From Division III to the World Stage
As the College celebrates this milestone, it also recognizes the broader impact of these athletic achievements on the campus community and beyond. Alumni who participated in these championship teams have gone on to successful careers, often crediting their experiences in Division III sports as pivotal to their personal and professional development.
Most notably, Jeremy Scott ’03 competed in the Olympic trials and qualified for the 2012 Olympics in London in the men’s pole vault, where he placed 14th. During his time at Allegheny, the neuroscience major blossomed into arguably the top pole vaulter among all three NCAA divisions. He was a six-time NCAC champion, earning three indoor and three outdoor titles, while he was a four-time All-American and two-time NCAA Division III National Champion.
In 2000, he captured his first NCAC outdoor championship, going on to earn his first All-America nod with a second-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championships. After earning his first NCAC indoor title in 2001, Scott repeated as the NCAC champion and NCAA runner-up in the outdoor championships. He enjoyed a storybook 2002 campaign, again sweeping the NCAC indoor and outdoor titles, while going on to be crowned the Division III National Champion in both.
He continued his record-breaking career as a senior in 2003, setting the NCAA all-division indoor record, while again capturing the NCAC indoor title. That spring, he joined historic company, as he qualified for the world indoor championships, becoming the first Division III athlete since the legendary Edwin Moses to do so while still a student.
As Allegheny College’s Female Athlete of the Year in both 1981-82 and 1982-83, Jennifer Colgrove Martin ’83 stands out as one of the most celebrated female athletes in the College’s history. In 1982, she became the Gators’ first NCAA Mideast cross country champion, later earning All-America honors with a fifth-place finish at that season’s NCAA Division III Championships. In total, Martin’s performances in track and cross country earned her All-American honors five times at Allegheny — three times in cross country and twice in track. Martin also finished 12th at the Summer Olympic trials for the Women’s Marathon. She has qualified for every Women’s Marathon since the event became a medal sport in 1984, an accomplishment shared with only four other women.
Baseball Players in the Pros
The Allegheny baseball program has a solid tradition when it comes to its players moving on to the professional level following their collegiate career. Since 1988, 18 Gators have signed professional contracts in leagues such as Major League Baseball, the Frontier League, the Atlantic League, the Northern League, the Pioneer League, the Pecos League, and the Texas League.
Throughout history, four Allegheny players have seen significant action at the major league level, starting in 1878 when Russ McKelvy 1876 patrolled the outfield for the Indianapolis Blues and later the Pittsburgh Alleghenys. During an era in baseball of miniscule statistics, McKelvy hit two home runs and drove in 36 during his rookie season.
Robert M. Garbark ’32 was the second Gator to grace the major league diamond, playing seven years as a journeyman with the Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Athletics, and Boston Red Sox from 1934-1945. His final year would definitely be called his best, as he batted .261 with 17 RBIs in only 68 games during a great pitching era in the major leagues.
In 1965, Glenn Beckert ’62 began what would become the most successful major league career for a former Allegheny player, signing with the Chicago Cubs. For nine seasons, Beckert anchored second base for the Cubs, nabbing four N.L. All-Star selections and winning the 1968 Gold Glove award.
Most recently, Josh Sharpless ’03 made his mark on the big leagues when he was drafted with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2003. In 2006, the right-hander made his debut with the ball club and did not disappoint, posting a 1.50 ERA in 14 appearances out of the bullpen.
The Future
Looking ahead, Allegheny remains committed to fostering an environment where student-athletes can thrive both academically and athletically. Key to this is a commitment to upgrading and updating the Robertson Athletic Complex facilities by 2025, aiming to create a premier athletic center in NCAA Division III and the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.
The initial $1.5 million in funding for the project is a gift from Kevin Baird ’84 and Lisa Fiedor Baird ’84. The Bairds’ support will go toward the construction of a 10,000-square-foot facility, which will provide new coaches’ offices and locker rooms for the football program, as well as an expansive meeting room designed for alumni events and customized visit experiences with prospective student-athletes. Team meeting rooms will also be made available for academic services, including study hours, tutoring, and player support. The new center may be one of the few Division III facilities to have all of these resources under one roof. (See full story on p. XX.)
With state-of-the-art facilities, dedicated coaching staff, and a supportive community, the College is poised to continue its tradition of excellence in Division III sports. For more information on Allegheny’s athletic programs and their storied history, please visit the athletics department website.
Allegheny National Champions
- 1983 men’s golf team
- 1990 football team
- 2011 men’s indoor track & field distance medley relay team
- Jeffrey Gordon ’76 – 1975 men’s swimming & diving: 1-meter dive
- James Johannes ’80 – 1979 men’s swimming & diving: 200-yard freestyle
- Tom Elcott ’81 – 1980 men’s wrestling: 150 pounds
- Matt Clarke ’83 – 1983 men’s golf
- Robert Muth ’83 – 1983 men’s wrestling: heavyweight
- Kate Thoman Crowley ’91 – women’s swimming & diving: 1988 and 1991 400-yard individual medley
- Marci Hennessey ’91 – 1987 women’s swimming & diving: 100-yard backstroke
- Melissa Moody-White ’91 – women’s swimming & diving: 1989 1-meter dive and 1991 3-meter dive
- Jeremy Scott ’03 – men’s track & field: 2002 indoor and 2002 outdoor pole vault champion
- Emily Forner ’19 – 2019 women’s indoor track & field: 3,000-meter run
*Click here to view Part I and Allegheny College’s history with Division III
