Mercer County Community College Establishes Sports Hall Of Fame

Students who distinguished themselves on and off the court will be honored as part of Mercer County Community College’s new Athletics Hall of Fame, the Mercer County Community College (MCCC) Foundation and its newly-formed MCCC Athletics Committee (MAC) announced.

“Mercer’s sports history spans six decades,” MAC Chair and Foundation Board Member Dan Klim said. “Our men’s and women’s teams have represented the college around the nation and competed in — and brought home — several national championships. An MCCC Athletics Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to honor some of these individuals.”

The committee is made up of Foundation board members, alumni, past coaches, players, and administrators. It will help with fundraising for athletic scholarships and to improve the athletic facilities.

It is also tasked with improving the relationship between the school and its alumni, students, parents and the community. The Hall of Fame is an ideal first project in this vein, MAC Co-chair Charles Plohn said.

“Many athletes, coaches, and administrators who have worn the green and gold have achieved athletic greatness, but thousands more have contributed to the betterment of society,” Plohn said.

The college’s sports teams have won 14 national championships, including titles in men’s basketball and soccer and women’s tennis, according to the college. Nearly 200 student athletes have earned all-American recognition.

The committee is seeking nominations for its inaugural Hall of Fame class. The nomination form is available at www.mccc.edu/athletics. The deadline for the nominations is April 19, with an induction ceremony planned for the fall.

“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 — as well as a bridge to the future,” Klim said.

Members of the MAC are: Daniel Klim (chair), East Windsor; Charles Plohn (co-chair), Princeton; Elyse Diamond, Hamilton; Charlie Inverso, Robbinsville; Derrick Johnson, Ewing; John Kalinowski, Yardley, Pa.; Kevin Kerins, Hamilton Township; Al Leister, Cream Ridge; Charles R. Plohn, Skillman; and Kelly Williams, Franklin Township.