Mercer CC to welcome first Hall class
There has been a great athletic tradition at Mercer County Community College, and now those that have been a part of it will be recognized in the school’s athletic Hall of Fame.
Dan Klim,w hoist he Mercer AthleticsCommittee Chair, has announced that 13 individuals and three teams will be inducted with the inaugural class during a reception and dinner on Nov. 14th at the Trenton Country Club.
“The Athletics Hall of Fame is the highest level of recognition presented to student athletes, teams, coaches and administrators at Mercer County Community College,” said Klim. “We are proud to give them the recognition they deserve.”
Apart of M CC C’ s Foundation, the Athletic Committee took nominations from the public and also reviewed the many individual achievements, teams accomplishments along with the amazing efforts of coaches and administrators.
The inaugural inductees are:
Teams
• 1963 Men’s Soccer Team — the first of eight national championships
• 1973 Men’s Basketball Team — the first of two national championship teams
• 1999 Women’s Tennis — the first of four national championship teams.
Men’s Athletics
•Heath Fill my er( Baseball )— All-America
in 2014 and current Kansas City Royal
• Mickey Forker (Soccer) — All-America in 1968 and 1969
• Dave Gallagher (Baseball) — Played nine years in Major League Baseball and MCCC Coach from 2000 to 2002.
• Randy Garber (Soccer) — All-America in 1971, 1972 at Mercer and in 1974 at Penn Stare and played in the NASL from 1975 to 1979.
• Mel Weldon (Basketball) — All-America and National Player of the Year in 1973
•Connie White( Basketball )— All-America
and National Player of the Year in 1974
Women’s Athletics
• Elyse Diamond (Soccer) -First AllAmerica soccer player at Mercer in 1983 and current Women’s Soccer Coach.
• Terri Dorner (Basketball) — First All-America basketball player at Mercer in 1980 and member of Rutgers Hall of Fame.
• Joanne Zola (Softball) — First AllAmerica softball player at Mercer in 1985 and Mercer coach from 2000 to 2002.
Administrators
• Lisa Camillone (Athletic Trainer) — Camillone was the Mercer Trainer from 1983 to 2016 as well as an Assistant Athletic Director during that same period. She is a pioneering figure for female Athletic Trainers.
• Stan Dlugosz (Men’s Soccer and Men’s Tennis) — Dlugosz was the soccer coach from 1963 to 1981 winning two national championships and the tennis coach from 1974 to 2007.
• Charlie Inverso (Men’s Soccer) — Inverso, who is currently the Rider men’s soccer coach, coached Mercer to five national championships from 1986 to 2009.
• Al Leister (Athletic Director) -Leister oversaw the Mercer athletics program from 1973 to 1989 and he was an innovative Health and Physical Education professor from 1970 to 2006.
• Butch Miller (Baseball) — Miller had an amazing 503-263 coaching record at the school from 1973 to 1993.The 1981 team participated in the Junior College World Series.
Special Recognition
• Howie Landa — Landa was the legendary basketball coach that brought back two national championship and three times was the National Coach of the Year.
“By honoring those who have contributed to the sports heritage of MCCC and Mercer County as a whole we are providing an important link to the past,” said Klim. “As well as a bridge to the future.”