Bob Isenberg may be the only Indiana (Pa.) University athlete to represent the school at national tournaments in two different sports - in the same year.

Les Shoop helped lead the Indians to one of their most successful and record-breaking basketball squads ever.

Ed Phipps became IUP's first athlete to earn All-American honors in both cross country and track.

For their efforts, their place in Indians history is now secure.

The trio are among 10 former athletes to be inducted into this year's IUP Athletic Hall of Fame. It marks the school's ninth induction class.

The ceremony will be held at 6 p.m., after a 5 p.m. reception, on Aug. 27 at the Indiana Country Club.

"It's a big honor," said Isenberg, who is entering his 12th year as principal at Freeport Junior High School. "Sometimes you wonder how you got there and you wonder, 'Why you?' "

Isenberg, who graduated from Freeport High School and still resides there, played baseball and basketball for the Indians from 1969-72.

He played on the 1970-71 basketball team that advanced to the second round of the NAIA tournament in Kansas City, Mo., then led IUP to a third-place finish at the NAIA World Series in Phoenix, Ariz.

Isenberg's .526 average set a World Series mark for shortstops and he was named to the all-tournament team.

As a senior, Isenberg batted .403 and earned first-team NAIA District 18, NAIA Area 8 and PSAC honors.

In basketball, Isenberg earned All-PSAC honors for his defensive play.

"I was able to play a lot quicker in baseball than basketball," said Isenberg, "but I liked them equally the same. I had good teachers, good coaches.

"You always hope that you can play at another level," said Isenberg. "You never know where you'll go when you're a high school kid.

"I got a chance at IUP and proved I belonged."

Shoop, of Saxonburg, who retired after 34 years as a teacher at Knoch in 2003, earned his place in IUP lore during his basketball playing days from 1965-69.

Shoop graduated from Shannock Valley and moved on to Indiana, where he scored 991 points in his career.

As a guard, he helped the Indians to a 22-2 record during the 1968-69 season and led all college basketball levels in winning margin (24.1 points per game).

That team also set school standards in winning percentage (.917), consecutive wins (21) and best start (21-0) - all since broken.

Shoop's free-throw percentage of 82 percent in 1967-68 still ranks fifth in team history.

Shoop went on to coach at Punxsutawney High School and Knoch, where he amassed more than 200 wins at both schools. He is 477-327 in 35 years.

Though retired, Shoop still coaches the Knoch boys basketball team.

Phipps, a 1978 graduate of Slippery Rock High School who now resides in Grove City, competed for the Indians from 1979-83.

"I'm excited, and humbled as well," said Phipps, who is president of Phipps Residential Excavating and Home Services Inc. in Grove City. "I had a lot of great teammates that haven't made it in yet.

"There's a lot of reflection. It's been about 20 years," he added.

Phipps went from a member of the Indians 'B' cross country team as a sophomore and finished it with All-American honors by placing 15th in the NAIA Championships.

He would earn three All-American honors in cross country. In track and field, he still holds the school mark in the 1,500-meter run (3 minutes, 46.29 seconds), which he ran at the 1980 NCAA meet.

Phipps is still a record holder as a member of three different relay teams: distance medley, four-mile and two-mile.

Phipps is a bit surprised at the staying power of the records.

"I think that probably reflects the work ethic more than anything else," he said. "You'd think someone would have come along and broken the 1,500 record, but that hasn't happened.

"There was a big running boom at that time. I'm not sure if more people run now than back then, but I think more people were serious about running than they are now," Phipps added.

Cost for the ceremony is $40 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the IUP sports information office in Memorial Field House or at the Co-op Store on campus.

The inductees will also be introduced at halftime of the season-opening Aug. 28 game against Millersville.