Temple University Athletics
Temple Athletics 2024 Hall of Fame Class Announced
5.29.24 | Field Hockey, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Women's Soccer, Women's Volleyball
PHILADELPHIA –Temple University will welcome 10 new members, featuring nine athletics teams and a longtime administrator, into its Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, October 18, announced Vice President and Debbie and Stanley Lefkowitz '65 Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson.
The Class of 2024 is comprised of former Field Hockey head coach Gwen Wentz Alexander, Men's Basketball 2000-point scorer Dionte Christmas, golf All-America Gary Deetscreek, women's soccer all-time goals leader Kim Fitzgerald, men's cross country/track three-time All-American Travis Mahoney, All-American wrestler Frank Osinski, softball All-American Stephanie Pasquale, two-time Volleyball Setter of the Year Alison Runk, men's swimming record holder Steve Smutny and longtime administrator Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities and Event Management Lee Roberts.
"This Temple Athletics Hall of Fame Class truly represents our great history," said Johnson. "It is diverse, covering nine sports and one accomplished administrator. It features four All-Americans, and spans eight decades. This is truly a deserving group of individuals who achieved so much in their careers."
Arguably the greatest Field Hockey coach in Temple history, Gwen Wentz Alexander (1980-88) led the Owls to a 1981 AIAW National Championship Runner-Up finish, ending the year ranked third in the nation. Still the winningest coach in Temple field hockey history, she posted 115 wins during her nine years at the helm, and is one of only three head coaches to post over 100 wins. She led the Owls to three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances and two AIAW Championship Tournament appearances while also setting the program record for highest ranking during the 1981 season, at No. 2 in two USFHCA polls. An amazing athlete as well, she competed internationally as a goalkeeper during her tenure at Temple, earning spot on 1980 US Olympic Team (US boycotted) and 1984 Olympic Team that finished third, the highest Olympic finish by US Field Hockey.
One of only four players in school history to score over 2,000 career points, (2,043), Dionte Christmas (2005-09) is still the only player to lead the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring for three straight seasons. He is also one of only three Owls to lead his team in scoring for three seasons, joining fellow Hall of Famers Mark Macon and Jim Williams. A prolific shooter, he is Temple's all-time three-point field goal leader (319) and is the only Temple player to make 100 threes in a season, doing it twice (107, 2008-09; 104, 2007-08). The prolific scorer also earned First Team all-conference honors and Atlantic 10 Championship MVP in 2008 and 2009. He also was named First Team all-Philadelphia Big 5 three times (2007, 2008, 2009). Following his Temple career, he played professionally for nine seasons, including the 2013-14 season with the Phoenix Suns of the NBA.
The only two-time All-America golfer in Temple history, Gary Deetscreek (1979-83) participated in three NCAA Championships, making the cut in 1982 and 1983 finishing 65th and 44th respectively. A two-time all-conference honoree, he was 4th overall in both 1981 and 1982 while helping the Owls win the conferenc championship three times. The team captain and Most Valuable Player as a senior, he was also a three-time All-District honoree (1981, 82, 83). Deetscreek placed third in 1981, fifth in 1982, and fourth in 1983 helping Temple win the Eastern Championships all three years. In the 1981, he shot a still standing school record of five-under 67 in the first round of Eastern Championships. The following year he shot a three-under 69 at the 1982 NCAAs, an Owl record that still stands. Overall, he helped Temple win 14 tournaments, post a 37-2 match play record and participate in the NCAA all four years.
The all-time leading goals scorer in Owls' women's soccer history, Kim Fitzgerald (1993-96) becomes the first player from her sport to be inducted into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame. Besides her 31 career goals, Fitzgerald also ranks fourth on the program's all-time assist list with 12 and second in points with 74. Her best season came as a junior in 1995 when she tied the season mark with 13 goals while dishing six assists for 32 points (2nd alltime at TU). She earned First Team all-Atlantic 10 Conference and all-Championship team as well in 1995.
