From IUP Athletics:
INDIANA, Pa. – The Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) department of athletics announced its Hall of Fame Class for 2023.
The class consists of 10 former student-athletes, two long-time athletic trainers and one team representing 10 different sport programs, all making up the department’s 28th total induction class. Along with the coach/administrator and team categories, Dr. Jack Frank will be recognized as the Honorary Bell Ringer.
The full IUP Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2023 is listed below:
- Paul Bingham; baseball, 2010
- Derrick Freeman; men’s basketball
- Michelle Jones; volleyball, 2007
- Brianna Liebold; women’s track & field, 2011
- Donald Lindich; baseball/football, 1965
- Chris Morgan; football, 2008, 2009 M
- Jackie Rutkowski; women’s lacrosse, 2007
- Megan Woodall, women’s basketball, 2001
- Kerry Yacamelli; football, 2001, 2005 M
- Nicholas Yutko; men’s cross country, 1983 (posthumous)
- Ron Trenney, Frank Trenney; athletic trainers
- 1968 Men’s Golf Team
- Dr. Jack Frank; Honorary Bell Ringer
“Here at IUP, we are fortunate to have a rich history and tradition within intercollegiate athletics,” said IUP Director of Athletics Todd Garzarelli. “This 2023 Hall of Fame class played a vital role in that storied tradition of success, and are certainly worthy of recognition this fall for their many contributions.”
The 2023 Hall of Fame Class is set for formal induction this fall, coming Saturday, September 9 prior to the IUP football game against East Stroudsburg.
The new inductees bring the total to 315 former student-athletes, coaches, administrators and teams who have made significant contributions to IUP Athletics and have enhanced its image and reputation and are now enshrined in the IUP Athletics Hall of Fame.
More details on the IUP Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023 can be found below:
Paul Bingham
Baseball
2006-10
NCAA DII current record holder for career triples (28)… Drafted in 20th round of MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres; played three seasons in Padres minor league system… 2010 Daktronics DII First Team All-American… 2010 ABCA/Rawlings First Team All-Atlantic Region… Four-time All-PSAC selection… First team All-PSAC in 2010… Part of 36-win team in 2008, setting a single-season program mark… Member of 2010 PSAC West championship squad… Top five in program history in virtually every hitting category… Program leader in career batting average (.417), runs scored (204), walks (111) and stolen bases (98).
Derrick Freeman
Men’s Basketball
1993-96
Seventh in program history in career points (1,535) at time of graduation… Second in career field goals made (661) and steals (204) at time of graduation… Fifth in program history in blocks (78) at time of graduation… Shot 55.7% over his playing career, averaging 17.2 points/game… 587 total rebounds.
Michelle Jones
Women’s Volleyball
2003-07
Third all-time in program history with 1395 career kills… Seasons of 403 and 389 kills rank in the top 15 among program history for a single season… Played with IUP HOF inductee Brittney Gates Torsell.
Brianna Liebold
Women’s Track & Field
2008-11
Two-time NCAA Indoor All-American in the long jump… 2010 USTFCCCA Atlantic Region Field Athlete of the Year… PSAC Indoor Field Athlete of the Year (2010, 2011)… PSAC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year (2011)… Five total PSAC championships in the jumping events throughout her IUP career… Two-time PSAC indoor long jump champion (2009, 2011)… Two-time PSAC indoor triple jump champion (2010, 2011)… PSAC outdoor long jump champion (2011)… Two-time PSAC Indoor Field MVP.
Donald Lindich
Baseball/Football
1962-65
Earned eight varsity letters at then-Indiana State College (ISC) between football and baseball… Served as team captain as a two-sport athlete… Scored first-ever touchdown at the new Gorge P. Miller Stadium with a 97-yard fumble return in 1962 against Westminster… Co-captain of 1964 ISC football squad that won its first PSAC West Championship… Finished career with 14 interceptions, second all-time at the time of graduation… Hit .414 in 1962 for ISAC team that reached the NAIA regional playoffs.
Chris Morgan
Football
2003-07
2006 PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year… All-PSAC Second Team (2004)… Rushed for 1,318 yards in 2006, top 10 in program history for a single season… Amassed 3,817 career rushing yards, third in program history… Ran for 34 total touchdowns… Had two games with over 250 yards rushing.
Jackie Rutkowski
Women’s Lacrosse
2004-07
Graduated as IUP’s career points (192) and assists (58) leader… All-PSAC First Team in 2007… Second in program history for career goals (134) at the time of graduation… Owned single-game program records for goals (9) and assists (8).
Megan Woodall
Women’s Basketball
1998-2001
All-PSAC West Second Team in 2000-01… All-PSAC West First Team in 1999-2000… Passed out 11 assists against Clarion in December 1999, a top 10 mark in program history… Had at least 120 assists in three seasons with the program… Top 10 in program history with 387 career assists… 171 career steals, ranking in the top 20 in program history.
Kerry Yacamelli
Football
1991-94
Listed as part of IUP’s CFB 150 group, recognized as an individual that contributed to the tremendous success of IUP football… Second Team All-PSAC offensive tackle in 1994… Played for legendary head coach Frank Cignetti.
Nicholas Yutko
Men’s Cross Country
1979-83 (posthumous inductee)
Four-year letterwinner in cross country… Placed fifth at NAIA Nationals, recording the highest finish ever by an IUP runner at the national meet.
Coach/Administrator Category
Ron Trenney & Frank Trenney
Athletic Training
Athletic Training
Both served the IUP department of sports medicine for over 30 years… Combined for over 60 years of athletic training experience… Worked with 100s of IUP student-athletes… Behind the scenes for dozens of championships and school records… Frank graduated from IUP in 1992… Both served as faculty members in the athletic training program, helping to mentor the next generation of sports medicine professionals.
Team Category
1968 Men’s Golf Team
Won 1968 NAIA national championship in Bemidji, Minnesota… First-ever national championship team at IUP… Coached by IUP Hall of Famer and former university vice president Bernie Ganley… Won the 72-hole tournament by 30 strokes… Three All-Americans on the team: Terry Eisenhute, Dave Prosser, Rick Hrip… IUP challenged itself against some of the top golf programs in the northeast region during the championship run… 50th anniversary of the championship came in 2018.