Monday, Jun 10, 2013
The Rider Athletics Hall of Fame inducted five former greats as part of Reunions 2013 on June 8.
by Rider Sports Information
First-year ballot selections Jerry Johnson ’05 of the basketball team and Christina Ang ’05 of the field hockey team were joined by wrestler Derek Jenkins ’03, basketball player Chuck Simon ’77 and 1990s soccer/tennis star Matt Miles ’06 as 2013 inductees into the Rider Athletics Hall of Fame on June 8. The induction ceremony was a highlight of a festive Reunions 2013 schedule on the Lawrenceville campus.
“Every year the Hall of Fame Committee works very hard in selecting the best nominees for this prestigious athletic honor,” said Don Harnum, director of Athletics. “Once again, they did an outstanding job as all of our honorees are very well accomplished in their respective sports.”
Johnson, of Lancaster, Pa., graduated second in career scoring at Rider as just the ninth New Jersey Division I player to compile 2,000 career points. A three-time first-team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference selection, Johnson averaged 17.6 points per game with the Broncs, and finished fifth in career assists. Johnson holds the Rider single-season record with 102 three-point field goals.
Ang, of Ocean City, N.J., graduated with Rider records for goals in a season (21, sixth in the nation that year), goals in a career (66) and points in a career (144). A two-time Northeast Conference Player of the Year, Ang was also the NEC Tournament MVP as a sophomore and was on the NEC All-Tournament team again as a senior. The first Bronc to be invited to play in the National Field Hockey All-Star Game, Ang was twice a second-team All-Region selection and was a first-team All-Region pick as a senior.
Ang and Johnson shared the 2005 Rider Athlete of the Year award as seniors.
Jenkins, of Orefield, Pa., was the Rider Athlete of the Year in 2003 after capturing the Most Outstanding Wrestler Award at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships. One of only three Rider wrestlers to qualify for nationals all four years, Jenkins was the sixth Bronc to compile 100 career wins, finishing with 110.
Simon, of Toms River, N.J., held the Rider career rebound record for 30 years, with 874, until it was eclipsed by current NBA player Jason Thompson ’08. Simon also graduated seventh in career scoring, with 1,096 points at Rider. A four-year starter, Simon averaged 10.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game for his career.
Miles, of Williamstown, N.J., led the Rider soccer team in scoring all four years, including a Rider-record 18 goals and 42 points as a senior when he was named the NEC and the New Jersey Soccer Player of the Year. An outstanding athlete, Miles also played first singles for the Rider tennis team in the spring.
The Clair Bee Outstanding Team Achievement Award was presented to the 1997 and 1998 men’s soccer teams, which won back-to-back MAAC Championships and NCAA Play-In games to advance to the NCAA Championship Tournaments. The 1998 team was ranked 15th in the nation.