[Williamson] Gougler 9W7 and Brown 0W3 Added to Williamson Athletic Hall of Fame; Kelly Named ...

Before a packed house in the school's Clara Shrenk Memorial Chapel, Brian Gougler 9W7 and Kevin Brown 0W3 were honored as Williamson's newest members of the school's prestigious Athletic Hall of Fame, during the school's 55th annual Sports Awards Ceremony, an event that celebrated the school's 135 students who participated in a varsity sport during the 2021-22 school year.  In addition to honoring the pair of graduates, the school awarded freshman Joe Kelly (FR/Newtown Square, PA) with the school's George W. McCarty 3W7 Athlete of the Year award.

A nine-time varsity letter winner in the sports of football, basketball and baseball, Gougler was a jack of all trades, and a master of all as well.  A team captain in all three sports, he also was the Most Valuable Player in all three sports as well, and the 1996-97 Athlete of the Year award winner.  His play as part of the football program helped to bring the school its only Seaboard Football Conference title to date back in 1996.

After graduating, Gougler kept close ties to the school, as he helped out with the archery program and also was a judge in the school's annual Wing Bowl competition.  Most recently, he has come on staff with the football team as the team's wide receiver coach for the past five years.

"Brian is a throwback.  They don't make athletes like Brian anymore," shared longtime Williamson Director of Athletics Dale Plummer.  "It takes an incredible amount of time and sacrifice to play a single sport at Williamson.  To play three, and to do so for all three years, and excel in all three, is unfathomable.  You just don't see that happen nowadays at any college, let alone Williamson. 

Brown was a standout athlete in the sports of football and basketball, earning six varsity letters during his time at the college.  He led the football team in sacks all three years and was the team's MVP in 2002. In basketball, he is one of only two players in school history to have over 700 points, 700 rebounds and 400 assists. 

In addition to his outstanding play while at the school, Brown has been incredibly active in helping the school since his graduation.  A member of the school's distinguished I.V. Williamson Club and a former Young Alumnus of the Year award recipient, he also has served at the school's Paint and Coatings Technology Director this past year, after an early stint as the Assistant Director in that Shop several years ago.  For the past 16 years he has been serving with the school's basketball program as Associate Head Coach and had a huge role in the school's 2008 and 2009 USCAA Division II national championships. 

"Kevin loves Williamson and he has served the school so well after graduating.  He got involved in giving back to the school right away after he graduated and he has not stopped serving and giving back to the school since," shared Plummer.

"The thing about both Brian and Kevin is that both men are the epitome of what a Williamson man is all about. They are constantly giving back and both are exactly what Mr. Williamson had in mind when he founded the school. They are Williamson men, through and through.

As Athlete of the Year, Kelly was dominant in the sports of football and baseball.  In baseball, he batted .364 with a team leading .576 slugging percentage.  He also was 4th on the team in runs scored and fourth in on-base percentage.  All that despite playing with an injured shoulder.

As good as he was in baseball, his play on the football field was all that much more dominate.  A Power Plant Technology major and just a freshman, he was the Seaboard Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a first team all-conference selection at defensive end.  He led the league in tackle sacks, tackle for loss and hurries.

"I'm not sure we have ever seen as dominant a performance on the football field as just a freshman, as Joe showed us this year.  It truly was a performance to behold.  Here is hoping he can keep it going," added Plummer.

The event was the culmination of the school's athletic year and was extra special, considering the school was not able to participate in athletics at all last year.

"It was great to be back out on the field again this year and last night was a great way to thank our student-athletes, and honor them for their work both on and off the field.  We couldn't be more thankful for each one of them," closed Plummer.