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The College of Wooster

Eight Set for Induction into "W" Association Hall of Fame on Oct. 19

2019 W Association Hall of Fame Inductees
2019 W Association Hall of Fame Inductees
August 15, 2019

A class of six former College of Wooster standout student-athletes, plus a coach and an administrator, will be inducted into the W Association Hall of Fame during the College's "Black & Gold Weekend," announced the alumni organization that supports intercollegiate athletics. The official ceremony will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Scheide Music Center. Those wishing to attend the induction ceremony can RSVP here, and there is no cost to attend.

Scheduled to be on hand for their induction are Natalie Barone '06, Tom Love, Matt Mahaffey '00, Colleen McCauley '89, Mark Miller '09, Tim Pettorini, Megan Sward '06, while the late Mel Riebe '55 rounds out this year's inductees.

Barone starred on both the basketball and softball teams in the mid-2000s, and it was in the circle where she gained the most notoriety. There, Barone was tabbed as the North Coast Athletic Conference's Pitcher of the Year in 2005, and she earned all-conference certificates three times on the diamond. Barone's 34 wins, 462 2/3 innings pitched, and 309 strikeouts all rank third all-time in program history. On the hardwood, Barone was a three-year letterwinner and led the team in assists per game (2.3) as a junior.

Love retired at the end of May after an outstanding 37-year career as the College's head athletic trainer. While oversight of the sports medicine needs of Wooster's student-athletes was always at the forefront of his duties, Love also taught classes in prevention and care of athletic injuries. During his time at Wooster, Love was among the first 100 athletic trainers to obtain a license in Ohio in 1992.

Mahaffey earned All-America honors as a junior and senior, and finished fifth in Div. III with 41.2 yards per punt as a junior. A two-time College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-American®, Mahaffey went on to earn a prestigious NCAA postgraduate scholarship. Mahaffey's contributions helped the Scots win a share of the 1997 NCAC title, which marked the program's first conference championship in 38 years. Upon graduation, Mahaffey was the NCAC's and Wooster's career leader in punting average (39.1).

McCauley earned All-America honors as part of Wooster's sixth-place 4x100 relay (49.1) at the 1987 Div. III Championships., and qualified for the championships in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100 relay in 1988. The eight-time NCAC champion and 18-time all-conference performer was a relay staple for five NCAC championship teams (two indoor, three outdoor). Seven of McCauley's eight NCAC titles came on relays. While track was by far her superior sport, McCauley also spent time on the Scots' basketball and soccer teams.

Miller, a first-team American Baseball Coaches Association All-American and the NCAC Pitcher of the Year as a senior, helped lead the Scots to a runner-up finish at the 2009 Div. III World Series. Primarily a reliever throughout his career, Miller transitioned to a front-end starting role as a senior. His 73 appearances were the most in program history upon graduation, and he posted a sterling 2.14 ERA over 184 2/3 innings.

Pettorini retired at the end of the 2019 season. During his 38 seasons leading Wooster's storied baseball program, Pettorini won 1,243 games (1,243-461-6, .729), a total fifth in Div. III. The active Div. III leader in wins upon his retirement, Pettorini's teams made 26 appearances in the Div. III Championships. There, Wooster finished as the national runner-up twice (1997 and 2009) and in third-place in 2005. Pettorini's Scots won 19 NCAC titles and earned 59 All-America certificates.

Riebe, a standout basketball player, actually played golf at the College, and that's because he didn't have amateur status when he enrolled as a 34-year-old. Prior to enrolling, Riebe led the National Basketball League in scoring twice, served in the Navy, and appeared in 81 career games with the Boston Celtics in the Basketball Association of America. At the College, Riebe averaged 78.2 strokes per round over his three-year career, and helped the Scots to the Ohio Conference title as a senior. Riebe died in 1977.

Sward earned third-team All-American honors from the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association as a sophomore and was a three-time all-region selection. Sward earned three All-NCAC certificates with first-team honors a sophomore, junior, and senior. She played on teams that advanced to two national tournaments and won a pair of conference titles. Sward's 102 assists are still the second-most in program history.

Noteworthy, McCauley joins her husband, the late Rob Piscetta '87, in the hall of fame, and they are believed to be the first couple in the hall. Natalie joins her sister Angie '04 in the hall, while Mel's grandson, Erich '92, was a 2005 inductee.

After the induction ceremony, the W Association will be hosting a 110th anniversary celebration at the Lowry Center Back Patio Tent. You can RSVP for that event here.

Profiles on each of the inductees will be posted on woosterathletics.com leading up to the induction ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 19.