Campus News

October 6th, 2026

GC inducts seven into Athletic Hall of Fame

Coach Hallenbeck, six former Laker athletes honored by Garrett College

Seven Lakers – including current head baseball coach Eric Hallenbeck, who earned his 500th victory this past spring – were inducted into the Garrett College Athletic Hall of Fame last Friday night in the Performing Arts Center at Garrett College.

Hallenbeck, who led the Lakers into the 2026 NJCAA Division II Region 20 title game, has guided GC to the playoffs 21 of his 22 seasons as head coach. The Lakers set a school record for wins in a season (36) in 2025 and had their highest two-year win total (69) over the last two seasons.

“I bleed blue and will always be proud to be a Laker,” said Hallenbeck, who has served the last five years as GC’s administrative athletics director.

Three former baseball players – Mike Mathews (1983-84), Mike Leshok (1991-92), and Michael Dobre (2007) – were also inducted. Mathews, who was an infielder with the Lakers, went on to be a starting second baseman for James Madison University, where he made the All-Colonial Athletic Conference first team as a senior.

“My decision to come to Garrett . . . it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” said Mathews. “Boy, did I ever get that one right.”

Mathews noted he almost didn’t come to GC, having initially committed to playing baseball at then-Allegany Community College. An on-campus visit at Garrett College quickly changed his mind, with Mathews calling the ACC coach that night to inform him of his decision.

“Talk about an awkward, short telephone conversation,” said Mathews.

Leshok was a two-time All-Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference selection and made the all-region team as a sophomore. He went on to start at shortstop for the University of South Carolina Aiken, which made it to the NCAA Division II national tournament his junior season.

“We were very fortunate to have great players on those 1991 and ’92 Laker teams,” said Leshok. “I made some lifelong friends, and some great memories.”

Dobre was first team all-state, all-region, and all-district in 2007 with the Lakers. He went on to play at NCAA Division II Mars Hill (NC) University as well as competing for three years as a professional.

“I’m especially pleased to enter the Hall of Fame with Coach Hallenbeck,” said Dobre, who played for Hallenbeck during his season at Garrett. Dobre, a former U.S. Army infantryman, was one of several inductees to talk about the harsh, Garrett County winters.

“I was happy to experience a Garrett County winter,” said Dobre. “It prepared me for my tour of duty in Alaska.”

Charles Somerville, who played men’s basketball for the Lakers between 1998 and 2000, was selected to the All-Maryland JuCo, All-Region 20, and NJCAA All-American teams. He went on to play two seasons at NAIA Division I Bluefield College.

Somerville thanked his Lakers coach – Garrett College Hall of Fame member Dennis Gibson – for giving him a unique opportunity.

“My dream was always to play basketball with my best friend, Thomas Somerville,” said Charles Somerville of his cousin. “The only coach actually willing to give me that opportunity was Coach Gibson.”

Tanner Clark was a district champion and two-time national qualifier for Garrett College’s first two wrestling teams between 2018 and 2020. Clark – whose college offers dried up after two ACL tears in high school – thanked GC’s founding wrestling coach, John Chambers, for recruiting him.

“A lot of programs looked past me, but one coach didn’t – Coach Chambers,” noted Clark.

Ashley Liller Fadley played girls’ basketball at Southern Garrett High and has spent the last six seasons coaching for her alma mater. She led GC’s women’s basketball team to state and region championships during the 2003-04 season while making the all-Maryland JuCo second team and being named MVP of the NJCAA Division II Region 20 tournament.

Fadley said GC helped get her back on track toward her dream of playing Division I basketball after she was cut as a West Virginia University walk-on. She went on to play three seasons at NCAA Division I Mt. St. Mary’s University.

“Garrett College turned out to be exactly what I needed. It was truly a great experience,” said Fadley. “I’ll always hold a special place in my heart for my time at Garrett.”

The Athletic Hall of Fame, which was founded in 2015, now includes 39 student athletes, eight coaches and administrators, and the 1993-94 men’s basketball team, which became the first Laker squad to win state and region titles and qualify for the national tournament.