Bob Manaskie, originally from Levittown, N.Y., played threeyears on the varsity basketball team and also played on thelacrosse team. Now a program manager for an aerospace firm, helives in Willington, C.T. He was unable to attend this weekend'sinduction event because of a work related trip to Egypt. As a 5-9sophomore guard on the 1976-77 basketball team, he had 292 assistsin 27 games, an average of almost 11 assists per game, and was anhonorable mention on the MAC Southwest All-Star tea.
Manaskie was again named as an honorable mention on the MACSouthwest All-Star team for the 1977-78 season and had 215 assistsin 25 games. In his senior season, 1978-79, Manaskie led the teamin assists, this time with 414 in 31 games, an average of more than13 assists per game. Manaskie was named the MVP of the quarterfinalfound playoff victory over Jersey City State that advanced theDiplomats into the NCAA Division III "Final Four."
The Diplomats finished third in the national championshiptournament with a 27-5 overall record, which set a record for mostwins in a season that has been topped only twice--the two years inthe 1990s F&M also advanced to the Division III "Final Four"(28 wins in 1991; 29 in 1996).
Manaskie still holds the team records for game (22), season(414) and career (927) assists. In his three years as a starter,the Diplomats compiled a 65-20 overall record.
