Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point Welcomes 18th Hall of Fame Class
September 19, 2022 | Football, General, Men's Cross Country, Men's Lacrosse, Men's Soccer, Men's Swimming and Diving, Men's Track and Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field, Wrestling, A Club
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The 18th class of the Army Sports Hall of Fame inducted on Friday, September 16. A special plaque unveiling ceremony was held in the Kenna Hall of Army Sports inside Kimsey Athletic Center, followed by the formal black-tie Hall of Fame Induction Banquet at Eisenhower Hall.
The Class of 2022 features longtime head coach of the men's and women's cross country and track and field teams Ron Bazil, two-sport athlete Randy Nelson, football stalwart Don Smith, record-setting swimmer Peter Witteried, and wrestling standout Maurice Worthy.
Ron Bazil (Head Coach, Track 1979-1995; Cross Country 1979-1995)
Ron Bazil served 16 years as the head coach of the men's and women's cross country and track and field teams. He won over 300 dual meets with 15 conference championships (cross country, indoor, and outdoor) to his credit. He coached 21 All-Americans, six NCAA Championship participants, and 138 All-Patriot League performers during his tenure leading the programs.
Bazil was named the men's cross country coach in 1979 and his teams finished .500 or better in every season including going unbeaten in dual meets in 1987, 1993, and 1994. When Army joined the Patriot League in 1993, the Black Knights immediately took over. Army won the 1993 Patriot League championship and finished sixth at the 1993 NCAA Championships. Bazil was named Patriot League and District II NCAA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1993. The next season, Bazil secured his second straight Patriot League Coach of the Year honors after coaching Army to the team title and the individual Patriot League champion, Mike Bernstein, who also competed in the NCAA Championship that fall. In his two seasons coaching in the Patriot League, Army placed eight on all-league teams. He coached five Black Knights who were named to the 25th Patriot League Anniversary team.
Bazil took over the women's program in 1983 and coached the team to the first two official Star Meets victories in 1986 and 1987. The women's cross country team claimed the 1994 Patriot League Championship with Catherine Gaffigan garnering back-to-back individual champion and scholar-athlete of the year. Bazil took home the coach of the year award.
Bazil's track and field teams set the standard when they joined the Patriot League. The men's and women's programs each started consecutive win streaks of the Patriot League Outdoor Championships in 1992 with the women winning from 1992-99 and the men from 1992-2007. Bazil, who coached his final season in 1995, was named Patriot League Men's and Women's Coach of the Year from 1992-95. Bazil coached Jim McPherson, named Patriot League Athlete of the Meet in 1992 and 1995, and Jason Stewart, an All-American in 1994, who competed in the 1993 and 1994 NCAA Championships in the 5000m. The women's team swept the major awards at the 1994 outdoor championships with Tanesha Hodge winning athlete of the meet and Catherine Gaffigan named scholar-athlete of the year to join her cross country award.
Randy Nelson (Men's Soccer, 1971-75)
Randy Nelson ranks near the top of the list on the Army West Point men's soccer record book after a standout career for the Black Knights from 1971-74. He is second in career points with 93 and goals with 37, and is third in assists with 19. As a senior captain in 1974, Nelson scored 15 goals and had 37 points, which are fifth and fourth, respectively, on the single-season record list.
He earned 1974 NSCAA All-American Honorable Mention accolades and was a four-time NSCAA All-Regional selection. The Black Knights went 33-12-6 during his time and made three NCAA Tournament appearances (1971, 1972, 1973). Nelson was drafted by the NY Cosmos of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1975.
Nelson also was a two-year (1973 and 1974) letterwinner on the men's lacrosse program.
Don Smith (Football, 1982-85)
Don Smith anchored the offensive line from 1982-85 helping lead the Black Knights to consecutive bowl victories and beating Air Force and Navy to win the program's third outright Commander-In-Chief's Trophy in 1984.
Army won 23 games in his four years, including 17 during his junior and season campaigns. The 1984 team won eight games and ended the season on a three-game win streak, including beating Michigan State in the Cherry Bowl. Smith earned AP All-East First Team selection.
The 1985 season was filled with accolades for Smith who was a team captain and was the Corps' Third Regimental Commander as a senior. The Black Knights won a then-program best nine games, which was set in 1949, including a Peach Bowl victory over Illinois. Smith was named to the All-American First Team to become the first Black Knight to garner All-American honors since 1968. His Army football athletic career concluded when he was selected to play in the 1986 Hula Bowl. Smith was a recipient of the prestigious Army Athletic Association award and received an NCAA postgraduate scholarship.
