MAC Hall of Fame
ANNVILLE, Pa. (Conference News) – The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) is proud to announce the MAC Hall of Fame Class of 2021. This year’s class, the 10th class, has 16 inductees from current and former member institutions.
The MAC will highlight each of the 16 inductees over the next two weeks from May 20 to June 4 (Monday-Friday). This release will be updated at 11 a.m. each day, and each inductee will be spotlighted on the MAC’s social media platforms.
BARBARA ANNE SCHAEFER, Swarthmore College
Basketball, Softball, Volleyball – Class of 1990
Barbara Anne Schaefer excelled in three sports at Swarthmore. She was a standout for the Garnet softball, volleyball and basketball teams as she earned accolades for her play in each sport.
On the diamond, she was a three-time Middle Atlantic Conference Southeast Team selection as well as a two-time PAIAW All-Star. Schaefer threw five career no-hitters and finished with a 0.78 career ERA, and a .337 batting average. She also ranked among the top 10 NCAA Division III pitchers as a sophomore.
Schaefer was a two-year captain in volleyball, leading the team to the 1989 PAIAW championship and earning PAIAW Athlete of the Year honors.
On the basketball court, she compiled 532 career points and 505 rebounds, and ended her Swarthmore career as the co-recipient of the May E. Parry Award.
Schaefer was inducted into the Swarthmore College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.
MEAGAN HENNESSY, Moravian College
Softball – Class of 2006
Meagan Hennessy led Moravian to four-straight Commonwealth Conference title and earned Commonwealth Conference Championship Most Valuable Player honors in 2005 and 2006. Hennessy was a four-time Commonwealth Conference Pitcher of the Year (2003-06) and was named Commonwealth Conference Rookie of the Year in 2003. She was also a four-time All-Commonwealth Conference First-Team pitcher.
In 2004, Hennessy led the Greyhounds to the NCAA Division III Championship Game and was named to the Championship All-Tournament Team. She led Moravian to the NCAA tournament all four seasons. Hennessy was named to the NFCA All-East Region First Team four times, and NFCA All-American in 2004 (first team) and 2005 (second team)
Hennessy finished her career with her name throughout the NCAA Division III record books as she ranked in the top 15 at graduation in shutouts with 53, complete games with 105, strikeouts with 876, wins with 92, innings pitched with 819 2/3, games started with 114, games with 129 and ERA at 0.91. She also had 11 saves, six no-hitters and 233 assists in her career. She set a total of 13 school records.
Hennessy was inducted into the Moravian College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.
KIM WAGNER, Juniata College
Field Hockey, Softball – Class of 2008
Kim Wagner was a two-sport athlete at Juniata as she spent four years as a standout field hockey player and one year on the softball team.
In field hockey, Wagner was named the Commonwealth Conference (now MAC Commonwealth) Player of the Year (2006) and Rookie of the Year (2004). She was a three-time all-conference selection, including first-team honors in 2006 and second-team honors in 2004 and 2005. Wagner was named to an NFHCA and womensfieldhockey.com Third Team All-American. She is the all-time points leader at Juniata with 184 points. She is also the all-time goals leader (81) and ranks fifth in assists (22).
In one year on the softball team, Wagner was named first-team all-conference (2005). Her .463 batting average is fifth best in a single-season in program history, while her 18 stolen bases are the most in s season.
Wagner was inducted into the Juniata College Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
SYLKE KNUPPEL, Johns Hopkins University
Basketball, Soccer, Track & Field – Class of 1993
Sylke Knuppel was one of the most dominant female athletes in Johns Hopkins history. Knuppel was a four-year member of the women's basketball and track teams and played one year of soccer after the club team was elevated to varsity status during her final year at Homewood.
Knuppel made a name for herself on the national level in track as she was the NCAA Division III National Champion in the javelin as a junior and senior. Her winning throw as a junior was the second-longest throw in NCAA Division III history at the time and it remains the third-longest throw in Division III history. She placed seventh at the NCAA Championships in the javelin as a sophomore and was a three-time Middle Atlantic Conference Champion in the javelin as well.??
