West Virginia Wesleyan will induct three individuals and one team as its 2010 Class into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Those to be enshrined in the Rockefeller Center lobby are Angela “Tex” Demel Cecchini ’98 (Softball), Eric Chandler ’96 (Track and Field, Cross Country), Atle Nesheim ’93 (Soccer), and the 1985 Men’s soccer team. The honorees will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday, February 13 during a banquet in the Social Hall. Tickets are still available to the event for $25. Please contact the athletic department at 304-473-8099 for ticket information.
The 1985 men’s soccer team won the second of five NAIA national championships at Wesleyan. Under the direction of head coach Tom Martin, they compiled a 21-3-1 record. Entering the season there was concern from coach Martin as the Bobcats graduated seven star players the season before. Derrick Leeson was named the team captain.
The ‘Cats put any doubts to rest as they breezed through the regular season with a 17-3-1 record and won the WVIAC regular and post-season title. During the national tournament, they opened with a 7-0 win over Midwestern State, followed that with a 1-0 victory over Warner Pacific, and then beat Boca Raton (FL) in the semi-finals, 3-0. They beat Fresno Pacific by a 4-3 score in the title game. They ended the season with a 13-game winning streak and posted 16 shutouts in their 25 games. The team outscored their opponents by a 78-17 score during the season.
The team featured four All-Americans in Derrick Leeson, Thomas McLean, Mario Garcia, and Paul Willis. All four players, plus Daren Darwent, were named to the All-WVIAC First Team. Five players are currently inducted into the Wesleyan Hall of Fame.
Team members include: Head coach Tom Martin; Assistant coach Andrew Gillian, Assistant coach Leslie Farr, and players Mike Cuthill, Robert Donnewirth, Darren Darwent, Mario Garica, Henry Largey, Derrick Leeson, Thomas McLean, William North, Adam Oberkircher, Steven Payne, Courtney Rattray, Paul Willis, Delroy Lewis, Jacquelin Charles-Pierre, Robert Dehring, William Eljker, George Flooks, Torgeir Gustafson, Heath Hamilton, Kenneth Henry, Tad Taft, Darren Wyville, and Lester Parris.
Pictured are the starting 11 of the 1985 soccer team.