Thursday, the Clarion University Sports Hall of Fame committee honored seven new inductees into the school’s Hall of Fame.
The most recent class includes Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (2011-12, wrestling); Amanda Gough (2008-2011 Volleyball, 2012-13 Softball, 2012-13 basketball); Matthew Guyton (2001-2005 golf); Rich Herman (1980-2015 SID; 1989-99 baseball coach, 1981-87 assistant baseball coach); Dan Kohley (1976-79 football); Lauren (Murgatroyd) Hasselquist (1977-79 women’s swimming); and Erin Richard (2004-
“I would want to take this time to congratulate the Hall of Fame Class of 2023,” said Dr. Wendy Snodgrass, director of athletics at Clarion. “Their contributions to the history and legacy of Golden Eagle sports cannot be emphasized, and I look forward to the opportunity to personally celebrate them on April 28.”
Guyton, a graduate of DuBois Area High School, will be admitted posthumously as the only recipient having high school links to the Tri-County Area. He expired on May 6, 2017.
Guyton, an All-America golfer in NCAA Division II, had a remarkable career for the Golden Eagles from 2001 to 2005 under Hall of Fame coach Al Lefevre.
He was named PSAC Rookie and Player of the Year in 2002 after guiding Clarion to the PSAC Spring team championship and finished second individually at PSAC’s and ninth at NCAA D-II Regionals. He averaged 74.6 across 22 rounds.
Matt established the 36-hole school record in the Fall of 2002 with a two-day total of 10 under par (67-67—134) and equaled the 18-hole school record of 5 under par (twice) in the WVIAC Championship. Clarion established team records with one day totals of 286 (under par) and 572 (over par) (4-under).
Clarion earned second at PSAC’s and seventh at Regionals in the spring. Guyton won the PSAC and the D-II Regionals with a par on the opening hole of a playoff (72-69-73—214).
To qualify for the NCAA Championships at Crosswater Golf Club in Sunriver, Oregon, Matt had a 72-hole total of 288 (72, 73, 71, 72) for seventh place. Guyton was selected PSAC Player of the Year and Third Team All-America. He was selected to participate in the U.S. Amateur at Oakmont that summer.
In 2003-04, Guyton was again awarded PSAC Player of the Year with an average of 75.0 and guided Clarion to a second-place finish in the PSAC and a fifth-place finish at Regionals.
Matt finished third at PSACs as a senior and helped Clarion finish second as a team. After suffering a severe knee injury prior to the Spring NCAA Regionals, he battled to a 54-hole 238 (79 average) and helped the Eagles finish in third place.
Guyton holds the record for career average with a score of 74.95. He was selected 2004 Clarion Male Athlete of the Year and won the Burgess-McCormack Collegiate shootout three times.
Guyton, a native of DuBois and a 2001 graduate of DuBois Area High School, was the head golf professional at Treasure Lake in 2015 and has served as a golf professional at numerous prestigious courses, including Black Hall Club, Westbury Golf & Country Club, Jonathan’s Landing, TPC at Wakefield, and many others.
Guyton’s wife Deniz and daughters Skyy and Snow reside in Florida, while his Clarion-educated parents Jim and Bridget remain in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The 34th Annual Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held on Friday, April 28 at 7 p.m. in the newly rebuilt Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium. The event is accessible to everyone.
A gathering will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Eagle’s Perch on the Second Level of Tippin Gym. Orders for tickets are managed by the Alumni Relations Office, located at 100 Seifert Mooney Center, PennWest Clarion.
Tickets are $40 per person and may be purchased online at www.clarion.edu/shof or by calling 814-393-2572 to reach the Office of Alumni Engagement. Please make checks payable to CUF/Sports Hall of Fame.