FSU Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2016
The Fairmont State Athletic Association is pleased to welcome eight new members to
the Fairmont State Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, September 30, as a part of Homecoming
weekend on the FSU campus.
The Class of 2016 includes Mike Arcure (Meritorious Service - athlete, coach, service),
Rick Harris (Emeritus - baseball, football, swimming), Scott Hernon (men's swimming),
Mike Kirby (wrestling), Thad McFadden (men's basketball), Nikki McGinnis-Crotty (women's
basketball), Sidney Thomas (women's basketball) and Jason Trent (football).
The ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 30 in Gym 1 of the Falcon
Center. Tickets can be purchased for $50 per person by calling the Athletic Department
at (304) 367-4220.
The Fairmont State Athletic Association (formerly the Lettermen's Association) is
a group designed to unite alumni, lettermen, friends, fans and corporate sponsors
to help support the competitive success of Fairmont State athletics.
Mike Arcure (Meritorious Service - Athlete, Coach, Supporter)
Mike Arcure arrived at Fairmont State in 1956 as a student and standout second baseman
for the FSU baseball team and continued to contribute to Fairmont State Athletics
as a coach and longtime member of the Fairmont State Athletic Association (formerly
the Lettermen's Association). In 1958 as a member of the FSU baseball team, Arcure
helped lead the Falcons to their first and only appearance in the Small College World
Series as the teams starting second baseman.
In 1968, Arcure was hired by fellow FSU hall of famer Squibb Wilson to serve as Director
of Intramurals. Arcure was instrument in the development of Fairmont State's first
Intramural Sports program. Arcure also began assisting legendary coach Joe Retton
and the FSU men's basketball team in 1968 prior to officially being named assistant
coach in 1973. Arcure's primary responsibility on the basketball staff was recruiting.
Arcure played a vital role in the recruitment of five NAIA All-Americans, including
Lerman Battle, Bill Lindsey, Dave Moore, Vance Carr and Leroy Loggins. In his tenure
as Retton's assistant, the Falcons won an unprecedented nine conference titles and
made eight NAIA National Tournament appearances.
Arcure has also been a distinguished leader of the FSAA for many decades, serving
on countless fundraising committees, including the Spring Scholarship Banquet, Hall
of Fame, elimination dinners and golf tournaments. Arcure also served as the chairman
of the Athletics Hall of Fame Committee and earned the Fairmont State Letterwinner
of Distinction Award in 1998.
Rick Harris (Emeritus – Baseball, Football, Swimming)
Rick Harris is a 2016 emeritus selection to the Fairmont State Athletics Hall of
Fame after being a three-sport standout for the Falcons as a member of the baseball,
football and swimming programs from 1955-58. Harris was a three-year letterwinner
on the FSU football team in 1955, 1957 and 1958, sitting out the 1956 season due to
the blood clot in his leg. Harris helped lead FSU football to the 1957 WVIAC Championship
and was named first team All-WVIAC in 1958 as a guard and linebacker for the Falcons.
Harris was also a three-year letterwinner for the FSU baseball team and lettered
twice in the pool as a member of the Falcon swim team. In addition to winning a WVIAC
Championship in football during the 1957 season, Harris also helped FSU to a 1957
conference title on the baseball diamond.
Scott Hernon (Men's Swimming)
Scott Hernon was a 15-time All-American in the pool for Fairmont State, becoming
the first four-year All-American in Fairmont State swimming history. Hernon earned
All-America honors in seven individual events and eight relay events. During his career,
Hernon held school records in the 400 freestyle, 400 medley relay, 100 backstroke
and 200 backstroke, winning WVIAC Championships in both backstroke events during the
1977 and 1978 seasons.
In addition to his individual event championships, Hernon was also a member of WVIAC
Championship relay teams in the 400 medley and 800 free relays. As a senior, Hernon
also added another conference title in the 200 backstroke, this time as a member of
the Penn-Ohio Conference.
Hernon was a two-year captain of the FSU swim team and received top senior honors
following the 1981 season, earning Jasper H. Colebank Award. Following his swimming
career at Fairmont State, Hernon served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was the head
swim coach at Ashland and assistant swim coach at East Carolina.
Mike Kirby (Wrestling)
Mike Kirby was a three-time WVIAC Champion on the wrestling mats under head coach
Dr. Sam Church at Fairmont State, compiling an astonishing 168-9-2 career record.
In 1975, Kirby became a third-team All-American after finishing third at the NAIA
National Tournament.
Kirby capped his FSU career by earning the 1976 Jasper H. Colebank Award and was
a 2014 inductee of the West Virginia Wrestling Hall of Fame. Kirby spent 28 yards
as a West Virginia high school wrestling official after his standout career with the
Falcons.
Thad McFadden (Men's Basketball)
Thad McFadden was the first and remains the only NCAA All-American in Fairmont State
men's basketball history, earning second team honors from Daktronics in 2009. That
season, McFadden ranked second in the country in scoring, averaging 25.4 points per
game. McFadden's scoring average of 25.4 is still the fourth highest in school history.
In just two seasons at Fairmont State, McFadden totaled 1,367 points and was a two-time
first team All-WVIAC selection.
McFadden was also a two-time WVIAC All-Tournament Team selection, leading the conference
tournament in scoring in both 2008 and 2009. McFadden also left his mark on the FSU
basketball record book, setting single-season (110) and career (216) records for three-pointers
made. Despite playing just two seasons at Fairmont State, McFadden ranks 31st in school history in scoring.
Nikki McGinnis-Crotty (Women's Basketball)
Nikki McGinnis was a three-time All-WVIAC standout for the Fairmont State women's
basketball team from 1993-97. As a sophomore, McGinnis was a first team All-WVIAC
selection, All-East Region player and NAIA All-American after averaging 16.4 points,
9.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.3 steals as a sophomore. McGinnis also picked up second
team All-WVIAC honors in 1996 and was a second-time first team selection as a senior
in 1997.
McGinnis currently ranks 11th in school history in scoring (1,459) and fifth in rebounding (883). In addition,
McGinnis is the all-time school leader in steals with 297 and was the 1997 Jasper
H. Colebank recipient.
Sidney Thomas (Women's Basketball)
Sidney Thomas is one of just two players in Fairmont State women's basketball history
to compile over 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds (Vicki Huffman). With
Thomas in the post, the FSU women won the 2004-05 WVIAC Regular Season Championship
and advanced to the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament with a 60-57 victory over Glenville
State in the opening round of the NCAA Atlantic Regional.
Statistically, Thomas is 18th in school history in scoring (1,140) and second all-time in rebounds (1,084). Thomas
is the all-time leader in career field goal percentage for the Falcons, making 437-of-770
career field goals (56.8%). The standout also has the highest single-season field
goal percentage (.604 in 2003) and rebounding total (357 in 2005) in FSU history.
Jason Trent (Football)
Jason Trent was a three-time first team All-WVIAC selection and is the all-time school
leader in receptions with 203. Trent is also third in school history with 2,320 receiving
yards and ninth with 15 career touchdown receptions. Trent was a starter on the 2000
conference championship team and led the Falcons in receiving yards during the 1998
and 1999 season.
During the 2000 season, Trent recorded the second-most receptions in a single season
at Fairmont State with 70 during his senior season. Trent was also on the receiving
end of a 90-yard reception against Campbellsville during the 1999 season, that reception
is still the second longest in FSU history.