On the basketball court, Knuppel helped lead the Blue Jays to a four-year record of 61-34 (.642) and three appearances in the MAC Playoffs. She helped transform the program into a post-season contender that has since made a mark at the national level. Knuppel finished her career as Hopkins' all-time leading scorer with 1,305 points and still ranks seventh on the all-time scoring list at JHU. She remains among Hopkins' all-time leaders in minutes played (2,304), rebounds (572) steals (115) and free throw percentage (.764). In leading the Blue Jays in scoring and rebounding as a junior and senior she became just the second player in school history to amass over 1,250 points and 500 rebounds. She was twice an all-conference selection in basketball.??
Knuppel lettered in three sports as a senior as she was the starting goalie on the 1992 Johns Hopkins women's soccer team. This was the first season of varsity competition for women's soccer at Hopkins. Knuppel was inducted into the Johns Hopkins University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.
LESLIE RUSHTON, Drew University
Basketball – Class of 1985
Leslie Rushton was a star on the hardwood at Drew. Rushton not only left her name etched in the women's basketball record book at Drew, but also in the NCAA record book. Rushton ended her career as the all-time leading scorer (men and women) in Drew basketball history with 1,998 career points and the all-time leading women's rebounder with 1,165 caroms.
A four-time team MVP and Drew's Female Athlete of the Year in 1985, Rushton graduated with 29 school records to her credit and was a four-time Middle Atlantic Conference Northern Division All-Star. She also earned all-American, all-district, and all-East honors during her career, and she claimed two Rose City Classic MVP awards as well.
Rushton was the all-time leading scorer in Division III women's basketball history but has since fallen from number one. Her career scoring average of 24.1 points per game ranks seventh and her rebounding average of 14.0 per game ranks sixth. She was consistently ranked among the nation's leaders in scoring, rebounding, and free throw shooting throughout her career at Drew.
Rushton was inducted into the Drew University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992.
GENE ASHLEY, Wilkes University
Wrestling – Class of 1975
Gene Ashley is a member of the 1974 NCAA Division III National Championship team. He wrestled in the 158 lbs. weight class. Ashley compiled a 33-9-1 career record including a 13-0-1 dual record. In 1975, Ashley won the NCAA Division III 158 lbs. national title. He was the national runner-up in 1974. Ashley was a two-time all-American and two-time MAC champion. He led Wilkes to four-straight conference titles and was named the Wilkes Athlete of the Year in 1974-75.
Ashley was inducted into the Wilkes University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. His teammate Mike Lee is also being inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame in 2021.
MIKE LEE, Wilkes University
Wrestling – Class of 1974
Mike Lee is a member of the 1974 NCAA Division III National Championship team. He wrestled in the 150 lbs. weight class. Lee won the 1974 NCAA Division III 150 lbs. national title. As a sophomore, he placed third in the NCAA College Division National Tournament. Lee was a three-time MAC individual champion, only the seventh wrestler in school history to achieve the feat, and a two-time all-American. He compiled a career dual record of 38-7-2 (.829 win percentage) and was named to the Silver Anniversary Team at Wilkes.
Lee was inducted into the Wilkes University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995. His teammate Gene Ashley is also being inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame in 2021.
KEN O’BRIEN, Widener University
Baseball, Football – Class of 1975
Ken O’Brien was the university's first two-time All-American in 1974 and 1975, in addition to being the MAC Player of the Year both seasons. During the 1975 campaign, which paved the way for the success the soon-to-be-renamed Widener College enjoyed in the 1970s, saw the standout shortstop lead the MAC Southern Division by batting .489 to go with 22 hits, three triples and 15 RBIs. O'Brien had 105 hits in 225 at-bats and had a 25-game hitting streak over two years while at Widener University. He was walked 36 times in 18 games. O'Brien was drafted in the 11th round of the 1974 MLB draft by the Texas Rangers and played two seasons in the minor leagues in the Philadelphia Phillies system. He was named to the MAC 100 All-Century Team in 2013.
O’Brien was inducted into the Widener University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017
TOM DEERY, Widener University
Football – Class of 1981
Tom Deery excelled as a defensive back and kick returner during the Widener football team's glory years. He was a three-time All-American who helped lead Widener to a 42-3 record over four seasons as well as the program's second national championship in 1981. Deery sparked many comebacks with key interceptions and long kick returns and still holds school records for career interceptions (24), career punt return yards (1,007), career interception return yards (293) and longest kickoff return (100). He was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the 10th round of the 1982 NFL Draft and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
Deery was inducted into the Widener University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.
