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17th INDUCTION BANQUET SET
2005 CLARION ?SPORTS HALL OF FAME? SET FOR FRIDAY APRIL 29
BANSEK, DANIELSON, FREEBURG, THOMAS & TRAGESSER

CHERYL L. BANSEK Women?s Basketball	RICHARD H. DANIELSON Men?s Basketball	WESLEY C. FREEBURG Football, Basketball, Baseball	SHELDON E. THOMAS Wrestling	ARTHUR T. TRAGESSER Football

The Clarion University ?Sports Hall of Fame? Committee has announced that five new members will be inducted as the 17th ?Hall of Fame? Class in 2005.

Induction ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, April 29th at Chandler Dining Hall beginning at 6:30pm. A social is set for 5:00pm at Moore Hall (former President?s residence) on campus. Ticket orders are being handled by Acting Associate A.D. Dave Katis, Room 111 Tippin Gymnasium. Tickets are $35 per person and are available by contacting Katis at 814-393-1989. Checks should be made payable to Clarion ?Sports Hall of Fame?.

The new inductees include five former athletes and in alphabetical order the new inductees are; Cheryl L. Bansek (women?s basketball), Richard H. Danielson (men?s basketball), Wesley C. Freeburg (Football, Basketball, Baseball), Sheldon E. Thomas (wrestling) and Arthur T. Tragesser (football).

?I?d like to congratulate the new inductees on their selection to the Hall of Fame,? said Clarion Athletic Director Bob Carlson. ?They have made a very significant contribution to Clarion Athletics and we look forward to their return on April 29. We invite everyone to come out and help us welcome them into the prestigious Hall of Fame. I?d also like to thank the Hall of Fame Committee on doing another outstanding job in the selection process.?

2005 Inductees:

CHERYL L. BANSEK - Women?s Basketball - 1989 Clarion University Grad - Elementary Education

Cheryl Bansek was an outstanding forward/center on the Clarion University women?s basketball team from 1986-1989. Bansek, a 4-year starter, led the Golden Eagles to their first PSAC-West titles in school history in 1987 and 1988. Clarion was 16-9 overall and 8-2 in the West in 1987 and 18-9 overall and 11-1 in the West in 1988. Bansek signaled her freshman year that she would be a special player. She led the team with 10.6ppg and 10.5 rebounds in 1986 and registered a single game record 26 rebounds against California. In 1987 Cheryl averaged 9.6ppg and 7.4rpg, then followed with 12.2ppg, 8.0rpg in 1988 and finished leading the team in 1989 with 13ppg and 8.9 rebounds. Bansek set the Clarion career record for rebounds (809) and bocked shots (116), was second in career scoring (1,049) and held the single season record for rebounds with 272. She was a 4-time PSAC-West all-conference selection. A native of Lorain, Ohio and a 1985 graduate of Admiral King High, she has returned to her hometown and is currently teaching in grades 7 and 8 for the Lorain City Schools.

RICHARD H. DANIELSON - Men?s Basketball - 1959 Clarion Univ. Grad - Sec. Ed. -Biology/Chemistry

Richard ?Dick? Danielson was an outstanding basketball player from 1956-59 for the Golden Eagles and was a two-time All PSAC selection. In his career Danielson finished as the second leading career scorer at Clarion with 944 points, had a single season best of 347 points in 1957 and led the team averaging 24.5ppg the same year. Team captain his senior year, Dick scored 37 points against Edinboro, then followed that with a Clarion single game record 38 points against Slippery Rock. A native of Mt. Jewett, PA. and a 1955 graduate of Kane High School, Danielson was the highly successful men?s basketball coach at Pitt-Bradford, posting a record from 1976-85 of 176-85. He retired as Principal of St. Marys High in 1996 and currently resides in Mt. Jewett. He has daughters Terri, Lori and Debbie, and sons Dan and Nathan.

WESLEY C. FREEBURG - Football, Basketball, Baseball - 1942 Clarion Univ.Grad - Sec. Ed/Social Studies

Wes ?Nurmi? Freeburg was a talented multi-sport athlete at Clarion from 1939-42. Freeburg earned 11 varsity letters at Clarion in football, basketball, baseball and tennis. In football he was described in the ?Sequelle? yearbook as a ?one of the most brilliant defensive ends in Clarion history?. Moved to running back his senior year, Freeburg was also quality punter and a team captain. In basketball he was a starter for several years, and although known as a strong defensive player, led the team a number of games in scoring. In baseball Wes was a pitcher and outfielder who excelled at both positions recording wins on the mound and powering homeruns at the plate. He was also recruited to play for the tennis team by Waldo Tippin. A native of Erie, Pa. and a 1939 graduate of Mill Creek (now McDowell) high school, he returned to the Erie area after WWII and was a teacher at Albion (Northwestern) high school until his retirement in 1977. He coached football, baseball, track and was the j.v. basketball coach at different times at Albion (Northwestern). A resident of Albion, Pa., Wes and wife Marge have two daughters Linda and Johanna.

SHELDON E. THOMAS - Wrestling - 1997 Clarion University Grad - Geography

Sheldon Thomas, a nationally recognized 118-pound wrestler at Clarion, carved a place in Clarion NCAA Division I wrestling history as one of the all-time mat greats with the Golden Eagles. Sheldon wrestled at Clarion from 1994-97 and posted an incredible career record of 124-18, a winning percentage of 87.3%. A three-time D-I All-American, he won the NCAA title at 118-pounds in 1996, placed third in 1997 and was fifth in 1995. As a freshman Thomas was 26-7 and won PSAC & EWL titles. In 1995 he was 31-5 overall, placed second at PSAC?s and EWL?s and was fifth at nationals. In 1996 he was 32-4 overall, won PSC?s and EWL?s, then went to nationals and won the D-I title at 118 defeating Iowa?s Mike Mena in the semi?s and Iowa State?s Jason Nurre 6-4 in the finals. In 1997 he was 35-2 overall, won his third PSAC and EWL titles, and placed third at nationals. Twice invited to the NWCA All-Star match, he was EWL ?Wrestler of the Year? in 1996. A three-year captain, Thomas helped lead Clarion to two EWL (1994, 95) and one PSAC(1994) team title. A native of Newark, Delaware, Sheldon was a 1992 graduate of St. Marks High and is currently an assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania .

