 |
 |
||
 |
|
Camps | Map - Directions | Contact | Media Guides | Hall of Fame | PSAC | NCAA | Home |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sports Hall of Fame - Class of 2003 Bios
Daniel J. Chojnacki | Michael J. Cole |
Corissa "Mona" Gaffney-Brosier |
Dan Chojnacki was an outstanding basketball player from 1977-80 at Clarion University playing the center and strong forward positions for the Golden Eagles while leading the team to an amazing 90-29 overall record (75.6% winning percentage). A 4-year letterwinner, Dan helped Clarion to the NAIA National Tournament in 1977 and 1980, NAIA District 18 titles in 1977 and 1980 and PSAC-West crowns in 1977, 79 and 80. In 1977 Clarion set a school record with a 27-3 mark and tied the school record with 19 consecutive wins. In 1978 the Eagles were 18-11 overall and Dan averaged 13ppg and 10 rebounds. The 1979 team was 22-6 overall and Chojnacki contributed 13ppg and 10 rebounds and was named as an all PSAC-West performer. In 1980 Clarion was 23-9 and Dan added 16.2ppg and 12 rebounds while being honored by the District 18 and PSAC-West teams, plus the ECAC. The 1980 Golden Eagles won their first two games at the NAIA Tournament over Grand Canyon (83-75) and Loras, Iowa (79-71), before being eliminated. His 320 rebounds in1980 were fourth best in a single season at Clarion. Playing for Clarion's Hall of Fame coach Joe DeGregorio, Chojnacki totaled 1,196 career points and 968 rebounds. He ranked #8 in career scoring and #3 in rebounding in 1980, and today ranks 16th in scoring and remains 3rd in rebounding. A 1976 graduate of McDowell High in Erie, Dan is currently the athletic director at East High in Erie. Dan and wife Michelle have daughters Amanda and Ali and a son Joshua. Back to Top | Back to Hall of Fame Home
Mike Cole, a 142-pound wrestler, brought Tippin Gym fans to their feet every time he took the mat for the Golden Eagles using the patented "Cole Roll". A four-year starter from 1985-89, Cole is second on the all-time Clarion win list with a record of 150-31-2. Only Wade Schalles (153 wins) had more wins at Clarion. In 1986 he posted an individual record of 33-6, was a PSAC and EWL champion and helped Clarion to a 17-0-1 dual meet record and a final season ranking of #3 in Division I behind only Iowa and Iowa State. In 1987 Cole was 39-9-1, PSAC champion and earned All-America honors by placing third at the NCAA's. Clarion also finished 6th in team scoring at the NCAA's. After needing a medical red-shirt in 1988, Cole was 48-4 in 1989 and ranked #1 all season. An NWCA All-Star selection, he won his match against Pat Santoro. Also PSAC champion, Cole suffered a rib injury prior to EWL's and defaulted for second place prior to nationals. Despite the injury Cole was third at nationals and recorded a pin in his final match. He is tied for second at Clarion in career pins with 67, ranks third in dual meet team points with 268 and fifth in dual meet pins with 25. His 48 wins in 1989 is the single season record, while his 29 pins in 1989 is tied for second in a single season. Wrestling under Clarion Hall of Fame coach Bob Bubb, Cole was a 2-year captain (1987, 89) and helped the Eagles to a 4-year dual record of 53-21-1 and a PSAC title in 1986. A native of Brackney, Pa. and a 1985 graduate of Montrose High, Mike is currently Director, Enterprise Data Standards Initiative for Merrill Lynch in New York. Mike and wife Stephanie have two daughters Danielle and Taylor, and a son William and reside in Asbury, New Jersey. Back to Top | Back to Hall of Fame Home
"Mona" Gaffney was one of the best women's basketball players to walk on the hardwood at Clarion University. A four-year starter at center from 1993-96 under head coach Margaret "Gie" Parsons, she helped the Golden Eagles win three PSAC-West titles (1993, 94, 95), two PSAC crowns (1993 & 94) and three NCAA Playoff appearances. In 1993 Mona helped Clarion to a 24-6 record, an 11-1 PSAC-West mark and a "Sweet 16" NCAA finish by contributing 13.3 ppg and 6.7 rebounds. In 1994 the Eagles were 26-4 overall, 11-1 in the PSAC-West and had an "Elite 8" finish at the NCAA's. Mona averaged 14.8ppg and 10.9 rebounds. In 1995 Clarion was 18-11 overall, 9-3 in the West and qualified for the NCAA Playoffs with Gaffney getting 16.5ppg and 9.4 rebounds. In 1996 Clarion was 13-13 overall and Gaffney led the team with 23.6ppg and 11.1 rebounds. She set the single season record for points scored (614) and scoring average (23.6). A three-time PSAC-West first team selection (1994-96), she was a Kodak All-American in 1995 and 96 and a CoSida All-America in 1996. She was also voted Clarion's Female Athlete of the Year in 1996. She ranks second at Clarion in career points (1,920) and rebounds (1,079) and set nine school records. Clarion was 81-34 during her career and35-13 in the PSAC-West. A 1990 graduate of Aliquippa High School, she currently resides in Aliquippa with her husband David and their son Jamir. She is Customer Relations Coordinator for PPG in Pittsburgh. Back to Top | Back to Hall of Fame Home
