The Allegheny Athletic Hall of Fame nomination and selection committees have chosen six alumni for induction into the Hall of Fame. The annual induction ceremony will be held Friday, October 1, 1999, at The Country Club in Meadville. The inductees are Henry Kachelriess '63 (basketball), Nellie Springer (Kraus) '89 (soccer), Timothy Bruzdewicz '89 (baseball), Michael Parker '89 (football), Shelley Brown (Krause) '89 (basketball/softball) and Peter Vaas (football coach).
Kachelriess was an honorable mention selection of the Allegheny basketball All-Century team, named in observance of the 100th season of varsity basketball in 1996. A center, Kachelriess was the first Gator to earn first team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference honors, following the 1962-63 season. He closed his career fifth in all-time points with 953, which is currently 18th. Kachelriess was a four-year letterman, and the 1962-63 team captain. During that season, Kachelriess averaged nearly a double-double with 18.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. On February 2, 1962, he scored 38 points against Fenn, tied for the fourth highest single game output in Allegheny history. Kachelriess currently resides in Eatontown, N.J. where he is a distribution manager for Asbury Park Press, Inc.
Springer is the premier player in Allegheny soccer history. She was a three-time All-American, three-time All-NSCAA Mideast Region honoree and a four-time All-NCAC performer. Springer is Allegheny's all-time leading scorer with 218 career points, 75 ahead of teammate Georganne Morin. Springer also holds the all-time goals record with 94, outpacing Morin by 42, and Springer is second in career assists with 30. She also holds three of the top five goal and point seasons in NCAC history and is the NCAC's career leader in goals and points. Springer led the Gators to four consecutive NCAC Championships, a 56-14-5 overall record, and a 31-1-4 NCAC record. Springer is a native of West Hartford, Conn. and a graduate of William Hall High School. She currently resides in Sewickley, Pa.
Bruzdewicz is the first All-American in baseball history. He was a two-time All-American and All-Region selection, and was a first team All-NCAC pick in 1987 and '88. Bruzdewicz was the 1988 NCAC Pitcher of the Year. He still holds six season and career records at Allegheny and two NCAC records. His 11 wins and 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings are each Allegheny season records while his 119 strikeouts are a NCAC season record. Bruzdewicz's career 213 innings pitched and 25 wins are school records, while his 266 career strikeouts are a NCAC record. He also had a 2.66 career ERA, second all-time. Bruzdewicz signed a professional contract with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1988, pitching with Medicine Hat and Dunedin in Class A. A native of Imperial, Pa. and a graduate of West Allegheny High School, Bruzdewicz, now resides in McKees Rocks, Pa. where he is a route manager for JD Vending, Co.
Parker is one of only two Gators to earn All-America honors three straight years, 1986, '87, and '88. He was a three-time All-NCAC selection and was named the NCAC's defensive player of the year in 1987 and '88. A four-year letterwinner, Parker left his signature in multiple places in the Allegheny record book. He is second all-time in career tackles with 410, and stands second with 18 career sacks, although complete defensive statistics are not available. Parker recorded the third and fourth most tackles in a season, 140 and 134 in 1986 and '87 respectively, and he notched 11 sacks in 1988, second most all-time in a season. On October 10, 1987, he made 25 tackles, the second highest total in a single game in school history, in a 44-6 win over Ohio Wesleyan. Parker was as honored Allegheny's Male Senior Athlete of the Year for 1988-89. A native of Cleveland, Ohio and a graduate of Collinwood High School, Parker is a production editor for WJET-TV in Erie, Pa.
Brown was a two-sport standout in softball and basketball for the Gators. She was a three-time All-America at pitcher for the Gators, and during her four years the Gators never finished below fifth in the NCAA, including a second in 1988. Brown is Allegheny's all-time leader with an .810 career winning percentage and a career ERA of 0.75. Her 16 shutouts in 1986 are an Allegheny season best. Brown also holds the record for sacrifices in a season (28) and career (55). Additionally, she owns the second most wins in a season (24) and career (77) in school history. During her four years, the Gators had an amazing record of 130-31. Brown also was a second team All-NCAC honoree in basketball in 1988 and '89. She helped lead the Gators to four straight NCAC Championships, and she was a member of the 1985-86 squad that set the school record with 26 wins. Brown was the 1988-89 Female Athlete of the Year. Brown is a native of Erie, Pa. and a graduate of Iroquois High School. She currently resides in Pittsburgh, where she is a Crr Program Worker for Family Services of Western Pa.
Vaas was the head football coach and offensive coordinator from 1986-89. During his four years, Vaas compiled a 29-11-1 (.720) record, the third-best winning percentage in program history. His 1987 squad went 9-0-1 overall and 6-0 in the NCAC to capture the conference title. He led Allegheny to its first-ever NCAA postseason appearance, and 23-17 overtime loss to Washington & Jefferson. The 1988 team went 8-2 overall and again claimed the conference crown with a perfect 6-0 record. Vaas was named NCAC Coach of the Year in 1987 and '88. He left Allegheny to serve as the offensive backs coach under Lou Holtz and Notre Dame. From there he served four seasons as head coach at Holy Cross before joining the staff of the Barcelona Dragons of World League of American Football. Vaas is a native of Westwood, Mass., and a graduate of Holy Cross. He currently resides in Granger, Ind.
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