LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Sept. 3) – The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) is celebrating its 75th anniversary season in the 2025-26 academic year. The league will honor 300 of its most prominent contributors through the month of September.
The initial 75 honorees are designated "Made in the PSAC", a group that recognizes former student-athletes that have gone on to influential careers after graduation, which could be in the sports industry, but not necessarily as a professional athlete.
California featured a trio of honorees among the "Made in the PSAC" recognition on Wednesday morning: Robert Lippencott '66 (football), Michael Perry '62 (football) and Jack Zduriencik '74 (baseball).
"For 75 years, the PSAC has been more than a conference – it's been a proving ground for excellence, leadership and lifelong impact," said PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray. "The "Made in the PSAC" honorees reflect the very best of what our institutions represent. Their achievements stand as a testament to the transformative power of NCAA Division II athletics and the values that define the PSAC: integrity, resilience and a commitment to something greater than oneself."
Lippencott served in U.S. Secret Service for over 25 years and worked with multiple U.S. Presidents. He played linebacker for the Vulcans in the 1963 and 1964 seasons and earned NAIA Little All-America honors in 1963. Lippencott later played semi-pro football with the Pennsylvania Mustangs of the North American League and the Atlantic City Senators of the Atlantic Coast League. He and his brother, Barry (an IUP alumnus), helped initiate the creation of the Coal Bowl Trophy presented annually to the winner of the IUP-California football game since 2009.
Perry enlisted in the U.S. Navy after his time at California State College and became a Naval aviator with over 200 carrier landings. He later flew with United Airlines while co-founding financial company. Perry was a longstanding supporter of the Cal football program and the Vulcans have recognized the Michael Perry Team Captain annually since his passing in 2021.
Zduriencik was a baseball executive for multiple teams in MLB, including the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners. He served eight seasons as the general manager of the Mariners. Zduriencik later spent time as an analyst on the pre- and post-game shows on the Pirates' flagship radio station, plus served as an official scorer at PNC Park.
The PSAC was founded on March 11, 1951, and was comprised of 14 institutions as the Pennsylvania State Teachers College Athletic Conference (PSTCAC). Since then, it has grown into one of the largest conferences in the NCAA across all three divisions.
The 75th anniversary celebration continues with the release of the 75 Greatest Female Athletes on Sep. 10, 75 Greatest Male Athletes on Sept. 17 and Distinguished Keystones on Sept. 24.
