Edinboro, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Athletic Conference is celebrating their 75
th anniversary and in doing so they have honored those who represented the conferences history including exceptional athletic achievement, prolific careers beyond athletics, and those that helped shape the PSAC.
The PSAC has honored these greats in four categories: Great Female Athlete, Greatest Male Athletes, Made in the PSAC and Distinguished Keystones. The Fighting Scots had 17 total honorees and Edinboro Athletics will honor those recipients during the basketball doubleheader against California (Pa.) on February 21. PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray will present the Fighting Scots honored at the PSAC 75 celebration with medals at halftime of the men's basketball game.
The Edinboro honorees for Greatest Female Athletes: Kylie Anicic, Michaela Barnes, Tabitha Bemis and Kara Hopkins-Dawson.
Kylie Anicic – Edinboro, Cross Country/Track, 2022-24
Anicic left Edinboro as one of the most decorated athletes in cross country and track & field. In her three seasons competing at Edinboro she was a seven-time All-American. Anicic raced with a PSAC Championship on the line 18 times and in those opportunities, she brought home 18 PSAC Championships. In outdoor track & field, she holds the record in the 5K and the 10K while also holding the Edinboro record in the 3K and the 5K indoors. Anicic was not only highly successful in competition, but was a strong student earning two CSC Academic All-American honors and three PSAC Top 10 awards.
Michaela Barnes – Edinboro, Women's Basketball, 2016-20
Barnes is Edinboro's all-time leading scorer and the only Scot to cross the 2,000-point plateau. In her senior season, she led the PSAC and was second in Division II with 737 points. She was a Women's Basketball Coaches Association First-Team All-American. She closed out her collegiate career with a streak of 44 consecutive games scoring double figures a mark she reached 90 times in 117 career games. Barnes was teh 2019-20 PSAC West Player of the Year. She was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American. She was a two-time D2CCA All-Atlantic Region choice and a three-time All-PSAC choice. Barnes scored 40 points in a game three-times with her career high of 45 against Slippery Rock ranking eighth all-time in the PSAC. In her junior year, she was a WBCA honorable mention All-American. Barnes was the 2017 PSAC West Freshmand of the YearShe is currently the only women's basketball player to have her jersey retired.
Tabitha Bemis - Edinboro, Track & Field, 2011-14
A standout for the Fighting Scot Track & Field teams, Bemis is one of the most decorated athletes in Edinboro history both athletically and academically. Bemis finished her career as a six-time All-American. She was also an NCAA qualifier 14 times. Over the course of her career, Bemis was a United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region honoree 18 times. She claimed 15 PSAC Championships and 26 All-Conference awards. She was named the USTFCCCA Atlantic Region Field Athlete of the Year five times. While competing for the Fighting Scots, Bemis broke 11 school records, 10 of which she still holds today. Bemis holds the indoor record in the 60-meter hurdles, 60-meter dash, long jump, triple as well as being a member of the record holding 1,600-meter relay team. In outdoor, Bemis holds the record in the long jump, triple jump, 100 meter-hurdles as well as being a member of the 400-meter and 1,600-meter relay teams. Bemis was the first athlete to earn the PSAC Top 10 Award, honoring the conferences highest achieving student-athlete in both competition and in the classroom, six times. She was a three-time winter and spring winner of the Top 10 Award. After her senior season, Bemis was named the PSAC Pete Nevins Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She was also named Edinboro's Nancy Acker Award winner given to the Scots top female senior athlete. A nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year, Bemis was a recipient of the prestigious NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship for her excellence on the track, in the classroom and in the community. Bemis was a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American including a pair of First-Team selections.
Kara Hopkins-Dawson – Edinboro, Swimming, 1988-91
The 1991 Nancy Acker Award winner, she concluded her career as an incredible 15-time All-American in swimming. A three-time All-American as a sophomore, she followed that with six All-American performances as a junior and six more as a senior. A freestyle specialist, she remains in the top five all time in 50-freetsyle and 200-freeestyle. In addition, she earned Academic All-American honors her final two years as a Fighting Scot. As a member of the Fighting Scot volleyball team, she earned first team All-PSAC honors in 1991.
