Clarion Athletics

Margaret “Gie” Parsons arrived in Clarion for the 1990 season and set women’s basketball on fire in the PSAC. Starting in 1991, Parsons led the Golden Eagles on an unbelievable five-year ride that saw Clarion post a 117-33 overall record (78%), a PSAC-West mark of 50-10 (83.3%), 5 consecutive PSAC-West titles, 3 PSAC Championships, Elite 8 appearances in 1991 and 1994, and Sweet 16 finishes in 1992 and 1993. The 1991 season set the tone. Posting a 24-8 record and a 9-3 mark in the PSAC-West, Clarion won its first PSAC title topping Bloomsburg in the semis 70-59 and Lock Haven 87-71 in the title game. The Eagles advanced to the NCAA D-II “Elite 8” beating the Huskies (80-76), then the Bald Eagles (77-70) for the East Region title. Clarion was 25-4 in 1992, won the West (10-2) and advanced to the NCAA “Sweet 16”. The 1993 squad was 24-6 overall, won the West again at 11-1, won the PSAC title game 104-81 over Edinboro and advanced to the “Sweet 16”. In 1994 Clarion was 26-4 overall and 11-1 in winning the West. The Eagles won the PSAC title with a 71-69 win over Cal and went on to win the East Region with a stirring 71-67 victory over #1 seed Pace. A 75-69 loss to North Alabama ended another “Elite 8” season. The 5th West title came in 1995 with a 9-3 division record and a runner-up finish at PSAC’s. Qualifying for the NCAA’s, the season ended with at 18-11. That run was led by Clarion Hall of Famers Shelly Respecki, Leatha Dudeck, Shannon Coakley, Amy Coon, Carlita Jones and Mona Gaffney. They set 14 NCAA D-II Records including 148 points scored in a game and 78 in a half vs Westminster (92-93), 26 three’s made in a game and 52 attempted vs Ashland (91-92) and 386 three’s made in a season (91-92). Clarion went back to the NCAA Playoffs in 2005 when the Eagles were 23-7 overall and 10-2 in the West led by Heather Cigich. The top 12 career scorers and 8 of 9 rebounders played for Parsons. She was PSAC-West “Coach of the Year” in 1991, 92, 2005 and 2008. Inducted into the Pa. Sports Hall of Fame – “Tick” Cloherty Western Chapter in 2011, SRU HOF in 2021,  Region “Coach of the Year” in 2005 and 1991 and Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992 from Pgh. Chamber of Commerce. “Gie” came to Clarion from Thiel where she was 110-73 in 8 seasons and 97-46 in her final 6 years. A native of Monroeville, Pa. and a 1967 Gateway grad, she earned her HPE degree from Slippery Rock in 1971.