Wheeling Jesuit University inducted three new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame at a noon luncheon, held in the Erickson Alumni Center, Saturday, Oct. 25. Emcee for the occasion was assistant athletic director and head baseball coach, Terry Edwards.
Joy Descutner, 1992 graduate and women's soccer two-time All-Region and Regional All-American was introduced by her former teammate and good friend, Helene Krisciunas O'Donnell.
Anthony James, 1994 graduate and men's soccer four time All-Conference Champion and two times regional All-American, introduced by his friend and mentor, John Hladek.
Danny Sancomb, 1998 men's basketball first team All-American, first team All-WVIAC and first team all-region and current Cardinal athletic director and head men's basketball coach, introduced by his current assistant coach Ryan Kostur.
Additionally, the Cardinal women's soccer team was honored as it celebrates its 20th anniversary milestone. Many of the team members returned to campus to join in the fun of reliving sports memories.
After the formal ceremony and luncheon, guests gathered to see the unveiling of the new plaques that are housed in the McDonough Center and honor all Hall of Fame members.
James is currently in his fifth year as the head soccer coach at Youngstown State where he was named the fourth head coach of the Penguins' soccer program in February 2004.
Prior to coming to YSU, James spent four seasons at Division II West Virginia Wesleyan College where he directed the Bobcats to a 55-25-3 record. In 2003, Wesleyan finished 16-3-2 overall and won its second West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship in three years. For his efforts, he received WVIAC Coach-of-the-Year honors in 2001 and 2003.
From 1997-2000 he was head coach at Wheeling Park High School where he directed his team to consecutive state titles in 1998 and 1999, while also making the semifinals in 1997. He was named West Virginia High School Soccer Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1999.
Outside of college coaching, he has been a Region I staff coach for the U.S. Olympic Development Program since 1998. He is also the founder and director of coaching for Soccer Vision Academy. For the past three years, James has worked with the U.S. Soccer's Under-14 Girls National Team pool camp in California. He also holds his UFSSF license.
A native of Port of Spain, Trinidad, James began his collegiate coaching career by spending four years as the assistant women's soccer coach for Wheeling Jesuit College. He earned a degree in Industrial Engineering from Wheeling Jesuit in 1994 before earning his masters in Business Administration from the school in 1997. He presently holds his NSCAA National, Advance National and Premier Diploma. James and his wife Andrea, reside in Youngstown.
The Cardinal Athletic Hall Of Fame was established in 1987 to honor former student-athletes, coaches or other members of the WJU community who make significant contributions to the success of the Cardinal athletic programs.
Wheeling Jesuit has 18 men's and women's athletic teams, most of which compete in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) and NCAA Division II.
The athletic teams have won more than 55 WVIAC titles, fielding 40 plus Academic All-Americans, and receiving more than 30 WVIAC Coach of the Year awards. More than 25 percent of the University's full-time day undergraduate students participate on an athletic team and rack up a 3.1 GPA.
The youngest of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States, Wheeling Jesuit University offers students a high-quality private education. Since 1995 U.S. News & World Report has ranked Wheeling Jesuit University among the top institutions in its “Best Master's Universities in the South” category.