October 10, 2008

KUTZTOWN UNIVERSTY TO INDUCT SIX INTO ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME OCT. 24

            KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University will add six new members into its Athletics Hall of Fame at the 2008 banquet on Friday, Oct. 24.

            This year’s induction class includes Mary Ann Botto-Harvey ’82, a record-breaking attack wing for the Kutztown women’s lacrosse team; Bob DiRico ’88, an all-conference running back who went on to play in the NFL; Jim Gerner ’96, a record-setting outfielder for the Golden Bear baseball team; James C. McIntyre, former wrestling coach and retired education professor; Paul C. Michener ’70, three-year starting member of the men’s basketball team; and Jennifer Schock ’96, a record-setting first baseman for the KU softball team.

            The six new inductees increase the membership to 155 since the Hall of Fame was formed in 1977.  The KU Hall of Fame Banquet will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room of the McFarland Student Union, on the Kutztown University Campus at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24.  Reservations for the banquet can be made at the KU Athletic Advancement Office for $25 per person.  For information, call (610) 683-4755 or e-mail ogeka@kutztown.edu.

            The ceremony will be held in conjunction with the school’s Homecoming Weekend.  In addition to Friday’s induction banquet, the Hall of Famers will be introduced at halftime of the Golden Bears’ Football game against Millersville on Saturday, Oct. 25.  Kickoff is at 1:05 p.m.

            Mary Ann Botto-Harvey, ’82, was a three-year member of the field hockey team and a four-year member of the women’s lacrosse team from 1978-82. While she played field hockey for three years, it was in women’s lacrosse that she excelled.  Botto-Harvey scored 60 goals as the left-attack winger during KU’s 1982 PSAC title season. It was the first PSAC championship for a women’s sport in school history in any sport. She had seven goals in the PSAC semifinal against Shippensburg and another three goals in the PSAC final against Lock Haven. The team finished 13-1-1. Botto-Harvey worked in the athletic department office for all four years at KU. She graduated from KU in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She retired in 1997 as vice-president and regional sales manager with Claritas Inc., in Arlington, Va. She has since come out of retirement since moving to State College, Pa., in November 2006.  She is employed by Penn State University Outreach, Professional Development Group.  In 2007, Botto-Harvey was involved in starting the first youth lacrosse organization in the State College area, Centre Lacrosse.  She serves as board treasurer and girls head coach.  A graduate of Wissahickon High School and native of Centre Square, Pa., Botto-Harvey and her husband, Bill, have two children, daughter, Julia, and son Will.   

            Bob DiRico, ’88, was a three-year member of the Golden Bears football team from 1984-86, earning All-PSAC East honors each season at the running back position. He was named to the first team in both 1984 and 1985, and earned second-team honors as a senior.  In his career, DiRico ran for 2,057 yards on 445 rushes and eight touchdowns. He also caught 66 passes for 506 yards and three touchdowns. He transferred to KU before the 1984 season. DiRico was honorable mention All-America and was named the offensive MVP in 1986. He signed a contract and played in three games with the New York Giants of the NFL during the 1987 season.   DiRico had 25 carries for 90 yards and two catches for 22 yards while with the Giants.  DiRico earned his bachelor’s in elementary education in 1988.  He currently works for Simplex Grinnell as a sales representative.  A graduate of Upper Merion High School, DiRico, who is married to wife Nancy, has two sons, James and John. 

            Jim Gerner, ’96, was a four-year member of the baseball team, playing outfield for the Golden Bears from 1993-96.  Gerner finished his time at KU with career records in at-bats, runs, hits, RBIs, doubles, triples — which is still intact — homers, walks, total bases and games played. He set the single season school record for at-bats, RBIs and doubles. He finished with a career batting average of .343, with 122 runs, 41 doubles, 13 triples, 15 homers and 113 RBIs. He was named the KU Male Rookie of the Year in 1993, starting in 30 games with a .418 batting average. In 1994, he led the Golden Bears to 20 wins, and in 1995, he was named to the All-PSAC East Second Team, starting in 46 games as KU went 28-19. During his senior season, he batted .380 with 41 RBIs. He started in 39 games, en route to being named the PSAC East Player of the Year. He also was a ECAC South All-Star and an All-PSAC East First Team member.  He currently works for RTC Direct Mail, Inc. as a PC Technician.  A graduate of Hamburg High School, he completed his degree in telecommunications at KU in 1996. Gerner and his wife, Amanda, have two daughters, Halle and Lexi. 

            James C. McIntyre coached the KU wrestling team from 1969-77, including a stint as the head coach from 1972-77.  His teams won 41 matches over the five seasons. McIntyre coached 11 PSAC medalists, including two All-PSAC wrestlers in 1977 when the Golden Bears went 13-4, the best season record under his tenure. He also coached five NCAA Division III All-Americans. Prior to Kutztown, he coached at Freedom High School, coaching numerous PIAA placewinners. In his 19 years of coaching, he posted a record of 130-80-5. In 1985, he was elected into the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. In 1998, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Wrestling Hall of Fame. He graduated from West Chester University in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He coached the freshmen wrestling team as a senior.  He served as an associate professor in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Dance at KU, retiring in 1991.  He and his late wife, Ramona, have two children, Catherine and Timothy, as well as two grandchildren, Erin and Shannon. 

            Paul C. Michener, ’70, was a three-year starter with the men’s basketball team from 1967-70. He also competed for two years with the golf team and the rifle team. In 1968-69, the forward was an all-league honorable mention as a junior, averaging 16.3 points per game. He also was the leading rebounder as a junior and senior. He was the team captain his senior year, averaging 15.1 points per game, playing in 19 games. During his junior and senior years, the Golden Bears were a combined 24-18, including a 15-13 record in the PSAC.  He graduated in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in education. He is a retired United States probation/parole officer and currently works in sales for the Innovative Print & Media Group, Inc. A native of Bridgeport, Pa., Michener and his wife, Lee Ann, have two children and one grandson. 

          Jennifer Schock, ’96, was a member of the softball team from 1992-95. The first baseman finished her career as KU’s career record holder for runs batted in (134), home runs (20) and total bases (301), as well as single-season records for doubles (16), home runs (12), RBI (63) and total bases (131).  Though the records have since been broken, she remains among KU’s top six in each of those categories.  In 1994-95, she was named KU’s Female Senior Athlete of the Year.  Schock started 161 games played over her career.  As a junior, she was named to the All-PSAC East First Team, as KU earned a share of the PSAC East regular-season title. KU placed third in the PSAC tournament and qualified for the softball team’s first NCAA regional. She also was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Mid-Atlantic All-Region First Team. She was an All-PSAC East First Team member as a senior when KU set a then-school record for wins with 39. KU finished third at the PSAC playoffs and the NCAA regionals.  During her four seasons, Kutztown was 104-58.  Shock graduated from KU in 1996 with a degree in education.  She currently serves as a science special education teacher at her alma mater, Parsipanny Hills High School.