The Edinboro University Athletic Hall of Fame celebrated its 29th year with the induction of six new members on Saturday, April 24. The six new members swelled the Edinboro Hall of Fame membership to 196 inductees. The Class of 2010 was formally inducted at the 29th Annual Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony at McComb Fieldhouse.
The 2010 inductees include: former women’s swimming standout Jamie Ayres; former football standout Rick Jordan; Jesse Ogden, former men’s basketball standout; former women’s basketball standout Jessica Rowe; and Greg Walcavich, who has served as the head coach of the men’s basketball team for 21 seasons. In addition to the six student-athlete/coach inductees, the Athletic Hall of Fame will induct Tom Herman as the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Former cross country and track & field standout Martin Lyons was scheduled to be inducted, as well, but his job overseas would not allow him to attend.
“This represents another outstanding group of inductees. That’s what the Edinboro Athletic Hall of Fame has stood for through the years,” said Edinboro Director of Athletics Bruce Baumgartner. “These individuals have brought distinction to themselves, our athletic department and our University during their careers. It is gratifying that they have since gone on to enjoy successful careers while never forgetting their Edinboro roots. The six inductees represent a very diverse group, and we are glad to be paying tribute to them at the induction ceremonies.”
Here is a synopsis of the six inductees, in alphabetical order:
Jamie Ayres (‘91) ranks as one of the top competitors in Edinboro women’s swimming history. While competing from 1987 to 1991, she earned All-American honors nine times. In 1988-89 she earned All-American honors in the 100-yard backstroke, in the process not only becoming the first Edinboro female swimmer to earn All-American status, but also the first one to qualify for Nationals. In 1989-90 and 1990-91 Ayres was a four-time All-American each year in the same four events – the 100-yard backstroke, the 200-yard freestyle relay, the 400-yard freestyle relay, and the 200-yard medley relay. As a senior she helped Edinboro finish tenth at Nationals while competing in six events and earning All-American honors in four. She took seventh in the 100-yard backstroke, and was part of the 200-yard relay team that finished second. The 200-yard medley relay team came in seventh. She still holds school records in the 200 and 400-yard freestyle relay events. She won PSAC individual championships in the 100-yard backstroke in 1990 and 1991, and was also on the 200 and 400-yard relay teams in 1991 that came away with PSAC titles. The native of Zelienople, PA was named to Edinboro University’s all-time women’s swimming team in 2006-07.
Rick Jordan (‘84) ranks as one of Edinboro’s all-time great defensive football players. Playing for the Fighting Scots at defensive tackle from 1981-84, he helped Edinboro finish with a 29-12 record during that period. That included a 9-2 record and a berth in the PSAC Championship game in 1982 and an 8-2 record in 1984. He concluded his career with 177 tackles while playing in 32 games. A native of Jamestown, NY, he is tied for second in career sacks with 25.5. He was a three-year starter who earned preseason All-American honors in 1984 and was a first team All-PSAC West selection that year as he finished with 35 tackles and 3.5 sacks in eight games. He led the Fighting Scots in sacks all three years as a starter, including 12 sacks in 1983, the third-highest figure in a season. He had 10 sacks in 1982, good for fourth all-time. He holds the single game record, along with three other players, for tackles for a loss in a game with five, that coming against Lock Haven in 1984. Jordan posted a career-high 86 tackles as a sophomore in 1982 and had 64 in 1983. He was named to Edinjboro’s all-time team at defensive tackle in 2006.
Jesse Ogden (‘99) is one of the finest men’s basketball players to perform for the Fighting Scots. The 6’5” guard possessed outstanding range and holds the school record for career three-pointers made (334) and attempted (815). He ranks 12th in career scoring with 1,246 points while playing in 110 career games, the latter figure tied for fourth all-time. As a senior the native of Georgetown, Ontario, helped the Fighting Scots win their first-ever PSAC Tournament title, and was named the MVP of the tournament. The team finished with a school-record 26 wins and reached the NCAA East Regional, where Edinboro won its first round game before losing in the semifinals. Ogden averaged 12.7 ppg., setting season records for three-pointers made (116) and attempted (286) while earning second team All-PSAC West honors. He also holds the third and fourth-highest figures for three-pointers made in a season with 106 in 1996-97 and 89 in 1995-96. He ranks fourth in career three-point percentage at 41.0 percent. As a junior he averaged a career-best 14.8 ppg., and as a sophomore he averaged 11.9 ppg. Edinboro finished with a 75-39 record during his four seasons with two NCAA playoff appearances.
Jessica Rowe (’01) is regarded as one of the finest women’s basketball players in Edinboro history. In fact, she was the team’s all-time leading scorer until her record was broken this year. While playing for the Fighting Scots from 1996-2000, she scored 1,846 points, which now ranks second all-time. She also stands ninth in career scoring average (15.9 ppg.), third in career field goals (653), first in career field goals attempted (1,604), seventh in free throw percentage (.752), third in free throws made (400), third in free throws attempted (533), second in three-point field goal percentage (.358), fifth in three-point field goals made (140), fifth in three-point field goals attempted (391), fifth in assists (453) and third in games played (116). The Columbus, Ohio native averaged in double figures each season, boosting her scoring average each year. She averaged 12.3 ppg. with 99 assists as a freshman, followed by 15.3 ppg. and 126 assists as a sophomore, 15.5 ppg. with 82 assists as a junior, and capped her brilliant career by averaging 21.3 ppg. as a senior, adding 146 assists. Her senior scoring average ranks fifth in a season and the 576 points ranks sixth. Rowe became one of six Edinboro players to earn Kodak All-American honors following her senior year, earning a spot on the first team. She was also named the PSAC West Player of the Year in 1999-2000 and was later recognized as the 2000 Nancy Acker Award winner. She was also a first team All-PSAC West selection in 1998-99 and a second team choice in 1997-98. Edinboro finished with a 76-41 record during her four seasons with two trips to the NCAA East Regional. That included 24-9 finish in 1996-97, her freshman year, as Edinboro won the East Regional and advanced to the Elite Eight for the lone time in school history.
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