Shaler Area Athletic Hall of Fame

Class of 2014

Shaler Area Middle School September 19, 2014

Athletes-Coaches-Officials Contributors-Teams

Mission Statement

To recognize those individuals who have brought prestige and pride to the Shaler Area School district athletic program and to the community either as a player, coach, administrator, or supporter

Selection Committee George Alexander, Teacher

Marna Bodnar, Community Member Mark Connelly, Teacher-Coach

Glenn Davis, Community Member James DiNucci, 2001 Hall of Fame Inductee

Richard T. Dixon, 2001 Hall of Fame Inductee David Fortun, 2007 Hall of Fame Inductee/Retired Teacher-Coach

Paul Holzshu, Athletic Director Joseph Laslavic, Community Member

Carol Martin, 2008 Hall of Fame Inductee/Retired Teacher-Coach Melissa McConville-Faulkner, Teacher

Robert Reinheimer, Student Representative Dr. Timothy Royall, High School Principal Becky Shanko, Administrative Assistant

David Shutter, Retired Principal Mark Weidner, Community Member

PROGRAM

Welcome --------------------------------- Dave Fortun Committee Member

Master of Ceremonies ----------------- Paul Holzshu Athletic Director

Dinner

Invocation -------------------------------- James Giel Jr.

Presentations

Inductees Presenter John Abramovic Sr. Accepting the award Dave Fortun --------- Jim Wirth Jill Anderson ----------------------------------- Carol Martin Jack Bestwick ---------------------------------- Jerry Matulevic Melissa McQuade –---------------------------- Gina Mullen Matthew Nelson ------------------------------- Kim & Mike Nelson Richard Venezia ------------------------------- Anthony Venezia Bill and Sue Suit ------------------------------- Scholarship

John “Brooms” Abramovic Basketball

Brooms graduated from Etna High School in 1937. His dominance on the basketball court was immediately evident. He led the league in scoring for three consecutive seasons, was a three time All Section 18 player, and was named to the All-Decade Area Team in 1943.

After graduating from Etna, Brooms attended Salem College in West Virginia where he established school records, many of which still stand today. As a junior and senior, he led the entire nation in scoring, averaging nearly 30 points per game. Brooms’ 57 points in a single game and 777 points in a season are still Salem records. He was named a First Team All-American in 1942 and 1943, and he was the first player in the history of college basketball to score 2,000 career points.

After spending three years in the Navy during World War II, Brooms played professional basketball for several teams in the National Basketball League which became today’s NBA. In addition to his professional basketball career, Brooms played professional baseball and even worked for the Pittsburgh Pirates as a scout. He has also been inducted into the West Virginia and Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fames.

Jill Anderson Basketball / Softball / Volleyball

Jill earned an amazing nine Shaler varsity letters in basketball, softball, and volleyball, serving as captain of all three teams her senior year. On the basketball court, she averaged an amazing 23 points per game as a junior, prompting the North Hills News Record to describe her as “the most prolific scorer among North Hills area girls” as well as having “the most accurate jump shot in the area.” Her coach, Tom Hanson, described Jill’s leadership ability when he called her “a total team player.” Jill’s strong play earned her a spot in the Colt Classic, the Penn Hills Kiwanis All-Star Game, and the North Hills News Record Classic. She was also a recipient of the Forrest A. Ford Scholarship which is awarded to Shaler student athletes with the highest scholastic achievement.

Jill subsequently attended Robert Morris on a full scholarship for both softball and basketball. There, she earned the school’s Sports Award which recognizes student athletes for their excellence in athletics and good sportsmanship.

Jack Bestwick Basketball / Baseball / Football

Jack was a three sport athlete at Shaler High School, competing all four years on the varsity football, basketball, and baseball teams. He was named the Sharpsburg Herald’s All District Quarterback and was also an all-section basketball player and Co-MVP of the baseball team.

Jack then attended Westminster College where he was a three year starter at quarterback. He was named three times to the NAIA All-State Team. He also received the Pittsburgh Curbstone Coaches Small College Player of the Year Award in 1958 and was selected to play in the Gem City All-Star Game in 1959.

Jack also distinguished himself as one of the most successful high school football coaches in the state, winning 12 championships at Fairview High School in Erie County. His 163 total victories, including a 27 game winning streak in the early 70s, make him the all time win leader of Erie County coaches. Fairview High School’s stadium is named after Jack. He is also an inductee of the Fairview High School Hall of Fame, the Westminster College Hall of Fame, the Erie Chapter of Sports Hall of Fame, and the Pennsylvania High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame.

Melissa McQuade Basketball / Softball

Melissa was a four year starter on both the varsity girls basketball and softball teams, earning eight Shaler Area varsity letters. She has the distinction of being the 4th all time leading scorer in the history of Shaler Area Girls Basketball with 1,240 points and is also credited with over 1,000 rebounds. Melissa received the Downtown YMCA Top 100 Scholar Athlete Award. She was also a Pittsburgh Post Gazette Fabulous 5 selection, the winner of the Gene Biles Memorial Scholarship, and a two time member of the all-section team. As a result of Melissa’s talent and leadership on the diamond, two of the Lady Titan softball teams (2004 and 2006) on which she competed have already been inducted into the Shaler Area Athletic Hall of Fame. Teams on which Melissa has played have won 2 PIAA Championships, 1 WPIAL Championship, 2 WPIAL Runners Up, and 1 PIA A Runner Up. Melissa’s dominance on the basketball court continued at Kutztown University where her 1,623 points make her the all time leading career scorer in the school’s history. She also holds the school single season record in rebounds with 281. Melissa was named All-PSAC 1st team three times and a PSAC Scholar Athlete four times. Other accolades include being named the Lehigh Valley Small College Player of the Year and the Kutztown Senior Female Athlete of the Year. In 2011, Melissa was named to the Capitol One All Academic Team, the All-American Second Team, and the All District II First Team.

