Hall of Fame
Pete Melzoni came to Cumberland from Clinton, Tennessee. Suring his freshman year on the Indian Track Team, Melzoni was the KIAC Champion in 4 events and runner-up in 3 events. He added 7 more KIAC event championships his sophmore year and an additional 7 in his third season with the Tribe. In the fall semester of his senior year he ruptured his hamstring and, following surgery and extensive rehabilitation, beat the odds to return to competiton for the upcoming spring schedule and added to the record books. Melzoni was undefeated in the 120 yard High Hurdles, 440 yard Intermediate Hurdles, Long-Jump, and was defeated only once in the Triple Jump by a 1/2 inch. In the 1968 KIAC meet, he participated in 12 events, scored 91 points, won 7 Gold Medals, 3 Silver Medals, and 2 Bronze Medals (leading Cumberland to the most lopsided team victory in the history of the KIAC). Also in 1968, he became the first Cumberland athlete to make the qualifying times for the National meet, advancing to the semi-finals in both the 120 yard High Hurdles and 440 yard Intermediate Hurdles. Upon his graduation from Cumberland, Melzoni held school recrods in 7 events and was listed in the top 10 all time performances in all but 3 events. Pete Melzoni currently resides in Wabash, Indiana, ;and is employed as a Production Supervisor at Wabash Alloy, Incorporated.
