Joliet Catholic Academy has announced its third Hall of Champions class, which continues to speak to the depth of the tradition and talent both on and off the playing fields that the school has produced over the years. The previous classes were made up of a “Who’s Who” of athletic royalty in the Joliet area: Gordie Gillespie, Bill Gullickson, Allie Quigley, Jim Stefanich, Tom Thayer, Mike Alstott, Terry Gannon, Mark Grant, Tippy Madarik, and Liz Tortorello-Nelson.

The 2016 class is more of the same, highlighted by a legendary area coach, a professional baseball player, a pioneer in women’s athletics in the Joliet area, the school’s only state wrestling champion, and one of the greatest three-sport athletes the Joliet area has ever seen.

JCA Athletic Director Dan Sharp is proud to announce the 2016 Hall of Champions class: Jane Condon ’75, Pat Mudron ’67, Mark Parker ’76, Jack Perconte ’72, and Pat Sullivan ’61. This year’s class will be honored on Saturday, September 2, 2016 at Joliet Catholic Academy with a reception and dinner. More details will be available closer to the event.

Jane Condon – Class of 1975

Jane Condon ’75, St. Francis’ first superstar athlete, earned varsity letters in five different sports: volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, track and field, and tennis. Condon led the Angels to a 27-0 record in basketball during their first two years of Interscholastic Athletics competition, which began in the 1973-1974 school year. In ’74 she averaged 18 points per game in basketball, while finishing third in the I-8 conference meet in track, and fifth in the district meet in the discus, qualifying for state.

As a senior in ’75 she led the Angel volleyball program to a turnaround from 2-10 in “74 to a 10-5 overall record. In the inaugural softball season during her senior year, Condon led the Angels to a second place conference finish, at 9-5, and tallied an incredible 59 runs batted in. ’75 was also the inaugural year for girls tennis, and Condon teamed with Gerri Kiep to post an impressive 6-1 doubles record.

Condon became the first female to receive an athletic scholarship to Lewis University. A 1984 inductee into the Lewis Athletics Hall of Fame, she earned 11 letters at Lewis in basketball, tennis, volleyball and softball. Condon graduated as Lewis’ career leader in scoring with 703 points (10.7 points per game). She helped the Flyers finish second in the state in 1978-79 and is one of the greatest athletes to ever come out of the Joliet area.

She has operated 1^st Choice Temporary Service, Inc. since 1991, serving the Joliet and Will County areas specializing in warehouse, office, and industrial staffing needs.

Sharp said, “Jane was our first superstar athlete during the Title IX era and she blazed the trail for Angel athletes to follow in the inaugural years of Girls Interscholastic Athletics at St. Francis Academy. Gordie (Gillespie) used to say Jane was always the best athlete in the neighborhood, even when competing against the boys growing up. Her support of our girls athletic program continues to this day.”

Pat Mudron – Class of 1967

Pat Mudron ’67 is perhaps one of the most powerful athletes to ever play for the Hilltoppers on the gridiron, but he was a multi-sport star during his high school years. As a senior, Mudron won the 1967 state championship as a heavyweight in wrestling, going 27-0-1 in the process. He finished his high school varsity wrestling career an astounding 100-5-3, never losing a regular season match. Mudron was a two-time All-State honoree in football, in ’66 as a tackle, and in ’67 as a linebacker. He led the Hilltoppers to an 8-1 record his senior season, before the advent of the IHSA football playoffs. For his efforts in wrestling and football, Mudron was named the Will County Athlete of the Year in 1966-1967.

He earned a football scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, where he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated tackling O.J. Simpson from USC in a game played in front of 100,000 fans.

His success continues on in his professional life, both as an insurance salesman for Mudron Kane Insurance and as a Joliet City Councilman.

Sharp added, “Gordie said that “Mud” was the best lineman he ever coached. He was a tremendous nose tackle, and he remains our first and only state wrestling champion. Pat continues to give back, both to JCA and the Joliet community through his efforts on the City Council.”

Mark Parker – Class of 1976

Mark Parker ’76 quarterbacked Joliet Catholic’s first state championship football team in 1975 to a perfect 13-0 record, where he passed for 1,237 yards. A star on the gridiron, Parker’s athletic exploits also carried over on the diamond and the hard court, making him one of the first and greatest all-time three-sport athletes to don the Victory Light (Coach Gillespie first added the Victory Light to the football helmets for the 1975 season). Parker led the Hilltoppers to a 34-15 overall record in basketball during his final two years of high school, earning team MVP, All-Area, and All-Conference honors both years. His senior year he led the area in free throw shooting percentage. In baseball, the talented catcher was named All-Area in his junior and senior seasons. In his senior year he led the Hilltoppers to a tie for the Illini-Eight Conference title with Joliet Central.

