GROVE CITY — Bart Niemeyer's basketball records at Grove City College have been surpassed.

But his legacy will be forever linked to the school.

A Mars resident since 1994, Niemeyer was one of nine inductees into the college's Athletic Hall of Fame last weekend. The 1962 Grove City graduate was part of the fifth Hall class.

“I never thought anything like this would happen,” Niemeyer said. “It was exciting, a thrill for my entire family.

“The entire program that day was very professional. We felt pretty special.”

The mark Niemeyer left on Grove City basketball was pretty special in its own right.

The 6-foot-3 forward was captain of the team his final two years. His 1,145 career points stood second in the program's history at the time of his graduation. That number ranks 15th today.

Niemeyer's 954 career rebounds still rank second, trailing only Jeff Claypool's 1,167 (1965-69).

Niemeyer averaged 15 points and 12.1 rebounds per game in 1961-62, helping Grove City post an 18-5 record, its best mark in 39 years. Only three GCC basketball teams have posted a better single-season record since.

“I was the second smallest player on the team,” Niemeyer said, laughing. “Rebounding was just my forte. Boxing out, that's the key. That will never change.”

A Peters Township High graduate, Niemeyer left GCC with a business degree and is retired from a career in sales.

He also played baseball at Grove City, hitting about .320 as a third baseman. Niemeyer earned seven varsity letters between the sports.

“It was a rarity, playing two sports in college back then,” he said.

Niemeyer was named the College's Sportsman of the Year in 1961.

His sons went on to play college baseball in Ohio. Darrin was a second baseman at Marietta and Frank played shortstop for Walsh.

The other 2011 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees are:

n Christine Carlson Jenkins, 1991 graduate who was a first team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference player in volleyball and basketball, compiling 1,026 career volleyball kills and 1,337 points in basketball.

n John Cochran, a 1970 graduate who scored 1,352 points in basketball and scored 20 or more points 11 times during his senior year.

n Carolyn Cochran Carr, a 1989 graduate who became the first GCC women's basketball player to record more than 1,000 points (1,110) and more than 1,000 rebounds (1,153).

n Richard Durstein, a 1977 graduate who left the school as its most decorated swimmer, earned nine All-America citations.

n Thomas Robinson, a 1962 graduate who scored 1,181 points in basketball and held 14 school records upon graduation.

n Wayne Sedlak, a 1975 graduate who set the school's long jump record of 22 feet, 7 inches that year and still owns the triple jump mark of 48-3 set in 1973. He became Grove City's first All-American in track and field.

n Doug Steiner, a 1998 graduate who owns the school record of 257 rushing yards in a game. He also became the school's first 1,000-yard rusher and tied the Division III record of 29 touchdowns in a season.

n Dan Young, a 1983 graduate who was the second GCC diver to win the Division III title. He attained five All-America honors.