George Woodruff 1883

Legends1996 Marshall Reynolds ’01;

George Walbridge 18931997 Harry B. Furman ’07;

Morton F. Jones 1893; Dale Webster Richards ’221998 James G. Dunsmore 1892;

Patrick Joseph “PJ” Gallagher ’021999 Richard Kichline; Dean Phillips ’012000 Edith Lownsberry;

Andrew Moscript

2001 Leon Kelly ’17; Martin Lally ’072002 Winifred Reynolds 1900;

Donald Sweeley ’162003 Cornelius Reddington ’072004 James Platt 18982005 Alfred Sayre ’212006 Marion “Spotts” Decker’232007 Frank Jerald2008 Joseph Lippincott ’21

W e l c o m e Denise Berg, Director of Alumni Relations

I n vo c at I o n Courtney Hull, Campus Ministry

D I n n e r

G r e e t I n G s Rob Fitzgerald, First Citizens Community Bank

Deb Solfaro, Director of AthleticsRod Pursell ’88, Alumni Association

r e m a r k s Francis Hendricks ’79, MU President

H a l l o f f a m e P r e s e n tat I o n s Inductees PresentersHeather Long ’05 Edith Gallagher & Diane MonkiewiczPaul Neatrour ’96 Dana Harrold ’97Tim Cook ’94 Tom Ackerman1964 Men’s Basketball Team Steve McCloskey ’91

r e c e I v I n G o f n e W I n D u c t e e s

32nd Annual Mansf ield Univers it y Alumni Athlet ic Hall of Fame Induct ion Ceremonies

September 26 , 2014

Recept ion 5 :15 p.m . • Dinner 6 p.m .

P r o g r a m

Neatrour was a four-year starter at third base for the Mountaineers missing just two games during his four year career. He played on three PSAC Championship teams and two NCAA Division II World Series squads earning All-PSAC East First Team honors three times. He also earned All-Regional honors three times. Neatrour started for the 1995 team that was the first northern team ranked #1 in the nation in the NCAA Division II preseason poll. He batted .388 with nine home runs and 52 RBIs and helped lead the team to the PSAC Championship that season. During his career, “Duke” appeared in 205 games and made 199 starts while finishing with an impressive .351 batting average. His name is found five times in the top 10 within the Mansfield career record book. He finished his career with 666 at-bats (2nd all-time), 234 hits (3rd), 40 doubles (7th), 26 home runs (10th), and 164 RBIs (3rd).

Long was a four-year letter winner and starter for the field hockey and softball teams playing under Diane Monkiewicz in field hockey and Edith Gallagher in softball. Long holds the MU, PSAC and NCAA career saves (860) record and single season saves (341) record. Long was a 2nd team All-PSAC selection in 2003 and earned 2nd Team All-American honors. She was a member of the 2001 ECAC Championship team, the first and thus far only championship field hockey team in MU history. Long also had a very productive softball career, starting all four seasons and earning 2nd team All-PSAC East and All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors during her senior season. She was a member of the 2004 ECAC Championship softball team and led the team in batting (.384) while appearing in all 38 games in 2005. Long was the MU 2003 Fall Female Athlete of the Year, the 2005 Spring Female Athlete of the Year and was the recipient of numerous academic honors.

Perhaps no team in Mansfield’s long and successful basketball history has been as accomplished as the 1963-64 Mountaineers. Under the direction of first-year head coach Bill Clark, MSC reached milestones never before achieved in the program’s history. Posting an overall record of 20-4, the team of Bob Brisiel, Joe Casale, Terry Crouthamel, Lee Felsburg, Bud Hulser, Jim Kinsler, John Machulsky, Paul Manikowski, Ron Markert, John McNaney, Joe Russell, Jim Turner, Tom Wallon and Bob Wolfe captured the PSAC East Division title before capturing the overall PSAC Championship. The team went on to win the NAIA District 30 playoffs and won its first NAIA Regional Championship which advanced the Mountaineers to the program’s first-ever appearance in the NAIA National Championship in Kansas City. Mansfield defeated Georgetown (KY) in overtime to advance to the elite eight. The remarkable season ended with Mansfield finishing eighth-

best in the nation with a loss to National Champion

Pan-America.

Cook was a four-year starter on the men’s basketball team playing under head coach Tom Ackerman. Cook played in every game on the team’s schedule over his four-year career, starting his last 68 games in a row. He led the team in scoring during both his junior and senior seasons averaging 12.2 and 17.1 points per game respectively. He ranked among the conference scoring leaders in each of those seasons. Highly regarded as an all-around team player, Cook earned 1st Team All-PSAC East honors during his senior season and was twice named team MVP. He was the 1994 MU Winter Athlete of the Year and served as team captain during the 1993-94 campaign. Cook, who averaged in double figures in each of his last three seasons, ended his career as the 10th leading scorer in school history. His 1206 career points currently are the 16th most in school history.