Temple University Athletics
Athletics Hall of Fame to Welcome 10 New Members
8.15.18 | General
PHILADELPHIA (08/15/18) – Temple University will welcome 10 new members, including a national champion and four All-Americans, into its Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, October 19, announced Director of Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft.
The Class of 2018 is comprised of women's gymnastics Olympian and national champion, Roxanne Pierce, women's lacrosse All-America twin sisters Alex Ovchinnikoff Squeri and Claudia Ovchinnikoff, men's wrestling All-America Tony Mantella, National Wrestling Hall of Famer Phil Richards, all-time Canadian Football League great Henry Burris, baseball standout Tom Whalen, women's volleyball record holder Mary Beth Wilson and men's basketball star Rick Reed and his former coach Don Casey.
"This year's class chosen for induction into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame is exemplary for the members' incredible athletic achievements and for their leadership in their respective communities," said Kraft. "Seven sports and five decades are represented by the ten members of the class and we are honored that they proudly wore the Temple jersey."
One of the greatest quarterbacks in Temple Football history, Henry Burris (1993-96) set 20 Temple records during his four-year career and still owns the Owls' single game marks for passing yards (445) and total offense (502), both set at Pitt in 1996. Upon graduation, Burris headed north where he embarked on a record-setting career in the Canadian Football League. A two-time CFL Most Valuable Player (2010, 2015), Burris led his teams to three Grey Cup Championships (1998, 2008, 2015), earning Grey Cup MVP honors in 2008 and 2015. He ended his CFL career ranked third all-time with 63,227 passing yards, 7,426 attempts and 374 touchdowns while placing fourth with 4,638 completions. He also was a member of the NFL's Green Bay Packers (2001) and Chicago Bears (2002).
The only Temple men's basketball coach to also serve as a head coach at the NBA level, Don Casey (1973-82) guided the Owls to 151 wins, the fifth best total all-time, and four postseason trips in his nine years at the helm. Casey joined the Cherry and White as an assistant to Naismith Hall of Fame coach Harry Litwack in 1967, serving on his staff for six seasons before taking over the program. He guided the Owls to the NIT in 1978, 1981 and 1982 and a trip to the 1979 NCAA Tournament. Casey's 1978-79 team posted a 25-4 record, marking the third most wins in program history at the time. Following his career at Temple, Casey went on to coach 20 years in the NBA, serving as head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers (1989-90) and the New Jersey Nets (1999-00).
One of the top wrestlers in Temple history, Tony Mantella (1978-81) was three-time NCAA qualifier for the Owls during his career. Mantella served as the team captain during his senior season in 1980-81, earning MVP honors for the Cherry and White. While wrestling at 190-pounds, Mantella capped his brilliant career by placing second at the NCAA Championships to earn All-America honors. A two-time champion at both the Lock Haven and East Stroudsburg tournaments, Mantella accumulated over 100 career Division I wins. He also competed internationally, representing the United States in East Germany and placing sixth at the prestigious Werner Selinbinder International Championship.
Twice was nice for Temple women's lacrosse as twins Alex Ovchinnikoff Squeri and Claudia Ovchinnikoff (1995-
98) provided a strong one-two punch for the Owls in the 1990s. The dynamic duo helped lead Temple to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including spots in the national semifinals in 1997 and 1998. Alex was a four-time All-America honoree, earning third team accolades as a freshman and sophomore and second team her final two seasons. Claudia, who was the National Attack Player of the Year and Temple Athlete of the Year as a senior, earned a first team All-America honors her final three years. Claudia, who also played for United States Women's Elite Lacrosse Team for several years, ranks second all-time in Temple history in goals scored (227) and ground balls (168) and third in points (266). Alex, who was a member of the US Developmental Squad World Cup team, is currently 10th in both career points (183) and assists (53). Both sisters were named to the list of 80 former players selected by Women's Professional Lacrosse League legends celebration
A member of the USA Team that competed in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, Roxanne Pierce (1972-76) was one of our nation's top women's gymnasts in the 1970s. A winner of six gold, five bronze and one silver medal at the Pan American Games (1971, 1975), Pierce, who won the 1973 US National Championship on the vault and uneven bars, was inducted into the U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1996. During her career at Temple, she won the floor exercise at the 1976 AIAW National Championship. She also earned a silver medal on the beam and a bronze medal in the all-around competition at the championship.
One of the top point guards in the storied history of Temple men's basketball, Rick Reed (1975-79) captained the Owls' 1978-79 NCAA Tournament team. During that campaign, Reed capped his fine career with personal best averages of 15.7 points and 7.2 assists per game that season while leading the Owls to a 25-4 record. The two-time team captain earned Philadelphia Big 5 co-MVP and first team All-East Coast Conference and all-District honors that season. His 208 assists shattered the previous school mark held by the late Guy Rodgers (185, 1956-57) and still rank second on the Temple single season list while his 7.2 assist average, also a record, is currently third. He finished his career with 564 assists, third all-time, and 1,031 points.
