GREENVILLE, Pa. (Feb. 4, 2009) – Thiel College will welcome four outstanding former student-athletes into its Athletic Hall of Fame, Director of Athletics Jack Leipheimer announced on Thursday. The Hall’s 30th induction class will include Bob Dean ’59, Tom Guskey ’72, Marian Mosser ’74 and Shawn Harding ’99.
“We are pleased and proud to announce this year’s inductees into the Thiel College Athletic Hall of Fame,” said Leipheimer. “They are a special group who are truly worthy of this distinction.”
Former football standout, Bob Dean, was a four-year letterwinner and a three-year starter at end for the Tomcats between 1955 and 1958. In 1957, Dean set Thiel’s single-season reception record with 12 catches. As a senior, the Greenville native and Penn High School graduate pulled in nine receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown while serving as a tri-captain. Dean also played one season of basketball for Thiel.
One of the fastest student-athletes in Thiel College history, Tom Guskey established the school record for the 100-yard dash in 1971 and held it until the record was retired in the early 1990s. Guskey earned his mark of 9.8 seconds during a standout junior season after which he became Thiel’s only All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference performer and advanced to the NCAA Championship meet. A native of Johnstown, Pa., Guskey also played two seasons of football for Thiel.
As a three-sport athlete at Thiel, Marian Mosser made the most of every opportunity afforded to her in the athletic arena. Mosser was a four-year letterwinner and starter on the Tomcat basketball and volleyball squads, and a one-year letterwinner on the College’s men’s tennis squad. On the hardwood, Mosser was Thiel’s defensive star while helping the cagers to a 33-game winning streak. She is also a member of the undefeated 1970-71 women’s basketball squad that was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. “Moss” was also a standout during the formative seasons of the Thiel women’s volleyball program and was one of two women competing in tennis at Thiel during her senior season in 1974.
An accomplished distance runner during his time at Thiel, Shawn Harding still holds seven of the College’s indoor and outdoor track and field and cross country records. Harding was a two-time Presidents’ Athletic Conference individual champion in cross country (1996 & 1997) and established the school’s eight-kilometer record with a time of 26:34.06 in 1996. He also earned two top-25 finishes at the NCAA Mideast Regional meet, being named all-region each time.
The College will also honor Jerry Zalesky ’57 with its Meritorious Service and Commitment Award. Zalesky served at the first president of the Blue-Gold Club – the College’s athletics fundraising organization – from 1991 to 1994.
Additionally, Thiel will grant its inaugural Athletic Alumni Commendation to former Greenville High School football coach Bob Stone ’59. Stone, who played football for Thiel from 1957-59, coached Greenville to a 222-75-7 record over a 29 year span, before retiring in 2006.
The Thiel College Athletic Hall of Fame, organized in 1978, was established to recognize individuals and teams who have brought distinction, honor, and excellence to Thiel College in the field of athletic endeavor. Since its inception, 105 athletes and teams have been honored with enshrinement.
This year’s enshrinement banquet will be held on Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 3 p.m. in the Lutheran Heritage Room located in the College’s Howard Miller Student Center. Tickets are $20 per person and are available by contacting Patti Leipheimer at 724-589-2125.