The Greatest Male Athlete honorees: Dave Antognoli, Trevor Harris, Josh Koscheck, Tyrone Mason and Yimin Wu.
Dave Antognoli – Edinboro, Cross Country, 1969-73
Antognoli won a multitude of individual titles, including three national titles, and many All-American certificates in cross country and track. He was awarded the Sox Harrison Award as the top male senior athlete in 1973 after winning the cross country championship in 1971, Edinboro's first national championship, the NAIA 10,000 meters title in 1972, and the USTFF national championship in the six mile event. He also was the top collegiate finisher in the 1972 Olympic Trials.
Trevor Harris – Edinboro, Football, 2006-09
Harris ('09) holds virtually every Edinboro passing and total offense record while playing quarterback at Edinboro from 2006-09. He was named the 2009-10 Sox Harrison Award winner after leading Edinboro to a 31-15 record in his four seasons as a starter. He was a two-time Harlon Hill Trophy finalist (2008 and '09) and three-time Harlon Hill Trophy Northeast Region finalist (2007, '08, and '09). Harris was a two-time Football Gazette and D2Football.com honorable mention All-American, earning the honors as a junior and senior. He also was a four-time All-PSAC West selection, earning first team accolades his final three years. He was the PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008 and was the PSAC West Rookie of the Year in 2006. Harris still holds Edinboro career records for passing yards (11,899), attempts (1,464), completions (966), touchdown passes (100) and total offense (12,691). In the season records, he holds four of the top six figures in passing yards and total offense). He was also an excellent student, and was twice named to the PSAC Top Ten. After graduating from Edinboro, Harris has gone on to a very successful professional career. He began his career in the Canadian Football League in 2012 and won the Grey Cup with the Saskatchewan Roughriders earning game MVP honors. He has thrown for over 37,000 yards in the CFL.
Josh Koscheck – Edinboro, Wrestling, 1998-02
Koscheck is regarded as one of the finest wrestlers in Edinboro history. He was the first four-time All-American and is one of only two four-time All-Americans while competing from 1997-2002 at 174 lbs. In addition, he was Edinboro's second NCAA Division I national champion and one of only four to win the title at Edinboro. In his four seasons he finished first, second, third and fourth. He was a two-time Eastern Wrestling League champion and four-time PSAC champion, Edinboro's first four-time champion. He was named the EWL Wrestler of the Year twice and was the PSAC Wrestler of the Year four times. He won his national championship as a junior in 2001, capping a perfect 42-0 season. He defeated Army's Maurice Worthy, 8-1, in the finals. He is the only Edinboro wrestler to ever finish a season undefeated. He was named the EWL and PSAC Wrestler of the Year for the second straight year. The year before he fell one win shy of winning the national championship, losing to Oklahoma's Byron Tucker by a 3-0 decision in the 2000 title match. While placing second, he ended the year with a 38-4 record, winning his first EWL crown and second PSAC championship. Koscheck was named the EWL Co-Wrestler of the Year and PSAC Wrestler of the Year, along with PSAC Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler. He would be named the PSAC Wrestler of the Year after winning his fourth conference crown. Koscheck's career began with a 31-9 record and a fourth place showing at Nationals. He would be named the EWL and PSAC Freshman of the Year. All told, he went 21-4 in four trips to Nationals, part of a 128-17 career record.
Tyrone Mason – Edinboro, Men's Basketball, 1993-1996
Mason played three seasons at Edinboro, from 1993-96, and during that period he accumulated a school-record 1,954 points a mark that now ranks second. He holds the career records for scoring average (23.6 ppg.) and field goals made (720), while ranking third in career field goals attempted (1,439), free throw percentage (.845), free throws made (349), and free throws attempted (486). He is fourth in career three-point field goals made (165) and assists (401), along with sixth in free throws attempted (413) and seventh in steals (157). Most notable, during his three seasons while playing for head coach Greg Walcavich, he led Edinboro to a 56-25 record. Mason capped his brilliant career in 1995-96 by averaging 27.6 ppg., the second-highest figure in school history, and scoring a school-record 800 points. He shot 51.7 percent from the floor and 86.9 percent from the line, and even averaged 6.0 rebounds. He was a first team NABC All-American, along with being named the PSAC West Player of the Year for the second straight year and landing a spot on the All-PSAC West first team for the second consecutive year. At the end of the year he was named the 1996 Sox Harrison Award winner. As a junior, Mason averaged 26.6 ppg., the third-highest figure, and scored 691 points, the second-highest total, along with contributing 5.3 rpg. and 136 assists. His honors included PSAC West Player of the Year and first team recognition, along with NABC first team All-District accolades. In his first season as a Fighting Scot, Mason was a second team All-PSAC West selection after scoring 16.5 ppg. and handing out 156 assists.
