Five Standouts, Two National Championship Teams to be Inducted into Temple Athletics’ Hall of Fame

PHILADELPHIA – Four All-Americans, including a National Champion, are among the five former student-athletes and two national championship teams to be inducted into the Temple University Athletics' Hall of Fame at the Owls' Homecoming football game, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Lottery, on Saturday, Oct. 15. Kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field is set for 1 p.m.

The Class of 2011 consists of Toni Byard-Jenkins (Field Hockey), Pete Dempsey (Baseball), Jack Hubbert (Golf), Carl Imhauser (Men's Gymnastics), and Alma Kovaci (Volleyball), as well as the 1982 and 1984 Women's Lacrosse teams.

Toni Byard-Jenkins earned All-American honors in field hockey in 1991 and 1992. Named a finalist for the prestigious Honda Broderick Award and the NCAA Woman of the Year, she was named the 1989 Atlantic 10 Conference's Rookie of the Year and an All-Tournament Team honoree. On the career charts, Byard is fifth in scoring (102 points) and fifth in goals scored (46). As a junior in 1991, she scored a career-high five goals against Hofstra. Temple advanced to the NCAA Tournament three times during her tenure. Byard also earned Atlantic 10 All-Tournament Team honors in 1993 as an infielder with the Temple softball team.

An outstanding shortstop, Pete Dempsey earned first-team East Coast Conference accolades in 1977 and 1978. During his tenure, the Owls won three consecutive East Coast Conference championships and made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. In 1977, Dempsey hit .404 with 10 home runs and 55 RBI for the Owls, helping Temple advance to the College World Series. On the career charts, he is second in RBI (154), fifth in home runs (25), sixth in career hitting (.370), ninth in triples (10), 10th in runs scored (132), and 10th in hits (182). The Owls' leading hitter in 1976 (.384) and 1977 (.404), Dempsey was drafted by the Phillies. He also played for USA Baseball in 1977 for the Intercontinental Cup games in Nicaragua.

Jack Hubbert earned All-American honors in golf in 1978 and 1979. A four-year letterwinner, he helped the Owls to four consecutive undefeated seasons, three NCAA Tournament appearances, and two East Coast Conference championships. In 1978, Hubbert won the East Coast Conference championship and was the top finisher in the Yale Invitational. He captained the Owls as a senior in 1979, the best season in Temple history. The Owls finished 17th in the nation. Hubbert earned two degrees from Temple, including an M.B.A. in 1986.

Carl Imhauser was an outstanding student-athlete. The NCAA horizontal bar champion in 1996, he earned All-America honors in 1995 and 1996. He was the Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League Champion in 1996 and 1997. Imhauser was named a GTE District 2 Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete all four of his seasons while majoring in electrical engineering. He won three ECAC event titles. A team captain, Imhauser helped Temple win four consecutive Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League team championships. Imhauser earned his Ph.D in mechanical engineering from Drexel in 2004.

Alma Kovaci earned Asics All-American honors in 1999 and 2000. The two-year team captain also earned AVCA All-District honors three times. Kovaci sparked Temple to three consecutive Atlantic 10 Conference championships and three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (1997-99). Twice named the Atlantic 10's Most Valuable Player and a three-time first-team conference selection, Kovaci was named the conference's Rookie of the Year in 1997. On the career charts, she is second in kills (2,046), graduating just 18 kills shy of the all-time record, second in hitting attempts (4,724), and second in digs (1,632). She was drafted into the United States Professional Volleyball League during its inaugural 2002 season. Following graduation, Kovaci joined the coaching ranks. She remained active on the court as a member of the Albanian National Team and competed in the 2005 FIVB World Championships.

Temple Hall of Fame Coach Tina Sloan Green led the Owls to National Championships in 1982 and 1984. Temple won the AIAW title in 1982 and the NCAA crown in 1984.

The 1982 squad compiled a 16-2-1 record. Temple defeated defending AIAW champion Maryland, 3-2, to win the crown. The Owls upset Penn State, 6-5 in overtime, in the semifinals.

The 1984 team had a 16-2 record, topping Maryland, 6-4, in the championship game. The Owls trounced Delaware, 13-3, in the semifinals.

The two championship teams featured 10 All-Americans and four Temple Hall of Fame inductees, including players who went on to participate in World Cup competition and earn induction into the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

Kathleen (Barrett) Geiger ('86), both an All-American and Temple Hall of Fame inductee, was inducted into the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2001 in the midst of appearing in five consecutive World Cups.

Another Temple Hall of Famer and All-American, Marie Schmucker ('84) still ranks third all-time in career goals for the Owls with 211.

Debbie Kelley ('82) was the team's goalkeeper for the 1982 championship, making 273 saves that season which still ranks first all-time in a single season. Her 698 career saves rank third all-time.

Chrissy Muller ('87), one of the program's most recent Temple Hall of Fame inductees in 2009, was also a decorated player who earned All-America honors and participated in the 1989 World Cup.

Other All-Americans for Temple from the 1982 and 1984 squads include Barb Bielicki, Denise Bourassa, Jackie Devenney, Sharon Garber, Monica Mills, Carol Schultz, Susie Shirk, and Sue Yeager.

Temple (4-2, 2-1 MAC) hosts Buffalo (2-4, 1-1 MAC). The 2011 Hall of Fame Inductees will be introduced at halftime.

Temple University Athletics

Five Standouts, Two National Championship Teams to be Inducted into Temple Athletics’ Hall of Fame

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