One of the top men's track athletes in school history, Travis Mahoney (2008-12) earned All-America honors in both track (twice) and cross country (once) during his career. Temple's top steeplechase performer, Mahoney earned All-America honors in the event at the 2011 and 2012 NCAA Outdoor Championships, placing fifth in the finals as a senior. He earned Atlantic 10 Conference Performer of the Year in Cross Country (2012), Indoor Track (2012) and Outdoor Track (2011, 2012) and owns five school records: mile and 3000 meters (indoors), 3000-steeplechase, 5000 meters and 4x800 meters (outdoors). He also won the 2012 A10 Cross Country Championship and 2012 Mid-Atlantic Region Championship. Still one of the top athletes in the steeplechase, he is currently preparing to compete at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials June 21-30 in Eugene, Ore.
Arguably the top Temple wrestler at his weight class of 155 pounds, Frank Osinski (1939-41) was a three-time NCAA participant and earned All-America honors as a senior in 1941. In his senior season he was undefeated during the regular season, recording seven straight pins and an incredible 11 consecutive pins dating back to the previous year. At the 1941 NCAA Championship, he defeated challengers from Rutgers and Iowa State before falling in the semifinals to Oklahoma State's Earl VanBebber in the semifinals. He rebounded to defeat Lloyd Schumbacher (Minnesota) to earn fourth place. Following graduation, he served in World War II.
One of top softball players in Temple history, Stephanie Pasquale (2010-14) owns the school records for total bases (385), runs (168), doubles (45), RBI (152), and batting average (.379) in a career. As a junior, she earned an array of accolades highlighted by Third Team All-America, ECAC Player of the Year, Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and All-Northeast Region First Team. In that 2013 season, she set the A10 record and led the nation in RBI (80) and established new TU single-season records for batting average (.465), hits (87), doubles (21), homeruns (15) and total bases (153). She entered her senior season as one of 50 players on USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List, but unfortunately suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Part of the best women's volleyball team in Temple history, Alison Runk (2001-04) helped lead the Owls to an upset at 12-seed Penn State to advance to the 2002 NCAA Sweet 16. The Owls floor leader earned her first of two Atlantic 10 Conference Setter of the Year awards that season and was also named to the AVCA All-Region team. Her 1,505 assists that season still stand as a school record while her 4,317 career assists rank second in Temple history. She would also earn First Team All-A10 honors in 2003 and 2004. Temple compiled an 88-43 won-loss record during her four year career, including an impressive 47-11 mark in conference play.
No student-athlete started their career in a finer fashion that Temple swimmer Steve Smutny (1982-86). The Owl won gold in five events (200 Butterfly, 200 Medley, 400 Medley, 400 Medley Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay) to earn Atlantic 10 Conference Swimmer of the Year and help the team upset West Virginia to capture the A10 Championship. He would go on to win the 200-yard butterfly at the A10 Championships all four years. The only Temple swimmer to compete at three NCAA Championships, he placed 18th in the 200-yard butterfly at the 1986 NCAA Championships, missing All-America honors by two one-hundredths of a second. Over his career, he won 11 conference titles while setting six conference records.
Rounding out the Class is one of the longest tenured athletics administrators in Temple history, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities and Event Management Lee Roberts (1984-). A 1982 Temple University graduate, Roberts joined the athletics staff in 1984 as director of football operations, a position he held for 12 years. He then moved to overseeing athletics facilities, and has been promoted three times over the last nine years. During his five decades at Temple, he has helped host and facilitate numerous conference and national competitions, including the 2004 NCAA Women's Basketball first and second rounds, the 2005 NCAA Women's Basketball Regional, the 2011 NCAA Women's Basketball Regional, 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Second and Third Rounds and the 2023 NCAA Women's Rowing Championship.
