Bucknell University Athletics
Gene Depew, Kelly Mazzante Among 2019 Induction Class of West Branch Valley Chapter of Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame
10/8/2019 11:39:00 AM | Baseball, General, Women's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell Athletics is well-represented in the 2019 induction class of the West Branch Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Among the 10 new honorees are Bucknell Athletics Hall of Famer Gene Depew '71 and current Bison women's basketball assistant coach Kelly Mazzante.
Depew, who was an outstanding football player and a longtime baseball and football coach at Bucknell, will be inducted posthumously after his passing in 2015 at the age of 66. A true Bucknell institution, Depew was co-captain of the Bison football team and earned All-Middle Atlantic Conference Honorable Mention in 1969.
After graduation, Depew returned to Bucknell as the football team's defensive line coach, and he remained in that position until 1992. In 1974, he joined the Bison baseball staff as an assistant coach under Hall-of-Famer Tommy Thompson, and prior to the 1982 season Depew succeeded Thompson as head baseball coach. He went on to win 591 games on the diamond and led his teams to five NCAA Tournament appearances, including a memorable 7-0 shutout of Florida State in 2008.
Depew was so highly regarded as a coach and friend that the Bucknell baseball field was renamed Eugene B. Depew Field in his honor in 2003. He was inducted into the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.
A basketball legend in Central Pennsylvania, Mazzante joined first-year head coach Trevor Woodruff's staff at Bucknell this past May. Mazzante piled up 3,217 career points at Montoursville High School – third-most in state history -- and then she added 2,919 more during a brilliant four-year career at Penn State.
Mazzante set Penn State and Big Ten scoring records while leading the Nittany Lions to two Big Ten championships. In both 2003 and 2004, she was named an Associated Press First Team All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year. She was also a three-time Academic All-America selection and was picked as the Academic All-American of the Year as a senior.
Mazzante was later drafted by the Charlotte Sting of the WNBA, and her 11-year professional playing career was highlighted by a pair of WNBA titles with the Phoenix Mercury in 2007 and 2009.
Also among this year's inductees are Jim and Janis Arp, who were longtime coaches at Williamsport High School as well as PIAA officials. Jim Arp is now a fixture at many Bucknell athletics events as a scoreboard and game clock operator.
Joining them in the Hall of Fame are former Lycoming quarterback Rick Burd; Milton High School and Clarion wrestling champion Bob Crawford; Lock Haven wrestling standout Trap McCormick; Montoursville High School three-sport athlete Mark Mussina; and Lock Haven High School three-sport athlete Mike Vuocolo. Max Dell, who started the District 4 All-Star Football Game in 1991, was chosen as the Volunteer of the Year.
The formal induction ceremony will take place on Sunday, Nov. 10 at the Genetti Hotel and Suites in Williamsport. Seats for the induction banquet are available for $25 from Cindy Fawess-Aber by e-mailing cindyfawess1@gmail.com or calling 570-713-4215 or 570-742-7942, or by mailing a check made payable to the West Branch Valley Sports Hall of Fame mailed to Cindy Fawess, 358 Vine St., Milton, PA 17847.
Depew, who was an outstanding football player and a longtime baseball and football coach at Bucknell, will be inducted posthumously after his passing in 2015 at the age of 66. A true Bucknell institution, Depew was co-captain of the Bison football team and earned All-Middle Atlantic Conference Honorable Mention in 1969.
After graduation, Depew returned to Bucknell as the football team's defensive line coach, and he remained in that position until 1992. In 1974, he joined the Bison baseball staff as an assistant coach under Hall-of-Famer Tommy Thompson, and prior to the 1982 season Depew succeeded Thompson as head baseball coach. He went on to win 591 games on the diamond and led his teams to five NCAA Tournament appearances, including a memorable 7-0 shutout of Florida State in 2008.
Depew was so highly regarded as a coach and friend that the Bucknell baseball field was renamed Eugene B. Depew Field in his honor in 2003. He was inducted into the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.
A basketball legend in Central Pennsylvania, Mazzante joined first-year head coach Trevor Woodruff's staff at Bucknell this past May. Mazzante piled up 3,217 career points at Montoursville High School – third-most in state history -- and then she added 2,919 more during a brilliant four-year career at Penn State.
Mazzante set Penn State and Big Ten scoring records while leading the Nittany Lions to two Big Ten championships. In both 2003 and 2004, she was named an Associated Press First Team All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year. She was also a three-time Academic All-America selection and was picked as the Academic All-American of the Year as a senior.
Mazzante was later drafted by the Charlotte Sting of the WNBA, and her 11-year professional playing career was highlighted by a pair of WNBA titles with the Phoenix Mercury in 2007 and 2009.
Also among this year's inductees are Jim and Janis Arp, who were longtime coaches at Williamsport High School as well as PIAA officials. Jim Arp is now a fixture at many Bucknell athletics events as a scoreboard and game clock operator.
Joining them in the Hall of Fame are former Lycoming quarterback Rick Burd; Milton High School and Clarion wrestling champion Bob Crawford; Lock Haven wrestling standout Trap McCormick; Montoursville High School three-sport athlete Mark Mussina; and Lock Haven High School three-sport athlete Mike Vuocolo. Max Dell, who started the District 4 All-Star Football Game in 1991, was chosen as the Volunteer of the Year.
The formal induction ceremony will take place on Sunday, Nov. 10 at the Genetti Hotel and Suites in Williamsport. Seats for the induction banquet are available for $25 from Cindy Fawess-Aber by e-mailing cindyfawess1@gmail.com or calling 570-713-4215 or 570-742-7942, or by mailing a check made payable to the West Branch Valley Sports Hall of Fame mailed to Cindy Fawess, 358 Vine St., Milton, PA 17847.
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