A 2010 inductee into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Phil Richards (1958-62) was not only a stellar wrestler during his career at Temple, but has helped restore the program as a club sport in 2015 following a 30-year absence. A three-year letterwinner, Richards, who has been a member of the University's Board of Trustees since 2009, served as team captain as well as student body president his senior year. As a senior he was also the recipient of the Sword Award given to the outstanding senior classman. Richards was also inducted into the National High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2009.
The only Temple baseball player to be a three-time all-Atlantic 10 Conference and Academic All-Conference honoree, Tom Whalen (1992-96) set school records for hits (228), doubles (54), games started (182) and at-bats (657) during his stellar career. He also remains in the Top 10 for ten offensive school records. A three-time team captain, Whalen's best season came as a junior in 1995 when he batted .409 which is tied for the ninth best average in school history and 18 doubles (10th best) in earning first team all-conference accolades. Further, Whalen was named an Honorable Mention to the Smith Award (National Player of the Year) and First Team All East Coast following the 1995 season. Whalen was also named Temple's Male Athlete of the Year in 1995. Temple's representative for both the A-10 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the NCAA Student/Faculty Committee, he went on to graduate in the top 10 percent of his class from Temple University's Beasley School of Law.
One of the top women's volleyball players in Temple history, Mary Beth Wilson (1980-84) still has her name etched in the Owls' record books three decades after her graduation. Wilson owns the Temple single season records for kills (670), attempts (1,590), hitting percentage (.421), service aces (99) and solo blocks (77). She also maintains the career marks for kills (2,068), attempts (4,779), solo blocks (259) and total blocks (531). A two-time Atlantic 10 Conference all-Championship team honoree, Wilson led her teams to 116 wins in her career, including consecutive 30-plus win campaigns in 1981 and 1982.
This year's class will be celebrated at the 2018 Temple Athletics Hall of Fame Induction, taking place the evening of Friday, October 19th on Temple University's Main Campus. Following the induction, the class will be honored at the Temple vs. Cincinnati Homecoming football game on Saturday, October 20th at Lincoln Financial Field. Details will be released shortly. For questions regarding the induction ceremony, please contact Lucy Cruz at lucy.cruz@temple.edu or 215-204-0636.
The Class of 2018 is comprised of women's gymnastics Olympian and national champion, Roxanne Pierce, women's lacrosse All-America twin sisters Alex Ovchinnikoff Squeri and Claudia Ovchinnikoff, men's wrestling All-America Tony Mantella, National Wrestling Hall of Famer Phil Richards, all-time Canadian Football League great Henry Burris, baseball standout Tom Whalen, women's volleyball record holder Mary Beth Wilson and men's basketball star Rick Reed and his former coach Don Casey.
"This year's class chosen for induction into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame is exemplary for the members' incredible athletic achievements and for their leadership in their respective communities," said Kraft. "Seven sports and five decades are represented by the ten members of the class and we are honored that they proudly wore the Temple jersey."
One of the greatest quarterbacks in Temple Football history, Henry Burris (1993-96) set 20 Temple records during his four-year career and still owns the Owls' single game marks for passing yards (445) and total offense (502), both set at Pitt in 1996. Upon graduation, Burris headed north where he embarked on a record-setting career in the Canadian Football League. A two-time CFL Most Valuable Player (2010, 2015), Burris led his teams to three Grey Cup Championships (1998, 2008, 2015), earning Grey Cup MVP honors in 2008 and 2015. He ended his CFL career ranked third all-time with 63,227 passing yards, 7,426 attempts and 374 touchdowns while placing fourth with 4,638 completions. He also was a member of the NFL's Green Bay Packers (2001) and Chicago Bears (2002). The only Temple men's basketball coach to also serve as a head coach at the NBA level, Don Casey (1973-82) guided the Owls to 151 wins, the fifth best total all-time, and four postseason trips in his nine years at the helm. Casey joined the Cherry and White as an assistant to Naismith Hall of Fame coach Harry Litwack in 1967, serving on his staff for six seasons before taking over the program. He guided the Owls to the NIT in 1978, 1981 and 1982 and a trip to the 1979 NCAA Tournament. Casey's 1978-79 team posted a 25-4 record, marking the third most wins in program history at the time. Following his career at Temple, Casey went on to coach 20 years in the NBA, serving as head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers (1989-90) and the New Jersey Nets (1999-00).