Guido Malacarne was an outstanding athlete at Clarion from 1946-49 starting on the football and baseball teams for three seasons. After transferring to Clarion from Temple, he started on the Clarion football team on both the offensive and defensive lines during the 1946, 47 and 48 seasons under coaches Waldo S. Tippin and Bob Moore . An accomplished tackle, Guido was a hard nosed and physical player. Named an All-State tackle, he was recognized in 1960 by the Pittsburgh Press as being named to the All-Time Clarion team as a lineman. Also a strong baseball player, Malacarne hit #4 in Clarion's lineup and was known to be a strong home run hitter while playing the outfield from 1947-49. In 1947 the Pittsburgh Pirates offered him a minor league contract, but he refused it to return to college. Following graduation Malacarne earned a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Pittsburgh in 1952, and coached football at Reynoldsville High from 1951-58. In 1958 he moved into the business world as Personnel Director and Market Supervisor at Riverside Markets, which became Penn Traffic Foods Inc. in DuBois. Employed with the company for 32 years, he was named President in 1978 and became President and CEO of the Company in 1979, a position he held until his retirement in 1990. Guido received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Clarion University in1980 and was selected by the PSAC in 2001 as one of Clarion's top 8 success stories during its Golden Anniversary year. A 1942 graduate of Brookville High, Malacarne resides in DuBois with wife Margie. They have three children including a son John and daughters Patricia and Susan. Back to Top | Back to Hall of Fame Home
Dave Peura, who became Clarion's third NCAA Div. II individual national champion in the pool in 1988, led the Golden Eagle men's swimming team to four outstanding seasons from 1985-88 as a Backstroke, Individual Medley and relay swimmer. Peura, a 12-time NCAA Division II All-American and a 7-time PSAC champion, helped lead Clarion to four straight PSAC team titles (1985-88), a four year dual record of 32-9 and four high NCAA finishes. In 1985 Dave won the 100 back at PSAC's, placed 2nd in the 200 back and earned All-America honors in both events by finishing 4th and 8th respectively at nationals. In 1986 he won the 200 back and was second in the 100 at PSAC's, plus helped the 400 medley relay team take first place honors. At nationals Peura was 6th in the 200 and 7th in the 100 back and the 400 medley relay team was 8th. In 1987 Dave won both the 100 and 200 backstroke events at PSAC's and set new PSAC records in the process, while also winning the 400 medley relay. He was 2nd at nationals in the 200 back (edged out for the title) and third in the 100, setting new Clarion records in both events. The 400 medley relay was 4th. Then as a team captain in 1988 Dave was 1st in the 200 back at PSAC's and 4th in the 100, setting the stage for nationals. He won the 200 backstroke national title with a time of 1:53.75, plus was third in the 100 back and the 400 medley relay was third. Clarion finished third at the NCAA's in 1988 as a team, while also posting 5th place finishes in 1985 & 86 and 7th in 1987. He held the backstroke records at Clarion from 1985-92, and is still part of the 400 medley relay record. Coached by Bill Miller, he
also was a Student Senator from 1985-87. A native of Ashtabula, Ohio and
a 1984 Ashtabula grad, Dave now resides in Lewis Center, Ohio and is
employed by Fifth Third Bank. Dave and wife Carole have a son Andrew and
a |
 |
|
|
Clarion University Of Pennsylvania
Clarion, PA 16214 800-672-7171 or 814-393-2000 info@clarion.edu |
| [Academics] [Administration] [Admissions] [Alumni] [Athletics] [Directories] [News] |
DANIEL J.
CHOJNACKI
MICHAEL J.
COLE
CORISSA
"MONA" GAFFNEY-BROSIER
GUIDO
MALACARNE
DAVID A.
PEURA