Moravian College Athletic Hall of Fame Welcomes Class of 2014
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The 2014 Moravian College Athletic Hall of Fame Class that was inducted on Friday, November 14, 2014 in Johnson Hall honored John C.G. "Sandy" Hutchison '64; Patrick Egan '97; Janelle Brey Greer'04, Melissa Soroka Willams '04 and included the 2004 softball team. In addition to the new class of Hall of Fame inductees, the Robert M. Herbstman Award was presented to Dennis Robison '68.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The 2014 Moravian College Athletic Hall of Fame Class that was inducted on Friday, November 14 in Johnson Hall honored John C.G. "Sandy" Hutchison '64; Patrick Egan '97; Janelle Brey Greer '04, Melissa Soroka Willams '04 and included the 2004 softball team. In addition to the new class of Hall of Fame inductees, the Robert M. Herbstman Award was presented to Dennis Robison '68.
Click here for a photo gallery from the event.
John, was a three-year standout on Greyhound golf squad. He transferred to Moravian after spending his freshman year at Duke University. In his first year with the Greyhounds, John captured the Middle Atlantic Conference Individual Championship and earned a spot in the 1962 NCAA Championship played at Duke. John made the cut in the tournament that included future British Open Champion Tom Weiskopf. He also made the All-East Team in 1962 and represented Moravian in the All-East versus All-West Golf Match prior to the start of the NCAA Championships. During his three years with the Greyhounds, John lost only two contests in match play, the style of play for most contests during his career. Immediately after his playing career, John spent two years as the Head Coach at Lehigh University, leading the squad to the 1966 MAC title. John retired from a long career most recently with Thermax Marine Sales, and he is currently residing in Tampa, Florida. John and his wife Anne have three children – Heidi Williams, Ann Waterhouse and Kevin Murrey.
Patrick, was a four-year letterwinner on both the cross country and track & field teams in his time in Bethlehem. He was one of the most successful cross country runners in Moravian history, earning All-Middle Atlantic Conference honors in each of his four seasons with top 10 finishes while leading the Greyhounds to four straight MAC titles. He also garnered NCAA All-Mideast Region accolades all four years for finishing in the top 25 of the region. Patrick went on to compete at the NCAA Division III National Championships in 1993, 1995 and 1996. Patrick was the cross country team's Most Valuable Player for four years, and in 1997, he was named Moravian's Outstanding Senior Male Athlete. On the track, Patrick was part of Moravian's indoor MAC Champion 4x800 meter relay squad in 1996, and he set the indoor record in the 5,000 meters. Outdoors, Patrick was the MAC Champion in the 5,000 meters in 1994 and the 10,000 meters in 1996. Outside of competition, Patrick worked as a staff writer for the Comenian during his four years on Moravian's campus. Patrick went on to attend Duquesne University School of Law and receive his juris doctor. He currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio and works for the Benesch Law firm. Patrick is also involved with America Scores – Cleveland, an inter-city soccer and academic program for elementary school students.
Janelle, was a four-year four year member of the softball squad and owned 17 school records when she graduated including game, season and career marks in RBIs, home runs, doubles and total bases. Janelle was named to the Commonwealth All-Conference First Team in each of her four years, and she was the Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year in 2002. Janelle was also selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-East Region three times, making the First Team in 2002 and 2004 and the Second Team in 2003, the ECAC Division III South All-Star squad three times with First Team selections in 2003 & 2004, and the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team in 2002, 2003 and 2004. During her senior year in 2004 that saw the Greyhounds reach the National Championship game, Janelle earned a spot on the NFCA Leadoff Classic All-Tournament Team as well as being named the team's MVP. She was also the 2004 Lehigh Valley Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Outstanding Softball Athlete of the Year, Moravian's LVAIAW Outstanding Athlete and winner of Moravian's Outstanding Senior Female Athlete award. Janelle excelled off the field as well, with three selections to the MAC Spring all-Academic Team, two spots on the CoSIDA Academic All-District squads and as a finalist for an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship in 2004. Janelle was a part-time and was also a freelance sports writer at the Easton Express-Times from 2002 until 2014, primarily covering swimming, field hockey and youth baseball and softball playoff tournaments. She is also active at the Cedar Crest Bible Fellowship Church where she is serving as the coordinator of Girls Quest. Janelle, and her husband Michael, reside in Northampton, Pennsylvania with their two children – Wesley (5) and Caden (3).
Melissa, was a four-year letterwinner on the softball team and a four-year starter for the Greyhounds in center field. She completed her career second in school history with 191 career hits and in the top 10 in 13 statistical categories while setting five school records as a player and becoming the first sophomore in school history to reach 100 career hits. As a senior, Melissa earned spots on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-East Region First Team, the ECAC Division III South All-Star First Team, the Commonwealth All-Conference First Team and the 2004 NCAA World Series All-Tournament Team as the Greyhounds finished as the NCAA Division III Runner-Up with a 40-6 record. Melissa was a four-time Commonwealth All-Conference honoree that included First Team selections in 2004 and 2001. In 2012, Melissa was inducted into the Sussex, New Jersey County Hall of Fame. Melissa works for ESF Camps based in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and she received a Master's Degree in Education: Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix. Melissa, and her husband David, reside in Morristown, New Jersey with their son David, who will turn two this month.
The 2004 Softball Team was the first softball team to play in the NCAA Division III World Series, reaching the National Championship game before the season ended. The squad also won the Commonwealth Conference title after posting a 14-0 regular season conference record and captured the NCAA Regional title at Ramapo College of New Jersey. The team had a 29-game winning streak during the season, was ranked No. 1 in the nation for four weeks in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 poll and won the NFCA Leadoff Classic Championship in March of 2004. The Greyhounds posted a 40-6 record in 2004, the only 40-win under the direction of 22-year Head Coach John Byrne '82.
Dennis was a letterwinner on the Moravian College men's basketball and baseball teams and received the Robert Martin Herbstman Award. The award honors a Moravian graduate who exemplifies the qualities of leadership, teamwork, and selflessness. Dennis had his career at Moravian interrupted by service in the United States military, and served as a captain and was named the Most Valuable Player for the men's basketball team. Dennis also earned a spot on the All-East Small College Basketball Team. After returning to Bethlehem and finishing his degree, Dennis went on to teach in the Pennridge School District for 30 years. Dennis is currently in his second stint as an assistant coach for the Greyhounds' men's basketball team and set to return to the bench for the ninth straight year. Dennis and his wife Barbara reside in Perkasie, Pennsylvania and have three children – Stephanie, Andrew and Janis.
