Jim McElhaney '86

A Butler, Pa. native, McElhaney became one of the most decorated athletes in Grove City history during the 1980s while competing in both football and track and field.

He is the first Grove City track and field athlete to earn multiple NCAA All-America citations.

As a junior in 1985, McElhaney received NCAA Division III All-America honors in both the javelin and shot put.

In his senior season at the NCAA Championships, he earned All-America honors in the discus, javelin and shot put, thus becoming a five-time All-American.

His respective second-, fifth- and 10th-place finishes placed Grove City 19th among 214 institutions in the team standings at the 1986 Championships.

McElhaney won Presidents’ Athletic Conference titles in all three throwing events in both 1985 and 1986, earning PAC Field MVP honors both years. In 1986, he helped Grove City capture its first PAC track and field title.

McElhaney still owns the College records in the javelin (220 feet), discus (155-7 1/2) and shot put (53-6). He is also the PAC record-holder in the javelin and shot with those marks.

He started at defensive end on the football team his first two years and earned the Jim Cross Memorial Trophy as the outstanding player in the 1983 Homecoming game.

A knee injury prevented him from playing football in his junior and senior seasons.

McElhaney also excelled in the classroom, earning Dean’s List and Presidential Scholar recognition. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1986.