2017 Skipper Hall of Fame Inductees
Richard “Dick” Groch
For close to two decades, SC4 baseball teams enjoyed success throughout the state and nationally thanks to the leadership of coach Richard “Dick” Groch.
Groch led the Skippers to three appearances in the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series during his 18 years in the dugout. He compiled a 497-165 win-loss record, which included eight Central Division, seven State and three North Central District titles.
The 1976 baseball team finished as the World Series runner-up. The Skippers posted a 3-2 record at Grand Junction, CO, losing 10-8 in the finals to Central Arizona College. Serving as batboys for the 1976 team were Groch’s sons, Brian and Nick.
The 1970 and 1972 squads also competed in the national tournament.
Groch, who also was a physical education instructor and basketball assistant coach at the college, received Coach of the Year honors three times.
During his career, Groch had 46 of his players go on to play professional baseball, with several eventually playing in the Major Leagues like Bill Nahorodny, Bill Fahey and Jeff Jones.
While at SC4, Groch was an assistant baseball coach with Team Canada and he was a long-time scout for the New York Yankees. The St. Clair resident remains involved in Major League Baseball as special assistant to the General Manager and Director of Pro Scouting/Player Personnel with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Robert “Sam” Kromer
Robert “Sam” Kromer wore many hats during his career at SC4 and throughout the Port Huron community.
From teaching to coaching, Kromer was extremely successful and had a major impact on the lives of many students/athletes from the day he walked onto the campus in 1962.
Starting with the 1964-65 men’s basketball season, Kromer led the Skippers to five consecutive Michigan Community College Athletic Association championships with season records of 21-1, 19-5, 27-1, 24-4 and 30-2. He compiled a career record of 214-114, which at the time ranked him among the nation’s top coaches.
Kromer also coached the SC4 golf team. The Skippers were league champions four times and placed in the league’s top four nine times in 13 years of coaching. He finished his career with a 143-83 record. Many of Kromer’s athletes went on to successful careers at four-year schools, such as “Bubbles” Harris at Indiana University and Randy Anderson at Akron University for basketball. Joe Mericka, Al Perry, John Traub, Gary Tobiczyk and Markus Schulz are only a few of the notable golfers that began their college careers under Kromer.
In addition to his coaching duties, Kromer served as the SC4 athletic director for more than 20 years.
Away from the college, Kromer was very active in community service as president of the Port Huron Kiwanis Club and The First Congregational Church. He golfed and bowled for years and officiated high school football games. The popular Flight Tennis Tournament was named in his honor to commemorate his major contribution to its organization.
Kromer, who was a charter member of the Port Huron Sports Hall of Fame Board of Trustees upon its inception in 1977, was born April 15, 1927 in Punxsutawney, PA, and was active in all sports while receiving his early education there. Upon graduation from high school he entered military service with the Navy Seabees in the post-World War II occupation of China and the Philippines.
Following his career in the Navy and graduation from Slippery Rock State College, Kromer taught and coached for 11 years at Springfield and Albion, PA. He earned a Masters from Michigan State University in 1960.
1970 Men’s Golf Team
The SC4 golf team was nearly perfect during the 1970 season.
Coach Robert “Sam” Kromer guided the squad to a 20-0 regular-season record. The Skippers won both the State and Region XII tournaments to qualify for the National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournament at Miami-Dade Community College (Fla.).
The team finished seventh at Miami Lakes Golf Course, which was the best showing for a northern college in some time. At the time, all junior colleges and community colleges competed in the same division.
The Skippers’ five-man starting lineup, which consisted of Bob Andrews, John Traub, Herb Hildebrand, Ken Balfour and Bob Baker, all averaged in the 70s for 18 holes that season. At the Nationals, Balfour and Hildebrand both led the balanced attack with a 72-hole total of 303. Nine strokes off the pace was Traub at 312, while Andrews was fourth on the team at 313.
1976 Baseball Team
The 1976 SC4 baseball team made an impressive run at a national title.
The Skippers reached the finals of the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series before losing to Central Arizona College 10-8 in Grand Junction, CO. SC4, which also competed in the World Series in 1970 and 1972, finished the season at 37-14.
Coach Dick Groch led the Skippers to State Junior College and North Central championships to earn the trip to the World Series. They defeated Kansas City Junior College 4-2 and Miami Dade CC 9-6 before suffering a 6-4 loss to Central Arizona. A 7-2 victory over Ranger College put SC4 in the title game against Central Arizona.