Matt Nelson Wrestling

Matt was a four year letter winner and three year captain of the Shaler Area Varsity Wrestling Team. Despite not wrestling as a senior due to a severe brain injury, Matt compiled a career record of 145-15. His single season win total of 45 is still a Shaler Area record, and he is second in school history in takedowns and tied for third in all time wins. Matt was a three time section champion, a three time WPIAL Finalist, and a one time WPIAL Champion. He was also a top 10 recruit in his weight class and an overall top 100 recruit nationally.

After high school, Matt attended the University of Virginia where he was not physically able to wrestle until his senior year. A concussion, however, did not stop him as team captain from leading the Cavaliers to three consecutive top 25 finishes, the first time in school history that the wrestling team was nationally ranked. Matt’s overall collegiate record was 21-9 and 3-1 in the ACC Tournament. He was also 2-2 at Nationals and ranked 17th in the nation. Matt was named an NCAA Inspiring Athlete Nominee for his perseverance and determination in overcoming a life altering event. He also received the Craig Fielder Award which is given to a student athlete who has overcome adversity and the Kevin Michael’s Heart and Guts Award.

Rich Venezia Baseball / Wrestling

Rich earned two varsity letters in baseball and three as a wrestler at Shaler Area. His overall career record as a wrestler was 62-14 with 3 ties. Rich was undefeated in section matches his junior and senior seasons. He won a section championship, section runner-up, and was the team’s MVP his junior year. In 1991, the Post Gazette ranked Rich as the top wrestler in the 119 pound weight class.

Rich also achieved much success on the baseball field. He was named Co-MVP of the varsity baseball team, hitting .415 with a fielding percentage of .992 at second base. Rich was selected to the WPIAL-City League High School All Section Team. As a Shaler American Legion baseball player, he was selected to the American Legion All Western PA All-Star Team and later that year advanced to the American Legion PA East-West All Star Team.

After graduating from high school, Rich attended California University of Pennsylvania where he was a four year starting shortstop. He established single season records at Cal for runs scored (51) and walks (31) and helped to lead the team to a school record 32 wins and a spot in the PA State Athletic Conference Playoffs. In 1994, Rich was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and played in the New York-Penn League. After professional baseball, he played shortstop in the Greater Pittsburgh Semi Pro League.

Athletic Hall of Fame

Class of 2011 Donald Bender Karen(Hosek)Kreuzer Taylor Letters Frank Merigliano 2006 SA Softball Team

Class of 2010 Nicholas Christy Yuri Dememtris Leo Elter Joseph Miller Michael Moran Milo Orsini Howard Ruppert

Class of 2009 2004 SA Softball Team Curtis Hetz Hannah Joyce Doug Maggio Clarence Metzger William Suit

Class 2008 1945 Etna Basketball Team Scott Alexander Sam Bair Dan Kite Carol Martin Glenn Meyer Harris Price

Class 2007 Michael Bacasa Dave Fortun Thomas-Whitey-Gralewski Michael Handza Richard LaFerriere Kevin Nellis Kraig Nellis 47/48 Shaler Football Team

Class of 2006 Colleen Geyer Troy Letters John Kuzniewski Rich Massucci ’41 Millvale Football Team

Class of 2005 Alan Alt Ralph DeStefano Alan Gray David Longwell Clarence “Ben” Martin Tricia Miller Jason Rakers

Class of 2004 Scott Bronowicz Dr. Richard Brown Earl Ceh Donald Geyer Robert Siar, Jr. Matt Stennett Jeff Trew James Wirth 80 SA Girls Basketball Team

Class 2003 Robert Bestwick Gene Biles Lauren Colaizzi Henzler Clifford “Lefty” Fair Keith Nellis Paul Schweiger Gary M. Siriano 77-78-79 Boys Swim Team

Class 2002 Mary Bukovac Julie Deer Keenan Leo “Ducky” Elter Forrest Ford Jan Kepple Robert Kopnisky Jerry Matulevic Michael McDermott Kenneth Nellis 80 SA Baseball Team

Class 2001 James DiNucci Richard T. Dixon Arthur Howe Kenneth Karcher Joseph Kopnisky James Laslevic Louis Martig Beverly Miller Markwith Edwin Peery Robert Sia

Continued

Athletic Hall of Fame

Class of 2012 Ray Ballantine Amy Bielski Hoffield Steven Francis Brenda Larrimer Miller Nick Nelson Robert “Popeye” Stout 1979/80 SA Boys Soccer Team Class of 2013 Pam Prahl Mandy (Bodnor) Leas John Kuzemchak Wayne Schuckert 1999 Shaler Area Baseball Team

Special Thanks to:

Mark Connelly for writing these biographies

Custodial and Maintenance staff

Student athletics who volunteered their time to be here

Robert Reinheimer who is this year’s student representative

Dave Fortun and this year’s liaisons