Inductees

Only in a game where anything is possible could Bruce Dal Canton’s story be told. Bruce was born on June 15, 1941. He grew up playing Little League and Legion baseball. Dal Canton’s story reflects a career distinguished not only by its longevity of four decades as a player and a coach, but also for the admiration and true affection he has engendered. His father, a coal miner, was a great influence on Bruce and his promotion of baseball as a great game. In fact, when Bruce was born Angelo noticed the infant’s large hands and proclaimed a baseball player in the family.

Bruce was not your prototypical ball player when he began his high school career. In fact, he did not make the team until his junior year at California High School. “I pitched and played a little first base, but I really didn’t start throwing the baseball hard until I was in college.” The self-proclaimed “late bloomer” graduated from California High School in 1959. He did not have to venture far to take his game to the next level, deciding to attend California University of Pennsylvania.

The right-handed pitcher was a walk on and received little playing time during his first two seasons with the college team. Then, inexplicably, Dal Canton began to find his stride as a pitcher. Primarily using his fastball, Dal Canton became the ace of the 1962 Vulcan baseball team and held an astonishing 1.03 ERA which still stands as a school and PSAC record. “My development as a pitcher really didn’t enter my mind at all. I was just trying to get my education and just playing baseball.” He and his teammates would enjoy a NAIA District 30 title and their first NAIA National tournament appearance in baseball that season. Dal Canton earned four baseball letters in college ball. Fran Celaschi remembers, “None of the players were recruited. They all just tried out for the team. It was a very competitive group of players.”

A 1963 graduate of California State College, California, Pennsylvania, Dal Canton had a fastball that powered the Cal Vulcans to the District 30 title and first NAIA National tournament. Bruce held an astonishing 1.30 ERA, which remains a school and PSAC record. A fellow player in the Fayette County League, Cecil Cole, got Bruce a private workout with the Pittsburgh Pirates resulting in a contract.

Dal Canton made his major league debut with the Pirates in 1967. With the Bucs through 1970, the right-handed pitcher went 20-8 with a 3.34 ERA over 86 innings of relief. Bruce was able to fool batters with his velocity of pitches, developing a sneaky fastball and deadly curve. Traded to Kansas City in 1970, he performed as a starter. On August 14, 1972, Dal Canton set a club record retiring 23 consecutive batters. Bruce extended his career by developing a knuckleball. He pitched for the Atlanta Braves in 1976 and signed with the White Sox in 1977.

His overall MLB record was 51-49 as a relief and starter along with an overall 3.67 ERA. His career numbers are impressive for one never really scouted and a late bloomer. With the White Sox, Bruce seamlessly moved into the role of pitching coach. From 1982 through 2008, Bruce was an integral part of the Atlanta Braves organization. He was with the major league Braves as pitching coach from 1987 to 1990. He became a Braves’ organization instructor in 1991 tutoring young pitchers at Myrtle Beach.

At heart a teacher, Dal Canton got his prodigies to understand both the art and science of getting hitters out. More than 30 players under his guidance made it to the major leagues. Calm, personable, and a patient mentor, Bruce was deeply mourned at his passing by the Braves’ organization. He died at the age of 67, on October 7, 2008.

Manuel M. Pihakis of Canonsburg was an outstanding scholastic and collegiate wrestler at Canonsburg High School where he graduated in 1952 and Indiana University where he graduated in 1956.

He was a four-time WPIAL champion in high school and three-time PIAA champion. His record of 93 consecutive scholastic victories has not been equaled in the state of Pennsylvania and he finished high school with a 99-1-1 record.

He finished second in the Big 10 championships at Indiana and was a national AAU charnpion in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana. He graduated from Indiana University in 1957 with a wrestling record of 58-8, where he was also an All-American. He participated in final Olympic Tryouts in 1952 and 1956.

