Author: GBG Technology Group

October 2023 Newsletter

MBAC Member Takes Top Pitt-Greensburg Alumni Association Honor

On Saturday, September 30, basketball alumnus Myron C. Jones II ’98 was presented with the Alumnus of Distinction award, the most prestigious award given to alumni by Pitt-Greensburg, at the Alumni Celebration Dinner, part of the Blue and Gold Celebration. The dinner also highlighted the Blue & Gold Celebration affinity groups as well as featured the presentation of the Volunteer Excellence and Young Alumni Leadership awards.
Winning the award meant a great deal to Myron.
“To me it meant that I wasn’t overlooked. I knew that I liked technology, I always felt I could be a leader, and I always had a relationship with God. To be recognized brings everything full circle and tells me people recognized my strengths and my goals. Who knows what would have happened if Coach Furjanic had not approached me at one of those post-season all-star games and told me what he had planned for the team at Pitt-Greensburg. Somehow the plan was laid out for me that allowed me to be me, and I am grateful people recognized that,” he explains.
At the dinner, Myron first was introduced by Pitt-Greensburg Alumni Association (PGAA) President Michel Keller ’96 who then welcomed Myron’s former Pitt-Greensburg coach Matt Furjanic to say a few words. Coach Furjanic spoke with pride about his relationship with Myron and how important Myron was to the four-year program.
Myron gave an inspirational acceptance speech. His family was there to support him, and his mother beamed with pride. Myron spoke of the strong family values instilled in him by his parents. The audience was silent as he explained how he overcame personal health issues to not only become the player he was, but also the person he is. He was touched because he was receiving the award for being himself.
“Always be ready to walk through open doors of opportunity” was a pertinent piece of advice he shared.
The Jones family had another achievement to celebrate in September. Myron’s youngest sister Michelle was inducted into the University of Indiana of Pennsylvania Athletic Hall of Fame for her accomplishments in volleyball.
Myron never got to walk in his graduation procession because he had to finish course work to reach the credits required. When he shared that he would be leading the alumni in the 2024 graduation ceremonies as the alumni marshal, the guests cheered. The MBAC is proud to include Myron in their ranks.

Top: Matt Furjanic, Harry Bowser ’72, Myron C. Jones II ’98, and Dave Washburn. Second from top: Andy Garsteck ’74 and Myron. Third from top: Myron and wife Amethyst
Bottom: Myron with mother Evelyn (left), sister Michelle, and niece Brooklyn.

MBAC Presents New Banners

The MBAC presented two new banners to be displayed in the hallway of the men’s locker room. These banners will replace those already in place that honored the 1,000-point scorers in Pitt-Greensburg men’s basketball history. This new banner will include four additional names — Jojo France ’23, Cam Seigfreid ‘21, Jim Kubicek, and Matt Johnson ’22. Three of these players accomplished their feats in recent years with Jojo passed all but one of his predecessors, finishing behind Jason Trout as the second leading scorer is school history. When Cam finished his career, he did so as the school’s seventh leading scorer. The third addition is Matt Johnson who cracked the 1,000-point barrier in his next to last game. Jojo, Matt, and Cam were teammates on the 2019 -2020 team coached by Brody Jackson that finished the season at 20-6.
While Jim Kubicek reached this feat in a shorter time than the other players. It took him longer to be added to the list. Jim Kubicek played at Pitt-Greensburg from 1971 to 1972, when it was only a two-year school. Jim accomplished his feat in two years which is half the normal time a player usually has to reach this milestone. However his name was not added to this honored list until recently. Congratulations to all of the players who appear on the banners. They have set the bar high, and the MBAC hopes current and future players dream of being added to these banners.

Top: Gene Brisbane ’74, Bernie Cobetto ‘73, Rich Hardway ’73 Andy Garsteck ’74 present new banner to Coach Chris Klimchock. Bottom: Andy Garsteck ’74 and Jim Kubicek.

