Penguins will induct 7 to Hall of Fame Oct. 21

Former football All-Americans Jeff Gergel and Terry Dittmer top the list.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two former Athletes of the Year, three NCAA Division II All-Americans, an individual who played a key role in one of the biggest basketball wins in school history and a pair of contributors will be inducted as the seven-member 2006 Athletics Hall of Fame class, the Youngstown State athletic department announced Monday.
Enshrinement will be Oct. 21, prior to the homecoming game against Northern Iowa.
The two former Vindicator/YSU Athletes of the Year to be inducted are Sandy Stieber (Pressler), a volleyball standout from 1988-91, who was the Athlete of the Year in 1992, and Tim Jackson, a basketball standout from 1987-91, who was named the Athlete of the Year in 1990.
The three Division II All-Americans are football players Jeff Gergel and Terry Dittmer and swimmer Becky MacFadyen.
Contributors award
Being inducted as contributors are Marilyn and Robert O'Leary. The O'Leary's endow a yearly scholarship, which begins in 2006-07, and provide an operating endowment for the men's and women's basketball programs.
Basketball standout Sam Jankovich is the final inductee. Jankovich played for the Penguins from 1948-52. As a senior in 1951, he scored a game-high 22 points in a 68-57 victory over LaSalle. At the time (Feb. 5, 1952) the Explorers were ranked 19th in the country and remains the program's only win over a ranked Division I program in school history. LaSalle featured four-time All-American Tom Gola and Norm Grekin who later played in the NBA.
Stieber finished with 798 career kills and 950 digs, which by the time her career ended in 1991 were school records. A four-year letter winner, she also collected 173 total blocks and had 64 aces. Her 950 digs were a then-school record and up until the 2005 campaign placed her in the top 10 in school history.
Joins other top scorers
Jackson's introduction now means the top 13 scorers in men's basketball history are in the Hall of Fame. Jackson ranks ninth with 1,531 points, averaging 13.7 per game during his career. Jackson also finished fourth with 810 career rebounds, averaging 8 per contest. He made 331 career free throws while attempting 449. Both of those totals rank fifth best in YSU history. He started all 112 games in his four years, a school record.
Gergel, a linebacker from 1978-81, was a first-team Associated Press and American Football Coaches Association All-American as a junior in 1980. That season he recorded 119 total tackles. As a sophomore, he was second on the team with 102 tackles, including 26 in three postseason games. He was the last YSU football player to earn Div. II All-America accolades.
Dittmer, a nose guard for YSU from 1976-79, was an honorable mention Associated Press selection as a senior in 1979. He was a team captain as the Penguins advanced to the NCAA Div. II championship game. He was a two-time first-team All-Mid-Continent Conference selection. He ranks second in school history with 59 career tackles for losses.
Swimming standout
MacFadyen earned All-America honors from 1983-85 as a key part of the relay teams. She participated in the sprint and medley relays, earning five top-10 national finishes.
Jankovich scored 663 points in his three years. Known as "Mr. Outside," he was second on the team in scoring as a junior and a senior.
The group will be honored at a brunch in the Kilcawley Center the morning of the football game. For information on attending the event, contact the Penguin Club at (330) 941-3720 or (330) 941-2351.