Video presentation
Fred Surgent was not only one of the best athletes of his time, but he personified the meaning of the term ‘team leader’ during his tenure at Trenton State College.
A three-sport athlete at the College, Surgent was known best for accomplishments as a member of the men’s Gymnastics Exhibition and Competitive team. He was a top-flight competitor for the Lions and the best all-around athlete on the squad.
While Surgent led the Lions as a performer from 1962 – 1965, he also served as a student-coach of sorts during training sessions and competition. Surgent helped design practices, offered instruction to teammates, and coordinated the line-ups for events and order in which his teammates would compete during exhibitions.
When he wasn’t in uniform for gymnastics, Surgent suited up for the TSC men’s soccer team as well as track and field. He played right wing for coach Mel Schmidt and was a member of the 1964 NAIA Championship team. A finely tuned athlete, Surgent was put in charge of the conditioning program for the soccer team.
In track and field, Surgent competed in the pole vault event. He was named captain of the team in 1964 and 1965 and set the program pole vault record as a senior, clearing a height 12’ 10”.
To cap off an outstanding career as an athlete at the College, Surgent won the Varsity ‘T’ Award. This elite citation is given to the most outstanding male athlete of the year for 1964-65. Outside of athletics, Surgent was a member of Phi Epsilon Kappa Fraternity and won the Phi Epsilon Kappa Award in 1964.
Following graduation, Surgent remained at TSC to earn his Master of Arts degree. He returned to the gymnastics program as a coach and started the first competitive gymnastics team in 1966. Surgent also continued to compete in open competitions, himself.
Surgent went on to become a professor of health and physical education at Frostburg State University and earned his Doctor of Education degree from West Virginia University. He taught at Frostburg for over 30 years and head coach of the gymnastics program for 15 years. Surgent was also an assistant soccer coach at Frostburg for nine seasons. He also stayed active running in races and competing in several triathlons.
In the state of Maryland, Surgent received the William Burdick Award for outstanding services and distinctive leadership . He also won the Club Maryland Award in 1992, a citation that was awarded by the governor of Maryland.
In addition to his career as an educator and coach, Surgent is also an avid writer in his line of profession, penning dozens of publications on subjects such as sports psychology, kinesthesis, and numerous health and exercise fitness topics.