Jojo France ‘23, Matt Johnson ’22, Cam Seigfreid ’21, and Jason Trout are 1,000-point scorers.

Andy Garsteck ’74 Walks the Walk

During the Blue & Gold Celebration 2023, the MBAC members could not help but notice the dedication of its president Andy Garsteck ’74. Andy had a very busy weekend starting Thursday night when he was a guide for the Lynch Hall paranormal tours. On Friday, he was a judge at the hole-in-one hole at the golf outing. He did double time on Saturday helping to hand out notepads and pens at the Blue & Gold Festival before returning that evening to congratulate fellow MBAC member Myron C. Jones II ‘98 when he was awarded the Alumnus of Distinction Award. Here’s a shout out for being such a great president and a great example of a PGAA volunteer.

Andy Garsteck ’74 shakes hands with Myron C. Jones II ’98 at the Alumni Celebration Dinner.

Save the Date: MBAC Night at the Game

Join the MBAC for a night out at the basketball game. The MBAC is planning for an alumni night on January 13, 2024, at 4 p.m. in the Chambers Hall Gym. Come meet up with fellow alumni before and after the game. Cheer on the Bobcats as they take on Pitt-Bradford. Watch the MBAC Facebook page for more details.

MBAC Members React to First Zoom Meeting

On Tuesday, August 15, the MBAC in response to a suggestion made by alumnus Matt Russell ’09 tried to reach out to more alumni players by having its first hybrid meeting. Held in-person in the Faculty Office Building and online on Zoom, the meeting’s reach extended quite a way. There were six members who attended the meeting in person and six alumni participating online.
Regular meeting attendees Jim Murphy ’76 and Dom Domasky ’00 joined online, and the MBAC welcomed meeting newcomers Hall of Fame Coach Matt Furjanic along with former player Myron C. Jones II ’98. Also joining us for the first time was Doug Wilson, a 2016 graduate and member of the only men’s basketball team from our school to qualify for the Division III tournament. Last, but definitely not least, was Dave Chesser ’73, who came to us all the way from Alaska. Dave was a member of the team when Pitt-Greensburg was a two-year school in the late 1960s and the early 1970s.
MBAC President Andy Garsteck ’74 stated that the outreach was exactly what the MBAC was hoping to accomplish by providing a resource to alumni that allowed them to be more involved with the organization. He also made a point to let all know that the main objectives of the club are to provide an opportunity for alumni of the basketball program to come together and enjoy one another’s company and to enhance the experience of the young men who are part of the basketball program.
Here’s what the meeting participants thought about the hybrid meeting:
We have come a long way!” — Bernie Cobetto ’73
“It warmed my soul to see people from all over, especially representation from Alaska.” — Dom Domasky ’00
“I appreciated the opportunity to join you. I found it both informative and encouraging,” Dave Chesser ’73
“I, like some others, have been here since this organization began. While sitting in the meeting, I realized we reached more people with this meeting than any other meeting we have held. That accomplishment gave me a great sense of pride. I hope those that were with us were also encouraged and spread the word that we are trying to make this organization what the basketball alumni want it to be. In order to do so we need your involvement.” — Harry Bowser, ’72
“We realize if we could take advantage of opening new lines of communication by using social media it would only enhance our ability to reach alumni that cannot normally attend our meetings. Judging by the response we received with our first attempt using the Zoom broadcast we hope that we can make it a regular part of the way we meet.” — Andy Garsteck ’74
“One of the major goals of this organization was to provide an opportunity for basketball alumni to gather and share common interests, our Zoom meetings seem to show the potential to permit us to do that in a different way than we are accustomed to.” — Rich Hardway, ’73
Our goal is to reach out to the younger alumni to welcome them aboard. The MBAC is only as strong as its volunteers and their contributions. Consider getting involved with the MBAC. You will be surprised the satisfaction you get out of helping us grow. Join the MBAC for its next hybrid meeting on Thursday, November 16, at 7 p.m. Please watch your e-mail, texts, and the MBAC Facebook page for registration details.

