Six alumni selected to Hall of Athletic Honor
Six accomplished alumni athletes and the 1964 football team have been selected to the Hall of Athletic Honor (Photo courtesy of David Sinclair, via GCC&M)
By Peter Hailey, Staff Writer
This weekend, six outstanding former Gettysburg College athletes, as well as the entire 1964 football team, will see their names added into Gettysburg’s prestigious Hall of Athletic Honor during a ceremony Friday, September 19th at 6 p.m in the College Union Building ballroom.
The individuals being in- ducted are Peter Casares ’98 (men’s swimming), Kelly Geise ’95 (women’s basketball), Peter Jurgs ’79 (men’s track and field), Megan Murphy ’03 (women’s lacrosse), Chip Rossi ’89 (base- ball, football), and Mandy Wilson ’02(women’s basketball, softball). In addition, the 1964 football team, who is celebrating the 50th anniversary of their Middle Atlantic Conference University Division title, will be the first full team to be enshrined.
The process that goes into selecting players for induction is simple. Athletes who graduated from the college are eligible for induction 15 years after walking across the stage, while non- graduates are eligible after 20. A selection committee is responsible for deeming who is worthy of this tremendous honor. Joshua Azer, Associate Director of the Orange and Blue Club, outlined who is on the committee.
“The selection commit- tee is composed of the Athletic Director, Senior Woman Administrator, Associate Director of the Orange and Blue Club, Director of Athletic Communications, and Associate Director of Athletic Communications and four to six additional persons, who are equally divided between male and females and who have a thorough knowledge of Gettysburg athletics.” The selections made by the committee for the class of 2014 were certainly terrific ones.
Peter Casares was a five time All-American swimmer for Gettysburg and helped the team capture four straight Centennial Conference titles. Kelly Geise was a force on both ends of the basketball court, and was the school’s first All-Centennial
Conference First Team Selection in 1994-1995. Peter Jurgs was a dominant javelin thrower as a sophomore and still owns the school record for longest throw, a mark no other Bullet has come close to matching.
Megan Murphy’s lacrosse resume is a full one; two time All-American, three time All- Conference, and 2003 Conference Player of the Year.
Chip Rossi starred both on the diamond and the gridiron, and is the school’s home run and RBI leader. And Mandy Wilson played both softball and basket- ball, and has an unbelievable 30 plus school records to her name.
This year is especially interesting, though, because the Hall will be welcoming the first full team through its doors. Why is this year the time to make such a significant decision? Azer says it is a combination of the anniversary falling in 2014, as well as it being a new wrinkle the Hall wants to continue into the future.
“This is the 50th anniversary of the 1964 football team. In order to recognize the fact that this team won the Middle Atlantic Conference University Division, the athletic department decided this would be the best time to create a new level of recognition that will pay tribute to those teams who have won a National Championship.”
All six inductees will be in attendance at this year’s ceremony. Each person will give a brief speech when called to the stage, and then will be handed the same plaque that will go on the walls of the Hall, which is located in Bream. It is sure to be an event to remember, and a fitting way to commemorate the remarkable achievements these players reached during their years as a Gettysburg athlete.
“The Hall of Athletic Honor recognizes the best of the best,” Azer said, when asked about what this event means to the school as a whole. “Individuals that are inducted into the Hall of Athletic Honor truly are Gettysburg Great, and the Orange & Blue Club is proud to sponsor this event which honors these individuals.”
