Millersville men's basketball hosts first Ron Wilson Classic on November 13-14
11/8/2021 9:12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - The Millersville University men's basketball team is set to host the first-ever Ron Wilson Classic on Saturday, Nov. 13 and Sunday, Nov. 14 in Pucillo Gymnasium. This 2021 edition features the host Marauders, Claflin, Clarion and Frostburg State, four teams from the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region. Action begins with Millersville vs. Frostburg State on Saturday at 5 p.m., followed by Clarion vs. Claflin. Millersville then plays Claflin Sunday at 3 p.m., before Clarion and Frostburg State close the weekend at 5 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at the door, and the first 100 Millersville University students with a valid ID to Saturday's game receive a free burrito from Moe's. Burrito service starts on the second level of Pucillo Gymnasium at 4:45 p.m.
Before the entire 2020-21 season was lost to the pandemic, Millersville posted a 15-15 record and returns four All-PSAC East performers in Jaden Faulkner, Caden Najdawi, James Sullivan and Khari Williams. Claflin, a member of the CIAA, is just three seasons removed from an NCAA Tournament appearance. Clarion, led by former Millersville assistant coach Damian Pitts, is a member of the PSAC West and recently voted No. 7 in the coaches preseason poll. Frostburg State made the transition to Division II in 2019-20 and played through the pandemic last season, posting a 4-12 record as a member of the Mountain East Conference.
It is an exciting return to action for the Marauders as the last time basketball was played inside Pucillo Gymnasium was in February of 2020 when Millersville defeated Shepherd in the PSAC Tournament opening round. This event, featuring four games over two days, has been named in the honor of longtime program supporter and Millersville alum, Ron Wilson '79.
Wilson's continued support through the years has put Millersville men's basketball back in mix in the PSAC East. This generosity led men's basketball coach Casey Stitzel to name the event in Wilson's honor. The recognition took Wilson aback.
"I don't feel worthy of that," said Wilson. "When Casey first said it, I said, 'no, no, no.' I like to stay low and under the radar and know that the program is doing well. But Casey said, 'it's because of you that we are in a position to make some noise in this league.' I'm well past my playing days and most 99 percent of people will say 'who was he?' But it's great."
Wilson scored 764 points and shot 48 percent from the field in his career after being moved up to the varsity squad mid-way through his freshman season. He averaged double figures in two seasons while playing alongside Phil Walker, who set the all-time PSAC scoring record. Wilson played all four seasons under Coach Richard DeHart, but DeHart's most significant influence came off the court.
Wilson came to Millersville intending to teach and coach basketball. One day, in the locker room before practice during Wilson's senior season, DeHart approached Wilson with some advice.
"Coach said to me, 'Ron, I know you want to teach and coach, but being around you and knowing your personality for four years, have you ever thought of sales? I think you are best suited for sales.' And he walked out of the locker room," said Wilson.
That brief exchange changed the course of Wilson's life. Wilson started having conversations with people in the sales field, including a teammate's father. The talks excited Wilson, and he never looked back. He started in industrial rubber and plastics in Roanoke, Virginia and Chicago, and sold industrial heating and air conditioning in Columbus, Ohio, before setting out on his own and paving his own path.
He ventured into the world of craft brewing distribution. His first attempt with a business partner fell flat, but Wilson learned from his partner's mistakes over six tough months, and he and his family moved back to Columbus. In 1995, he and his wife, Linda, started Premium Beverage Supply and built it from the ground up. It slowly grew until the early 2000s when the popularity of craft beer exploded. He started making deliveries in his family van and the business now has nearly 100 employees and over 5,000 accounts in the state of Ohio. Wilson's company helps craft breweries distribute, promote and sell their beverages all over the state of Ohio.
The company's stunning success has put him in a position to now help current and future student-athletes achieve their dreams, much like he did at Millersville.
"I realized what my talent was at Millersville," said Wilson. "I thought maybe I'd be a good coach and teacher, but through the friends I made, being on the team, you recognize that there are things about you that the experience at Millersville brings out of you. I was a captain of the team, and teammates saw me as somewhat of a leader, so it was easy to translate that into my career. It was all through the experience at Millersville."
Tickets can be purchased at the door, and the first 100 Millersville University students with a valid ID to Saturday's game receive a free burrito from Moe's. Burrito service starts on the second level of Pucillo Gymnasium at 4:45 p.m.
Before the entire 2020-21 season was lost to the pandemic, Millersville posted a 15-15 record and returns four All-PSAC East performers in Jaden Faulkner, Caden Najdawi, James Sullivan and Khari Williams. Claflin, a member of the CIAA, is just three seasons removed from an NCAA Tournament appearance. Clarion, led by former Millersville assistant coach Damian Pitts, is a member of the PSAC West and recently voted No. 7 in the coaches preseason poll. Frostburg State made the transition to Division II in 2019-20 and played through the pandemic last season, posting a 4-12 record as a member of the Mountain East Conference.
It is an exciting return to action for the Marauders as the last time basketball was played inside Pucillo Gymnasium was in February of 2020 when Millersville defeated Shepherd in the PSAC Tournament opening round. This event, featuring four games over two days, has been named in the honor of longtime program supporter and Millersville alum, Ron Wilson '79.
Wilson's continued support through the years has put Millersville men's basketball back in mix in the PSAC East. This generosity led men's basketball coach Casey Stitzel to name the event in Wilson's honor. The recognition took Wilson aback.
"I don't feel worthy of that," said Wilson. "When Casey first said it, I said, 'no, no, no.' I like to stay low and under the radar and know that the program is doing well. But Casey said, 'it's because of you that we are in a position to make some noise in this league.' I'm well past my playing days and most 99 percent of people will say 'who was he?' But it's great."
Wilson scored 764 points and shot 48 percent from the field in his career after being moved up to the varsity squad mid-way through his freshman season. He averaged double figures in two seasons while playing alongside Phil Walker, who set the all-time PSAC scoring record. Wilson played all four seasons under Coach Richard DeHart, but DeHart's most significant influence came off the court.
Wilson came to Millersville intending to teach and coach basketball. One day, in the locker room before practice during Wilson's senior season, DeHart approached Wilson with some advice.
"Coach said to me, 'Ron, I know you want to teach and coach, but being around you and knowing your personality for four years, have you ever thought of sales? I think you are best suited for sales.' And he walked out of the locker room," said Wilson.
That brief exchange changed the course of Wilson's life. Wilson started having conversations with people in the sales field, including a teammate's father. The talks excited Wilson, and he never looked back. He started in industrial rubber and plastics in Roanoke, Virginia and Chicago, and sold industrial heating and air conditioning in Columbus, Ohio, before setting out on his own and paving his own path.
He ventured into the world of craft brewing distribution. His first attempt with a business partner fell flat, but Wilson learned from his partner's mistakes over six tough months, and he and his family moved back to Columbus. In 1995, he and his wife, Linda, started Premium Beverage Supply and built it from the ground up. It slowly grew until the early 2000s when the popularity of craft beer exploded. He started making deliveries in his family van and the business now has nearly 100 employees and over 5,000 accounts in the state of Ohio. Wilson's company helps craft breweries distribute, promote and sell their beverages all over the state of Ohio.
The company's stunning success has put him in a position to now help current and future student-athletes achieve their dreams, much like he did at Millersville.
"I realized what my talent was at Millersville," said Wilson. "I thought maybe I'd be a good coach and teacher, but through the friends I made, being on the team, you recognize that there are things about you that the experience at Millersville brings out of you. I was a captain of the team, and teammates saw me as somewhat of a leader, so it was easy to translate that into my career. It was all through the experience at Millersville."
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