One of the top wrestlers in Temple history, Tony Mantella (1978-81) was three-time NCAA qualifier for the Owls during his career. Mantella served as the team captain during his senior season in 1980-81, earning MVP honors for the Cherry and White. While wrestling at 190-pounds, Mantella capped his brilliant career by placing second at the NCAA Championships to earn All-America honors. A two-time champion at both the Lock Haven and East Stroudsburg tournaments, Mantella accumulated over 100 career Division I wins. He also competed internationally, representing the United States in East Germany and placing sixth at the prestigious Werner Selinbinder International Championship.Twice was nice for Temple women's lacrosse as twins Alex Ovchinnikoff Squeri and Claudia Ovchinnikoff (1995-98) provided a strong one-two punch for the Owls in the 1990s. The dynamic duo helped lead Temple to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including spots in the national semifinals in 1997 and 1998. Alex was a four-time All-America honoree, earning third team accolades as a freshman and sophomore and second team her final two seasons. Claudia, who was the National Attack Player of the Year and Temple Athlete of the Year as a senior, earned a first team All-America honors her final three years. Claudia, who also played for United States Women's Elite Lacrosse Team for several years, ranks second all-time in Temple history in goals scored (227) and ground balls (168) and third in points (266). Alex, who was a member of the US Developmental Squad World Cup team, is currently 10th in both career points (183) and assists (53). Both sisters were named to the list of 80 former players selected by Women's Professional Lacrosse League legends celebrationA member of the USA Team that competed in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, Roxanne Pierce (1972-76) was one of our nation's top women's gymnasts in the 1970s. A winner of six gold, five bronze and one silver medal at the Pan American Games (1971, 1975), Pierce, who won the 1973 US National Championship on the vault and uneven bars, was inducted into the U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1996. During her career at Temple, she won the floor exercise at the 1976 AIAW National Championship. She also earned a silver medal on the beam and a bronze medal in the all-around competition at the championship.
One of the top point guards in the storied history of Temple men's basketball, Rick Reed (1975-79) captained the Owls' 1978-79 NCAA Tournament team. During that campaign, Reed capped his fine career with personal best averages of 15.7 points and 7.2 assists per game that season while leading the Owls to a 25-4 record. The two-time team captain earned Philadelphia Big 5 co-MVP and first team All-East Coast Conference and all-District honors that season. His 208 assists shattered the previous school mark held by the late Guy Rodgers (185, 1956-57) and still rank second on the Temple single season list while his 7.2 assist average, also a record, is currently third. He finished his career with 564 assists, third all-time, and 1,031 points.
A 2010 inductee into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Phil Richards (1958-62) was not only a stellar wrestler during his career at Temple, but has helped restore the program as a club sport in 2015 following a 30-year absence. A three-year letterwinner, Richards, who has been a member of the University's Board of Trustees since 2009, served as team captain as well as student body president his senior year. As a senior he was also the recipient of the Sword Award given to the outstanding senior classman. Richards was also inducted into the National High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2009.
The only Temple baseball player to be a three-time all-Atlantic 10 Conference and Academic All-Conference honoree, Tom Whalen (1992-96) set school records for hits (228), doubles (54), games started (182) and at-bats (657) during his stellar career. He also remains in the Top 10 for ten offensive school records. A three-time team captain, Whalen's best season came as a junior in 1995 when he batted .409 which is tied for the ninth best average in school history and 18 doubles (10th best) in earning first team all-conference accolades. Further, Whalen was named an Honorable Mention to the Smith Award (National Player of the Year) and First Team All East Coast following the 1995 season. Whalen was also named Temple's Male Athlete of the Year in 1995. Temple's representative for both the A-10 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the NCAA Student/Faculty Committee, he went on to graduate in the top 10 percent of his class from Temple University's Beasley School of Law.One of the top women's volleyball players in Temple history, Mary Beth Wilson (1980-84) still has her name etched in the Owls' record books three decades after her graduation. Wilson owns the Temple single season records for kills (670), attempts (1,590), hitting percentage (.421), service aces (99) and solo blocks (77). She also maintains the career marks for kills (2,068), attempts (4,779), solo blocks (259) and total blocks (531). A two-time Atlantic 10 Conference all-Championship team honoree, Wilson led her teams to 116 wins in her career, including consecutive 30-plus win campaigns in 1981 and 1982.
This year's class will be celebrated at the 2018 Temple Athletics Hall of Fame Induction, taking place the evening of Friday, October 19th on Temple University's Main Campus. Following the induction, the class will be honored at the Temple vs. Cincinnati Homecoming football game on Saturday, October 20th at Lincoln Financial Field. Details will be released shortly. For questions regarding the induction ceremony, please contact Lucy Cruz at lucy.cruz@temple.edu or 215-204-0636.
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