Join the Pitt-Greensburg Alumni Association for These Upcoming Events:
To the Interview and Beyond Alumni Panel - November 2
Merry Mingle—December 1
Visit the PGAA website for more details — https://www.greensburg.pitt.edu/alumni

Meet the New Players

Josh Alcantara

Joshua Alcantara is a 6’4”center/forward from Muhlenberg High School in Reading, PA. His coach was Matthew Flowers. His favorite memory is going deep in the state playoffs. He was attracted to Pitt-Greensburg because he says, “It feels like home.” His major is business accounting. He looks forward to contributing to team victories and playing with loyal and supportive teammates.

Mike Bigley is a 6’0” shooting guard from Seton LaSalle High School in Pittsburgh, PA. Mike is transfer from Washington and Jefferson College where he was named Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Newcomer of the Year for the ’21-’22 season. It was a difficult decision to leave his former teammates. Mike points to his upbringing and family values to be the best you can be along with the positive communication with Coach Klimchock as the primary reasons for coming to Pitt-Greensburg. His major is business management. Mike hopes to lead the team to a championship. During the short time he has been here, he already considers his teammates as brothers.

Mike Bigley

Jackson Byer

Jackson Byer is a 6’0” shooting guard from Connemaugh Township High School in Davidsville, PA, and a transfer from Juniata College. Jackson was familiar with Coach Klimchock through the recruiting process in high school, but he ultimately decided to attend Juniata. Jackson cited several reasons for making the difficult decision to transfer. He recalled the positive recruiting experience with Coach Klimchock and had been playing with current Pitt-Greensburg guard Matt Marinchak at the AAU level and the Lakemont Men’s Summer League. While Matt may have had some influence, Jackson noted that he immediately felt included by the other players at Pitt-Greensburg. His major is business marketing. Jackson aspires to help the team make the playoffs and ultimately win a championship. Equally important to Jackson is that he succeeds academically.

Gage Johnston is a 6’4” shooting guard/small forward from Apollo-Ridge High School in Spring Church, PA. His coach was Greg Fox. He was drawn to Pitt-Greensburg by the positive recruiting experience, the campus atmosphere, and the culture of the basketball program. His major is supply chain management. He looks forward to being pushed at this level to be a better player and building trust with his teammates as well as a successful student.

Gage Johnston

Trent Rozich

Trent Rozich is a 6’5” forward from Richland High School in Johnstown, PA, and a transfer from Juniata College. Trent sat out of college basketball last year. Like his friend Jackson Byer, a fellow transfer, Trent had played with current Pitt-Greensburg guard Matt Marinchak at the AAU Level and the Lakemont Park Men’s Summer League. Through his friendship with Matt and Jackson, Trent decided to re-establish his game at Pitt-Greensburg. Trent also pointed out the positive campus atmosphere along with encouragement from the coaching staff as additional factors for his decision. His major is data analytics Trent says his new teammates are already pushing him in the weight room and in pick-up games to improve his performance. Trent aims to be part of a winning team with an opportunity to make the playoffs.

Where Are They Now: Dave Chesser ’73 and Bill McGrew

If you are planning on tracking down Dave Chesser ’73 you will need to put on your traveling shoes, or to be exact, your snowshoes, as Dave lives in Fairbanks, Alaska.
The former Hempfield Spartan played on the first Pitt-Greensburg basketball team. As a member of the first Panthers team in 1969, Dave is remembered as a quick guard — always hustling — and a good jumper. Looking back on his basketball career, he noted that he was very appreciative and excited to be able to extend his playing days two more years with the Panthers.
After leaving Greensburg, he went to the Oakland campus as a math major, but during that time he felt obligated to leave school to join the Air Force. There he trained as a bomber navigator in the late Vietnam era. He served 33 years as a military officer training others in navigation. Dave then traveled to Nashville, TN, where he attended seminary and pastored a church. While in Tennessee, he met his future wife Anne Marie who was a professor at the University of Alaska. They married in 2011.
Dave earned a Doctorate of Ministry in Alaska at the Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and has been a part-time minister in Fairbanks since 2011. Dave and his wife raised two children, a daughter Amy and a son Caleb.

