Curcio, six others to be inducted into Temple Hall of Fame

PHILADELPHIA –Three All-Americans, including one National Champion, are among the seven former student-athletes to be inducted into the Temple University Athletics Hall of Fame at the Owls’ Homecoming
football game against Bowling Green on October 16 (1:00 p.m.) at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Class of 2010 consists of Mike Curcio (Football), Jack Don (Baseball), Jim Elwell (Men's Track), Dave Frank (Men's Gymnastics), Claudrena Harold (Women's Basketball), Jeff Kraft (Men's Soccer) and Aamina
Thornton (Women's Lacrosse).

“This is an exceptional class and all are truly worthy to be welcomed into the Temple University Athletics Hall of Fame,” Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw said. “National Champions, All-Americans, Captain of a Bowl team, the Class of 2010 spans three decades and includes seven different sports.  It is a group that represents the best of Temple Athletics.”

*Mike Curcio (1976-79),* one of the top linebackers in Temple football history, earned honorable mention All-America as a senior captain on the Owls' 1979 Garden State Bowl championship team.  The Mays Landing, NJ native (Oceancrest HS) accumulated 14 tackles in the 28-17 victory over California for the only Bowl win in the program's history.  His 154 tackles that season ranks third on the Cherry and White all-time list and helped the 10-2 Owls earn a #17 ranking in both major polls.  A three-year player in the National
Football League, including two with the Philadelphia Eagles (1981, 82), Curcio still owns the Owls' single-season record for assisted tackles with 101 as a junior (1978) and ranks seventh on the all-time school list with 332 career tackles.

A standout on the diamond as well as in the classroom, *Jack Don (1971-73)*earned team MVP honors with team highs in batting average (.376) and RBI (35) as a senior in 1973.  He also became the only Temple baseball player to earn First Team Academic All-America honors.  Moving from third base to catcher for his final season, the Riverton, NJ native (Palmyra HS) helped the Owls to a 33-11 record and second straight Middle Atlantic Conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.  As a junior, Don batted .323 with 33 RBI in helping Temple to a 33-15 record and a third place national finish (the highest in TU history) at the College World Series.  The two-time all-MAC first team performer compiled a .344 career batting average, which ranked second in the Temple record book at the time of his graduation.

One of the top hurdlers in Temple track history, *Jim Elwell (1970-72)*still holds the school record in 110 meter hurdles (14.0), the 400 meter hurdles (51.0) and the 400 meter shuttle hurdles (59.7).  The Philadelphia native (Lincoln HS) was best known, however, for the record he set at the 1971 NCAA Outdoor Championships as a junior.  Joining teammates Scott Poole, Carmine Ragucci and Doug Scott, Elwell helped the Owls surprise the track world by advancing to the NCAA Finals to become the first Temple
All-Americans in track.  The quartet, which set the TU record at the NCAAs, had previously won the Middle Atlantic Conference championship and placed third at the Penn Relays.  A three-time team MVP (1970, 71, 72) and 1972 team captain finished his career undefeated in MAC competition in the 440 hurdles.

One of only two Temple gymnasts to win a NCAA individual championship on the rings, *Dave Frank (1991-95) *helped Temple set a school-record with 23 wins against just two losses during his senior season (1994-95). The Cinnaminson, NJ native (Cinnaminson HS), who is one of only six Owls to earn All-America
honors on the rings, posted a winning 9.825 score at the NCAA Championships hosted by Ohio State.  A team tri-captain, he also won the parallel bars, tied for first on the rings, tied for third on the horizontal bar and placed fourth in the all-around to help TU win its sixth straight EIGL Championship.  As a junior, Frank placed first on the rings at the NCAA preliminary meet prior to finishing seventh at the NCAA Championships. He also tied the school record on the rings as a junior with a near perfect 9.95 score at Syracuse on March 5, 1994. A member of the United States National Team in 2005, he also excelled in the classroom, earning All-America Scholar-Athlete status.

A two-time first team all-Philadelphia Big 5 honoree, *Claudrena Harold (1994-97)* was a scoring machine for the Temple women's basketball team in the '90s.  The Jacksonville, FL native (Ribault HS) tallied 1,251 points in her three seasons, which ranked sixth on the all-time list when she completed her career.  Harold's 15.1 points per game average still ranks third in the Owl record books.  The three-time Owl scoring leader also was a standout in the classroom, earning Academic All-Atlantic 10 honors in her final season.  The 2008 Big 5 Hall of Fame inductee also earned Big 5 Rookie of the Year and second team all-league honors in 1994-95.

One of the top goalkeepers in not only Temple history, but in college soccer history, *Jeff Kraft (1977-80)* still ranks fifth nationally in saves with an amazing 534 stops.  The four-year starter earned honorable mention
All-America honors as a junior, and followed that with Second Team All-America honors as a senior.  Besides his career saves mark, which is nearly 200 ahead of the next best Temple keeper, the Willingboro, NJ native (J.F. Kennedy HS) also owns the school records for shutouts in season (9, done three times), shutouts in a career (30) and career goals against average (0.85 gaa.).  Drafted by the MISL's Philadelphia Fever, Kraft led Temple to a 47-14-6 mark during his career, including a school-record 14 wins in 1978, including a 1-0 victory at Penn State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

A defender during one the most successful stretches in the history of Temple women's lacrosse, *Aamina Thornton (1987-90)* helped the Owls compile a 61-8 record during her four seasons on the turf with each of her teams advancing the NCAA Final Four.  A First Team All-America selection as a senior in 1990, the Phoenixville, PA native (Phoenixville HS) was an integral part of the Owls 1988 NCAA title team that posted a perfect 19-0 mark.  A four-year starter, Thornton, whose sisters Amara and Yasmin were also members of the Owls lacrosse program, was an able offensive player, contributing 30 goals and 14 assists during her career.