Clarion Athletics

Patrick Mooney, a humble coach with high character and integrity took over the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track programs at Clarion in 1994 and had a Hall of Fame career. Coming to Clarion from Northfield Mount Herman Prep School, he directed the Cross Country program for 11 years (1994-2004) and track and field for 10 seasons (1995-2004). Once a struggling program Mooney led his teams to strong PSAC finishes as well as coaching 5 All-Americans and numerous Academic All-Americans. Pat built women’s cross country teams that reached heights never seen. His 1997 team tied for 6^th at PSAC’s, and the Golden Eagles were 7^th in 2001, but his 2002 team finished third at PSAC’s and second at the NCAA East Regionals, Melissa Terwilliger (8^th at regionals), Anna Beck (9^th) and Evelyn Abiola (11^th) led the way along with Jen Boerner and Bridget Sardo. In finishing second at regionals Clarion qualified for the NCAA Division II Nationals, the first time in school history, and finished 20^th. In 2003 the cross country team finished 6^th at PSAC’s and saw Terwilliger go on to the NCAA’s and earn All-America honors with a 17^th place finish. The team also finished 5^th at PSAC’s in 2004. Moving over to Track & Field, the women’s track team posted a 6^th place PSAC finish in 1999, 7^th in 2002 and 6^th in 2003. Melissa Yearous, a 2016 Hall of Fame inductee, won high jump titles in 1999 and 2000, plus became Mooney’s first women’s Division II All-American with a 4^thplace finish at nationals in 2001. The 2002 track team was 7^th at PSAC’s and then 6^th in 2003. Terwilliger earned All-America honors with a 5^th place finish in the 10,000, while A-A Julie Evenoski placed 8^th in the javelin. Carrie Bullman also went to nationals and ended 11^th, helping Clarion to a 23^rdplace finish at nationals. The men’s cross country team showed real progress, especially with their 7^th place PSAC finish in 1999 behind the all-PSAC and all-region performance by Ean King. In men’s track and field Mooney saw Thom Swenson earn All-America honors in 1996 with an 8^th place finish in the 400, while the team was 6^th at PSAC’s in 1997 behind PSAC Champion Swenson, two-time champ Sam Bohannon and relay champions Alvin Slaughter, Kervin Charles & Brian Fields. The 2000 team was 7^th at PSAC’s and paced by PSAC Rookie of the Year Dave Clark, who earned All-America honors with a 4^th place ending in the high jump. Erin Richard, a freshman at Clarion under Mooney in 2004, became a 5-time All-American in her career.  A 1956 graduate of Turtle Creek and a 1960 graduate of Slippery Rock, he taught at Penn Hills from 1961-66 and at McKeesport from 1966-68. Pat was elected to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame East Boro’s Chapter in 2000. Pat and wife Virginia (Ginny) currently reside in DuBois, Pa. Ginny also made a strong contribution to the Clarion programs. They have a daughter Bridget.