Inductees into the Sports Hall of Fame
Inductee Class of 2012
DALLAS ROPER '80 TRACK AND CROSS COUNTRY — Set cross country home course record in '78. In '79 was first in Tri-State Cross Country Invitational, Northern Cross Country Invitational, WPIAL Cross Country qualifier, fifth in 800m at the PIAA Championship. As a senior was MVP at Shaler Invitational with four first-place finishes (800m, 1600m, anchor in 3200 and 1600m relays). Tri-State indoor Champion in 800m and 1600m. Set meet record in 1500m at Penn Relays. WPIAL Champion in 800m and 1600m. Set a state record in 800m. Named WPIAL and Tri-State Athlete of the Year. Still holds 800m and 1600m records at FC. At US Naval Academy, earned 3 letters in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. Holds numerous records at Naval Academy.
DICK McDADE '82 FOOTBALL — Was a 3-year letterman. As a junior named first team Quad A Eastern All Conference, PG North All Star and Pittsburgh Press All star as a defensive end. Named All Conference on offence and defense as a senior. PG Quad-A All Star as defensive lineman , Press Finest 44 as offensive lineman. Was a 4-year starter at West Virginia Tech. Named All Conference 3 years. Inducted into WV Tech's Athletic HoF in 2004.
PJ KILLIAN '89 FOOTBALL — 3-year starter, 2-time All Conference. All State as a senior. Big 33 selection. Scholarship to UVA. Played in Citrus Bowl, Gator Bowl, Outback Bowl and Sugar Bowl. All Conference as a junior and senior. Signed with Cleveland Browns as a free agent, made the team. Left the NFL due to injuries.
THOMAS KAVANAUGH '96 SOCCER — 4-year starter, 2-year captain. ALL WPIAL 3 years, ALL STATE 2 YEARS. NATIONAL ALL AMERICAN as a senior. 1995 WPIAL CHAMPIONS. Team was ranked #2 in the country after winning WPIAL Championship undefeated. Played one year at Boston College. Transferred to Cornell.
MICHELLE SODINI '99 BASKETBALL — Participated in track (l yr), volleyball (4 yrs.), basketball (4yrs.), and softball (3 yrs.). Herald's Female Athlete of the Year and Most Athletic Senior (99). In basketball finished 9th in career points, 1st in career assists, 2nd in steals, 1st in 3-pt field goals. Two time VND All Star. MVP of '99 A-K Cager Classic. Led the softball team in batting average, runs scored and steals her senior year. Played basketball at CMU. 4-year starter, 2-time captain. Named All Conference all 4 years. Made four all Tournament Teams. Led CMU in assists, steals, free throws shot and %. Scored over 1000 points.
DARCY (SUTTON) KOTTS '99 SOFTBALL — Holds every softball pitching record at FC. Pitched every inning of every game for 4 yrs.. '97 team won first section title in 25 years. Pitched 446 innings and had 552 strikeouts and a .335 batting ave. PG, VND, and N.H. News Record All Star 3 years. North Hills Player of the Year. 4-time All Section pitcher. At Westminster College, set school records for most games played, most wins by pitcher in a season, most team wins in a season. Finished 3rd in 2002 ECAC Div II National Championships. Team MVP and Verizon Academic All American.
BILL DAWSON - ASPINWALL '52 FOOTBALL — Lettered 2 yrs. in football and baseball. Was captain of the '51 football team. Named All Conference in '50 and '51. All WPIAL in '51. Lettered 4 years in both sports at IUP. Named to the Pa. College's All-State team his senior year. Inducted into the Aspinwall Sports HoF and the IUP Athletic HoF.
JAY SEWARD - COACH — A '63 graduate of Fox Chapel, Jay earned 11 varsity letters at Slippery Rock University before returning to FC to teach and coach. His coaching resume includes 33 years of Track and CC, 15 years of Indoor Track, 12 years as Diving Coach and 4 years as Swim Coach. During his 36 1/2 years at FC he had a positive influence on many outstanding athletes.
Special Award - CHUCK STOVER — The Hall of Fame Committee recognizes Chuck for his contributions to FC Athletics as the videographer for FC Sports over the past 43 years. These videos have been an unsung but very valuable part of any success our coaches and teams have experienced.