Manny was Western PA’s Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) wrestling champion in 1949, ’50, ’51 and ’52, graduating from Canonsburg High School. He had a wrestling record
at Canonsburg of 99-1 and was the PA Interscholastic Athletic Association’s State Wrestling Champion in 1950, ’51, and ’52. In 1952 Manny was at the Finals Olympic wrestling trials in Ames, Iowa and again in 1956 at the Finals Olympic wrestling trials in LA, CA. He was a Big Ten runner-up in 1956 for the wrestling scholarship at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.

He was inducted into the Pittsburgh Sports Hall of Fame in 1974 and the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 1979. He also has been inducted into numerous Halls of Fame including Washington County, PASHF, Western PA Wrestling Coaches HF, PA Athletic Directors HF, Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic HF, Western PA Interscholastic Athletic League HF, and the Canonsburg HF.

He has the following contributions to his athletic resume:

Athletic Director of Canonsburg High School for 36 years, and the WPIAL Wrestling Committee for 20 years. He organized the District 7 Tri-County Athletic Directors Association, was the WPIAL Regional Director State Wrestling Tournament, District Tournament Chairman, President of the tri-County Athletic Directors Association, and the first treasurer of the PA State Athletic Directors Association. Manny was also a founding committee member of the “Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic.” He has been and is involved in community and civic organizations. He was a wrestling official for 25 years and served as a member of the WPIAL Steering Committee. He was a host for the Polish National wrestling team in 1975 and has assisted many student athletes in receiving athletic scholarships.

Pihakis, who holds degrees in health and physical education and administration, has served as a member of the Canonsburg Borough Council and Planning Commission. He is an employee of the Canon-McMillan School District for the past 30 years, now serves as director of athletics and activities.

Manny has been married to the former Evelyn Dolly Mahramas for sixty years with two sons, Michael and George, daughter-in-law Pam, four grandchildren: Dolly, Mikel Lynn, Manuel and Alex, and three great-grandchildren: Christiana, Guiliana and Frankie.

Over the years Fayette County has had some coaching giants prowling the sidelines, but no one cast a bigger shadow than the late Abe Everhart.

Everhart came from a coaching background — his father Abe Everhart Sr. was a longtime coach at Uniontown High School and guided the Red Raiders to their first state championship in 1925.

Abe followed in his father’s footsteps and fashioned a great record coaching basketball, track and cross country at Uniontown.

Everhart once made Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd for his coaching success.

He coached Uniontown for 29 years before retiring after the 1976 season. His career record was 549-149, with four WPIAL championships and two PIAA titles. His 1964 team was undefeated and his teams once won 52 games in a row, which still ties a WPIAL record. His Red Raiders won 21 section titles and at one point produced a phenomenal 95-1 record in section play between 1960 and 1966.

The record is one thing, but Everhart also was beloved by his players.

“Abe would let us play according to our abilities,” former Raider great Don Yates observed. “He would not have anyone do anything that they were not capable of doing. He had a great record, but he was a great coach. He took every player and put players in positions that they were good at and he asked no one to do more than they could do.”

“He was a very nice person,” former Raider Pete Smith said of Everhart. “He really got into the game, but he let you play your own game and he didn't have an attitude. He’d get on your case if things weren’t going well, but he kept things on an even keel.”

One of the highlights for Everhart was Uniontown defeating Norristown 70-57 in the 1962 PIAA state championship game. Yates paced the Raiders with 22 points. Uniontown ended their miracle run with a 29-2 record.

It marked a return to the Promised Land for the Red Raiders; it had been 37 years since Everhart’s father captured the title in 1925.

What was the younger Everhart’s reaction to the victory?

“It’s a big thrill to win something your dad has won,” he beamed in the noisy Uniontown dressing room after the battle. “Yes, sir, I’m real happy.”

Everhart had moved beside his father to become the first father-and-son coaching combo to coach a Pennsylvania basketball champion.

In 1964, Uniontown captured another PIAA Championship with a 62-51 win over Plymouth-Whitemarsh. The victory capped a perfect 28-0 season for the Red Raiders.
Uniontown was a bit of a surprise that season, it figured to be a rebuilding year with four regulars gone.

