HUNTINGDON, PA- The Juniata College Sports Hall of Fame induction class of 2014 will feature a pair of football greats, an All-American in women’s volleyball, a two-sport athlete, a three-sport athlete, a four-year letter-winner in men’s volleyball, and a long-time supporter of Juniata sports. This year’s induction ceremonies will be held at 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17 in the Ballroom in Ellis Hall on the Juniata campus.
Bernie McQuown ’58 (football), Bob Crossey ’87 (football), Brandy Workinger ’02 (women’s volleyball), Casey Craig ’97 (men’s basketball and baseball), Carrie Sokolowski ’97 (field hockey, softball, women’s basketball), Rod Kirby ’00 (men’s volleyball), and Bernie Swartz will be inducted as part of Homecoming & Family Weekend. The inductees will also be honored during halftime of Juniata’s football game against Ursinus College on Saturday.
Bernie McQuown ’58
A recipient of the Stanford Mickle Award as the senior male athlete who made the greatest contribution to Juniata athletics, McQuown was a three-year letter-winner and senior co-captain. He received AP Little All-America honors in 1957, the year he was voted as the team’s most valuable lineman. In 1956, he was among those who played in the Tangerine Bowl, the school’s first postseason game. McQuown went on to enjoy a career on the sidelines, coaching high school football in Indiana, Pa., from 1966-1986, where he posted a 133-56-9 record and was named Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coach of the Year. He was elected to the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1993, the Indiana County Sports Hall of Fame in 1994, and the Punxsutawney Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. McQuown has served as the president of the PSFCA and as an assistant coach in the Big 33 game. He is currently an assistant coach at Indiana University of Pa.
Bob Crossey ’87
Crossey was a two-time Academic All-American and MAC all-conference selection at linebacker. As a four-year starter, he led the team in tackles during the 1984, 1985, and 1986 seasons. His 114 tackles in 1984 were, at the time, the second highest single-season total in school history. The next season, he repeated the accomplishment with 124 tackles. Crossey proceeded to set the record at 131 in his senior campaign, a record that he still owns today. He was named the team’s most valuable lineman as a senior. Crossey earned MAC all-academic honors and an NCAA post-graduate scholarship.
Brandy Workinger ’02
A two-time first-team AVCA All-American, ASICS/Tiger All-American, and three-time MAC All-Star, Workinger was a two-year captain and four-year starter for the Eagles. She led the team to back-to-back NCAA national semifinals and still holds the all-time season records for kills and attacks. She ranks among the top 10 in career kills, attacks and digs. Workinger was a recipient of the John E. Blood Award, presented to the senior athlete who has earned at least four varsity letters and the highest GPA. She also received the Carolyn Stambaugh Award, presented to the senior female athlete and student leader who best exemplifies Carolyn's qualities of winning attitude, self-confidence, concern for others, high sense of values, and enthusiasm for life. Workinger was recognized as the team’s most valuable player in 2000 and earned an NCAA post-graduate scholarship in 2002.
Casey Craig ’97
Craig was a two-sport student-athlete and one of the basketball program’s all-time top scorers, finishing with 1,322 career points. During the 1995-1996 season, he led the conference in scoring. Over his career, Craig averaged 14.2 points per game, with 19.8 as a junior and 18.2 as a senior, and was a two-time first-team all-conference selection. He is currently in the top 10 all-time in steals and single-season scoring, is third in made three-pointers in a single season, and ranks third all-time with 177 career made three-pointers. Craig received team MVP honors during his senior year. He earned MAC player of the week after sinking a program record 10 three-pointers in a win over Misericordia during the 1996 season. Craig also played baseball for three seasons, recording 62 career hits. As a junior, he led the team with 30 hits, 11 doubles, and a .348 batting average. Craig was a recipient of the William R. Smaltz Award, presented to a senior athlete who has exemplified hard work and perseverance in athletic endeavors. After graduating, he was employed as a game-day manager and Director of Marketing and Sponsorships for the Boston Celtics.
Carrie Sokolowski ’97
A three-sport athlete, Sokolowski was a recipient of the Charles Bargerstock Award, presented to the senior female athlete who made the greatest contribution to Juniata athletics. She had a .336 career batting average as an all-conference shortstop and ranks in the Juniata top 10 all-time in batting average, triples, and homeruns. Sokolowski finished her field hockey career with 14 goals, five assists, and 33 career points. She joined the basketball team her senior year and played in 19 games, finishing the season with 28 rebounds, 16 points, 15 steals, and 12 assists.
Rod Kirby ’00
A four-year letter-winner, Kirby was and remains Juniata’s all-time kills leader with 1,662. Two of his four seasons still rank among the top five in program history for single season kills – 544 in 2000 (third), and 504 in 1999 (fifth). Kirby was a recipient of the William R. Smaltz Award, presented to a senior athlete who has exemplified hard work and perseverance in athletic endeavors. He earned Volleyball Magazine All-America honors in 1999 and was a two-time EIVA All-East honoree as a first-team selection in both 1999 and 2000. Kirby was a three-time EIVA Division III All-Star in 1998, 1999, and 2000.
Bernie Swartz
Swartz has supported Juniata and its department of athletics for many years. He is well known by generations of Juniatians, having attended countless sporting events on College Hill and around the country. Athletes and coaches from across the decades fondly recall Swartz’s special touches ranging from inscribed trophies and watches, to lucky pennies and year-end banquets, to Juniata pennants in his jewelry store and ads in the local newspaper predicting wins for Juniata teams. Swartz has long been a special friend of Juniata football, dating back to his immeasurable support for the program during "the glory years” when the 1953 squad posted Juniata’s first undefeated campaign and started a 23-game winning streak. Between 1953 and 1958, Juniata produced five undefeated seasons, earned a Tangerine Bowl bid in Orlando, Fla., and created the “Goalpost Trophy,” which goes to the winner of the game between Juniata and Susquehanna University. Swartz has generously offered to engrave the trophy after each competition for nearly 60 years.
