By Ed Farrell
Herald Assistant Sports Editor
THIEL COLLEGE’S Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2008 will include Warren Roth (’24), Charles Manes (’58), William Antil (’70), Gerald Massaro (’65) and John Lischner (’97). The induction ceremony for the school’s 28th class is scheduled Feb. 10, 2008.
While serving as the college’s AD from 1978-81 he was instrumental in the formation of Thiel’s Athletic Hall of Fame, but “Bud” Manes made his mark both as a student-athlete and coach.
Manes played football and basketball for the Tomcats from 1955-58 and was named the college’s Student-Athlete of the Year as a senior. After spending a year as a teacher at Middlefield-Cardinal High (Ohio), he returned to Thiel in 1959 to teach physical education and serve as head track & field head coach and as an assistant for the football and basketball teams. Manes took over as the head basketball coach from 1960-75, was named the 1967-68 Small College coach of the year by the Pittsburgh Basketball Writers, and led the Tomcat cagers to a share of the 1969-70 Presidents’ Athletic Conference title with an 11-6 overall mark. As the head track and field coach Manes helped produce 21 All-PAC performers, including Bill Wise (’64), who earned All-American status in the 3-mile run at the NCAA College Division Championships. He added head cross country coach to his duties in 1967 and saw 7 student-athletes earn All-PAC honors and made trips to the NCAA College Division Championships in 1977-78.
Antil was one of the anchors for Manes during that ’69-70 season as Thiel tied for 1st in the PAC and ranked 25th nationally (College Division) in team defense. During that season, en route to All-PAC laurels, Antil averaged 10.8 points and 13.7 rebounds per-game, a year after his 14.2 rpg. mark established the program’s single-season records. A 4-year letterman, he stands 2nd among Tomcat cagers for career rebounds (995).
Massaro, a 4-year letterwinner and captain of the ’64 football team, was a halfback who concluded his Tomcats’ career 6th in yards rushing (1,862) and rushing attempts (454), and twice (1962-63) paced the PAC in rushing. As a sophomore he earned 1st-team All-PAC and Pittsburgh Press All-District honors.
Lischner was the 1995 NCAA Division III champion in the javelin after his throw of 220-6.5 defeated defending kingpin (and current D-III record-holder) Kris Theriault of Fitchburg State College. Thiel’s 2nd track & field national champion, Lischner was a 4-time NCAA D-III All-American, also ending 7th (’94), 3rd (’96) and 6th (’97).
In a different era, “Eph” Roth played his first football game for Thiel as a 15-year-old. According to the college, he was part of Thiel varsity sports teams for 9 years as both a prepster (1915-20) and collegian (1920-24). He was the first gridder in school history to be elected by his teammates as captain during his freshman and sophomore seasons. He earned 4 letters in football as an offensive lineman and another monogram as baseball pitcher.
For reservations for the 3 p.m. ceremony set for the Howard Miller Student Center’s Lutheran Heritage Room, contact Patti Leipheimer, 724-589-2125, or e-mail pleipheimer@thiel.edu.
ä Ben Woods (Hickory High) is set for his senior season as the University of Buffalo’s punter. According to the university’s media guide, Woods, who has started every game in his collegiate career, is on course to establish every program punting mark.
In 34 career games, the 6-foot-2, 201-pound 3-year letterman has punted 219 times for an average of 38.7 (highlighted by a 68-yarder), with 37 kicks downed inside the 20-yard line, 8 touchbacks and another 15 fair caught. He has had 8 punts blocked.
The Bulls, led by 2nd-year head coach Turner Gill, are coming off a 2-10 overall, 1-7 Mid-American Conference campaign, and commence the ’07 season Aug. 30 at Rutgers University.
ä Westminster College has a trio of area athletes on its preseason roster, led by 6-3, 215-pound junior defensive end Andrew Robison (Wilmington High), a 2-year letterwinner. Robison registered 45 tackles, including 16 solos and a half-dozen tackles for lost yardage, a year ago while starting all 10 games. His highlight was a 7-tackle performance at Grove City.
Also included are Ian Turner (Grove City High), a 6-2, 255-pound sophomore offensive lineman, and Mike Kudelko (Sharpsville High), a 6-2, 260-pound freshman offensive lineman.
Led by 3rd-year head coach Jeff Hand (6-14), Westminster concluded the ’06 campaign 2-8 overall and 1-5 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. The Titans commenced the ’07 campaign 1 p.m. Sept. 1 at Robertson Stadium, Meadville, against Allegheny College.
