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Wesleyan announces 2022 Hall of Fame class

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan Department of Athletics has announced the addition of five new members to the 2021 West Virginia Wesleyan Athletics Hall of Fame class.
 
Stacy Brown Harlan ’99 (Swimming)
Brown Harlan competed on the WVWC Swimming team for four years from 1995-1999. She was the team captain from 1997-99. In her four years of competition, she did not lose a dual meet in the 100-meter or 200-meter backstroke. Brown Harlan is the only WVWC women’s swimmer to qualify for the NCAA National Championships. She qualified for the NCAA Championships in 1996 and 1997 for the 100-meter backstroke. Brown Harlan was named an NCAA Division II All-American in the 200m backstroke (1998) and the 50m freestyle (1999).
 
Gavin Donaldson (Head Men’s Soccer Coach)
Throughout 36 seasons as a head coach, Donaldson has accumulated 402 wins including 260 victories in his 31-year career at WVWC. In 1994, Donaldson led the Bobcats to an NAIA national title en route to NAIA and NSCAA National Coach of the Year. Under the direction of Donaldson, the West Virginia Wesleyan men’s soccer coaching staff was named Division II National Staff of the Year by United Soccer Coaches for the 2020 season (played in the spring of 2021).
 
Chris Patella ’79 (Football)
Patella was a two-time first-team All-WVIAC honoree. He was a team captain for the 1977 and 1978 seasons. Patella was named to the 1976 All-WVIAC Honorable Mention team and was awarded honorable mention honors as an All-American in 1977. Patella recorded 87 tackles in 10 games his junior season.
 
Eugene Rall ’62 (Football)
Rall was a wide receiver and a placekicker on the WVWC football team from 1958-1961. He was co-captain of the 1961 WVIAC championship team that posted an 8-1 record. Rall led the Bobcats in receiving yards his senior year and averaged 14.4 yards/reception. He received WVIAC honorable mention accolades. Rall was awarded the Murmurmontis Sportsmanship Award.
 
Jim Wilkinson ’60 (Basketball)
Wilkinson was named co-captain of the WVWC basketball team in the 1958-59 season. He led his team to a WVIAC tournament championship and an NAIA district championship. Wilkinson was the captain of the Wesleyan baseball team for the 1959 season. After his athletic career at WVWC, Wilkinson accumulated over 400 wins as a high school basketball coach in Pennsylvania.
 
The Class of 2021 WVWC Hall of Fame Inductees will be enshrined on Thursday, April 21, 2022, along with the Class of 2020 as part of Homecoming Week. The festivities will be conducted in the Benedum Campus Center Social Hall. The meet & greet will begin at 5 p.m. and dinner will start at 5:30 p.m. followed by the induction ceremony.

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