2014 Lycoming Winter Magazine - page 25

Dutch Burch Court dedicated
While patrolling the sidelines
of Lycoming’s Hilltop and Lamade
gymnasiums for 32 years, Clarence
“Dutch” Burch won more than 300 games
for the Warriors. The college named the
court that he worked so hard to build in
his memory, as Dutch Burch Court at
Lamade Gym was formally dedicated
before the championship game of the
Dutch Burch Tip-Off on Nov. 16.
Burch, who passed away at age 80 on
Sept. 8, 2012, coached Lycoming’s men’s
basketball team from 1962-94, amassing a
school-record 318 wins. Perhaps it is most
fitting that the basketball court is named in
his memory because of his role as director
of athletics during the construction of the
2,500-seat Lamade Gym in 1980, as the
building replaced the cramped Hilltop
Gym.
Burch led Lycoming to its first Middle
Atlantic Conference regular-season
championship in 1965-66, just three years
after a 5-15 season in his first year, and
he added two more titles in 1983-84 and
1984-85. Lycoming made 11 appearances
in the postseason during Burch’s tenure.
Among the highlights of Burch’s
career was having the opportunity to
coach two of his three sons. Sam ’86 and
Seth ’89, both guards, helped Lycoming
to a 92-75 record and three MAC playoff
appearances during their playing careers.
His daughter, Sue (Caravaggio) ’81, was a
member of the women’s tennis team.
Burch, who was MAC Coach of the
Year in 1983-84, coached 17 first-team
all-conference picks and two league
most valuable players during his career.
He also coached 11 of the program’s 25
1,000-point scorers.
Shangraw Athletic Complex receives
upgraded entrance
During a span of just three weeks, the
Robert L. Shangraw Athletic Complex
received a new entrance and expanded
parking lot. The work, which took
place between home football games,
was completed prior to the Warriors’
homecoming victory on Oct. 26.
“We are very excited about the
continuing improvements at the Shangraw
Athletic Complex,” Mike Clark ’93,
Lycoming’s director of athletics and head
football coach, said. “The improvements
allow us to fittingly welcome our alumni,
parents and fans to the various contests
played at the complex.”
The new entrance was built by Glenn
O. Hawbaker, Lundy Construction
and Belcher’s Fencing at the corner of
Mulberry Street and Union Avenue. The
area includes new curbing and sidewalks
leading into the complex and features the
same black wrought-iron fencing that is
found around much of the main campus.
In the near future, the new entryway will
be enhanced by a brick pillar on each side
of the newly-paved section of Mulberry
Street.
Forty new parking spots were added to
the complex’s parking lot, directly behind
the clothing and food concession stands. A
concrete patio area was also added by the
concession stand for fans to socialize and
eat while watching the game. And a new
ticket booth now welcomes fans to games
at the complex.
Wiser was a standout linebacker and
wrestler for the Warriors before moving
to the sidelines, where he has assisted the
Warriors for 40 seasons, including the last
37 as defensive coordinator and assistant
head coach.
He has led the Warriors to the No. 1
national ranking in total defense twice
during his tenure (1975, 1983) and his
teams also have led the nation in rushing
defense (1976, ’82 and ’87) and scoring
defense (’99).
With Wiser on the sidelines, the
Warriors have a record of 302-122-5
(.710). They have made 12 NCAA playoff
appearances, including two trips to the
national title game, and won 15 MAC
titles. His defense has topped the MAC
17 times and has recorded a total of 66
shutouts.
Hammaker tabbed Curry Coach
of the Year
Swimming coach Jerry Hammaker
received the fifth annual Robb Curry Jr.
Coach of the Year award at Lycoming’s
28th annual
Athletics Hall of
Fame induction
ceremony Friday,
Oct. 25.
Hammaker’s
program enjoyed
a banner year
in 2012-13, as
it tied the best
mark during
his tenure by
breaking eight school records at the MAC
Championships. The men’s team posted
an 8-1 dual meet record, including an
eight-meet winning streak, both the best
marks since the 1964-65 team went 11-1.
The team also tied its high-water mark
by finishing third at the conference meet
thanks to 14 all-conference selections.
The women’s team won its final four dual
meets to finish 7-3, the program’s 12th
straight winning year.
Hammaker capped the season by
becoming the men’s program’s all-time
wins leader when the Warriors defeated
Arcadia on Jan. 19 for his 82
nd
win,
passing the mark of 81 set by Mort Rauff
from 1960-73.
The award was established by Robert
’69 and Susan Curry in memory of
their son, Robert (Robby) D. Curry ’05.
Robb was a longtime Lycoming athletic
administrator and assistant football coach.
It’s Wiser time
Lycoming College assistant head
football coach Steve Wiser
’74 recently
garnered some much-deserved attention.
Prior to kickoff at the 2013 home-
opener, he was recognized for becoming
just the second person in Middle Atlantic
Conference history to reach 200 conference
wins as a coach. The feat happened with the
2012 season-ending win at Misericordia.
Lycoming’s homecoming victory versus
Albright on Oct. 26 marked Wiser’s 300
th
win as a player and coach. And on Nov.
10, he was inducted into the West Branch
Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports
Hall of Fame.
Dutch Burch Court was officially dedicated
on Nov. 16.
President Kent Trachte congratulates Steve
Wiser ’74, assistant head football coach, on his
many years of success at the college.
Jerry Hammaker
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