“I didn’t have any idea at the start of the season I would be where I am tonight. No idea at all,” Everhart said after winning the championship.

The Raiders got 19 points from Pat Yates, 16 points from Ben Gregory, 13 from Jim Rae and 12 Stu Lantz in cruising to the win.

“I couldn’t single out any one boy. I thought they all did a good job,” Everhart said after the game. “Yates and Rae played their best ball of the tournament and Gregory was a steadying influence. Lantz is a better shooter than you saw tonight, but he got the ball off the board and hit two key tip-ins for us when we needed them.”

Everhart had health issues that eventually led to the Uniontown School Board forcing him into retirement after a second heart attack in 1977.

“The school board didn’t want to take any chances with me,” Everhart said at the time. “I couldn’t get cleared by my doctors. For one solid year I stayed away from coaching. I was having some serious problems. I wasn’t chipper. I missed it a lot.”

Everhart returned to coach girl’s basketball at California High School for two years and then at Laurel Highlands and wound up coaching the Uniontown girls.

Everhart enjoyed coaching girl’s hoops at the end of his illustrious career.

“I think I expected a lot of the girls to play like boys,” he said. “They don’t and because they don’t, you got to be careful. At the beginning, I was expecting too much. I was too demanding. I’m starting to change now.

“Coaching girls is more of a fun thing. You can’t talk to them like you do boys. Their feelings get hurt. Really though, I’ve probably had more fun the past four years than I had in a long time.”

His career record 549-149 included four WPIAL championships and 2 PIAA titles. His ’64 team was undefeated and once won 52 games in a row, still tying a WPIAL record. His Raiders won 32 sectional titles, and at one point produced a 95-1 record between 1960-’66. Coaching 29 yrs.; 16 sectional championships (11 consecutive); tied for 1st 5 x; finished 2d 5X; finished 4th 5X; 6x to the WPIAL finals; 4 times WPIAL champs; 2X State Champs; 1947-63; had 545 wins/149 losses. The ’59-60 seasons his team went to the WPIAL finals. His 1961-62 and 1962-63 teams were WPIAL champs.

Everhart died of a heart attack in 1986 at the age of 74.

He is a member of the Pennsylvania Basketball Hall of Fame and was recently inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame.

About This Inductee:

George grew up in the coal-mining town of Larksville, Pennsylvania. He attended St. John’s Parochial Elementary School and then Larksville High School.

Curry received a football scholarship to Temple University, where he earned his B.S. Degree in Social Sciences. He attended the University of Scranton, where he received his Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision.

He became the winningest coach in Pennsylvania history with 455 wins, 6 State Championships, and 3 National Champions (USA Today). Coach Curry was all about education and getting millions of dollars in scholarships for his players. Curry was proud of the fact that 78% of his football players who have gone on to higher education have graduated (that is higher than the non-athlete graduation rate). Coach certainly got his players ready for the world. He taught commitment, accountability, leadership, and work ethic. He was also a stern disciplinarian. The players bought into his style!

His overall coaching stint, included four (4) years at Lake Lehman High School, thirty-eight (38) years at Berwick High School, and three (3) years at Wyoming Valley West High School. He coached 12 regular season undefeated teams and had a 47 game regular season winning streak from 1981 to 1985.

Curry was named “Coach of the Year” 28 times. The Berwick Bulldogs were named USA Today National Champions in 1983, 1992, and 1995. Curry also coached 13 teams that were ranked in USA Today. Curry coached the Dawgs to Pennsylvania’s first ever State Championship (15-0-0 season). Most of Berwick’s wins during the Curry era came against schools larger than Berwick.

He died on April 1, 2016.

About This Inductee:

Jack was born in 1936 to John and Helen Shevinsky Henzes in Peckville, PA. Jack graduated from Blakely High School in 1954 and received a BS in Physical Education from George Washington University in 1958 and MA in Secondary Education from Catholic University of America.

His career started as an assistant football coach at Blakely High School in 1960 under his dad, the legendary “Papa Bear” John Henzes Sr. 1966 he became head coach at Wyoming Area and in 1971 was named the head football coach at Dunmore. He currently holds the record for most wins for an active head coach in PA.