Dave Chesser

Bill McGrew was the athletic trainer at Pitt-Greensburg for 11 years from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s. He was often the first one in the building and last one to leave. Bill had a smile that could light up a room and a heart the entire campus gravitated to.
Missy McGrew, Bill’s loving wife of 32 years, shared an update as Bill was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia at the age of 59. The disease is taking away Bill’s memory, ability to prepare meals, communicate, and other things, but not his smile. Bill still lights up when the University of Pittsburgh or Pitt-Greensburg is mentioned. Recently, Sweet Caroline was played by a band they were watching and when the beat hit, Bill smiled ear to ear and sang out, “Let’s Go Pitt!”
“Bill loved all of his players,” she says.
And, the players loved him back. Former Pitt-Greensburg basketball player Myron Jones ’98 also recalled Bill’s impact and dedication.
“Bill, our dedicated athletic trainer, was instrumental in maintaining the physical condition of our Division III basketball program during its inception. Bill's kindness and unwavering commitment to understanding the individual needs of each player stood out. He tirelessly worked to ensure our success on and off the court, making him not just an athletic trainer but also a mentor and a genuine all-around great guy. Bill's presence left an indelible mark on our team's journey” says Myron.
Head men’s basketball coach Matt Furjanic gushed over his time spent with Bill.
“Bill was so passionate about helping basketball players,” explains Matt, who coached at Division I schools prior to his time at Pitt-Greensburg. He felt Bill spent more time with the players than at other programs.
Bill has always been proud of his twin daughters, Megan and Madison. Megan, a daycare worker, is getting married in December. Madison married in 2022 and is a pharmacy technician. She made Bill a grandfather in March of 2023, and he likes to be called Pop Pop.

Bill McGrew (front row, second from left) and family

Women’s Basketball: New Season, New Opportunities

The AMCC knows that every year the Lady Bobcats are a force to be reckoned with, having made deep playoff runs in each of the last three years, but Bobcat Coach Darien Lantz takes nothing for granted. She knows that every year brings new challenges and new opportunities, and she sets the bar high.
“Our team is young, but we have returners that have gained valuable experience over the last few seasons. I expect this season to be a year of growth and rebuilding after losing key players, but I am optimistic and enthusiastic about the potential our team has for this season,” explains Darien.
The Bobcats have seven returning players. Perhaps the most important among them is junior guard Melina Maietta, who has been a key player for the past two seasons and will continue to play a significant role, especially on the offensive end. Last year she averaged 16.4 PPG, broke the school record for most threes made in a single game and was named AMCC second team. She is a tremendous leader both on and off the court, and Coach Lantz expects that to continue and hopes that Melina’s work ethic and love of the game prove infectious. Joining the returners will be three freshmen and one transfer. Sarah Penrod, hailing from Franklin Regional High School, plays at a fast-pace on both ends of the court and has the ability to be a dynamic scorer. Tori Carr, a combination point guard/scoring guard comes to the Bobcats from West Mifflin High School, and she plays with great court awareness.
“We expect her to be a strong playmaker,” Coach Lantz notes.
Malina Boord is also a scoring guard from McKeesport High School, and she brings plenty of moxie and skill to the team.
“She is a charismatic leader who will add more depth from behind the arc,” Coach Lantz adds.
In addition, coming to the Bobcats through the transfer portal is a former Seton Hill/ Serra Catholic high-energy player, Nicole Pawlowski, whom the coaches expect to help set the tempo on offense and bring intensity to the defense.
Assisting Coach Lantz will be returning coach and former Bobcat standout Kelsey Oddis ’18, Coach Lantz’s father Paul, and newcomer Colleen Trainer, a Mount Pleasant native and 2022 graduate of Thiel College. Coach Lantz stresses that the key to any successful coaching team is working toward a common goal.
“While our players can be very competitive in the classroom, we do require our players to set short-term and long-term academic and athletic goals for themselves. We want them to look back and reflect on their accomplishments at the end of their four years. Establishing a clear vision and having honest conversations helps us as coaches understand how we need to help them and push them to their limits,” Lantz adds.
Given the difficulty of the schedule, teamwork at every level will be key to continuing the success of the recent past, but Coach Lantz welcomes the challenge.
“We play a competitive non-conference schedule. We will kick off the season at W&J’s Tipoff against Carnegie Mellon, who is always tough, and Ohio Wesleyan, a team that made the NCAA tournament last season. In conference, Penn State Behrend will continue to be a strong competitor. They have a younger team with a tremendous amount of regular season and playoff experience,” she explains.
And then of course, there is perennial power LaRoche out of Pittsburgh. But, the Bobcats are right where they want to be, and now that Coach Lantz has a year under her belt she intends to be more vocal about her expectations.
“Everything is earned,” she states, before adding, ”This mentality goes for everything – work and personal life.”
Anyone who has watched the Bobcats over the past few years knows that this is a team that stays focused, plays together, and never quits. Their toughness has become a tradition. They ask for nothing, and, like their coach, they go into every season knowing that nothing is guaranteed and everything is earned.

