(Left to right) Stephen Bucci, Carolyn Hilder, Rachel Hurwitz-Casey and Brian Donoghue holding the Nittany Lion shrines they received as gifts for being inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame.
MEDIA, Pa.— The Penn State Brandywine Athletics Hall of Fame added four new members on Friday, Jan. 26. Members of the class of 2024 include former men’s soccer student-athlete Stephen Bucci, women’s basketball and volleyball student-athlete Carolyn Hilden, women’s basketball student-athlete Rachel Hurwitz-Casey, and women’s basketball coach Brian Donoghue.
“On behalf of the campus and the athletics department, I would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to Carolyn, Stephen, Rachel and Brian. Thank you all for the impact you’ve left on Penn State Brandywine Athletics,” said Bobbi Caprice, director of athletics. “I’d also like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has joined us tonight, whether in person or virtually, to celebrate this special occasion.”
During her opening remarks, Chancellor Marilyn J. Wells recalled her first Hall of Fame induction ceremony five years ago.
“I am so proud to be the chancellor of Penn State Brandywine, and I’m so excited to be our fifth Brandywine Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony. The inaugural Hall of Fame ceremony five years ago was the first event I attended when I first took my post as chancellor in January 2020,” she recalled.
“The event was spectacular. The evening exuded enthusiasm, excellence, passion and pride from the inaugural class of inductees, their families, coaches, friends, current Brandywine student-athletes and alumni. This room really embodies the secret sauce; the intangible thing you can feel that makes Penn State Brandywine so unique and special.”
Emceed by Vince Screnci, the Brandywine Athletics Hall of Fame Committee chair, nearly 100 family members, friends, former teammates and coaches gathered to watch the Hall of Fame class of 2024 be inducted.
“The Hall of Fame process is something that is so humbling for all of us involved, and to see everyone come back and see how the campus has changed is great,” Screnci said. “I’ve heard from many people that being back here makes it feel like you’ve gone back in time, and we’re so glad that you’re here with us tonight with our four fantastic nominees for our Hall of Fame.”
Nominees were inducted into the Hall of Fame by those who watched them grow during their time at Penn State Brandywine. Hilden was inducted by Matt Clark, former men’s soccer goalie and athletic trainer; Bucci was inducted by former men’s soccer coach Alan Miller; Hurwitz-Casey was inducted by former teammate Laura Keller; and Donoghue was inducted by former assistant coach Bill Dougherty.
(Left to right) Stephen Bucci, Rachel Hurwitz-Casey, Carolyn Hilden and Brian Donoghue standing in front of the Hall of Fame wall outside of the Common's Gymnasium.
(Left to right) Jeff Scarpone, assistant director of athletics; Bobbi Caprice, director of athletics; Myeisha Matos, athletic recruitment, retention and alumni coordinator; Monica Woutersz, administrative assistant
Members of Penn State Delaware County's 1989 men's soccer team with a letterman jacket that has been donated to Penn State Brandywine.
Chancellor Marilyn J. Wells giving opening remarks at the Hall of Fame ceremony.
Carolyn Hilden (right) was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Matt Clark, former athletic trainer and men's soccer goalie at Penn State Delaware County.
Stephen Bucci (left) was inducted into the Hall of Fame by former men's soccer coach Alan Miller.
Rachel Hurwitz-Casey (left) was inducted into the Hall of Fame by former teammate Laura Keller.
Brian Donoghue (right) was inducted into the Hall of Fame by former assistant coach Bill Dougherty.
Bobbi Caprice, director of athletics, giving opening remarks at Hall of Fame ceremony.
Attendees listening to opening remarks at the Hall of Fame ceremony.
Stephen Bucci lettered for the Penn State Delaware County (now Penn State Brandywine) men’s soccer team in 1988 and 1989, leading the Lions in scoring during both seasons. As a second-year student, Bucci earned First Team All-Commonwealth Campus Athletic Conference honors as he topped Delco with 34 goals and nine assists. Bucci led the men’s soccer squad to a 16-0-1 record in 1989 and scored two goals during the conference title match, a 3-2 overtime victory over Penn State Ogontz (now Penn State Abington). After two years at Penn State Delaware County, Bucci transitioned to University Park, where he was a two-year member of the NCAA Division I men’s soccer team.
Brian Donoghue joined the Penn State Delaware County coaching staff in 1995 and led the Lions’ women’s basketball team for seven seasons. The 1998-99 Commonwealth Campus Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, Donoghue guided Delco to back-to-back trips to the conference championship game, including a CCAC title in 1998-99 when the team won a then-program record 18 games. Overall, Donoghue directed the Lions to four postseason appearances and earned 63 victories. Eighteen student-athletes received all-conference honors during Donoghue’s seven years on the bench.
Carolyn Hilden was a two-sport athlete at Penn State Delaware County, competing for the women’s basketball and volleyball teams from 2000-02. As a second-year student, Hilden was selected as the top scholar-athlete in the Commonwealth Campus Athletic Conference, becoming the fifth John S. Egli Award winner in campus history. A women’s basketball team captain, Hilden earned all-conference awards in both basketball and volleyball. Off the court, Hilden was a four-time Dean's List student and served as president of the Student-Athlete Association.
A two-time All-Commonwealth Campus Athletic Conference and Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference guard, Rachel Hurwitz-Casey competed for the Penn State Delaware County women’s basketball team from 1998 to 2000. A member of the 1998-99 CCAC Championship-winning team, Hurwitz-Casey left Delco as the program’s all-time leading scorer at the time, having recorded 635 points. One of the top shooters in team history, Hurwitz-Casey made over 100 three-pointers in two seasons. Hurwitz-Casey knocked down 10 three-pointers in a victory over Penn State Ogontz on Dec. 1, 1999, which remains a team single-game record.