Teams were Eastern Conference Champions 1985; Class A 1989 State Champions, Class A 2012 State Eastern Champions; Class AA 2007, 2014 State Eastern Champions; District 2 “A” 2012 Champs; District 2 “AA” Champs 1995, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017. He was head coach of 1986 Big 33 game; 1985 WNEP Coach of the Year; 1989 – 2014 Coach of the Year for Small Schools; 1989 inducted into Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame; 1989 Chic Feldman Foundation Hall of Fame of NEPA; member of the “200 Wins Club” of PA Coaches Association (dad a member); 1997 PA State Football Coaches Association; 2007 Channel 16 Coach of the Year; 2009 inducted into National High School Coaches Hall of Fame (dad a member).

The 83-year-old legend submitted his resignation as Dunmore's head football coach, effective April 30, 2019, citing health issues after an illness and a heart procedure. He also taught Physical Education, Health and Drivers Education. He held the post of department head-Physical Educational Department and co-chair of SADD.

In 52 seasons, Henzes was 444-164-8 with his first four years spent at Wyoming Area and the remainder of his career at Dunmore High School. His win total is second to the late George Curry, who won 455 games at Lake-Lehman, Valley West and Berwick.

Jack resides in Peckville with Roseann, his wife of 62 years and has five children: Kim, Jack, Randy, Melissa and Wendy and 13 grandchildren.

About This Inductee:

Karen Klassner’s career as an educator, mentor and coach began at Wyoming Seminary in 1971. She took over the Blue Knights’ field hockey team in 1973 and helped build Sem’s program, as well as the entire Wyoming Valley Conference, into a national field hockey hotbed. She currently has over 700 wins with the Blue Knights, 17 undefeated seasons, eight state championships, and three state runners-up. Sem’s field hockey field is named Klassner Field in her honor.

Klassner served as chair of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association High School All-American selection committee from 1998-2002 and served as president of the State Coaches Association and chair of its All-State selection committee.

She was inducted into the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009. She was named the United States Field Hockey Coach of the Year in 2009. Three of her Wyoming Seminary field hockey players – Kelsey Kolojejchick ‘09, Kat Sharkey ’08, and Lauren Powley ’02 – went on to compete in the Olympic Games and more than 100 of her players have played at the collegiate level.

Klassner graduated from Mansfield High School in 1967. She earned a bachelor of science degree in health and physical education and recreation from Lock Haven in 1971 and she earned her master of science degree in education from State University of New York, Cortland, NY.

She is a health and physical education teacher at Wyoming Seminary and has been the school’s Director of Athletics since 2001. She also served as the school’s Assistant Dean of Students for three years and as Dean of Students for 12 years. In addition to field hockey, she also has coached swimming, basketball and softball at Sem. She is a recipient of the Sem’s prestigious Maslow Upper School Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Known as the “Godfather of Penn State Hockey,” Joe began his career at Penn Hills high school where he was a 3-time hockey team captain, first team all state defenseman, and 1977 Dapper Dan All-Star Classic MVP. He attended Penn State from 1978-82 and was hockey team captain, MVP, and President of the Hockey Management Association, earning a business degree.

In 1982 Joe joined the Pittsburgh Penguins in sales and marketing and was head coach of the Junior Amateur Penguins. Joe became the first Director of Amateur Hockey for the Penguins and was a USA Hockey Coaching Instructor.

Joe was named the head coach of the Penn State Icers in August of 1987. In 19 seasons his teams won 512 games and six ACHA national championships. He coached Team USA in the 2003 World University Games in Italy. He helped found the American Collegiate Hockey Association in 1991, and served as President 1993-95. The American Hockey Coaches Association named Joe the 2009 winner of the “Lou Lamoriello Award” for his contributions to college hockey. Battista helped secure the largest gift in Penn State history from Terry and Kim Pegula in 2010 to field a varsity men’s and women’s hockey teams and construct the Pegula Ice Arena. He was named Associate Athletic Director to oversee the project. Joe left in 2013 to become a Vice President of the Buffalo Sabres.

