Clarion Athletics

Aleta Rice Hansen is welcomed to the Clarion University Sports Hall of Fame posthumously (passed away January 8. 2020) having put together a great career as a diver for the Golden Eagles from 1975 through 1978. A four-time AIAW National Champion, she helped lead Clarion to two straight AIAW team national championships (1977 & 1978). A pioneer in her sport, she dove for legendary coach Don Leas and was part of the overall program led by amazing head coach Carol Clay. Aleta came to Clarion from Belleville, Michigan, where she was the first to dive on the boys high school team there and was the first girl to dive on a boys team in the state of Michigan. She placed third for Clarion in three meter diving at the AIAW (Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) Regionals in 1975. In 1976 she placed 4^th on 3 meter and 5^th on 1 meter at the regionals while the Golden Eagles were winning the PSAC Championship in the first year Clarion participated in the PSAC Championship. She soared to greatness in 1977 leading the Golden Eagles to their first AIAW National Championship and a PSAC Title. A two-time National champion, she was first on 1 meter and first on three meter. She also placed first on both boards at the AIAW Regionals and at the PSAC championships. In 1978 she made it a clean sweep winning the one and three meter titles at the AIAW National Championships and took first place on both boards at Regionals and PSAC’s. Clarion won its second straight AIAW team National Championship as well as the PSAC title. She was team co-captain her senior year. In addition to those performances, she also won 3 Canadian Invitational titles in her career taking both boards in 1978 and the 3 meter title in 1977. She held all Clarion diving records including 3 meter (11 dives – 420.27 & 6 dives 289.55) and 1 meter (11 dives – 423.00 & 6 dives 277.55). Aleta and husband James Hansen (Clarion ’78) settled in Cypress, Texas and have daughters Amy and Sarah and son Jacob. She was an IT Tech for Allied Waste Systems and BFI.