This year's class will be celebrated at the 2024 Temple Athletics Hall of Fame Gala, taking place the evening of Friday, October 18 at the Liacouras Center on Temple's campus. Following the induction, the class will be honored at halftime of the Temple Football's Homecoming Game vs. Tulsa on Saturday, October 19 at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Class of 2024 is comprised of former Field Hockey head coach Gwen Wentz Alexander, Men's Basketball 2000-point scorer Dionte Christmas, golf All-America Gary Deetscreek, women's soccer all-time goals leader Kim Fitzgerald, men's cross country/track three-time All-American Travis Mahoney, All-American wrestler Frank Osinski, softball All-American Stephanie Pasquale, two-time Volleyball Setter of the Year Alison Runk, men's swimming record holder Steve Smutny and longtime administrator Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities and Event Management Lee Roberts.
"This Temple Athletics Hall of Fame Class truly represents our great history," said Johnson. "It is diverse, covering nine sports and one accomplished administrator. It features four All-Americans, and spans eight decades. This is truly a deserving group of individuals who achieved so much in their careers."
Arguably the greatest Field Hockey coach in Temple history, Gwen Wentz Alexander (1980-88) led the Owls to a 1981 AIAW National Championship Runner-Up finish, ending the year ranked third in the nation. Still the winningest coach in Temple field hockey history, she posted 115 wins during her nine years at the helm, and is one of only three head coaches to post over 100 wins. She led the Owls to three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances and two AIAW Championship Tournament appearances while also setting the program record for highest ranking during the 1981 season, at No. 2 in two USFHCA polls. An amazing athlete as well, she competed internationally as a goalkeeper during her tenure at Temple, earning spot on 1980 US Olympic Team (US boycotted) and 1984 Olympic Team that finished third, the highest Olympic finish by US Field Hockey.
One of only four players in school history to score over 2,000 career points, (2,043), Dionte Christmas (2005-09) is still the only player to lead the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring for three straight seasons. He is also one of only three Owls to lead his team in scoring for three seasons, joining fellow Hall of Famers Mark Macon and Jim Williams. A prolific shooter, he is Temple's all-time three-point field goal leader (319) and is the only Temple player to make 100 threes in a season, doing it twice (107, 2008-09; 104, 2007-08). The prolific scorer also earned First Team all-conference honors and Atlantic 10 Championship MVP in 2008 and 2009. He also was named First Team all-Philadelphia Big 5 three times (2007, 2008, 2009). Following his Temple career, he played professionally for nine seasons, including the 2013-14 season with the Phoenix Suns of the NBA.
The only two-time All-America golfer in Temple history, Gary Deetscreek (1979-83) participated in three NCAA Championships, making the cut in 1982 and 1983 finishing 65th and 44th respectively. A two-time all-conference honoree, he was 4th overall in both 1981 and 1982 while helping the Owls win the conferenc championship three times. The team captain and Most Valuable Player as a senior, he was also a three-time All-District honoree (1981, 82, 83). Deetscreek placed third in 1981, fifth in 1982, and fourth in 1983 helping Temple win the Eastern Championships all three years. In the 1981, he shot a still standing school record of five-under 67 in the first round of Eastern Championships. The following year he shot a three-under 69 at the 1982 NCAAs, an Owl record that still stands. Overall, he helped Temple win 14 tournaments, post a 37-2 match play record and participate in the NCAA all four years.
The all-time leading goals scorer in Owls' women's soccer history, Kim Fitzgerald (1993-96) becomes the first player from her sport to be inducted into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame. Besides her 31 career goals, Fitzgerald also ranks fourth on the program's all-time assist list with 12 and second in points with 74. Her best season came as a junior in 1995 when she tied the season mark with 13 goals while dishing six assists for 32 points (2nd alltime at TU). She earned First Team all-Atlantic 10 Conference and all-Championship team as well in 1995.
One of the top men's track athletes in school history, Travis Mahoney (2008-12) earned All-America honors in both track (twice) and cross country (once) during his career. Temple's top steeplechase performer, Mahoney earned All-America honors in the event at the 2011 and 2012 NCAA Outdoor Championships, placing fifth in the finals as a senior. He earned Atlantic 10 Conference Performer of the Year in Cross Country (2012), Indoor Track (2012) and Outdoor Track (2011, 2012) and owns five school records: mile and 3000 meters (indoors), 3000-steeplechase, 5000 meters and 4x800 meters (outdoors). He also won the 2012 A10 Cross Country Championship and 2012 Mid-Atlantic Region Championship. Still one of the top athletes in the steeplechase, he is currently preparing to compete at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials June 21-30 in Eugene, Ore.
