Prince George’s Athletics Holds Hall of Fame Ceremony Along With 2024 Awards Banquet
The Prince George's Community College athletic department capped off the 2023-24 academic year with a Hall of Fame Ceremony and Annual Awards Banquet in the Dr. Charlene M. Dukes Student Center Community Rooms on Monday evening, May 6th. Hall of Fame inductees present for the evening included former head men's soccer coach for 16 years, Dr. Bernie Smolen, and former student-athletes Debbie Alongi '75 (Women's Basketball, Field Hockey, Volleyball), Donna Linkous Hager '80 (Women's Basketball, Softball), Kenny Eisiminger '83 (Men's Soccer), Price Williams '91 (Men's Basketball), Allen Mitchell II '93 (Men's Basketball), Hector Vargas '96 (Men's Soccer), Becky Preston Doris '99 (Women's Basketball, Bowling, Soccer, Softball). William Gill '06 (Men's Basketball) and Asyja Smith '11 (Women's Basketball) were unable to attend the ceremony, but were celebrated on their behalf.
Dr. Bernie Smolen
Men's Soccer Coach (1979-1995)
Dr. Bernie Smolen was the head men's soccer coach at Prince George's Community College for 16 years. This span stretched across three decades as the sport and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) levels of competition evolved from the late 70s into the mid-90s. Smolen instituted a tradition of success as the program leader, coaching 297 games while posting a 183-93-21 record. Under his guidance, the college's soccer program saw a significant rise in rankings and recognition, becoming a force to be reckoned with in the NJCAA. He was the mastermind behind the 1982 and 1983 teams that finished third and fifth in the nation, respectively. Many of his former players have credited their continued success on and off the field to Smolen's leadership style as a player's coach. Past student-athletes knew they could count on Smolen to motivate them when they needed it the most. While his teams wanted to win for the college and themselves, they mostly wanted to win for Coach Smolen to make him proud to be their coach. His student-athletes have carried on Smolen's direction as a coach and mentor and can be felt within the program today, with plenty of his players active as alum supporters.
Debbie Alongi
Women's Basketball, Field Hockey, Volleyball (Class of 1975)
Debbie Alongi was a tri-sport athlete at Prince George's, participating in field hockey, volleyball, and basketball. While she excelled in each sport as a natural athlete, her true calling was on the hardwood, where she played two seasons on the Lady Owls basketball team. Alongi helped lead her team to two National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Tournament appearances. As captain, she led the team to 13th and 5th place finishes in the nation. After two spectacular campaigns for the Owls, she transferred to Frostburg State University, where she continued her playing career as a member of the Bobcats women's basketball team.
Donna Linkous Hager
Women's Basketball/Softball (Class of 1980)
Donna Linkous Hager's achievements as a female student-athlete at Prince George's and beyond are significant milestones in women's sports history. As a member of the women's basketball and softball teams, she blazed a trail for future generations. Her accomplishments include being twice named a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American, first as an Honorable Mention selection after helping to lead the basketball team to the National Tournament in 1979 before earning First Team recognition on the softball diamond. The '79 softball squad, just the second team fielded in program history, captured the Region 20 Championship and finished 5th in the National Tournament. Even after college, Linkous continued to stay involved with sports, participating in basketball, soccer, and softball. Her impact and relevance in women's sports were further recognized when she was honored by the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) as a Hall of Famer in recent years.
Kenny Eisiminger
Men's Soccer (Class of 1983)
Kenny Eisiminger played for the Owls for two years (1982-83) and was the team's defense anchor. Playing sweeper, he served as the final line of protection from the field with speed, heart, and a love for the game and his teammates. The 1982 team won the National Junior College Athletic Association's (NJCAA) Region 20 Title and finished third in the National Tournament held in New Jersey. In his second year, the Owls repeated as Region 20 Champions and returned to New Jersey again, finishing fifth in the nation. A vital piece of both National Tournament teams, Kenny was the one who scored the final penalty kick in a shootout to send the '82 team to the program's very first appearance in a National Championship. Following his sophomore season, Kenny was named First Team All-Region, National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Second Team All-American, and NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American. The following year, Kenny was awarded a scholarship to play at Francis Marion College in Florence, SC, where he made the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-Star Team. This helped to begin a pipeline of fifteen Owls men's soccer players over the next decade who would move on to play at Francis Marion. Eisiminger is the third former men's soccer player inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Price Williams
Men's Basketball (Class of 1991)
Price Williams came to the college and joined the men's basketball team in 1989, helping the Owls to one of their best seasons in program history during his sophomore campaign in 1991. Williams averaged 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per game on 45% from the floor and 36% from deep over his two years in Largo. In his sophomore year, he helped lead the team to the National Tournament, where the Owls would finish third in the nation. He would earn Second Team All-Region and First Team All-MD JUCO honors before receiving national recognition as a Second Team All-American selection. Williams continued his education and basketball career at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, where he would average nearly 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists per game over two years as a Fighting Scot. Williams earned Second Team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Honors in 1992, leading the team to its first NCAA Division II playoff win in 1994. During his senior season, he earned First Team All-PSAC West Honors and a Third Team NCAA DII All-American nod. In 2006, he was voted a member of Edinboro's All-Time Men's Basketball Team.