MARK BARNES, Lycoming College
Lacrosse – Class of 2001
Mark Barnes is one of four student-athletes at Lycoming to earn all-American recognition in three different seasons. Barnes was a three-time USILA All-American Honorable Mention (1999, 2000, 2000), and a 2000 InsideLacrosse.com Preseason All-American. He was a four-time All-MAC First Team selection and was named the 1999 MAC Player of the Year. Barnes was named to the MAC 100 All-Century Team.
Barnes holds Lycoming records with 609 career ground balls and 10.32 per game (played before caused turnover stat was kept). He has four of top six slots on school's single-season ground ball record book. Barnes won 55 percent (733-1341) of career faceoffs using a long-stick. He led the team, which was in its second year when he joined, to two conference title games (1999, 2001).
Barnes was inducted into the Lycoming Athletics (2007) and Corning-Painted Post High School (2005) Hall of Fames.
J.D. BYERS, Lebanon Valley College
Basketball, Golf – Class of 2005
J.D. Byers personified the true definition of a student-athlete, combining his astounding talent on the court and links with tremendous academic success. As a senior, he was named an NABC First-Team All-American and led the Dutchmen to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Byers was pegged an academic all-American three times including twice in one year as a golfer and sharpshooting point guard during his junior campaign. In 2005, he won the Josten's Trophy, awarded to college basketball's top student-athlete, and was named the CoSIDA/
ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-American of the Year.
Byers holds the program record with 301 three-point field goals made and his 1,898 points scored ranks fifth all-time among Dutchmen. In 2013, the two-time Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year (2004, 2005) was named to the MAC 100 All-Century Men's Basketball Team. He was also a three-time All-Commonwealth Conference First Team selection. Byers is one of just five men's basketball players to have his jersey retired.
Byers remains active in the game with more than decade of NCAA coaching experience under his belt, including a stint as a Dutchmen assistant. He currently mans the sidelines at Virginia Commonwealth University as an assistant under fellow MAC and LVC Hall of Famer Mike Rhoades.
Byers was inducted into the Lebanon Valley College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015.
LINDA HOPPLE, Middle Atlantic Conference
Executive Director – 1993-2000
Linda Hopple served as the MAC Executive Director from 1993-2000. During her term, she oversaw two major changes for the conference. With the departure of 10 conference member in 1993 (schools now in the Centennial Conference), she successfully kept the remaining 16 institutions together and forged a new conference structure with the Commonwealth and Freedom Leagues (now MAC Commonwealth and MAC Freedom).
Hopple’s greatest contribution to the conference grew out of the NCAA Division III move to conference automatic qualification to its championship events. The two MAC leagues applied for and were granted three conference automatic qualifications commencing in 2000. The umbrella conference structure is unique to the NCAA and has served the MAC over two decades.
Hopple also served as Associate Director of Athletics at Franklin & Marshall College (1980-93) and was a three-sport athlete in field hockey, tennis and basketball at Elizabethtown College. At Elizabethtown College, she was the first woman to be named to the Elizabethtown College Hall of Fame. As a member of the 1961 undefeated and unscored-upon field hockey team, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame a second time. She continues to hold the record of averaging two goals scored per game during her collegiate field hockey career.
MARI VALONIS, King’s College
Softball – Class of 2007
Mari Valonis was a two-time Freedom Conference Player of the Year (2006, 2007) and a four-time All-Freedom Conference selection including first-team honors in 2004, 2006 and 2007. She was named to the second team in 2005. Valonis was a three-time NFCA All-Region First Team selection (2004, 2006-07) and a second team selection in 2005. She earned NFCA All-America Third Team honors in 2006. She was named to the MAC 100 All-Century Team in 2013.
Valonis is King’s all-time leader in home runs (32), Runs-Batted-In (180), total baes (346), putouts (1,008) and game played (171).
Valonis was inducted into the Northeast Pennsylvania (NEPA) Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
MIKE VIDUMSKY, DeSales University
Cross Country, Track & Field – Class of 2005
Mike Vidumsky was a standout distance runner for four years in both cross country and track & field. In cross country he was a two-time all-American, and he won the 2003 NCAA Mid-East Regional title. in 2003. He earned All-Region honors three times finishing 19
th in 2002, first in 2003 and third in 2004. Vidumsky earned All-MAC First-Team three times. In addition, Vidumsky was named to the MAC All-Century Team in cross country.
