Dave Percival ’61
Dave Percival was one of the most exceptional three sport athletes in the history of Glen Rock High School. He is one of only two athletes in school history named to the First or Second Team, All-League in football, basketball and baseball.
Dave and Hall of Fame Inductee Ron Duncan led the 1960 Football Team to an undefeated championship season that put Glen Rock High School on the map in New Jersey interscholastic sports. The team had a 9-0 record, scoring 262 points, nearly 30 points per game, and giving up only 26 points, less than 3 points per game. In addition to being North Jersey Conference Champions, the team was selected by The Bergen Record as mythical County Co-Champions with Pascack Valley, the only other undefeated and untied team in Bergen County.
An exceptional athlete with great speed, Dave was the leading scorer on the team – and the leading scorer in the NJC and the leading scorer in Bergen County – with 112 points (over two touchdowns per game). He was named to the First Team, All-NJC, the First Team, All-Suburban (by The Ridgewood News) and the Third Team, All-County (by The Bergen Record). He was also named to the First Team, Bergen-Passaic All Stars (by The Paterson News) and to the First Team, Group 2, All-State (by the Associated Press), and received Honorable Mention to The Sporting News High School All-America Team (by the Wigwam Wiseman organization).
.After the historical success of the football team, Glen Rock’s basketball team almost achieved equal historical success. During the regular season, the team only lost one game and easily captured the NJC Championship. As a result, they advanced into the State Championship playoffs with great optimism. Unfortunately, they were upset 62-61 by Dumont in the Group 2, Sectional Championship final and ended their season with a 23-2 record. Despite that loss, The Bergen Record named them mythical County Champions (ahead of one loss Ridgewood).
Dave was the team’s second leading scorer (behind Ron Duncan), averaging 16 points per game, and was also touted for his great defensive play. He was named to the Second Team, All-NJC and Second Team, All-Suburban; he also received Honorable Mention to the All-Passaic-Bergen Team (by The NY Daily News).
Finally, an outstanding hitter and outfielder, Dave was one of the school’s most outstanding baseball players. In Dave’s senior year, he was named by The Newark Star-Ledger to the First Team, Group 2, All-State. He was also named to the First Team, All-NJC and First Team, All-Suburban, and received Honorable Mention, All-County.
Dave ended his extraordinary athletic career at Glen Rock High School as the school’s first athlete to be named to the First or Second Team, All-League in football, basketball and baseball.
Beyond Glen Rock, Dave attended Marietta College (Ohio) where he lettered in football and baseball. He finished his education at Michigan State where he also played baseball.