Mercer County Community College To Induct 1st Hall of Fame Class

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Three national championship teams, two Major League Baseball players, and a legendary basketball coach are among the 18 inductees who are part of the inaugural Mercer County Community College Athletic Hall of Fame class.

The three teams and 15 individuals who will be inducted during a reception and dinner on Nov. 14 at the Trenton Country Club were selected based on nominations from the public, according to the college.

"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 Dan Klim, the chair of the MCCC Foundation’s Mercer Athletics Committee (MAC). “We are proud to give them the recognition they deserve.”

The 18 inaugural inductees are:

Teams

• 1963 Men's Soccer - 1st of eight National Championship teams
• 1973 Men's Basketball - 1st of two National Championship teams
• 1999 Women's Tennis - 1st of four National Championship teams

Men's Athletics

• Heath Fillmyer (Baseball) - All-American (2014) and MLB
• Mickey Forker (Soccer) - All-American (1968 & 1969)
• Dave Gallagher (Baseball) - 17 years of professional baseball with nine years in MLB and MCCC Coach (2000-2002)
• Randy Garber (Soccer) - All-American (1971 & 1972 and Penn State 1974) and NASL 1975-1979
• Mel Weldon (Basketball) - All-American and National Player of the Year (1973)
• Connie White (Basketball) - All-American and National Player of the Year (1974)

Women's Athletics

• Elyse Diamond (Soccer) - 1st Mercer All-American in the sport (1983) and current Women's Soccer Coach
• Terri Dorner (Basketball)- 1st Mercer All-American in the sport (1980) and Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame
• Joanne Zola (Softball) - 1st Mercer All-American in the sport (1985) and MCCC Coach (2000-2002)

Administrators

• Lisa Camillone (Athletic Trainer/Asst. Athletic Director 1983-2016) - pioneering figure for female Athletic Trainers
• Stan Dlugosz (Men's Soccer Coach 1963-1981 and Men's Tennis Coach 1974-2007) - 2 Soccer National Championships
• Charles Inverso (Men's Soccer Coach 1986-2009) - 5 National Championship teams
• Al Leister (Athletic Director 1973-1989) - innovative Health and Physical Education Professor (1970-2006)
• Butch Miller (Baseball Coach 1973-1993) - 503-263 Coaching record and 1981 Junior College World Series

Special Recognition

• Howie Landa (Legendary Basketball Coach) - 2 National Championships, 3 times National Coach of the Year

Further details about the induction ceremony and reception, including ticket purchases and sponsorship opportunities, will soon be available. All proceeds will go to scholarships for MCCC student athletes and the improvement of the college’s athletics facilities. Updates will be posted at www.mccc.edu/hof.

"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," said Klim.

The Vikings are members of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 19 and the Garden State Athletic Conference. In its more than half-century of sports excellence, MCCC's athletics history includes 14 national championship teams, with nearly 250 student athletes achieving All-American honors.

Over the past decade, 44 MCCC student athletes have been recognized as Academic All-Americans. Many Mercer student athletes successfully transfer to four-year colleges throughout the United States, and dozens have gone on to play professional sports.