The team members were Dan Burke, Greg Chrzanowski, Denny Dwyer, Gary George, Jim Grace, Matt Hays, Jeff Jones, Mike Karabin, Bob Kelly, Jeff Kneisley, Al Levine, Larry (Lewandowski) Lewis, Mike Mann, Steven McClain, Jim Romeo, Frank Scarpace, Doug Simunic, John Walters and Jim Wisniewski. Ron Mason was an assistant coach.
Kneisley, an outfielder, earned All-American honors, while Mann, a pitcher, and Simunic, a catcher, were drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1976.
1994-95 Women’s Basketball Team
It was a memorable 1994-95 season for the SC4 women’s basketball team with 29 wins, conference and regional titles, and a trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II tournament.
But the Skippers’ bid for a national title came up short following a 94-89 triple-overtime loss to Kankakee CC (Ill.) March 18, 1995, in Hagerstown, MD. SC4 finished with a 29-4 record. The 29 wins were a school record before the SC4 women’s squad surpassed the mark during the 2012-13 season.
It was an emotional season for the nine-player squad as popular coach Paul Jackson of Marysville died of cancer on July 13, 1994. In August, Chris Huss was named the coach.
SC4 won its fourth consecutive MCCAA Eastern Conference title and earned a 51-42 victory over Lake Michigan CC in the finals of the Region XII Tournament to qualify for the nationals.
The team members were Rachelle Baysinger, Keri (Morrison) Biniecki, Becky Borwick, Marci (Upleger) Conquergood, Kristen Famiano, Alicia Kollmorgen, Michelle (DeCardenas) Parmentier, Jill (Walker) Schweihofer, Jessica (Carrier) Sinda and Jenny (Walther) Storm.
Huss was assisted by Carrie (Lohr) Hickson, a Sandusky graduate and former Skipper standout. Steven Beatty served as the team’s trainer.
2000 Volleyball Team
The SC4 volleyball team captured the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II national championship Nov. 15, 2000. It was the first national title in Skippers’ history.
Coach Terry Gamble’s squad posted a 73-2 record, which included the program’s first state championship. The Skippers won nine tournament titles that season.
Melissa (Stahl) Reynolds was named the National Player of the Year. Every SC4 player earned All-Conference honorable mention honors or higher.
Joining Reynolds on the team were Krysten Brown, Andrea (Charbonneau) Gass, Danielle Fritz, Cheryle (Heimbach) Lay, Nichole Landschoot, Stacey (Atkins) Pierce, Jennifer (Dixon) Smith and Jette Wichmann. Ray Cornwell Jr. and Becky (Verespej) Romberg were the assistant coaches.
2004 Volleyball Team
The SC4 women’s volleyball team put together an impressive 2004 season, which included the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II national championship.
The Skippers went 62-3 under coach Terry Gamble, who also coached the 2000 national championship squad. SC4 won every invitational it competed in along with winning the MCCAA Eastern Conference, state and regional titles.
At the nationals in Toledo, the Skippers defeated Scottsdale (AZ) CC in the quarterfinals, Kishwaukee (ILL) CC in the semifinals and Dodge City (KS) CC in the finals. Eight of the 12 players went on to play at four-year universities. Allison Mattox was selected as the regional and national player of the year.
The squad consisted of Ashley (Herman) AcMoody, Michelle Bittner, Christi Clemens, Maggie Condeni, Jayna Gardner, Deanna Gauer, Mattox, Karleigh (Baker) Schultz, Beth Ann (Armbruster) Solliday, Courtney (Greenup) Paszkiewicz, Lisa (May) Wilkie and Kristen Wiloch. Assistant coaches were Ray Cornwell Jr. and Becky (Verespej) Romberg.
2009-10 Men’s Basketball Team
The 2009-10 SC4 men’s basketball team enjoyed one of the best seasons in school history with an eighth-place finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II National Tournament.
SC4 compiled a 26-8 record under coach Dale Vos. The Skippers finished second in the MCCAA Eastern Conference standings. They captured the regional title to earn the trip to the nationals in Danville, Ill., where they went 2-2. The trip to the nationals was a first for the men’s basketball program.
The team members were Ben Abraham, Keion Arkwright, James Bethea, Kyle Brown, AJ Burton, Trey Curley, Terrance Keaton, Devin Kling, Marquis Lee, Eric Mack Jr., Johnny Pritchett III, Alan Sharp, Jake Stark and Brandon Thompson.
Assisting coach Vos were Dion Cox and Michael Groulx.