In Track & Field, Vidumsky was a two-time qualifier for the NCAA Division III National Championships in the 5,000m and 10,000m in 2005. He earned eight top-6 finishes at the MAC Indoor and Outdoor T&F Championships, and he was a MAC Individual Champion three times including the indoor 5,000m, outdoor 5,000m, and outdoor 10,000m. Vidumsky was named the MAC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year in 2004 and was the Dr. John Compardo Male Athlete of the Year in 2004.
Today Vidumsky still holds top-10 times in eight different track & field events including the school-record in the outdoor 10,000m with a time of 30:19.83. He also has the second fastest time in the indoor 1,500, indoor 5,000m, and outdoor 5,000m. Vidumsky was inducted into the DeSales University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.
TERI ANTOLICK RICHTER, DeSales University
Basketball – Class of 2003
Teri Antolick Richter was a standout performer on the women’s basketball team from 1999-03. While at DeSales, Richter earned numerous accolades while leading the team to a MAC Championship in 1999-00 and to the NCAA Tournament twice in 2000 and 2003. She earned All-MAC Freedom First-Team honors as a sophomore and Second-Team honors as a senior. She was named All-ECAC South Region Second-Team once, WBCA Mid-Atlantic Region First-Team once, and D3hoops.com All- Region once. Ricther was named the Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Association Player of the Year as a senior. In addition, Richter was honored as a WBCA Honorable-Mention All-American as a senior and was named to the MAC All-Century Team.
She finished her career with 1,268 career points which currently ranks 12th all-time. She also ranks third all-time in field goal percentage (.535), ninth all-time in rebounding (720), eight in blocked shots (104), and fifth all-time with 26 career double-doubles.
Richter was inducted into the DeSales University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.
BOB FORD, Albright College
Basketball, Golf – Class of 1981
Bob Ford was a two-sport athlete at Albright College from 1977-81 competing basketball and golf. On the hardwood, Ford was a three-time All-MAC Northern selection, including first-team honors in 1981, and second-team honors in both 1979 and 1980. In 1981, he was named the MAC Northern Most Valuable Player and the ECAC Player of the Year. Ford was a three-time NABC All-District honoree including first-team honors in 1980 and 1981, and second-team honors in 1979. He was named to the MAC 100 Men’s Basketball All-Century Team in 2012.
Ford still holds the Albright single-season record of 231 made field goals (1979-80). He is fifth in program history with 1,852 career points. Ford is just one of 39 players to reach 1,000 points in program history, and just one of five to score more than 1,800 career points. He still ranks in the top-six of several career marks at Albright, including games played (2
nd – 122); made field goals (2
nd – 773); assists (4
th – 486); field goal percentage (5
th- 51.5% - 772/1500), assists per game(5
th – 3.5) and steals (6
th – 144).
On the golf course, Ford was a four-year letter winner. He competed in four MAC Championships with two top-20 finishes in 1980 (14th) and 1981 (17
th).
Ford was inducted into the Albright College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Wilson High School (Reading, Pa.) Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. He was inducted into the Berks (County) Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011 for both his high school and college careers. Ford has been a member of the Albright Board of Trustees since 2014. He is a retired managing partner of Ernst & Young, LLP.
The MAC Hall of Fame Class of 2021 Inductees will be spotlighted on...
Thursday, May 20 - Bob Ford, Albright
Friday, May 21 - Mike Vidumsky & Teri Antoloick Richter, DeSales
Monday, May 24 - Mari Valonis, King's & Linda Hopple, MAC
Tuesday, May 25 - J.D. Byers, Lebanon Valley
Wednesday, May 26 - Mark Barnes, Lycoming
Thursday, May 27 - Ken O'Brien & Tom Deery, Widener
Friday, May 28 - Gene Ashley & Mike Lee, Wilkes
Monday, May 31 - Leslie Rushton, Drew
Tuesday, June 1 - Sylke Knuppel, Johns Hopkins
Wednesday, June 2 - Kim Wagner, Juniata
Thursday, June 3 - Meagan Hennessy, Moravian
Friday, June 4 - Barbara Anne Schaeffer, Swarthmore