Yimin Wu – Edinboro, Cross Country, 1998-02
He is one of only four Edinboro runners to win the national championship, crossing the finish line first in 1998. The native of China is also one of only two male and three overall four-time All-Americans in cross country, joining Martin Lyons and Lisa Petsche. All told, Wu was a six-time All-American, earning two certificates in track & field. In 1998, as a first-year member of the Fighting Scots, he claimed the national championship in cross country at the NCAA Division II National Championships. He beat the second-place finisher by ten seconds while posting a winning time of 31:06.04. He did not lose a race his entire freshman season, also winning the PSAC and East Region crowns. He was named the PSAC and East Region Runner of the Year while helping Edinboro to championships in both events, followed by a fourth-place showing at Nationals. A year later, he repeated as the PSAC and East Region Runner of the Year after finishing first at both championships, while finishing fourth at Nationals to earn All-American honors for the second time. It took a heroic effort for Wu to become a three-time All-American in 2000. Running in the lead pack at the two-mile mark, he stepped in a hole and tore a calf muscle. After falling back into the high 30's he rallied to finish 13th. That helped Edinboro come in fourth as a team. He had to settle for third place at the PSAC Championships behind teammates Jeff Barker and Rowe. He also earned All-Region honors for the third time. Wu concluded his brilliant cross country career in 2001, finishing in the top five for the third time in his career. He would come in fourth after finishing second at the PSAC and East Regional Championships to become a four-time honoree in each. Wu enjoyed his most success in track in 1999, parlaying a second-place finish in the 10,000-meter run at the national championships into another All-American certificate. He also earned All-American honors in the 5,000-meter run with a sixth-place finish. That year, he was the 10,000-meter run PSAC champion and was named the PSAC Rookie of the Year.
Made in the PSAC honorees: Jeremy O'Day, Sian Proctor, Lou Rosselli and Mike Zafirovski.
Jeremy O'Day – Edinboro, Football, 1993-1996
O'Day made a name for himself as a one of the best offensive linemen ever at Edinboro, and has continued to do so while playing north of the border in the Canadian Football League since 1997. A native of Lockport, NY, he played for the Fighting Scots from 1993-96. O'Day helped Edinboro finish with a 30-12 record during that period, with NCAA Division II Playoff appearances in 1993 and '95. The 1995 team finished with a 9-2 record and won the PSAC West championship. During the course of his career he helped pave the way for three 1,000-yard rushers – Larry Jackson, Gerald Thompson and Tony Brinson. A three-time All-PSAC performer, he capped his career with a second team AP Little All-America selection in 1996, and was also accorded second team Football Gazette All-American honors that year. O'Day was an honorable mention Football Gazette selection in 1994 and 1994. He earned first team All-PSAC West honors at offensive tackle in 1994 and '96, and was a second team choice at guard in 1995. Upon completion of his Edinboro career he was drafted in the second round of the CFL supplemental draft by the Toronto Argonauts. In his first season with the Argonauts he played with former Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie and was part of a Grey Cup championship team. He played two years for Toronto, then signed as a free agent with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1999. He has remained part of the Roughriders since then winning a Grey Cup as a player in 2007 and played out his career in Saskatchewan before joining the Roughrider front office in 2011. He is currently VP of Football Operations and General Manager of Roughriders and brought home another Grey Cup in 2026.
Sian Proctor – Edinboro, Track & Field, 1988-92
Proctor became first female commercial spaceship pilot and the first artist selected to be an astronaut on the all-civilian Inspiration4 orbital spaceflight. In 2024, she was selected to baa U.S. Science Envoy representing the U.S. Department of State global initiative to promote civil use of space to build peer-to-peer connections with foreign researchers, promote science education and raise awareness of the importance of space science to society. She has made multiple appearances in television series and documentaries and has three published books.