ARTHUR T. TRAGESSER - Football - 1969 Clarion University Grad - Education

Arthur ?Art? Tragesser was an outstanding defensive linebacker, as well as a long snapper on the Clarion University football team from 1965-68. A defensive mainstay, he helped lead the Golden Eagles to PSAC-West titles in 1966 and 1967 and the team?s first PSAC championship in 1966. The Golden Eagles defeated West Chester 28-26 for that ?State Game? championship. Clarion posted a 30-7-1 team record under al Jacks during Tragesser?s four seasons. Also the president of Sigma Tau Gamma for two years, he was nominated for the national Stan Musial Award and was the national runner-up. Head football coach at Jeannette for 10 years, he has been the head football coach at Penn Trafford from 1996 to the present. A native of Jeannette, Pa. And a 1965 graduate of Jeannette high School, art and wife Dorothy currently reside in North Huntingdon, Pa. And have a son Matt and a daughter Ardie.

CLARION NOTES: The 2005 induction class brings the Hall of Fame total to 106...The first class in 1989 had 11 members. That inaugural class included -James Alcorn (fb), Dr. James Gemmell (former President), Al Jacks (fb coach), Alex Sandusky (fb), Barbara Schaefer-Nejman (diving), Wade Schalles (wrestling), William Sheridan (fb), Waldo S. Tippin (coach-A.D.), Pete Vuckovich (baseball), Jon Wiberg (bk) and Ernestine Weaver (gymnastics coach)...1990-Michael J. Catello (fb), Carol Clay (swimming coach), Robert H. Shaw (fb), Bill Simpson (wrestling) & Reggie Wells (bk)... 1991-Garry Barton (wrestling), Dave Bevevino (fb), Connie Jo Israel (gymnastics), Don Stemmerich (bk-ba), Terry Thompson (bb), George Williams (announcer -honorary)...1992-Thomas Carnahan (coach), Charles Heller (wrestling), James McCullough (fb-bk-baseball), Joseph O'Brien (fb),Jeanne O'Connor (swimming), Halley Willison (fb-bk)...1993-Robert J. Cloherty (fb), Joseph J. Knowles (baseball coach), Cheryl L. (Perozzi) Gilotty (gymnastics), Louis Hutcherson (fb), Frank Lignelli Jr. (athlete-coach-A.D.) & Kenneth S. Warnick (wrestling) ...1994-Edward H. Arndt (fb), Tracy (Cooper) Rossa (swimming), Joseph P. DeGregorio (basketball coach), Robert L. Kelly (bk), John Lovre (fb), Don Rohn (wrestling)... 1995-John V. Calipari (bk), Gary J. McCauley (fb), Doria (Mamalo) McConnell (diving), Douglas A. Niebel (wrestling), Frances M. Shope (associate A.D.) and Michael J. Zucca (diving)...1996-Pete Caristo (fb), Nanette (Farrar) Handley (swimming), Dr. Rebecca Rutt Leas (swimming coach), Terry E. Roseto (bk), Charles A.Ruslavage (fb coach), Joseph P. Sebestyen (bk), Roland B. Sparrow (fb)... 1997-John G. Dellostretto (fb), Kevin C. Ewing (fb), Alvin E. Gibson (bk), James W. Kassell (fb, bk, track, baseball), Donald E. Leas (diving coach), Rhonda (Phillips) Zozula (diver)... 1998 Kurt S. Angle (wrestling), Elton R. Brown (fb), Robert G. Bubb (wrestling coach), Robert J. Erdeljac (fb), Loyal M. Jasper (track & field), Barbara (Seel) Couvrette (diving), 1999 Tina (Bair) Karan (sw), Joseph J. Boros (golf), Kenneth D. Haselrig (wr), Ernest W. Johnson (athlete/coach - honorary), Steven P. Scillitani (fb) and Michael C. Sisinni (bk), 2000-James M. Beichner (wr), John A. DeRiggi (fb), Joseph J. Kata (deceased- fb, bk, ba), Anthony Perriello (diving), Lisa M. (Warren) Dollard (tennis) and Richard L. Pae (fb coach- honorary), 2001- David G. Caslow (wr), Leatha (Dudeck) Baker (basketball), James T. Hersh (sw), Thomas J. Komenda (fb), Gordon G. Sills (baseball) and Robert E. Leonard (Head Athletic Trainer), 2002- James A. Becker (football), Charles E. Coryea (wrestling), Carlita A. Jones (women?s basketball), Joseph M. Malis (men?s basketball), Theresa A. (Teri) Peot (women?s swimming) and Gene Sobolewski (Football Coach), 2003- Daniel J. Chojnacki (men?s basketball), Michael J. Cole (wrestling), Corissa ?Mona? Gaffney-Brosier (women?s basketball), Guido Malacarne (football/baseball) and David A. Peura (men?s swimming), 2004- Lynn Armstrong (football), Ronald R. Botz (basketball), Jack Davis (wrestling), Terence M. McFetridge (football), Kwame R. Morton (basketball), Joyce (Skoog) Robillard (swimming), John Shropshire (football/administrator - deceased).

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