Tom Coughlin ’91 remains as one of the top male swimmers in the history of Washington & Jefferson College. Coughlin won 11 Presidents’ Athletic Conference individual or relay championships during his career and set 12 W&J school records. Coughlin also set a pair of conference records and was the 1991 Presidents’ Swimmer of the Year. During his senior year, Coughlin claimed first place in the 100 (47.54) and 200 (1:46.05) freestyle events at the PAC Championships. The 100 freestyle title was his third straight at the conference championships. Coughlin set school records during his hall of fame career in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay. A business administration major, Coughlin ranked among the Top 25 swimmers in NCAA Division III in three events (50, 100 and 200 freestyles) during the 1991 season. He also swam legs on five different relays which posted Top 30 times nationally. Coughlin was a member of Kappa Sigma during his years at Washington & Jefferson College.
Jack McElravey ’54 concluded his career as one of the most decorated track & field athletes in school history. McElravey set numerous track & field records throughout the east coast during his four years at W&J. McElravey earned school records in the 100 yards (9.7) and the 220 yards (21.40). His 100-yard time broke the record formerly held by W&J Hall of Famer "Deacon" Dan Towler by two-tenths of a second. Throughout his career, McElravey was defeated in both races only one time. A native of Connellsville, Pa., and a graduate of Shady Side Academy, McElravey was a three-time All-District choice and was awarded the Guy Halferty Memorial Trophy, an award which was given to the best 100-yard sprinter at the Tri-State Championship Meet. The Tri-State Meet was hosted by Carnegie Tech and was considered one of the top invitationals in the nation. McElravey majored in economics at W&J and the Senior Class President. He was also a member of Phi Gamma Delta, the Lettermen’s Club, The Pandora, and the Athletic Club.
James Pareso ’66 lettered four years for the Washington & Jefferson College wrestling program. He held a career record of 44-7-4 and is one of only 21 wrestlers in school history to win multiple conference championships. Pareso won PAC crowns in both 1964 and 1965. Following the 1965 season, Pareso was selected as the PAC Wrestler of the Year. He was the first W&J wrestler to earn the prestigious honor. Since Pareso, only 11 other W&J wrestlers have been named the most valuable wrestler at the conference meet. Pareso also helped the Presidents win PAC Team Championships in 1965 and 1966, two of the five titles in school history. As a freshman, Pareso posted a 9-1-2 record at 137 pounds. He captured the 147-pound conference championship as a sophomore and finished the year with a 12-1-2 overall record. Pareso notched his second-straight PAC Championship as a junior after collecting a 12-3 record. He led W&J to its back-to-back league championships as a senior with an 11-2 overall record. Before graduation, Pareso became one of W&J’s first NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship award winners. Pareso majored in pre-med at Washington & Jefferson and has served as one of the city’s top doctors. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi and the Lettermen’s Club.
Ryan Silvis ’01 finished his career as one of the most dynamic wide receivers in W&J football history. He is fourth in school history with 171 receptions and is the all-time leader with 3,155 receiving yards. Silvis graduated with nearly every Washington & Jefferson College receiving record. In 2000, he established a single-season record which still stands today with 20 touchdown receptions. During that same season, he set a school record for receiving yards per game (139.5). Silvis finished his senior year with 69 receptions for 1,535 yards, an average of 22.2 yards per catch. A two-time First Team All-PAC wide receiver, Silvis was selected to the 2000 D3football.com All-America Team. The Presidents posted a 29-12 overall record with Silvis as a member of the squad. W&J also claimed three Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships and made two appearances in the NCAA Division III Playoffs. Silvis, an accounting major, also excelled in track & field during the spring. He was a two-time team captain and a five-time PAC Champion (100 meters, 200 meters (twice), 110-meter high hurdles, 4x100 relay).
Kelley (Wiltz) Williams ’97 helped Washington & Jefferson College claim its first-ever Presidents’ Athletic Conference Volleyball Championship in 1994. Following that season, she was selected as the PAC Most Valuable Player. A three-time All-PAC choice and a two-time team MVP, Williams guided the Presidents to a pair of conference titles and three ECAC Division III Tournament appearances. After helping W&J notch a 21-11 record in 1993, Williams was named to the PAC Honorable-Mention All-Conference Team. She had a dynamic year as a sophomore, winning the league’s player of the year award and earning First Team All-PAC laurels. W&J won the school’s first PAC title and set the school record for most victories (27). Williams was once again a First Team All-PAC choice in 1995 as W&J reached 27 wins once again. As a senior, she helped bring back the PAC Championship to W&J and helped the Presidents advance to the ECAC Tournament. During her four years, W&J notched an overall record of 103-39, including a 29-4 mark in conference play. Williams majored in sociology at Washington & Jefferson.
