Lycoming College 2010 Athletics Hall of Fame class set for induction
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Lycoming College will
induct seven new members into its Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday,
Oct. 15, in the Recreation Center. Headlining the class is
legendary former head football coach Frank Girardi. The group also
includes Robert Curry, class of 1969, (former assistant football
coach); Jeanine Evans-Page, class of 2000, (softball); Royce Eyer,
class of 2001, (wrestling); Chris Napier, class of 2002,
(men's basketball); Jason Fesler, class of 2005, (men's
soccer); and Rebecca Fox Neil, class of 2005, (women's
swimming). For more information on the induction ceremony or to
make a reservation, call (570) 321-4110 or e-mail halloffame@lycoming.edu.
Girardi coached the Warriors for 36 years (1972-2007) and
concluded his career as one of the most successful coaches in NCAA
history. He compiled an overall record of 257-97-4 (.723), ranking
him 15th in all divisions in victories. Girardi is one of only 29
coaches to record 200 or more victories at one school. He guided
the program to two national championship appearances in 1990 and
1997. He led the Warriors to 13 Middle Atlantic Conference titles,
including seven during the 1990s, and 11 NCAA playoff berths. He
was named the MAC Coach of the Year on 12 occasions and recorded 29
consecutive winning seasons from 1975-2003.
Girardi began his coaching career in 1961 at Jersey Shore (Pa.)
High School as an assistant, and was named the program's head
coach in 1963. Prior to the 1969 season, he came to Lycoming as an
assistant coach under Budd Whitehill. From 1984-2008, Girardi
served the as the College's athletic Director.
Curry was a long-time assistant coach and recruiting coordinator
under Girardi. During his 36 years at the College, Curry was
responsible for many top football recruits and Hall of Famers, with
a particular focus on the greater Philadelphia-area. He also was
the head of fundraising, overseeing all apparel sales for the
program. Curry had the opportunity to work with the men's
basketball program as well, serving as a recruiting coordinator for
former head coach Dutch Burch until 1984. Curry also served the
College as the assistant athletic director from
1984-2006.
A four-year softball standout, Evans-Page led the Lady Warriors
to a 39-12 record in conference games. She was named First Team
All-Freedom Conference during her junior and senior seasons and was
a three-time conference Academic Honor Roll member. Evans was named
Second Team All-Eastern Region as a shortstop and she earned two
CoSIDA Academic All-American accolades. She holds the top two spots
in hits for a season (42 and 41), is first in career hits (116),
fourth in career doubles (13), first in home runs in a season (5)
and tied for third in career home runs (6). Evans is second
all-time in career batting average (.404) and is first and third in
season batting average (.488 and .447). She ranks third in RBIs in
a season (23) and fourth in career RBIs (54). She is first in
stolen bases in a season (16) and career (32).
Eyer was a back-to-back NCAA Division III All-American in
wrestling, finishing fourth at 149-pounds in 2000 and was the
national champion at 157-pounds in 2001. He also was a three-time
NWCA All-Academic Team selection and a CoSIDA Academic All-American
in 2001. Eyer is Lycoming's all-time wins leader, finishing
with an overall record of 104-27 (.776). He registered 44 wins by
fall and was not pinned his entire career. Eyer is serving as an
assistant coach with the Warrior wrestling program under head coach
Roger Crebs.
Napier was tabbed the Freedom Conference's Rookie of the
Year in 1999. He was named First Team All-Freedom Conference during
the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
During his junior year, he received the College's Sol
"Woody" Award, given to a junior student-athlete who
shows the most improvement during the first three years of their
career. He started in all but one game while at Lycoming and helped
guide the squad to four conference tournament appearances, leading
the team to a title in 2002 and a berth in the NCAA tournament. He
graduated fourth all-time in points (1,468) and blocked shots (61).
He is sixth all-time in three-point field goals made (183) and
fourth in career three-point attempts (571). Napier went on to play
professionally in China.
Fesler was a four-year starting goalkeeper with the men's
soccer program.
He ranks third in career saves (412) and second in career goals
against average (1.49), including a record .77 GAA in 2003. Fesler
also holds the career record for shutouts (16). He played in 72
games, amassing 6,272 minutes of action. During his time in goal,
Lycoming posted an overall record of 41-31-4. After going 6-11-2
overall and 0-7 in conference in the 2002 season, Fesler and the
Warriors were named the Most Improved Team in NCAA Division III
during the 2003 season after finishing 15-5-0 overall and 4-3 in
league play. He was twice named All-Freedom Conference and was an
NSCAA All-Region pick once. Fesler guided Lycoming to a conference
championship appearance in 2005.
Fox Neil excelled at the Middle Atlantic Conference swim meets,
winning two events and finishing second on two other occasions
during her career.
In 2004, she won the 200-yard individual medley and was crowned the champ in 2005 in the 400-yard IM. In 2005, she finished second in the 200-yard breaststroke. During her rookie campaign, she placed second in the 1,650-yard freestyle and was named the meet's Female Swimmer of the Year. She received the team's Mort Rauff Award for team spirit in 2002 and 2005. Fox-Neil was a team captain and earned Most Valuable Player honors during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons. During her career, she set six school records in the 500-, 1,000- and 1,650-yard freestyle, the 200- and 400-yard IM and was a member of the record-setting 400-yard freestyle relay team. Fox-Neil also was a three-time Middle Atlantic Conference All-Academic honoree.