Peter Witteried (Men's Swimming and Diving, 1950-54)
Peter Witteried was a seven-time All-American while competing on the men's swimming and diving team from 1950-54. Witteried was an All-American in four events – 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard backstroke, 150-yard individual medley relay, and the 300-yard medley relay. He was a three-time All-American in the 100 back in 1952 (10th), 1953 (5th), and 1954 (5th), twice in the 200 back – finishing fourth in 1953 and seventh in 1954 at the NCAA Championships, and once in the 300-yard medley (1953), and 150-yard IM (1954).
As a senior team captain during the 1953-54 season, he was a two-time Eastern Collegiate champion in the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke. He placed third in the 100 back and 200 backstrokes in 1952 and was runner-up in the 200-yard backstroke and third in the 300-yard medley in 1953. He was a member of USA Swimming at the 1955 Pan American Games. He finished seventh in the 200-meter backstroke (1:10.3).
Witteried served 30 years as an artillery officer, including a tour in Vietnam as a battalion commander, and retired as a Colonel.
Maurice Worthy (Wrestling, 1997-2001)
Maurice Worthy was a four-year (1997-2001) letterwinner on the wrestling team. He was a three-time participant at the NCAA and Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Championships. His 12 EIWA wins are tied for sixth in program history, and his seven NCAA Championships wins are fifth most.
He qualified for the EIWA Championship as a freshman competing at 158 lbs. and finished in third place. He represented the Academy at the 1998 NCAA Championships. As a junior, Worthy moved up to the 174-pound weight class and recorded 14 pins during the 1999-2000 season which are sixth on the single-season list. He placed third at the 2000 EIWA Championships.
Worthy put together a dominant senior campaign, posting a 34-1 record. He was named the 2001 EIWA Wrestler of the Year after winning the 174-pound title. Worthy, who was a team captain, earned All-American honors after placing runner-up in the 174-pound weight class at the 2001 NCAA Championships. He had four wins at the 2001 NCAA Championships which are sixth on the Army list.
Worthy finished his career with a 99-12 overall record and ranks 10th on the career wins list. His 35 career pins rank tied for fourth on Army's all-time list.
He was the recipient of the 1997 Wally Crum Memorial Award which is given annually to the team's most courageous wrestler and is a two-time winner of the Mike Natvig Award which recognizes the most outstanding wrestler.
The Class of 2022 features longtime head coach of the men's and women's cross country and track and field teams Ron Bazil, two-sport athlete Randy Nelson, football stalwart Don Smith, record-setting swimmer Peter Witteried, and wrestling standout Maurice Worthy.
Ron Bazil (Head Coach, Track 1979-1995; Cross Country 1979-1995)
Ron Bazil served 16 years as the head coach of the men's and women's cross country and track and field teams. He won over 300 dual meets with 15 conference championships (cross country, indoor, and outdoor) to his credit. He coached 21 All-Americans, six NCAA Championship participants, and 138 All-Patriot League performers during his tenure leading the programs.
Bazil was named the men's cross country coach in 1979 and his teams finished .500 or better in every season including going unbeaten in dual meets in 1987, 1993, and 1994. When Army joined the Patriot League in 1993, the Black Knights immediately took over. Army won the 1993 Patriot League championship and finished sixth at the 1993 NCAA Championships. Bazil was named Patriot League and District II NCAA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1993. The next season, Bazil secured his second straight Patriot League Coach of the Year honors after coaching Army to the team title and the individual Patriot League champion, Mike Bernstein, who also competed in the NCAA Championship that fall. In his two seasons coaching in the Patriot League, Army placed eight on all-league teams. He coached five Black Knights who were named to the 25th Patriot League Anniversary team.
Bazil took over the women's program in 1983 and coached the team to the first two official Star Meets victories in 1986 and 1987. The women's cross country team claimed the 1994 Patriot League Championship with Catherine Gaffigan garnering back-to-back individual champion and scholar-athlete of the year. Bazil took home the coach of the year award.
