Bowling Green State University Athletics
Hall of Fame
Zabek, Verne
Verne Zabek
- Induction:
- 2011
- Class:
- 1975
VERNE ZABEK (lacrosse; 1972-75)
Zabek, a native of Westbury, N.Y. (W.T. Clarke H.S.), was a constant scoring threat for coach Mickey Cochrane’s Falcons. He holds nearly all of BGSU’s offensive records and helped the Brown and Orange to great success on the field.
Zabek was named an honorable-mention All-American in both 1974 and 1975, and earned All-Midwest Division first-team honors in both of those seasons after being named to the second team in 1973. He helped the Falcons to a perfect 12-0 record in his junior season of 1974, sharing team Most Valuable Player honors, and led the Falcons to an 11-1 mark as a senior in ’75. BGSU won the Midwest Lacrosse Association title in both the ‘74 and ‘75 campaigns.
Zabek’s record-setting career began with a 49-point season as a freshman in 1972. Zabek had 18 goals and 31 assists that season, then had 52 points as a soph, on eight goals and 44 assists. That sophomore season saw him set school single-game records for both assists (nine) and points (10), in a win over Ohio Wesleyan.
He had 55 points, tying the school single-season record in his junior year, scoring 19 goals and distributing 36 assists as BGSU rolled along to that 12-0 record. Then, in his senior season, Zabek scored 14 goals and added 22 assists for a 36-point season.
Zabek’s 44 assists in his sophomore year set a school record, and he also holds the BGSU career marks for both assists, with 133, and points, with 192. He was a multiple-year selection to the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Midwest Division All-Star Team. During Zabek’s four seasons, the Falcons had an overall record of 41-9, including a 23-1 mark his last two years.
After graduation, Zabek served in the U.S. Navy, and he also spent some time coaching. Zabek currently resides in Westfield, Mass.
(Info current as of September 2011)
Zabek, a native of Westbury, N.Y. (W.T. Clarke H.S.), was a constant scoring threat for coach Mickey Cochrane’s Falcons. He holds nearly all of BGSU’s offensive records and helped the Brown and Orange to great success on the field.
Zabek was named an honorable-mention All-American in both 1974 and 1975, and earned All-Midwest Division first-team honors in both of those seasons after being named to the second team in 1973. He helped the Falcons to a perfect 12-0 record in his junior season of 1974, sharing team Most Valuable Player honors, and led the Falcons to an 11-1 mark as a senior in ’75. BGSU won the Midwest Lacrosse Association title in both the ‘74 and ‘75 campaigns.
Zabek’s record-setting career began with a 49-point season as a freshman in 1972. Zabek had 18 goals and 31 assists that season, then had 52 points as a soph, on eight goals and 44 assists. That sophomore season saw him set school single-game records for both assists (nine) and points (10), in a win over Ohio Wesleyan.
He had 55 points, tying the school single-season record in his junior year, scoring 19 goals and distributing 36 assists as BGSU rolled along to that 12-0 record. Then, in his senior season, Zabek scored 14 goals and added 22 assists for a 36-point season.
Zabek’s 44 assists in his sophomore year set a school record, and he also holds the BGSU career marks for both assists, with 133, and points, with 192. He was a multiple-year selection to the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Midwest Division All-Star Team. During Zabek’s four seasons, the Falcons had an overall record of 41-9, including a 23-1 mark his last two years.
After graduation, Zabek served in the U.S. Navy, and he also spent some time coaching. Zabek currently resides in Westfield, Mass.
(Info current as of September 2011)
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