Allen Mitchell II
Men's Basketball/Coach (Class of 1993)
Allen Mitchell II, a two-year standout on the men's basketball team, achieved remarkable success under his now fellow Hall of Fame coach, John Wiley, during the early 90's. The Owls won the NJCAA Region 20 Division II Title in his 1990-91 freshman season and advanced to the National Tournament, where the team finished third in the nation, a program record that still stands today. He was named a team captain before his 1992-93 sophomore campaign before the Owls once again captured the Region Championship and advanced to the National Tournament, where they finished seventh. His teams also finished as Maryland JUCO runners-up in both of his seasons as a player. In his two years as an Owl, he played in 63 out of a possible 64 games, accumulating 714 points, 426 rebounds, 384 assists, and 296 steals. After taking home All-MD JUCO honors in his second season and graduating from Prince George's, he transferred to North Carolina Central University on a full athletic scholarship. He was a member of the Eagles men's basketball team.
After college, Mitchell's commitment to Prince George's was unwavering. He returned as a full-time employee in the Central Receiving department and served as an assistant coach for the men's basketball team for eleven years. Mitchell's dedication, spanning over two decades, is a testament to his loyalty to the college and the basketball program. His achievements at Prince George's are a source of pride for the program, and his legacy continues to inspire current and future players.
Hector Vargas
Men's Soccer (Class of 1996)
Hector Vargas remains one of the few Owls in the history of the college to be selected as a two-time First Team NJCAA All-American, earning honors in 1995 and 1996. Along with his All-American status, Vargas also picked up Maryland JUCO and Region 20 First Team honors both years, including Region 20 Player of the Year in 1996. His sophomore year was particularly memorable as the team was ranked among the top ten programs in the country the entire season and would go on to win the Region 20 Title for the first time in 13 years, advancing to the District Championship. After graduating from Prince George's Vargas transferred to NCAA Division I American University on a full athletic scholarship where he played for coach Bob Jenkins who was also an assistant coach for the United States Men's National Team at the time. While at American, Vargas was named Honorable Mention All-Tournament Team. He has since gone on to captain some of the top DMV club teams and has trained with D.C. United.
Becky Preston Doris
Women's Basketball, Bowling, Soccer, Softball (Class of 1999)
Becky Preston Doris is the Owls' only four-sport athlete and two-time Female Athlete of the Year in college history. She was a two-year standout midfield for the first-ever women's soccer team. Followed by two seasons on the women's basketball team, where she was known for her tenacious defense. During the 1998-1999 season, she recorded 151 steals, which helped lead the team to the NJCAA Region 20 Division II runner-up. During her off days, she participated on the women's bowling team and helped lead the team to the NJCAA Region 20 Championship and NJCAA national tournament. In her final season on the softball team, she played shortstop and batted cleanup, with a .667 batting average. Preston was impressive with the bat, collecting 10 hits in 15 at-bats, including five home runs and two doubles in the season-opening tournament against Division I opponents.
Becky's leadership was a cornerstone of her success, evident in her role as team captain for all four teams: soccer, basketball, bowling, and softball. Her leadership style was one of leading by example, a trait that earned her National Junior College Athletic Conference (NJCAA) All-Region 20 honors in each sport during her two years. Her influence extended beyond the field, as she also earned All Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference (MD JUCO) honors in soccer, basketball, and softball. After two remarkable years for the Owls, she was offered a full athletic scholarship to Tennessee Wesleyan University, a testament to her exceptional skills and leadership abilities.