Bazil's track and field teams set the standard when they joined the Patriot League. The men's and women's programs each started consecutive win streaks of the Patriot League Outdoor Championships in 1992 with the women winning from 1992-99 and the men from 1992-2007. Bazil, who coached his final season in 1995, was named Patriot League Men's and Women's Coach of the Year from 1992-95. Bazil coached Jim McPherson, named Patriot League Athlete of the Meet in 1992 and 1995, and Jason Stewart, an All-American in 1994, who competed in the 1993 and 1994 NCAA Championships in the 5000m. The women's team swept the major awards at the 1994 outdoor championships with Tanesha Hodge winning athlete of the meet and Catherine Gaffigan named scholar-athlete of the year to join her cross country award.
Randy Nelson (Men's Soccer, 1971-75)
Randy Nelson ranks near the top of the list on the Army West Point men's soccer record book after a standout career for the Black Knights from 1971-74. He is second in career points with 93 and goals with 37, and is third in assists with 19. As a senior captain in 1974, Nelson scored 15 goals and had 37 points, which are fifth and fourth, respectively, on the single-season record list.
He earned 1974 NSCAA All-American Honorable Mention accolades and was a four-time NSCAA All-Regional selection. The Black Knights went 33-12-6 during his time and made three NCAA Tournament appearances (1971, 1972, 1973). Nelson was drafted by the NY Cosmos of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1975.
Nelson also was a two-year (1973 and 1974) letterwinner on the men's lacrosse program.
Don Smith (Football, 1982-85)
Don Smith anchored the offensive line from 1982-85 helping lead the Black Knights to consecutive bowl victories and beating Air Force and Navy to win the program's third outright Commander-In-Chief's Trophy in 1984.
Army won 23 games in his four years, including 17 during his junior and season campaigns. The 1984 team won eight games and ended the season on a three-game win streak, including beating Michigan State in the Cherry Bowl. Smith earned AP All-East First Team selection.
The 1985 season was filled with accolades for Smith who was a team captain and was the Corps' Third Regimental Commander as a senior. The Black Knights won a then-program best nine games, which was set in 1949, including a Peach Bowl victory over Illinois. Smith was named to the All-American First Team to become the first Black Knight to garner All-American honors since 1968. His Army football athletic career concluded when he was selected to play in the 1986 Hula Bowl. Smith was a recipient of the prestigious Army Athletic Association award and received an NCAA postgraduate scholarship.
Peter Witteried (Men's Swimming and Diving, 1950-54)
Peter Witteried was a seven-time All-American while competing on the men's swimming and diving team from 1950-54. Witteried was an All-American in four events – 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard backstroke, 150-yard individual medley relay, and the 300-yard medley relay. He was a three-time All-American in the 100 back in 1952 (10th), 1953 (5th), and 1954 (5th), twice in the 200 back – finishing fourth in 1953 and seventh in 1954 at the NCAA Championships, and once in the 300-yard medley (1953), and 150-yard IM (1954).
As a senior team captain during the 1953-54 season, he was a two-time Eastern Collegiate champion in the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke. He placed third in the 100 back and 200 backstrokes in 1952 and was runner-up in the 200-yard backstroke and third in the 300-yard medley in 1953. He was a member of USA Swimming at the 1955 Pan American Games. He finished seventh in the 200-meter backstroke (1:10.3).
Witteried served 30 years as an artillery officer, including a tour in Vietnam as a battalion commander, and retired as a Colonel.
Maurice Worthy (Wrestling, 1997-2001)
Maurice Worthy was a four-year (1997-2001) letterwinner on the wrestling team. He was a three-time participant at the NCAA and Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Championships. His 12 EIWA wins are tied for sixth in program history, and his seven NCAA Championships wins are fifth most.
He qualified for the EIWA Championship as a freshman competing at 158 lbs. and finished in third place. He represented the Academy at the 1998 NCAA Championships. As a junior, Worthy moved up to the 174-pound weight class and recorded 14 pins during the 1999-2000 season which are sixth on the single-season list. He placed third at the 2000 EIWA Championships.
Worthy put together a dominant senior campaign, posting a 34-1 record. He was named the 2001 EIWA Wrestler of the Year after winning the 174-pound title. Worthy, who was a team captain, earned All-American honors after placing runner-up in the 174-pound weight class at the 2001 NCAA Championships. He had four wins at the 2001 NCAA Championships which are sixth on the Army list.
Worthy finished his career with a 99-12 overall record and ranks 10th on the career wins list. His 35 career pins rank tied for fourth on Army's all-time list.
He was the recipient of the 1997 Wally Crum Memorial Award which is given annually to the team's most courageous wrestler and is a two-time winner of the Mike Natvig Award which recognizes the most outstanding wrestler.
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