Returning players bring experience to rally the team for a potential successful season.

MBAC Members Out and About at Blue & Gold Celebration 2023

Coach’s Corner

Coach Klimchock

We are thrilled to be back on campus for the 2023-24 year! This is the first year where the NCAA has allowed Division III basketball teams to practice before October 15, so we have already had a few practice sessions and are preparing for the upcoming season. We are looking to build off last year’s season where we once again reached the AMCC conference tournament and improved on our overall win total. We had four seniors, who graduated from the program, and a few others who decided not to come back this year. We have added five newcomers to this year’s team. They are really excited. We do return two starters along with a couple key players off the bench, who will be asked to step up into a bigger role this year.
Our non-conference schedule this year will be very challenging and will prepare us for our conference play. We play two teams who made the NCAA tournament last year as well as another Division 1 program in St Francis (PA) which will be an exhibition game. Thank you for all your support, and we hope to see you at a couple games this season. Go Bobcats!

2023-2024 men’s Basketball team Schedule

Date	Location	Opponent	W or L	Overall	Conference
Sat., Nov. 11	A	Grove City College
Wed., Nov. 15	H	Hiram College
Sat., Nov. 18	A	Mount Union
Mon., Nov. 20	A	St. Francis University
Sat., Nov. 25	A	Geneva
Wed., Nov. 29	H	*PS Altoona
Sat., Dec. 2	H	*PS Behrend
Wed., Dec. 6	A	*Carlow University
Sat., Dec. 9	A	*Alfred State College
Sat., Dec. 16	A	Hood College
Wed., Dec. 20	A	Waynesburg University
Sun., Dec. 31	H	Lancaster Bible College
Wed., Jan. 3	A	*Hilbert College
Sat., Jan. 6	H	*Wells College
Wed., Jan. 10	A	*LaRoche University
Sat., Jan. 13	H	*Pitt Bradford
Wed., Jan. 17	H	*Mt. Aloysius College
Sat., Jan. 20	A	*PS Behrend
Wed., Jan. 24	A	*PS Altoona
Sat., Jan. 27	H	*Alfred State College
Wed., Jan. 31	H	*Carlow University
Sat., Feb. 3	A	* Wells College
Wed., Feb. 7	H	*LaRoche University
Sat., Feb. 10	H	* Hilbert College
Wed., Feb. 14	A	* Mt. Aloysius College
Sat., Feb. 17	A	*Pitt Bradford
Tues., Feb. 20		AMCC First Round
Fri., Feb. 23		AMCC Second Round
Sat., Feb. 24		AMCC Finals

* - Denotes conference games