Arguably the top Temple wrestler at his weight class of 155 pounds, Frank Osinski (1939-41) was a three-time NCAA participant and earned All-America honors as a senior in 1941. In his senior season he was undefeated during the regular season, recording seven straight pins and an incredible 11 consecutive pins dating back to the previous year. At the 1941 NCAA Championship, he defeated challengers from Rutgers and Iowa State before falling in the semifinals to Oklahoma State's Earl VanBebber in the semifinals. He rebounded to defeat Lloyd Schumbacher (Minnesota) to earn fourth place. Following graduation, he served in World War II.
One of top softball players in Temple history, Stephanie Pasquale (2010-14) owns the school records for total bases (385), runs (168), doubles (45), RBI (152), and batting average (.379) in a career. As a junior, she earned an array of accolades highlighted by Third Team All-America, ECAC Player of the Year, Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and All-Northeast Region First Team. In that 2013 season, she set the A10 record and led the nation in RBI (80) and established new TU single-season records for batting average (.465), hits (87), doubles (21), homeruns (15) and total bases (153). She entered her senior season as one of 50 players on USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List, but unfortunately suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Part of the best women's volleyball team in Temple history, Alison Runk (2001-04) helped lead the Owls to an upset at 12-seed Penn State to advance to the 2002 NCAA Sweet 16. The Owls floor leader earned her first of two Atlantic 10 Conference Setter of the Year awards that season and was also named to the AVCA All-Region team. Her 1,505 assists that season still stand as a school record while her 4,317 career assists rank second in Temple history. She would also earn First Team All-A10 honors in 2003 and 2004. Temple compiled an 88-43 won-loss record during her four year career, including an impressive 47-11 mark in conference play.
No student-athlete started their career in a finer fashion that Temple swimmer Steve Smutny (1982-86). The Owl won gold in five events (200 Butterfly, 200 Medley, 400 Medley, 400 Medley Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay) to earn Atlantic 10 Conference Swimmer of the Year and help the team upset West Virginia to capture the A10 Championship. He would go on to win the 200-yard butterfly at the A10 Championships all four years. The only Temple swimmer to compete at three NCAA Championships, he placed 18th in the 200-yard butterfly at the 1986 NCAA Championships, missing All-America honors by two one-hundredths of a second. Over his career, he won 11 conference titles while setting six conference records.
Rounding out the Class is one of the longest tenured athletics administrators in Temple history, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities and Event Management Lee Roberts (1984-). A 1982 Temple University graduate, Roberts joined the athletics staff in 1984 as director of football operations, a position he held for 12 years. He then moved to overseeing athletics facilities, and has been promoted three times over the last nine years. During his five decades at Temple, he has helped host and facilitate numerous conference and national competitions, including the 2004 NCAA Women's Basketball first and second rounds, the 2005 NCAA Women's Basketball Regional, the 2011 NCAA Women's Basketball Regional, 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Second and Third Rounds and the 2023 NCAA Women's Rowing Championship.
This year's class will be celebrated at the 2024 Temple Athletics Hall of Fame Gala, taking place the evening of Friday, October 18 at the Liacouras Center on Temple's campus. Following the induction, the class will be honored at halftime of the Temple Football's Homecoming Game vs. Tulsa on Saturday, October 19 at Lincoln Financial Field.
Ep. 9: Head Women's Soccer Coach Chris Shaw
Friday, October 03
Ep. 8: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Women's Cross Country Runner Amelia Sabatino
Tuesday, September 30
Ep. 7: Temple Field Hockey Alumna Cherifa Howarth
Friday, September 26
Ep. 6: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Field Hockey's Peyton Rieger
Tuesday, September 23
