(Photo courtesy of Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame)
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Juniata's recent success in men's basketball might lead fans to remember the heydays when Memorial Gymnasium rocked and visiting opponents knew that a trip to the "Pit" was going to be a night to remember. Those who fondly recall those days will be pleased to learn that Carl Meditch, who was one of the architects of that success, was recently honored with one of the most highly cherished decorations in basketball.
On March 20 of this year, Meditch was one of the 2013 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame inductees and joined a very prestigious list in the state that worships its basketball heroes like no other. Considering that names like John Wooden, Oscar Robertson and Larry Bird are just a few of the members, one understands just how incredible an honor this is.
Meditch coached at Juniata from 1974-77 and led the team to the MAC Northern Division playoffs in his first year while compiling a career record of 33-37 while reestablishing Juniata as a competitive force in the conference. When contacted regarding his recent honor Carl was quick to recall his stint on the Hill.
"It was my first college head coaching position and the people and players were extremely receptive to what I brought to the program," he said. "We had unbelievable support from the student body and it was a real boost to the team."
"But what I remember the most was the reception for my family when we got to Huntingdon. The staff and faculty at Juniata were incredibly supportive and the way that the town embraced us was just overwhelming."
Even a few days after the induction ceremony, Meditch was still overwhelmed by the experience of being included into the Hall. "The whole affair was just outstanding," he recalled. "There were over 1,500 people at the ceremony and it was a virtual who's who of Indiana basketball. Oscar Robertson was there along with Bird and Dale Harris who used to coach the Houston Rockets and is actually a friend of mine. I got to see a lot of old friends. It was just unbelievable and I still have a hard time realizing that I am a part of it."
One of the many highlights of the evening also included the honoring of the producers of the movie "Hoosiers" as David Anspaugh and Angelo Pizzo were inducted as a salute to the film's contribution to Indiana basketball.
Meditch had to undergo an extensive nomination procedure and was selected for his accomplishments on the court while playing guard for Arsenal Tech High School of Indianapolis. In 1955, Carl was the leading scorer in the Indianapolis City and County area among competition that including the "Big O" and Willie Merriwether to name a few.
Meditch departed Juniata and returned to his roots to become the Athletic Director at Wawasee High School in Syracuse, Ind. before embarking on a career in the modular home business as a Design Manager. Currently Carl and his wife Kay reside in Mansfield, Texas and are the parents of three children and seven grandchildren. Both Carl and Kay work part time as customer service representatives for the Texas Rangers baseball team. If you're watching a Rangers home game you just might spot him behind home plate on the third base side.
Despite all the time that has passed since he lived in Huntingdon, Meditch still has strong feelings about Juniata. "It was one of my most memorable experiences in basketball. We made tremendous friends and I could move back there in a second."
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