MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois University's Athletic Hall of Fame increased in size this past weekend after the induction of its 2019 class – Robert L. Nardelli (football) and the 1974 baseball team.
The ceremony took place Friday, Oct. 4, in front of a packed audience in the Grand Ballroom of the University Union.
Gallery: (10/7/2019) 2019 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Robert Nardelli
Western Illinois football has 13 championship teams in its 116-year history, and Nardelli suited up as a member of the 1969 team that won the final IIAC championship. The '69 group recorded an overall record of 8-2 and also received a bid to the Mineral Water Bowl.
The starting left guard assisted the 1969 Leathernecks to the ninth-best ranking in the nation with 425.1 yards of total offense and was named All-State Second Team (Peoria Journal Star) as well as an Interstate Conference Football Team honorable mention. Nardelli was a two-year starter and earned the title of team captain in 1970. A former CEO of GE Power Systems, Home Depot, and Chrysler, Nardelli now resides in Atlanta and is the founder and CEO of XLR-8 LLC, an investment and advisory company.
1974 Baseball Team
Western's 1974 baseball team is associated with the best of the best in Leatherneck history. Coached by the program's all-time winningest coach and 2004 Hall of Fame inductee Dick Pawlow, the '74 squad also has two players enshrined in Ed Gvazdinskas (1994) and Dennis Mantick (2003).
The 1974 team went 31-12 on the year for the most single-season wins at the time and second most today, and concluded the campaign with a trip to the NCAA Division II Mideast Regional. The postseason appearance marked the first-ever for WIU baseball, and several of the team's season statistics still sit Top 10 in school history. All-time season rankings include: wins (31, T-2nd); winning streak (8, T-8th); batting average (.312, T-5th); triples (23, T-1st); walks (219, 5th); stolen bases (136, 1st); lowest ERA (2.90, 6th); lowest opponent batting average (235, 6th); and fielding percentage (.958, T8).
Two players from the team went on to Major League Baseball ranks in Mantick and Rick Vogel, who earned spots with the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs, respectively.
1974 Roster
#1 Connie Kowal, Infielder
#5 Gerry Grybash, Catcher
#6 Jimmy Hill, Outfielder
#7 Gale Landers, Outfielder
#8 Rick Wolfgram, Infielder
#10 Dennis Mantick, Infielder
#11 Joe Genna, Infielder
#12 Dave Hunt, Outfielder
#13 Pete Vasiljevich, Pitcher
#14 Randy Jesperson, Infielder
#15 Kelly Ozhourk, Pitcher
#16 Rick Vogel, Pitcher
#17 Ed Gvazdinskas, Pitcher
#18 Ken Keithley, Pitcher
#19 Don Brodt, Pitcher
#20 Mark Moore, Pitcher
#21 Gary Bidzinski, Outfielder
#22 Fred Dintelman, Outfielder
#23 Rich Caravia, Infielder
#24 Greg Palka, Infielder
#25 Jim Bergo, Pitcher
#26 Bill Sykora, Pitcher
#27 Jim Duszak, Pitcher
#28 Matt Polinski, Catcher
#29 John Turner, Pitcher
#31 Cliff Rusin, Catcher
Brian Peck, Infielder
Carl Ammons, Infielder
Dave Franke, Pitcher
Dale Schoenbeck, Catcher
Dick Pawlow, Head Coach, #30
Terry Moss, Assistant Coach, #9
Western's Hall of Fame began in 1974, and since then, nearly 300 individuals have received the highest honor bestowed by the athletic department.
Past inductees in attendance at Friday's ceremony included: Brad Bainter (basketball), Al Boyer (contributor), Tom Carper (contributor), Scott Clark (wrestling), Jerry Cremer (contributor), Cathy Early (contributor), Dave Ford (baseball), Ed Gvazdinskas (baseball), Mike Hattery (football), Bill Heap (contributor), Larry Mortier (football), Robin McConnell (softball), Dennis Mantick (baseball), Dick Pawlow (baseball), John Sanders (soccer), Scott Simpson (tennis), Dr. Aaron Stills (track & field, cross country), Holly Van Vlymen (softball), and Mike Wagner (football).
