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2020 and 2021
Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
Due to the pandemic, the 2020 and 2021 Wilkes University Hall of Fame ceremonies were held online. The celebration of these fine athletes, while virtual, was no less significant. Some of the inductees from ’20 and ’21 returned for Homecoming Weekend to finally be celebrated in person.
Save the date:
Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony
April 22, 2023
Members of the 2006 football team gathered on the field (below) with Rick Mahonski ’77 (center, in blue suit) and Gina Stefanelli ’11 (far right).
2020 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
Hassan Shah ’05 (Men’s Tennis)
Shah earned First Team All-Conference honors three times from 2002-2005 while being named conference Rookie of the Year in 2001-2002 and conference Player of the Year in 2004-2005. As a senior he finished 19-2 overall from the No. 1 position while posting a 12-2 mark in No. 2 doubles play. Shah captured the 2003 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) singles title as well as the 2005 No. 1 doubles crown.
Rick Mahonski ’77 (Wrestling)
Mahonski was part of John Reese’s 1974 Wilkes wrestling National Championship team where he finished in second place at 118-pounds. In 1976, Mahonski and the Colonels became the first and only program in Wilkes history to compete at the Division I level where the squad took home first place at the Binghamton Open and second place at the Wilkes Open. Mahonski again shined where he captured second place at the EIWA Tournament at 126-pounds.
Members of the 2006 football team gathered on the field with Rick Mahonski ’77 (center, in blue suit) and Gina Stefanelli ’11 (far right).
Stacey Boyer ’95 (Women’s Basketball)
Boyer starred on the court and the diamond for Wilkes earning three letters in each sport. In basketball, Boyer earned Second Team All-Conference honors her senior season finishing her career 12th all-time on the school’s scoring list with 1,019 points. Boyer remains one of five players in program history to reach the 1,000-point and 500-rebound plateau in a career.
Melisa Bracone O’Connor ’10 (Softball)
A standout defensive player at third base, O’Connor earned all-conference honors three times from 2007 through 2009. She helped lead the team to a 96-63 record including a Freedom Conference championship and NCAA Tournament berth in 2006 in her first season. She also earned Second Team NFCA All-Region honors her junior season and owns the school record in walks for a career with 47.
Frank Sheptock (Football)
During his time on the sidelines at Wilkes, Sheptock led the Colonels to a 107-81 (.578) record, the most wins by any coach in the program’s history. During his tenure, Sheptock led the program to two NCAA and seven ECAC postseason berths with a Middle Atlantic Conference championship coming in 2006, the year he was named the MAC and AFCA Region 2 Coach of the Year after leading Wilkes to an 11-1 record, a conference title, and a berth in the NCAA Division III Championship. The 2005 season saw Sheptock guide the squad to an overall record of 8-3 and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs. For his efforts he was named the Middle Atlantic Conference’s Coach of the Year.
2006 Football Team
Remembered as one of the best teams in Wilkes’ storied history, the 2006 squad finished a perfect 10-0 during the regular season, capturing the MAC Championship while earning an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament. There the Colonels captured the program’s first NCAA victory and finished 11-1 overall, the most wins in a single season. The squad entered the season ranked 9th in the Street and Smith Division III pre-season top-25 poll and finished ranked 12th in the final poll. The defense led the way and was among the best in the nation surrendering a mere 205.6 yards per-game including only 61.0 yards rushing per-game and 8.7 points per-game both first in the MAC.
2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
Dave Plisko ’04 (Men’s Basketball)
Plisko was a two-time First Team All-Freedom Conference selection as both a junior and senior. He also garnered Rookie of the Year honors in 2000-01 where he played in all 26 games averaging 7.6 points on a team that went 23-3 winning the conference championship and earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Plisko ranks 13th all-time on the school’s scoring list finishing with 1,309 points.
Gina Stefanelli ’11 (Softball)
Stefanelli, one of the finest hitters to ever play at Wilkes, was a four-time All-Freedom Conference selection playing primarily at shortstop. She also was named Player of the Year twice, in both 2008 and 2009. Stefanelli earned regional honors three times as well as being named First Team NFCA All-Region in 2009 and Second Team in 2008 and 2009. Stefanelli owns the school record at Wilkes in almost every offensive statistical category including hits (196), doubles (48), runs batted in (131), slugging percentage (.693), walks (47) and is second all-time in batting average (.418), runs (141) and home runs (26).