Russell Burgess ‘61
Russell Burgess ’61 was a four-year letter-winner in both cross country and track & field from 1957-61.
In cross country, he was voted Team MVP twice (1959 and 1960) and played an integral role in starting the Hiram cross country program in 1957. He finished third in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Championships in 1959 and 1960 and led the Terriers to a combined 18-2-1 record in 1959 and 1960.
In track & field, Burgess was named Team MVP in 1959. He captured the OAC title in the 2-mile run in 1960, crossing in a then school record 10:03. Burgess would go on to break his own school record in 1961 at the OAC Championships, taking second with a time of 9:56.
Burgess graduated from Hiram in 1961 and obtained his Masters Degree in Mathematics from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1967. He served as a high school and college mathematics teacher for 50 years, before retiring in August of 2011. He is also a member of a Barbershop Harmony Society Chorus called “The Voices of California”, which is ranked in the top-15 on the international level.
Thomas Collins ‘85
Thomas Collins ’85 was a four-year letterman for the football team from 1981-85.
Collins was named Team MVP in both 1983 and 1984, while also being named Team Captain in 1984. In 1984, he led the Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC) in receptions with 67, on his way to earning a spot on the Pizza Hut All-American Team. His 67 receptions stood as a school record all the way until 2009.
In his career, Collins recorded 120 catches for 1,233 and seven touchdowns. The 120 total receptions still rank fourth in program history.
Collins graduated from Hiram in 1985 and went on to serve as a Sales Manager at Wells Fargo until 2010. He currently serves as a VP/District Manager of Huntington Bank. In addition, Collins also served as a Defensive Coordinator at Lowellville High School from 1998-2010 and currently serves as an Assistant Coach at Matthews High School.
Perry Graehling ‘85
Perry Graehling ’85 was a member of the wrestling team at Hiram for two years, after transferring to the college at the start of his junior year in 1982.
He was a two-time letter-winner at 142 pounds and was a two-time All-Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC) honoree, taking second place in 1983 and third in 1984. Graehling made two appearances at the NCAA Division III Championships and earned All-American honors in 1983 with a sixth place finish in his weight class.
Graehling graduated from Hiram in 1985. He currently serves as the President of Materials Systemation Inc., a company that sells, installs and services vertical automated storage and retrieval machines to manufacturers.
Elizabeth (Groselle) Hasty ‘06
Elizabeth (Groselle) Hasty is one of the most decorated student-athletes in Hiram College history. She was a four-year letter-winner in swimming & diving and volleyball and won two letters in both track & field and women’s golf. She also is the only student-athlete to win four Helen M. Petroskey awards.
As a swimmer, Hasty captured the 2004 Division III National Championship in the 100-breaststroke. She was a 12-time All-American, earning three honors each in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Hasty was also named North Coast Athletic Conference Female Swimmer of the Year in 2004 and 2006. She currently still holds 10 school records and six records for Alumni Memorial Pool.
Aside from swimming, Hasty was a captain of the volleyball team in 2004 and 2005. She also was an All-NCAC honoree in discus and shot put in track & field.
Hasty earned her degree from Hiram in 2006 and enrolled at Valparaiso University (Ind.) where she received her MBA and Juris Doctorate from the Valparaiso School of Law. She worked for the FBI until June of 2014, before becoming a stay at home mother for her three children, with a fourth on the way.
Jon Matyjas ‘94
Jon Matyjas ’94 was a four-year letterman in men’s soccer at Hiram. He also earned one letter in tennis during his time as a Terrier.
Matyjas was voted Team Captain during his senior season in 1993. He was a three-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) selection, earning First Team honors in 1993. Matyjas was also named All-Ohio and All-Mideast Region in 1993.
Matyjas currently ranks sixth in single-season shots taken (65 in 1993) and eighth in single-season points (23 in 1993).
Upon graduation, Matyjas worked for Dick’s Sporting Goods in Marketing for a year and a half. He currently is a Sales Manager for Superior Glove Works and has been in the glove manufacturing business for over 10 years.
Amanda (Wieclaw) Walker ‘02
Amanda (Wieclaw) Walker ’02 won four letters as a member of the softball team from 1999-02.
She was named Team Captain and Team MVP in 2002 and was named All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) in 2000. She was also presented with the NCAC Scholar-Athlete Award in 2002.
Upon graduation, Walker held the school record for career wins and strikeouts. She currently holds the program record for complete games (61) and innings pitched (473.2). In addition, she ranks second in wins (28) and strikeouts (232) and is ninth in career ERA (3.83). During her time at Hiram, Walker accounted for 70% of Hiram’s victories between the circle.
Upon graduation from Hiram in 2002, Walker did administrative work for Chase Protective Services in Akron, Ohio. She has worked as a Human Resource Representative at the Community Health Center in Akron, Ohio for the past 11 years.
Dominic Yazbek ‘04
Dominic Yazbek ’04 won three letters as a member of the baseball team.
He was a two-time Honorable Mention All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) honoree and was also voted Team Captain in 2003. Yazbek also was the recipient of the Donald M. Campbell Award as the Outstanding Male Student-Athlete at Hiram in 2003.
Yazbek posted a .357 batting average during his time as a Terrier. He posted his strongest season for Hiram in 2003, where he hit .344 with eight home runs and 36 RBI’s. Yazbek is still the program leader in home runs with 18.
He graduated from Hiram in 2004 and was a salesman for Miller Safety until 2007. Yazbek, an avid golfer and bowler, is currently the Finance Manager at Haus Auto Group in Canfield, Ohio.