MCCC Athletics Committee Announces Selection of 2022 Hall of Fame Inductees
Three Championship Teams and Nine Individuals To Be Honored
11/10/21
West Windsor, N.J. -- The Mercer County Community College (MCCC) Foundation and the Mercer Athletics Committee (MAC) have announced the honorees for their Second Annual Athletics Hall of Fame.
Foundation Board Vice Chair Dan Klim is once again co-chairing this MAC initiative with Charles Plohn Jr. According to Klim, last year’s inaugural event, which featured the induction of three national championship teams and 15 outstanding players, coaches and administrators, was a resounding success.
“It was a great evening. We had an opportunity to celebrate our honorees and thank them for their contributions to Mercer athletics. Each of them played a significant role in establishing and growing our standards of excellence in sports that continue to this day,” Klim said, adding that the fundraising campaign and event raised $63,000 for student-athlete scholarships and improvements to athletic facilities.
The 2022 Hall of Fame class recognizes three Vikings national championship teams: 1968 men’s soccer, 1974 men’s basketball, and 2000 women’s tennis. Nine outstanding individuals will also be inducted: Dan Gakeler, Carole Gibilisco, Diane Kelly, David Leckie, Peter Lindauer, Jennifer Lopresti, Robert Marchetti, Robert (“Bobby”) Sands, and Mary Smith-Jones. Their sports and their achievements are highlighted in the list below.
The induction ceremony will take place at Cobblestone Creek Country Club in Lawrenceville, NJ, on Saturday, June 11, 2022, from 6 to 9 p.m. Further details about the event, including sponsorship opportunities and ticket purchases, will soon be available. All proceeds will again go to scholarships for student-athletes and improvements to MCCC’s athletic facilities.
Klim notes that induction into the Mercer Athletics Hall of Fame is the highest sports honor awarded to Vikings alumni. “In part through the efforts of these athletes, Mercer has been able to compete on the national stage with some of the best teams in the country. These individuals have helped to bolster the reputation of the athletics program and Mercer County Community College as a whole,” he said.
In addition to Klim and Plohn Jr., Hall of Fame Committee members include: Herb Ames, Lisa Camillone, Lori Danko, Elyse Diamond, Tatiana Dodge, Charles Inverso, Kevin Kerins, Mani Kissling, Al Leister, Charles Plohn, Michael Procaccini, Kimberly Sau, and Mel Weldon, along with MCCC Athletics Director John Simone, Professor of Exercise Science John Kalinowski and Associate Athletic Director Keir Livingston.
For more information about MCCC’s Hall of Fame event, or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, email foundation@mccc.edu or call (609) 570-3607.
MCCC participates in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIX and the Garden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). In its close to 60-year history of sports excellence, the Vikings have earned 14 national championship teams, numerous conference and regional championships, with nearly 250 student-athletes achieving All-American honors. Over the past decade, more than 40 students have been recognized as Academic All-Americans. A long list of MCCC athletes have continued their athletic careers at four-year colleges across the country, and some have gone on to play at the professional level.
The MAC extends its congratulations to the 12 inductees:
Teams
- 1968 Men’s Soccer: National Championship Team
- 1974 Men’s Basketball: National Championship Team
- 2000 Women’s Tennis: National Championship Team
Men’s Athletics
- Dan Gakeler (Baseball): 12-year professional baseball career, including Detroit Tigers (1991).
- David Leckie (Soccer): All-American (1968 & 1970 and Alderson-Broaddus College 1972) and Vikings Coach (1985 – national championship runner-up).
- Peter Lindauer (Soccer): All-American (1969 & 1970) and NASL career.
- Robert Marchetti (Track & Field): All-American (1989 & 1990) and 20-year coaching career including MCCC Head Coach (1997-2000).
- Robert (“Bobby”) Sands (Basketball): All-American and National Player of the Year (1968).
Women’s Athletics
- Diane Kelly (Soccer & Softball): first Vikings athlete to earn All-American status in two sports (Soccer 1984 & 1985 and Softball 1986) and JUCO national leader in goals scored (1984 & 1985).
- Jennifer Lopresti (Softball): All-American (1988 & 1989 and Trenton State College 1990 & 1991) and GTE Academic All-American (1991).
- Mary Smith-Jones (Basketball): All-American (1988) and Cheyney University Athletics Hall of Fame.
Administrator
- Carole Gibilisco (Athletics Administrative Assistant) – “the rudder of the Vikings ship,” according to legendary basketball coach Howie Landa.
