RELEASE DATE: 10/8/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mansfield to induct Jim Klinger, Kelly Morris Shannon, Steve Shannon and Jerry Waldron into Athletic/Alumni Hall of Fame Friday evening.
– 27^th annual induction ceremony features first husband-wife induction in the same year.

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University Athletic/Alumni Hall of Fame will hold its 27^th annual induction ceremony on Friday, October 10 in Manser Hall.

The Class of 2009 consists of football standout Jim Klinger ’71, softball record-holder Kelly Morris Shannon ’2000, basketball standout Steve Shannon ‘2000 and baseball record-setter Jerry Waldron ’91.

It marks the first time a husband and wife (Steve and Kelly Morris Shannon) have been inducted into the Hall of Fame in the same class.

In 1969, Klinger became the first defensive back in school history to earn first team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic conference (PSAC) honors. He also played quarterback and punted, helping the Mountaineers to a 6-3 record in 1969.

Kelly Morris Shannon is the first, and to date, only Mountaineer pitcher to earn All-PSAC honors. A two-time NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic Regional selection, she still holds the MU season and career strikeout records.

Steve Shannon was a four-year starter for the Mountaineer basketball team, helping Mansfield to the PSAC title as a freshman. A first team All-PSAC East selection his senior year, Shannon is one of two Mountaineers to score more than 1200 points and pull down more than 800 rebounds.

Jerry Waldron was a two-time All-PSAC East selection in baseball. A .361 career hitter, Waldron held eight career records when he graduated in 1991. He was also a first team All-Regional selection. He was a member of the 1987 and 1989 PSAC East Championship teams.

The Class of 2009 will also appear in the Homecoming Parade Saturday morning and be introduced prior the Mansfield-Navy sprint football game at Van Norman Field.

Jim Klinger, 1971

Jim was a key member of the Mountaineer football program from 1968-70. During that era, freshmen were not permitted to play on the varsity team. Jim was a backup to Hall of Fame quarterback Stew Casterline in 1968 and filled in well when Casterline went down with injuries. In 1969, Klinger was named to first team All-PSAC honors at defensive back, the first Mountaineer defensive player in school history to earn first team recognition. He also served as punter and quarterback, taking over as starting quarterback in 1970.

Kelly Morris Shannon, 2000

A four-year starting pitcher for the Mountaineer softball team, Kelly Morris Shannon still holds the school career (366) and single-season (125) strikeout records. In 2000, she became the first, and to date only, pitcher in school history to be named to All-PSAC East honors. A two-time NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic Regional selection, she was the MU Female Athlete of the Year in 2000 and twice named to NFCA All-Academic team honors. Kelly was recently named the head coach at NCAA Division II National Champion Lock Haven and is married to former Mountaineer basketball standout Steve Shannon '00.

Steve Shannon, 2000

Steve Shannon was a four-year starter for the men’s basketball team from 1996-99. A first team All-PSAC East selection in 1999, Steve was also a key player on Mansfield’s 1997 PSAC Championship team averaging more than thirteen points and six rebounds per game for the #13 ranked Mountaineers that season. Steve led the PSAC in rebounding during his senior year while finishing fifth in the conference in scoring averaging 16.3 points per game. He was just the second player in school history to score more than 1200 points (1231) while pulling down more than 800 (803) career rebounds. The 1999 MU Male Winter Athlete of the Year, Steve is married to former Mountaineer softball standout Kelly Morris Shannon '00

Jerry Waldron, 1991

Jerry was a member of the baseball program from 1987-90 and a three-year starter in the outfield. A two-time All-PSAC East selection, Jerry was also a first team All-North Atlantic Regional selection in 1990. A .361 career hitter, Jerry held eight school career marks when he graduated in 1991 including games (179), at-bats (582), hits (210), doubles (52), and RBI’s (145). A team captain his final two seasons, Jerry was a key member of the 1987 and 1990 teams that captured the PSAC East title and played in the Northeast Regional in 1989.