Hall of Fame
Matt Opilo was Shippensburg’s first track and field All-American and national champion.
A javelin thrower, Opilo’s first measure of success came at the Pennsylvania Conference championships in 1975. He broke the school record that season with a throw of 213-5.
In 1977 he won the conference title with a throw of 234-1. He also placed third at the NCAA Division II national championships to become an All-American. He again broke the school record with a throw of 234-4.
The following year Opilo went on to greater stardom. He consistently threw in the 210-220 range throughout the year. However, at the conference championships, Opilo had problems in a rainstorm. Known as a speed thrower who relied on his quickness rather than arm strength, Opilo had a rough time making a plant on the slippery wet grass and he failed to place. Speed throwers need good footing in order to convert their running velocity into the energy necessary to make a long throw.
Undismayed by his conference showing, Opilo went to the NCAA Division II national championships with a determination to win. He held second place throughout most of the competition and won the meet with his final throw, a heave of 236-9. That throw stood as the school record until last year when it was retired because of the international and NCAA switch to a new style javelin that is weighted differently.
Opilo was then selected to the NCAA Division II All-Star team that competed in Mexico City later that summer.
