Rutgers volleyball team of 1976-1977 inducted into Hall of Fame (06/25/06)

Rutgers volleyball team of 1976-1977 inducted into Hall of Fame

by Walter Bodnar

NEWARK, N.J. - Thirty years ago, a squad of young lads came together at Rutgers University in Newark, N.J., played volleyball and became college champions of the East Coast in the United States.

The team's founder, spiritual leader and coach was a history professor, Dr. Taras Hunczak, who at that time predicted that this team would justify itself and make Rutgers proud.

The majority of players on the winning team of the 1976-1977 season were students of Ukrainian heritage who had been playing volleyball in a variety of Ukrainian sports clubs throughout the eastern U.S., such as Chornomorska Sitch, Tryzub, Plast Ukrainian Youth Organization and the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM). The largest number came from the Chornomorska Sitch Sports Club of Newark.

Thirty years after their glorious achievement, all of the Rutgers Scarlet Raiders volleyball players were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame during a ceremony that took place in the Paul Robeson Campus Center of Rutgers-Newark on Sunday, April 30. Also inducted that day were seven individuals noted for their accomplishments in sports such as tennis, basketball and baseball, as well as other fields.

All members of the 1976-1977 volleyball squad, their families and friends were invited to attend the ceremony.

It felt like a long-awaited class reunion with the players looking like established members of their communities, their proud wives at their sides and their children looking up adoringly at their fathers.

In the pamphlets distributed among the attendees, biographical sketches and histories of their plays were written up for all to read and cherish.

Among the tributes was a resolution dated May 2, 1977, issued by the Senate of the state of New Jersey. It stated, in part:

"Whereas, Having completed a season of superb play, with an impressive 41-1 wins-losses record that has earned them a place among the top four volleyball teams in the nation, the Scarlet Raiders of Rutgers in Newark have distinguished themselves and brought distinction to this State; and

"Whereas, The Rutgers-Newark Volleyball Team, after winning the Eastern Collegiate Volleyball League title, has qualified as one of the four teams to participate in the Eighth National Collegiate Athletic Association Volleyball Championship Tournament to be held May 6-7, 1977, in Los Angeles, California; and

"Whereas, Coach Taras Hunczak has, with his determination and encouragement, guided the Scarlet Raiders to their present eminence; and

"Whereas, Such outstanding performance and demonstration of talent reflects credit on Rutgers, the State University, and State of New Jersey ...

"Be It resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey...

"That this House hereby congratulates and commends the players and coaching staff of the Rutgers-Newark Volleyball team for their outstanding accomplishments and joins with the citizens of New Jersey in expressing pride and relish in the national recognition which Rutgers-Newark has been accorded."

Gratitude and praise were extended, and special team awards were presented during the Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony to the Scarlet Raiders players of 1976-1977: Richard Kaefer, George Temnycky, Nestor Paslawsky, Peter Melnyk, Michael Laschuk, Mario Treibit, Ryuichi Furusawa, the late Boris Olshaniwsky, William Savary, Roman Kolinsky, Bohdan Mrozowski and George Lesiuk, together with their founder and coach, Prof. Hunczak.

Also noted were the contributions of the Chornomorska Sitch Sports Club and other Ukrainian American youth and sports organizations to the athletic development and team spirit that made the team of 1976-1977 the champions they were.

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