Becky's passion for sports didn't end with her playing career. She returned to Prince George's as the assistant women's soccer coach (2002-2005) and adjunct faculty member for the SAGE program (2003-2010). Today she continues to inspire and guide young athletes, coaching girls' soccer.
William Gill
Men's Basketball (Class of 2006)
William Gill was a model student-athlete on the men's basketball team during his two seasons at Prince George's Community College, where he played a pivotal role in the Owls National Ranking in the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Gill excelled in his two seasons with the Owls, averaging 13 points a game in his first season and 15 points in his sophomore season. After two years at Prince George's Community College, Gill signed with Saint Augustine College in Raleigh, North Carolina. He played two seasons for the Falcons and helped the team to the semi-finals of the CIAA tournament in his senior year season. Gill earned First Team All-Conference honors both seasons for the Falcons. Gill continues to play basketball in his free time, where he plays with the Metropolitan Police Department team and competed in the Police and Fire World Games in Los Angeles, Nevada, where he won a Silver Medal in recent years.
Asyja Smith
Women's Basketball (Class of 2011)
Asyja Smith was a two-time All-American who made her mark in Prince George's women's basketball history books during her two years on the team. During her first year, Smith finished 2nd in the country in average scoring with 24.3 points per game while earning All-Region and All-MD JUCO honors in addition to being named a Third Team NJCAA Division II All-American while guiding her team to an appearance in the National Tournament in Illinois. She followed up with a stellar sophomore campaign where she eclipsed 1,000 career points and took home All-Region and All-MD JUCO honors for the second time in two years before earning First Team NJCAA DIII All-American status. Smith finished her career in Largo with 1,176 total points before transferring to Virginia State University as a member of the Trojans women's basketball team.
Following the Hall of Fame Ceremony, the athletic department handed out its annual awards to help celebrate the year that was, while honoring the student-athletes for their success on and off the field of play. Awards included each team's Unsung Hero and Most Valuable Player, along with individual awards; Academic Excellence, Owl Dedication, Athletic Partnership, Athletic Appreciation, and Outstanding Owl.
Unsung Hero
Men's Soccer - Bilal Odeh
Men's Basketball - Jayden Socka
Women's Basketball - Danielle Ellerbee
Baseball - Andres Duarte
Most Valuable Player
Men's Soccer - Muhammad Sallah
Men's Basketball - Saveon Jackson
Women's Basketball - Kalise Evans
Baseball - Junior Guillen
Following team honors were the Academic Excellence Awards for exceptional performance in the classroom, and the Owl Dedication Awards which goes to student athletes who participated in two years for their sport at the college.
Academic Excellence
Men's Soccer – John Chavez Lopez, Chukwuma Maduwuba, Carlos Merlos, Charles Nguekam, Bilal Odeh, Oluwadamilola Ogunbode, Gabriel Tello Perea, Randy Salvador
Men's Basketball - Noah Davis, Deven Dowdie, Justin Minor, John Osuji, Jasir Tremble
Women's Basketball – Danielle Ellerbee, Emi-Noel Epolle-Njabe, Anna Fields
Baseball - Tony Hairston, Jacob Jewett, William King, Joseph Kline, Princeton Newbold, Sanchez Sands, Jayden Tavera, Gregory Tulloch, Anthony Williams
Owl Dedication
Men's Soccer - Emmanuel Nyam, Bilal Odeh, Francis Ogbankwa, Oluwafolayemi Ojo, Gabriel Tello Perea, Anderson Umana, Anibal Villatoro-Giron
Men's Basketball - Deven Dowdie, Saveon Jackson, Avery Scott, Jayden Socka, Jasir Tremble
Women's Basketball - Danielle Ellerbee
Baseball - Jacob Jewett, Jaisal Kapoor, William King, Joseph Kline, Joseph Lonnette
Headlining the department honors were the Athletic Partnership, Athletic Appreciation, and Outstanding Owl awards.
Athletic Partnership
Awarded to an employee of the college outside of the athletic department who has worked closely with us throughout the year to help assist our student athletes and programs on campus.
Dr. Danielle Bryant, Program Director – Wellness and Mental Health Center
Athletic Appreciation
Given to an employee of the college that does not work within the Athletic Department on a day-to-day basis, but contributes to the department and consistently shows support for our programs and student-athletes.
Mark McDonald, Coordinator of Student Rights and Responsibilities
Outstanding Owl
Awarded to a student-athlete for not just what is done athletically, but also for being a positive representation of the athletic department and the college as a whole.
Jasir Tremble, Men's Basketball
