ERIE, Pa. – Gannon University will celebrate the latest inductees of its Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday, January 21, 2012 with the induction of nine new members. In addition, the 1961-62 men's basketball team will be inducted as a team.

The new class increases the Gannon Hall of Fame membership to 56 inductees. The Class of 2012 will be formally inducted at the Annual Hall of Fame Awards Banquet Saturday, January 21 at Gannon's Yehl Ballroom in the Waldron Center.

Reservations for the Hall of Fame Banquet can be made online at www.gannonalumni.org/ahof2012. Seating will be limited to the first 250 registrations. Cost for the event is $30 and includes admission to the women's and men's basketball games against Clarion on Saturday, January 21, 2012. The women's contest begins at 1 p.m., followed by the men's game at 3 p.m. The Hall of Fame reception kicks off at 5 p.m. with the banquet to follow at 5:45 p.m. Please direct any questions to Cindy Toland in University Advancement at 814-871-7608 or by e-mail at toland001@gannon.edu.

The 2012 inductees include former football standout Art Arkelian; former wrestling great John Oldach; former women's volleyball standout Heather Petras Primrose; former wrestling/football great Todd Proper; former women's basketball standout Kristin Roseberry Kachmar and former women's basketball standout Jacki Windon. Former softball coaching legend and athletic director Mike Corbett will be inducted posthumously. Gary Miller and Pat Ferrara will be inducted as the 2012 Distinguished Service Award recipients. In addition to the nine individual inductees, the Athletics Hall of Fame will induct the 1961-62 men's basketball team. A brief summary of the 2012 inductees' achievements follows in alphabetical order.

Art Arkelian (Football '51) was an integral part of two of the best football teams in school history. The two-year letterwinner played halfback and special teams for the 1949 and 1950 teams, before the program was discontinued until 1989. The Golden Knights posted an 8-0 record during their first season in 1949, representing the only undefeated season in school history. The squad demolished opponents, out-scoring its opposition 184-20. Arkelian was later named to the Associated Press Little All-America team and the All-Pennsylvania third team for his 1949 exploits.

Gannon followed its first season with a 6-2 record in 1950. In all, the Golden Knights produced a 14-2 record during Arkelian's collegiate playing days. He is one of only four players in the history of the program to return a kickoff for a touchdown. Arkelian is also one of only three players in school history to return two punts for a touchdown in the same season, doing so in 1950. His 81-yard kickoff return against Wilmington (Ohio) in 1950 represents the fourth-longest return in school history. His 63-yard punt return against Hillsdale and 60-yard punt return against Adrian (both coming in 1950) rank fifth and sixth in school history for longest punt returns.

John Oldach (Wrestling '90) was a four-year letterwinner (1986-90) at Gannon, being one of the student-athletes who put Gannon wrestling on the map. Two years after Gannon resurrected the wrestling program in 1984, Oldach began a collegiate career which led to 105 career victories. It set the school record for victories at the time, a record that stood for another 10 years.

Oldach won the 190-pound championship at the 1990 East Regional and later became the second wrestler in school history to earn all-america honors when he finished fifth at the 1990 NCAA Division II National Championships. He finished his career with a 105-31 overall record, a .772 overall winning percentage, 27 pins, a 41-5 dual record and .891 dual winning percentage. Oldach still ranks second all-time at Gannon in overall victories, second in dual winning percentage, second in dual victories, third in overall winning percentage and eighth in pins.

Heather Petras Primrose (Women's Volleyball '96) is one of two volleyball student-athletes to have their jersey retired as her number 12 hangs above the court at the Hammermill Center. 2011 Gannon Hall of Fame inductee Kathy Wotus Kuhns ('93), a one-time teammate in 1992, is the other Lady Knight to have her number retired.

Petras Primrose set the standard to which all Gannon setters are compared to. A Lady Knight from 1992-95, Petras Primrose departed as the school's record holder in career assists (3,426) and was tied with Wotus Kuhns for second place in career digs with 1,293. She currently ranks second in career assists and fourth in career digs. Her career kill percentage of .300 stands fifth and with 1,145 career kills, she ranks eighth in that category. Petras Primrose is eighth in career block solos with 117. Among the season charts, her 1,003 assists in 1993 equal the seventh-highest single-season total in school history and her 891 assists in 1992 represent the 10th-highest single-season mark. Her career numbers also include 165 service aces.

