Mike Ruzzi Part of Ten-Member Edinboro Hall of Fame Class
The Edinboro Athletic Department Wednesday announced the ten-member class for the 2023 Hall of Fame.
One of the inductees is Erie News Now anchor Mike Ruzzi. He will be inducted for his lifetime achievement in sports. Ruzzi has been part of Erie news for four decades. He has served various roles from sports anchor and director to new anchor. Ruzzi was inducted into the Metro Erie Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
The class of 2023 also includes standouts from the cross country and track & field, football, men's and women's swimming, softball and women's basketball teams.
Jeff Barker '00
Jeff Barker was a standout for both the Edinboro Cross Country and Track & Field teams. He was a three-time All-American earning the honor twice in cross country and one in track. In 2000, he won the PSAC and East Regional Cross Country Championship while also earning PSAC Athlete of the Year honors. Barker earned his first Cross Country All-American honor in 1997.
Renee Brown '12
Renee Brown was a three-time All-PSAC West selection earning first-team honors twice and second-team honors once. She was the 2012 Nancy Acker Award winner for the top female senior athlete. She is one of only seven Edinboro players to reach 1,000 career points and 700 rebounds. She currently ranks as the seventh all-time scorer at 1,430 points and sixth in rebounds with 735. She was also the 2008-09 PSAC West Freshman of the Year.
Rune Christensen '92
Rune Christensen was a four-time All-American as a member of the men's swim team. He earned All-American honors twice in 1991-92 and once each in 1989-90 and 1990-91. He was a seven-time All-PSAC honoree. He departed the program holding five school records and still holds the 1,650-yard freestyle.
Sandie & Nathan Everhart (Distinguished Service Award)
Sandie and Nathan Everhart have been serving the Edinboro student-athletes through the Boro Christian Athletes. In the words of one nomination, "Sandie and Nathan go above and beyond to make time to watch the student-athletes in action, pour into their athletes in large groups, small groups or individual settings to meet students right where they are in order to help them grow." They have opened not only their hearts and invested time, but have opened their home to student-athletes.
Mario Houston '94
Mario Houston was a standout member of the Edinboro football team playing defensive back. Houston was the PSAC West Rookie of the Year in 1990. He was a two-time All-PSAC West selection in 1990 and 1993. Houston had a nose for the football holding the single-season and career record for pass breakups with 16 and 53 respectively.
Georgeann Kostrubanic '93
Georgeann Kostrubanic was a standout performer for the women's swim team. She was a seven-time All-American earning her first honor in 1990-91. She was a three-time All-American in 1991-92 before posting a pair of All-American times in 1992-93. She was a five-time All-PSAC performer. Kostubanic departed with holding five school records.
John Messura '92
John Messura was a four-year standout on the Edinboro football team. Messura was a two-time All-PSAC selection including earning first-team honors in 1991. He ranks ninth in Edinboro history in career sacks with 17 and is tied for 10th in sacks in a single season with nine. He was a 1991 Football Gazette Honorable Mention All-American and is a member of the Edinboro Football All-Time Team.
Kristen Neuberger '96 Kristen Neuberger was four-year member of the Edinboro softball team. Neuberger set the school record for batting average at .444 in 1994 a mark that currently ranks fifth in school history. She was first-team All-PSAC West in 1994 and second-team in 1996. She ranks third in Edinboro single-season history with six triples. Her career .365 average is the sixth best mark in Edinboro history. She ranks inside the top 15 in runs scored, hits, doubles and triples.