The Nomination Process
Each year, former Fox Chapel athletes or coaches are nominated by the public via a Nomination Form as possible Hall Inductees. These persons must have attended or mentored either Fox Chapel Area High School or one of the schools pre-district merger, although their actual athletic achievements of note may not have come about until after graduation. All must have graduated at least ten years prior to date of admission into the Hall of Fame.
In January, the Nominating Committee reviews all the nominations and decides upon the upcoming Inductee Class. At the same time, the Committee may select a past team to be honored.
Nominations of those not inducted remain on file for future consideration for ten years. Questions? Please contact Jim Perry.
All listed above will be spotlighted in upcoming editions of the Sharpsburg Herald.
Past Inductees
2011 Hall of Fame Inductees
Jim Walmsley '68 Soccer, Deborah Shearer '79 Basketball, Chris McKee '85 Football, Ann (Zimmer) Craig '86 Soccer, Erik Nelson '94 Basketball, Mike Frank '00 Wrestling, Bill Thomas '01 Hockey,
Honored Team: 1990 State Championship Soccer team
2010 Hall of Fame Inductees
Tom Frost, '83 Jessica Kankoski-Goeller, '00 John Hribar, '88 Marco Patitucce, '91 Dana Rofey, '96 Pierce Frauenheim, Aspinwall '58 Harry Lodge, Aspinwall '51 Dan Ross,Coach Bob Gerhart, Coach
2009 Hall of Fame Inductees
Gene Thorpe, '77 Gerard Sansosti, '80 Jody (Morrow) Moore, '85 Chip Zimmerman, '91 Megan (Babst) Lange, '98 Joe Casile, '50 (Aspinwall)
Ed Boyle Family Scholarship Recipient: Andy Coulson
Frank Fuhrer Family Scholarship Recipient: Aaron Barker
2008 Hall of Fame Inductees
Craig Mauro, '96 Donna (Maiello) Morosky, '69 David Ostrosky, '89 Ray Tarasi, '86 Susie (Nettlebeck) Watkins, '95 Ron "Bumpy" Powell, '58 Sharpsburg Chuck Lodge, '48 Aspinwall Harry Jenkins, Basketball Coach
Honored Team: 1940-41 Sharpsburg Boys' Basketball Team
Frank Fuhrer Family Scholarship Recipient: Andy Filer
2007 Hall of Fame Inductees
Larry Goodrich, Lanie (Black)Timko, Amanda (Lyle) Kovach, Ron Livingston, Jerry Zaleski
Honored Team: 1943 Aspinwall Football Team
Frank Fuhrer Family Scholarship Recipient: John Hastings
2006 Hall of Fame Inductees
Eric Hegedus, Gary Spahr, Walt Johnston, Jim Patterson, Deborah (Flowers) Welty, Art and Virginia Grindle, Lou "Sonny" Yakopec
Honored Team: 1977 Boys Basketball Team
Frank Fuhrer Family Scholarship Recipient: Rob Tenenini
2005 Hall of Fame Inductees
Theresa (Kabala) Thompson, Steve Balkey, Randy Thompson, Dan Rocco, Dan Schmidt, John Tichon, Edward “Pete” Schmitt, Harry “Hank” Miller
2004 Hall of Fame Inductees
Darlene “Buffy” Biernesser, Ernie Bonelli, Dave Damico, Jerry Ferrone, J.R. Miller, Paul Rowe, Tim Short
2003 Hall of Fame Inductees
Bob Friend, Rush Hodgin, Amy DiFrancesco Vankirk, Ted Vaux, Brad Wilson, Gene Susi, Carl “Teddy” Albacker
2002 Hall of Fame Inductees
Bettina Finn Sipe, Rick Strom, Steve Swanson, Virgil Christian, Tom Bluemling
2001 Hall of Fame Inductees
Craig Lessman, David Natali, Linda Krumwiede Piedt, Kevin Taylor, Chris Thorpe
2000 Hall of Fame Inductees
Tom Brandner, Greg Caldwell, Calay Jaynes, Harrison Lauer, Don Schubert
1999 Hall of Fame Inductees
Stu Lyon, Jim Perry, Andy Peters, Art Rex, Sally Sheerer
1998 Hall of Fame Inductees
Peter Daigle, Gil Damico, Barry Nelson, Frank Rocco Jr., Patty Thompson-Trantner
1997 Hall of Fame Inductees
Ed Boyle, Frank Christy, Frank Fuhrer III, Rich Kriston, Gary Nelson, Leo Wisniewski, Michelle Michanowicz-Thompson
