ERIE, Pa. – Penn State Behrend will induct seven individuals into the College's Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Jon Harding '01, Tara Braden '04, Chris McCartney '06, Emily Rogan '08, Brittany Mays ' 07, Dan Mitchell '07 and Brad Ruffo '07 are the individuals to be recognized. In addition, the 25th anniversary of the 1992-93 softball team along with the 10-year anniversary AMCC Championship teams will be honored.
Jon Harding (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Wyoming Seminary) was a two-sport athlete at Penn State Behrend, including a member of the inaugural men's water polo team in 2000. He ranked in the Top 5 in all water polo stats when he graduated, including second in career goals (42) in his short two years with the program. In swimming and diving, Harding graduated with the top times in the 100 and 200 butterfly events along with the fastest times in the 200 and 400 medley relays, and 400 free relay.
Tara Braden (Pittsburgh, PA/Fairview) was a two-sport athlete at Penn State Behrend, making her mark on the swimming and diving team as well as the water polo team from 2000-04. She was a part of the inaugural women's water polo team, scoring 27 goals and adding 27 assists, with 12 drawn kickouts and 138 steals. In swimming and diving, Braden held the Top 10 times in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events, along with the top times in the 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, 400 and 800 freestyle relays. Braden was a three-time AMCC All-Academic choice and four-time CWPA All-Academic Selection. She was honored with the Sportsmanship & Leadership Award and Behrend's Female Athlete of the Year Award.
Chris McCartney (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin) was a two-time Penn State Behrend Pitcher of the Year for the baseball team from 2002-06. At the conclusion of his career, he was second all-time in career ERA at 2.81, ranked first in wins in a season with a 10-3 mark as a senior. The 10 wins in a single season also remained an AMCC all-time high until 2014. McCartney was second all-time in career wins with 23, ranked first for most inning pitched in a season (84 2/3) and second in innings pitched in his career (223). He helped the Lions capture the AMCC & ECAC Championships in 2003, while earning All-AMCC second team honors his senior year.
Emily Rogan (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) was the anchor of the Penn State Behrend women's soccer defense from 2004-08. She was a two-time All-AMCC first-team selection, playing in 84 career games to rank her eighth on the all-time chart. Rogan helped the Lions post 44 shutouts during her career. Her freshman and sophomore year, Behrend earned a bid to the ECAC Tournament while combining for 23 shutouts. Rogan then led the Lions to capture the AMCC Championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament her final two seasons where she earned All-Conference accolades.
Brittany Mays (Franklin, PA/Keystone) was the catalyst for the Penn State Behrend women's basketball team from 2003-07. As Rookie of the Year in 2003-04, she led the team to the AMCC regular-season title, the AMCC Championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Mays earned many team awards in her four years, including MVP two years in a row. She was named Female Athlete of the Year award and etched her name in the record book, finishing third in points (1,153), sixth in rebounds (628) and 12th in games played (105).
Dan Mitchell (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg) was a three-time NCAA qualifier and participant for the Penn State Behrend men's track and field team from 2003-07. He earned Rookie of the Year in 2004 after becoming the first track & field athlete to compete at nationals in the javelin. Mitchell was a four-time ECAC qualifier was crowned champion in the javelin his senior year. He also earned team MVP and All-Conference accolades his junior year, before garnering the Behrend Sportsmanship Award and Athlete of the Year honors in 2007.
Brad Ruffo (West Palm Beach, FL/West Middlesex (PA)) was the first-ever Penn State Behrend runner to qualify for the National Championships in cross country. Ruffo went from the AMCC Newcomer of the Year in 2003 to Runner of the Year in 2005 for claiming the individual conference championship and then competing at nationals that same year. He was a four-time All-Conference selection in cross country and placed second at the AMCC Championships his sophomore season. The three-time team MVP, transitioned to the track & field season and set 12 new school records, including six indoor and six outdoor marks.
The induction ceremony and dinner will be held at 6 p.m. in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building on Behrend's campus. The induction will conclude a full slate of home athletic events.