Lou Rosselli – Edinboro, Wrestling, 1989-93
Rosselli was a two-time All-American at 184 lbs for the Scots. He finished his career with 136 wins. As a senior, he was named the Outstanding Wrestler at the EWL Tournament and PSAC Championships, finishing with a 38-2 record. He was named the EWL and PSAC Rookie of the Year in 1989, becoming the first Edinboro freshman to earn a trip to the Division I Nationals. He was a three time PSAC champion and won the EWL title as a senior. He was named the 1993 Sox Harrison Award winner and went on to enjoy an outstanding international career, culminated by representing the United States in the 1996 Olympic Games. He was a three-time U.S. National Champion. He took the gold at the 1997 World Cup and won silver at the 1998 Pan American Games. Rosselli is currently the head wrestling coach at the University of Pittsburgh.
Mike Zafirovski – Edinboro, Soccer, Swimming & Diving, 1971-75
Mike Zafirovski is the Founder, Chairman, and President of The Zaf Group, a family office engaged in operating, investment, and advisory activities. The operating activities include acquiring well-run family businesses with the intention of owning in perpetuity. Currently, the two platform companies are ACP CreativIT, an IT solutions provider and ABCO Systems, a material handling systems integrator for warehouses and distribution centers. An avid supporter of Edinboro Athletics, he has been generous with both his time and finances. He was instrumental to the construction of the Recreation Dome that bears his name. The indoor facility has hosted conference championships and given countless opportunities to Edinboro student-athletes across nearly all teams. Mike also continues to be our largest annual individual contributor to athletic scholarships benefitting countless student-athletes. Mike continues to return for alumni swim meets and reunions and volunteers to share his experience with Edinboro student-athletes.
In his time at Edinboro, he spent three seasons on the swim team and played four seasons of soccer. He was a two-time national qualifier in swimming. He was also the Theta Chi Fraternity president. He received an honorary doctorate from Edinboro in 2002 and gave the commencement address. He has also guest lectured at Northwestern, Duke and Stanford. He has received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2004); the Distinguished Leadership Award from the NY Hall of Science (2008); the Medal of Honor from the President of Macedonia (2013); and the inaugural John L. Bitove Philanthropy Award (2017).
Distinguished Keystones: Jim McDonald, Paul Newman, Stan Swank and Doug Watts.
Jim McDonald – Edinboro, Athletic Director, Men's Basketball Coach, 1981-94
McDonald gave 29 years of service to Edinboro University and its athletic department as teacher, coach and athletic director from 1981-1994, he implemented the modern scholarship program which raised over six million dollars. He is one of the school's all-time winningest basketball coach with 181 victories.
Paul Newman - Edinboro, Sports Information Director, 1964-1985
Newman served eighteen years in sports information and sports promotion. Paul is past president of the NAIA Sports Information Directors' Association. A member of the United States Basketball and Football Writers'Association of America, Paul earned more than twenty awards for his sports publications. He was the originator of the "Fighting Scot" nickname as well as the "Fighting Scot" mascot in 1968. After his faithful service to Edinboro, Newman went on to serve for 21 years as the Sr. Associate Athletic Director at Wright State Univeristy and then six years as the Executive Director of the Fairborn, Ohio Chamber of Commerce. Newman was the originator of the Fighting Scot moniker that Edinboro still carries today.
Stan Swank – Edinboro, Women's Basketball Coach, 1987-2018
Swank is the All-time wins leader in PSAC history (581) in 31 seasons with the Scots; He won four PSAC Championships and led the Scots to the NCAA Tournament 10 times. Swank led the Fighting Scots to the NCAA Elite Eight twice in 1997 and 2014. He was a six-time PSAC Coach of the Year. Swank was the 2012 WBCA Division II Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.
Doug Watts – Edinboro, Cross Country and Track & Field Coach, 1969-2013
Watts led the Scots to six national championships including back-to-back-to-back NCAA DII Championships from 1986-88 and back-to-back NAIA titles in 1975-1976. He also led the Scots to six runner-up finishes. He coached nine individual national champions and 44 combined PSAC Cross Country championships and 33 Regional championships.