After high school, Parker went on to star in three sports collegiately as well, first at the College of St. Francis, and then at Coe College in Iowa. He was inducted into their collegiate Hall of Fame for football, basketball, and baseball;  a feat unfathomable in today’s collegiate athletics climate. When he left Coe, he became the first athlete to ever have his number retired. In 1980, Parker had a slugging percentage of .923. In his senior year, he hit 13 home runs. On the day his number was retired, he hit a grand slam homer. His memorable senior batting average of .461 was down from his sophomore batting average of .538, which led the nation’s collegiate players much of that season. Mark’s was recognized with four All Conference awards, three NCAA Division III All-America selections and three NCAA All District selections.

Parker went on to a successful teaching, coaching, and administrative career at the high school level, currently serving as the athletic director at Dike-New Hartford High School in Dike, Iowa.

Sharp said, “Mark is the greatest three-sport athlete in Joliet Catholic’s history. He had a tremendous amount of talent, but it was his cerebral approach to whatever sport he was playing that separated him from the rest. Gordie considered him one of the greatest quarterbacks he ever coached, at the high school or collegiate level.”

Jack Perconte – Class of 1972

Jack Perconte ’72 played seven seasons in the major leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners, finishing up with the Chicago White Sox . His best season was .294 with 29 steals and 31 RBIs in 1984 with Seattle. A second baseman, he batted .270 for his career.

He played in college at Murray State University before being taken by the Dodgers in the 16^th round of the 1976 amateur draft. He’s the author of two books on baseball and the website www.baseballcoachingtips.net.

Jack was a member of the first Hillmen baseball team to capture an Illini-8 Conference Title. In 1972 as a senior he finished second in the area in batting average (.434) and first in steals (13). He was a two-time All-Conference and All-Area nominee.

Sharp said, “Jack was an outstanding baseball player at Joliet Catholic, and set the standard as the first of our eight Major Leaguers. He continues to give back to youth baseball players today as an accomplished instructor and author.”

Pat Sullivan – Class of 1961

Pat Sullivan’s name is synonymous with basketball in the Joliet area. After beginning his coaching career at Providence Catholic, Sullivan spent 35 years at the University of St. Francis, where he served as the head basketball coach, athletic director, and athletic chairman until his retirement in 2010. Sullivan led the Saints to over 500 victories. The valedictorian of the 1965 graduating class at Lewis University, Sullivan was mentored by legendary area coach, and fellow JCA Hall of Champions member Gordie Gillespie.

Sullivan, a 1961 JCHS graduate is a member of numerous Hall of Fames, including the Joliet Area Hall of Fame, Lewis University’s Hall of Fame, and the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Hall of Fame. 12 times throughout his career he received “Coach of the Year” recognition from various organizations. He also founded USF’s “Brown and Gold Night”, which has featured legendary speakers from the sporting world including Al McGuire, Mike Ditka, John Wooden, Ray Meyer, Dan Hampton, Paul Hornung, and Bart Starr to name a few.

JCA Athletic Director Dan Sharp said, “Pat is known as one of the greatest college basketball coaches in the country. His ability to teach the game and prepare young men for life is his strength, and he was a mentor to me and so many other great coaches in our area. Anyone who played for or worked with Pat is a better person for it.”

John Carroll – 1926-1934

A new addition to 2016 JCA Hall of Champions is the “Legends Category”, which honors one coach or athlete from the pre-World War Two era. The Hall of Champions Committee is proud to announce John Carroll as this year’s nominee. Carroll is the all-time leader in wins among boys basketball coaches with a 193-80 record, guiding the Hilltoppers to three national championships during his coaching tenure. His 1926-27 team went 24-0 and his 1933-34 team went 29-3, both winning national titles.

Carroll also coached the Hilltoppers in football during his tenure, and his undefeated (5-0) 1926 squad established what will likely remain an unbreakable record; they shut out every opponent. His 1928 Hilltopper team defeated Mount Carmel 12-0 in the inaugural game of what has become one of the most intense rivalries in the nation.  (information courtesy of Kirk Girlbride, “A Chronicle of Hilltopper Football”)

Sharp added, “Joliet Catholic prides itself on the outstanding coaches throughout our history and Carroll was the first, winning national championships in the 1920’s and 1930’s. His teams were also the first to light up the Victory Light, beginning the tradition that continues today. When competing in the national tournament, the Christian Brothers would light up the Victory Light in order to let the city of Joliet know that our Hillmen were victorious.”