´´ Westminster’s gridders will host a community day Aug. 18, beginning at 1 p.m. at Harold Burry Stadium. There will be photo opportunities and a chance to meet the Titans and coaches, followed by the team’s intrasquad scrimmage at 2:45 p.m. The 1st 500 fans attending the scrimmage will receive a free T-shirt.
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COLLEGIATE NOTEBOOK: Thiel Hall to induct 5; Woods begins senior year
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PIAA Track: Hickory's Bell, Lubarski, Regginello grab gold
SHIPPENSBURG — There’s a big difference between being seeded 1st and finishing 1st — Matt Bell can attest to that.
After settling for silver last year, the Hickory High senior put the shot 59 feet, 6 3/4 inches Friday afternoon to garner gold at the annual PIAA Track & Field Championships at Shippensburg University. -
WM to play for D-10 baseball title; GC, Sharon, Sharpsville lose
Four area baseball teams were in action on Friday in the District 10 semifinals as the squads battled to compete for District 10 championships on Monday.
West Middlesex rolled past error-prone Linesville, 8-0, in Class A action at Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park.
In Class AA, both Sharon and Sharpsville suffered 2-1 losses. The Tigers fell to Saegertown at Ainsworth Field in Erie while the Blue Devils lost to Titusville at SRU.
In Class AAA, the Grove City Eagles were denied the chance to defend their D-10 crown after suffering a 6-3 loss to Warren at SRU. -
Farrell volleyball falls in D-10 semifinals
The Farrell High boys volleyball team suffered a 2-0 (25-15, 25-12) loss to Saegertown on Thursday night in the District 10 semifinals at Meadville Area High’s “House of Thrills.”
“This was the first year we made it out of the first day (pool play) of the playoffs,” said Steelers’ coach Dan Dragicevic. “I’d like to cite my seniors (Eric Demus, Anthony Perkins, Jaylen Chambers and Lawrence Hughes). -
Locals ready to go for gold at Shippensburg
Now that Mercer County is on the map, it’s incumbent upon the area aggregation to chart a course for the ultimate destination — Seth Grove Stadium’s medals stand — during this weekend’s PIAA Track & Field Championships.
Led by West Middlesex High sprinter Clay Allen, many Mercer Countians are seeded at or near the top of their respective events for the annual 2-day marathon at Shippensburg University, which commences 9 a.m. Friday. It will continue beginning 9 a.m. Saturday. -
D-10 Playoffs: Local teams go 6-for-6
ä Grove City 1, Harbor Creek 0 — At Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park, what the Grove City Eagles couldn’t accomplish themselves, the Harbor Creek Huskies unwittingly did for them.
Unable to plate runs themselves, Torin Smith scored the Eagles’ only run when teammate Tyler Devine’s seeming inning-ending pop-up to left field was dropped by Harbor Creek’s Chris Merritt in the bottom of the 7th inning of Tuesday’s tourney opener. -
Great year for WM track; local qualifiers listed
It’s been a big year for the Big Reds.
Though there’s no official documentation, the 2011-12 academic year may be the most successful in West Middlesex High’s athletic annals. -
SPORTVIEW: Local names Kroko, Lutz, Kareklas in news elsewhere
IT’S ALWAYS GOOD to hear of former area people who have gone on to athletic success in other areas, or the family of former area residents. Following are a few of those stories:
ä Bob and Betty Kroko of Sharon are avid followers of professional baseball. No, not necessarily the Pittsburgh Pirates or Cleveland Indians like many local fans.
The Krokos keep a close eye on the Austria Major League! -
Petty an all-around great athlete in track and gymnastics
When Mercer County’s contingent convenes at the annual PIAA Track & Field Championships this weekend, it will be well represented
Clay Allen, Matt Bell, John Yohman, Johnathan Jacoway, Jeremy Jansco, Nico Zahniser, DeShawn Coleman, Dan Jaskowak, et all, should haul home some hardware. But with all due respect, the aforementioned young men may or may not be best athletes in the area’s aggregation that will assemble this weekend at Shippensburg University. -
Lubarski, Richards, Petty, Allen shine at D-10 Track Championships; Hickory girls, WM boys team champs
Hickory High’s high-jump state champion Lauren Lubarski suffered a severe blow to open her competion at the annual District 10 Class AA Track & Field Championships Saturday at Hickory HIgh Stadium.
She failed to qualify for state in the event she had won the previous year. -
Baseball, softball D-10 playoff pairings
The District 10 pairings for the baseball and softball playoffs have been released. Five area baseball teams and four (possibly 5) softball squads have qualified.
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