Akron Athletics Inducts 2017 Sports Hall of Fame Class

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AKRON, Ohio-- The University of Akron Department of Athletics inducted its 43rd Annual Varsity "A" Sports Hall of Fame class on Saturday morning at InfoCision Stadium– Summa Field.

The Class of 2017 — Eugene Alfred, Danielle Béland Aubin, Tim Dobos, Ashley Kaufman, Tracee McCoy, Ron Pasquale, and Barron Pringle— was honored during a brunch on the Huntington Club Level. The Team of Distinction— the 1986 soccer team, the Kenneth "Red" Cochrane Meritorious Service Awardee, Kevin O. Thompson, and the Mike Krino Varsity "A" Achievement Awardee, David J. Brubach, were also honored.

The seven honorees expand the total in the UA Varsity "A" Hall of Fame to 332 athletes, coaches, and administrators. In addition, there are now 40 Kenneth "Red" Cochrane Meritorious Service Award recipients and 29 Mike Krino Varsity "A" Achievement awardees.

The Class of 2017 was introduced to the Homecoming crowd at the Akron-Ball State football game.

2017 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

EUGENE ALFRED '73 (Soccer) – A four-year letterwinner in soccer, Eugene Alfred played one year under Stu Parry, the father of UA soccer, and three seasons for Bill Killen. A native of Ibadan, Nigeria, Alfred earned second-team All-Ohio and All-Midwest Honorable Mention honors as a freshman in 1969 during an 8-4 campaign. As a sophomore halfback, Alfred performed well enough to be selected first team on both the All-Ohio and All-Midwest squads and then was accorded 1970 All-America Honorable Mention accolades as he helped UA earn an NCAA I Tournament berth while compiling an 8-5-1 record. In 1971, he helped UA capture its 10^th Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association title and another postseason NCAA I Tournament berth with a 9-3-3 record. As a senior in 1972, Alfred and his Zip teammates put together a 9-3-2 campaign that earned them their third straight NCAA Tournament bid. Alfred resides in Lagos, Nigeria.

DANIELLE BÉLAND AUBIN '07 (Swimming & Diving) – The first-ever women's swimming inductee, Danielle Beland graduated in 2007 as the most decorated UA swimmer in the program's history. A four-year letterwinner, Beland was the first to earn multiple first-team All-Mid-American Conference honors, capturing honors in 2004, 2006, and 2007. Twice she was a double MAC champion, setting new school records in the process as she captured the 100 and 200 meters butterfly events in 2006 and in 2007. Her performances in 2007 also earned her the MAC Most Outstanding Senior Swimmer Award. She finished her collegiate career with six records. In addition to the butterfly events, Beland had the top times in the 1,000-meter freestyle, the 200 individual medley and shared with teammates the records in 400 and 800 medley relays. She was also listed as the top five best times in 11 events. Deland resides in Orleans, Ont.

TIM DOBOS, '89 (Baseball) – A four-year letterwinner and starting pitcher during the 1985-88 seasons, Tim Dobos was UA's busiest hurler his last three seasons. In 1986, he paced the Zip pitching staff with 65 strikeouts in 65 innings. Despite winning but four games in 1987, Dobos was accorded first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors. UA left the OVC after that junior season. Dobos' last campaign was his best. He won eight games, second only to Hall of Famer Mike Birkbeck, who had nine in 1982. His 95 strikeouts in a season and his 258 for his career both stood second to another Hall of Famer Dave Young, and Dobos' 21 victories were third behind those two outstanding pitchers. Dobos concluded his collegiate career with the season record for most innings pitched (95.1 in 1988) and career records for most innings pitched (279.2) and most walks (134). Dobos resides in Waxhaw, N.C.

ASHLEY KAUFMAN '07 (Track & Field) – A two-time All-American, Ashley Kaufman finished her collegiate career as one of the most prolific javelin throwers in the history of the UA's women's track program during the seasons of 2003-06. Her outstanding career was foretold since being recruited out of Freedom (Pa.) Area High School where she earned All-America honors as the No. 2 ranked javelin thrower. As a freshman, Kaufman finished third at the Mid-American Conference Championship, but she had a season's best throw of 144' 6" in the first of four All-Ohio Championship titles. She improved to 147' to qualify for the NCAA Mideast Regional in 2004. As a junior, Kaufman established a school record of 159' 3" while finishing seventh at the NCAA Track Championships to earn All-America honors in 2005. She duplicated her seventh-place finish at the NCAA meet as a senior to again earn All-America honors after destroying her previous record with a throw of 177' 2" at the Mt. SAC Relays in California. In addition, Kaufman captured her first MAC crown with a 176' 10" throw to earn the MAC's Most Outstanding Female Field Performer Award and was accorded UA's MVP Award. Kaufman resides in Columbus.

TRACEE McCOY '03 (Softball) – A three-time All-Ohio honoree at Akron Ellet High School, Tracee McCoy didn't miss a beat as a UA freshman in 2000. She earned the start at second base, played in all 52 games on the way to a 31-21 record and finished second on the team with a .364 batting average. In addition, McCoy paced the Zips in runs (36), hits (60), doubles (13), triples (4), RBI (35), walks (18), and total bases (102) while finishing second with seven home runs. Her performance earned her first-team All-Great Lakes honors, second-team All-Mid-American Conference accolades and UA's MVP Award. Unfortunately, she was plagued by injuries in 2001, and saw action in only 26 of 45 games. McCoy recovered for her junior campaign, starting at shortstop in all 47 games, led the team with a .328 batting average as Akron compiled a 30-17 overall record, 18-6 in the MAC and grabbed the MAC East Division title before falling in the MAC Championship series. McCoy was accorded first-team All-MAC honors. She repeated first-team All-MAC honors as a senior when she batted a team-leading .333 average and was tops in hits, triples, RBI, and walks while pacing the MAC with 10 home runs. She left UA ranked in the Top 10 in eight categories. McCoy went on to play professionally for the Akron Racers for three years. McCoy resides in Akron.