Petras Primrose joins Wotus Kuhns as the only Lady Knights to earn American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America status, finding a spot on the second team in 1994. She was a first-team GTE Academic All-American in 1995 and was also an All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference first-team selection.

Todd Proper (Wrestling/Football '01, '06M) was a two-sport athlete at Gannon, excelling in both wrestling and football from 1996 to 2001. The former heavyweight became the wrestling program's first-ever three-time All-American, became the first Golden Knight to earn the honor in nine years during the 1998-99 season. He was a three-time NCAA Division II national qualifier and a two-time NCAA Division II East Region champion at heavyweight. Proper finished third at the NCAA Division II National Championships as a senior, fifth as a junior and sixth as a sophomore. His classroom work helped him become a two-time Academic All-American.

Proper is Gannon's all-time leader in overall winning percentage (.856), pins (54) and dual meet winning percentage (.912). The dominating wrestler was Gannon's all-time victory leader for 10 years with 107 until the record was broken during the 2010-11 season. His 41 victories in 1999-00 and his 39 victories in 2000-01 are the two highest single-season totals in school history. He always packed the Hammermill Center stands for dual matches where he posted an amazing 31-3 career record.

The Maplewood High School graduate was also a four-year letterwinner for the Gannon football team. Proper concluded his career seventh all-time at Gannon in career tackles (216) and fourth in career sacks (14.5). He still remains 14th and ninth in those categories, respectively.

Kristin Roseberry Kachmar (Women's Basketball '03) is the only four-time All-American in the history of the Gannon women's basketball program. The standout center was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-America first team, the Daktronics All-America third team and the Division II Bulletin All-America honorable-mention team in 2001. She earned Daktronics all-america honorable-mention status in 2000.

Roseberry Kachmar's four-year career (1999-02) numbers include 2,147 points, 18.4 points per game, 824 field goals, a .561 field goal percentage, 117 games played, 916 rebounds, 7.8 rebounds per game, 98 blocked shots and 499 free throws. She is Gannon's all-time leader in free throws made while ranking second in points, second in field goals made, second in field goal percentage, second in games, third in scoring average, third in rebounds, fifth in rebounding average and sixth in blocked shots. Roseberry Kachmar recorded two of the school's top three single-season scoring totals, netting 616 points in 2000-01 and 599 markers in 1999-00.

The Marion, Ohio, native led Gannon to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a victory over defending national champion Northern Kentucky in the first round of the 2001 national tournament. Her career honors included All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) first-team accolades three times (2000, 2001, 2002), GLIAC Freshman of the Year in 1999, GLIAC All-Defensive first-team honors in 2002 and GLIAC All-Tournament team selections in 2000 and 2001.

Jacki Windon (Women's Basketball '01) joined Roseberry on the 2000 and 2001 NCAA Tournament teams. A four-year starter (1998-01), Windon is Gannon's all-time leader in three-point field goals (299) and steals (345). The former guard ranks second all-time at Gannon in assists (647), fifth in free throws made (267), sixth in points (1,524), sixth in scoring average (13.6), seventh in free throw percentage (.767), seventh in three-point field goal percentage (.356), ninth in field goals made (479) and 12th in games played (112). She owns the top two single-season three-point field goal totals in school history and owns the top three single-season steal totals in school history. Her 89 three-pointers in 2000-01 and her 95 steals in 1999-00 are still the best single-season marks in school history.

Windon was a four-time All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) selection, landing a spot on the first team in 2000 and 2001. She was named to the second team in 1998 and 1999. A two-time GLIAC All-Defensive first-team selection (1998 and 2001), Windon also secured a spot on the 2001 GLIAC All-Tournament team.

Mike Corbett (Softball, Director of Athletics '91M) produced a 323-179 career record during 12 seasons at the helm of the Gannon softball team, equaling a .643 winning percentage. The softball coaching legend inherited a program that had a 55-125-1 record in 12 seasons and never reached double digits in victories, before leading the Lady Knights to a school-record 323 wins over the next 12 seasons. After a 13-15 record during his first year, Gannon proceeded to post 11 consecutive winning seasons.

Corbett led Gannon to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1999. That squad still owns the school's single-season record for victories (49) and winning percentage (.830). A former farmhand for nine seasons in the Detroit Tigers system (1971-79), Corbett resigned after the 2000 campaign to become Gannon's Director of Athletics. He served in that position until passing away in 2002. Corbett also served as an assistant coach for the Gannon volleyball team in 1986 and 1987, helping Gannon Hall of Fame Coach Gerry Burbules Vensel ('92M)guide the program to 66 victories in those two seasons.

Gary Miller ('72) will be a 2012 Distinguished Service Award recipient. Miller has been a longtime supporter of Gannon Athletics and a longtime basketball season ticket holder, supporting the Golden Knights every game in the first row across from the team's bench. Gannon's No. 1 men's basketball fan and a great member of the Gannon Booster Club since 1974, Miller traveled to Springfield, Mass. for the 1987 NCAA Division II Final Four where he hosted a reception for all Gannon basketball fans. He also traveled to the 2009 NCAA Division II Elite Eight in Springfield, Massachusetts and has been responsible for sponsoring several basketball alumni games over the years. He continues to crisscross the state of Pennsylvania every year following Gannon basketball.

Miller has sponsored Gannon's annual Thanksgiving men's basketball tournament, known as the Gary Miller Classic, since 1984. Gannon has won the event 16 times while fans have been entertained by some of the best talent in NCAA Division II. He served as an honoree host for the 2010 Hall of Fame nominees. With his gift to perpetually endow the Gary Miller Classic, he will be inducted into the Universatis Society, the highest recognition for a Gannon donor.

Pat Ferrara is another 2012 Distinguished Service Award recipient. He has been Gannon's longtime kicking coach, serving as a member of the Gannon football coaching staff under three head coaches since 1991. He was part of coaching staffs under Tom Herman, Bill Elias and Jim Kiernan. Ferrara helped tutor former Gannon kickers Brendan McNicholas, Tim Hrivnak, Jarrett Kier and Adam Foust. They are among Gannon's all-time top five in field goals made.

Jeremy Ditzler, who recently graduated in 2011, was the latest to come under Ferrara's guidance. Ditzler is Gannon's all-time leader in career field goals (33) and field goal percentage (63.5). The senior was named to the 2009 Lindy's College Football Preview All-America second team. As a sophomore, he was named to the All-PSAC first team and selected to the Don Hansen's Football Gazette All-Super One Region third team. He ranks fourth all-time at Gannon in scoring (182).

Ferrara graduated from Ford City High School, before being a four-year player at the Air Corp Technical School where he played running back and quarterback. Ferrara served in the Air Force for seven years, flying B-29s in the South Pacific and later started his coaching career at Hempstead Long Island High School. Among his other coaching stops were Rantoul (Ill.) High School, Officer Training School (OTS) in San Antonio, Texas and the Air Force Academy.

The induction of the 1961-62 men's basketball team is a fitting tribute to a team celebrating its 50th anniversary. Coached by Gannon Hall of Famer George Hesch ('55), the squad became the first basketball team in school history to compete in the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Knights fell to Wittenberg and Youngstown State in the Mideast Regional at Akron, Ohio during their first post-season trip. No Gannon team had won more than 16 games in a season at that time.

Hesch was assisted on the sidelines by Gannon Hall of Famer Howard “Bud” Elwell ('55) and Dick Fox ('58). Four members of the 1961-62 squad have already been inducted into the Gannon Athletics Hall of Fame as individuals in Willie Alford ('65), Jack Byrnes, Joe Gaeta ('62) and Al Lawson ('65). Other key members of the team included Matt Andrews ('65), Tom Carroll ('62), Jim Cipalla ('89), John Holeva ('63), Ben Kuster ('62), Jerry Lott ('60, '90M), John Mauro ('62), Jim McCallion ('65), Al Stankiewicz and Bob Ward ('64). Cliff Kirsch ('62) and Jerry Gorup ('65) served as the team managers.

The team will long be remembered as the start of the modern era of Gannon basketball with fans starting to fill the Hammermill Center. Impressive victories that season included verdicts against nationally-ranked Tennessee A&I, Belmont Abbey, Texas Southern, Pikeville and Steubenville. Gaeta and Lott served as the team captains.

Current members of Gannon's Athletics Hall of Fame can be viewed at http://www.gannonsports.com/hof.aspx?tab=halloffame.