RON PASQUALE, '87 (Football) – A four-year letterwinner, Ron Pasquale was a walk-on who worked his way up to become UA's premier offensive lineman. As a freshman in 1983, he became a part-time starter at offensive guard as UA compiled an 8-3 mark. His performance earned him the Harry "Doc" Smith Award as the most outstanding freshman. The 6-3, 240-lb. athlete kept his position in 1984 and 1985, when the Zips captured seven of 11 games to earn a NCAA I-AA playoff bid. Pasquale excelled his senior season by bulking up to 270 pounds. One of UA's strongest players, he bench-pressed 500 pounds, lifted 605 pound in the squat and 360 pounds in the power clean. He was selected a team captain and switched to right tackle to help UA compile a 7-4 record in 1986. Pasquale's performance earned him Honorable Mention All-America accolades, first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors, and Akron's Most Valuable Lineman Award, and as the Zips set an all-time high of 283.6 yards per game rushing that remains a UA record 31 years later. Pasquale resides in Frisco, Texas.

BARRON PRINGLE, '99 (Track & Field) – A four-year letterwinner in 1995-98, Barron Pringle became the first UA male track athlete to earn first-team All-Mid-American Conference honors. That came in 1997 when he claimed first place in the 110-meter high hurdles at the MAC Championship. As a freshman in 1995, Pringle was voted UA's Newcomer of the Year and followed with the Most Improved Performer in 1996. He served as a captain and was elected the team's MVP in 1997 and 1998. Pringle held the 60-meter indoor high hurdles mark of :08.06 he set in 1998 until 2008. He also helped set relay records in the 4x400, the 4x200, 4x100 and the sprint medley. Pringle resides in Mayfield Heights, Ohio.

Kenneth "Red" Cochrane Meritorious Award
KEVIN O. THOMPSON '75 – Akron native Kevin Thompson has a long-standing record of service to Akron Athletics through his time and personal and corporate support of programs. He is also a community champion for Akron Athletics. Thompson is the PNC regional president for Akron/Canton/Wooster Region, serving in this role since 2008. He is a 40-year veteran of PNC and its predecessors in Akron. The 1975 graduate of The University of Akron earned a bachelor's degree in labor economics. Thompson has served the institution at almost every level, including the National Alumni Board and as a University Board of Trustee member. He founded the UA Athletics Advancement Council and served as a member for many years. He remains a trusted advisor to the University and to Akron Athletics. Thompson resides in Tallmadge, Ohio.

Mike Krino Varsity "A" Achievement Award
DAVID J. BRUBACH, '63 (Wrestling) – A four-year letterwinner in wrestling from 1958-63, David Brubach has coached the sport in high and middle school for over 40 years. Upon graduating in 1963, Brubach was hired to start a wrestling program at Akron North High School. In the 17 years of that career, he compiled a 135-41-4 record, won nine Akron City Series titles, two sectional titles and one district crown. He also had 18 state qualifiers, eight state medalists, and one state champion. The history teacher, now retired, moved to Massillon Jackson High in 1980 to take over a program that never had a state qualifier. In nine seasons at Jackson, Brubach's wrestlers gave him a 93-40-1 record, and he coached 17 state qualifiers, 10 state medalists, and three state champions. The last 15 years Brubach has been developing young wrestlers at Jackson Middle School. As a result, Brubach's outstanding reputation of building winning wrestling programs and as a dedicated coach to youth wrestling. His peers have voted him into both the Summit (1984) and Stark (1996) Counties Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. He also has been inducted into the Akron East High School Sports Hall of Fame (2001) and the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame (1999). Brubach resides in Massillon, Ohio.

Team of Distinction
The 1986 soccer team became Akron's first College Cup team. Setting their preseason goals on a national championship, the Zips secured two road wins over nationally ranked teams [Fresno State, 2-1; Penn State, 1-0] and UA's first win over Indiana since 1975, 1-0, to prove they were going in the right direction. Under the direction of head coach Steve Parker, Akron closed its regular season with six wins, including a heart-stopping 1-0 victory over the nation's No. 1 ranked Evansville Purple Aces before a fever-pitched 3,000 hometown fans on Lee Jackson Field. That victory earned the Zips a sixth spot, their highest national ranking ever up to that time. UA earned its 15^th NCAA Tournament bid (and fourth consecutive) in its 32-year history. After receiving a bye in the first round, Akron travelled to Evansville again where it claimed a 2-1 win in overtime. The Zips hosted the NCAA quarterfinal match against another previous opponent, Penn State, and came away with another 2-1 overtime victory. Akron had to make a return trip to Fresno State for the national semifinals and downed the Bulldogs, 1-0. UA's only remaining hurdle to a national championship was a highly regarded Duke squad, which prevailed by the narrowest of margins, 1-0. UA finished with a 17-4-3 record as the national runner-up, and Parker was accorded National Coach of the Year.

The University of Akron Athletics

Akron Athletics Inducts 2017 Sports Hall of Fame Class

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