In 2016 Joe started Pragmatic Passion LLC, and is a professional speaker, instructor, author, and consultant. He serves as Vice President of Business Development and Executive Coach for the National Athletic and Professional Success Academy. His first book “The Power of Pragmatic Passion” was released in September. Joe lives in State College, PA with his wife Heidi and children Brianna and Ryan. His son Jonathon resides in San Francisco.

Tick proudly served in the US Marine Corps from 1955 to 1958, where he played intra-services football. He was a 4-time first team PSAC offensive and defensive tackle (1958-’61) at Clarion State College and was named co-captain in 1961. Tick was an assistant football coach at Penn Hills High School from the 1962 - ‘65 seasons. He was named School District Business Manager, first for the Swissvale (1970 - ‘79) and then for the Woodland Hills (1979 - ‘92) and served as President of the Pennsylvania School Business Managers Association for the 1985-86 school year.

He was inducted into the Clarion University Sports Hall of Fame in 1993, the East Boros Chapter of the PA Sports Hall of Fame in ’94, and the Western Chapter in ’97. Tick was also
inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame in 2017. He was a WPIAL football official for 35 years and basketball official for 25 years. Tick served as President of the West Penn Basketball Officials in 1994. He was the Assigning Secretary for the Eastern Association of Interscholastic Football Officials (PIAA) for 9 years. He was also President of the Eastern Intercollegiate Football Officials Association from 1992 to 2000. Tick served as the Commissioner of WPIAL Quad AAAA Football Officials from 2000 to ’14 and was the Heinz Field scoreboard operator for all Pitt and Steelers home football games from 2000 to 2012.

He served as President of the Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame for 30 years from 1987 to 2016, overseeing the enshrinement of 407 Western Chapter inductees and 72 PA Sports Hall of Fame inductees from his chapter during that period. Tick also served as PA Sports Hall of Fame Chairman of the Board for 4 years. In 2016 the Western Chapter of the PA Sports Hall of Fame was renamed the Robert “Tick” Cloherty - Western Chapter in his honor.

“Legs,” native of Wilkinsburg, was the WPIAL section II champ and qualified for the PIAA Regionals which led to many college offers. At Shippensburg University he was the 115- pound PSAC Wrestling Champion, competed in the Olympic Trials, AAU meets, and ran track. Earning a B.S. degree in Education, a master’s degree from IUP, and post-masters work, he taught at Greater Latrobe High for 30 years and Westmoreland Community College 25 years. Saint Vincent College made him the youngest head wresting coach in the nation where he coached for 8 years. Tom went to Latrobe compiling a 202-87-5 record in 20 years, had 49 Section Champs, 7 WPIAL Champs, 17 PIAA Qualifiers, and 10 PIAA Place winners.

Honors: WPIAL Team runner-up, 17 winning seasons, 7x WPIAL Section I “Wrestling COY”, 1985 WPIAL ,“Wrestling COY” coached WPIAL and PA 1985 “Dapper Dan Classic,” 25-year
service NWCA, and “Who’s Who in High School Wrestling Coaches.” Tom officiated wrestling 31 years and a charter member of the “Westmoreland Chapter,” worked numerous camps, 28 years involvement with Latrobe Junior Wrestling, and directed the ,“Mat Men’s Club”.

Inductions: Saint Vincent College Athletic HoF, Southwestern PA Wrestling HoF, PA Sports HoF, PA Wrestling Coaches HoF, Shippensburg University HoF, and National Wrestling HoF
for Lifetime Service. In 2014 was honored by the college as “Bearcat of the Year” and appears on PA Legends of Wrestling Cards. Now a board director for the National Wrestling HoF-PA Chapter and the PA Sports HoF Chapter- East Boros.
“Legs” won the US Masters Wrestling tournament at the University of PA, completed 4 marathons, directed the Keystone Region IV Keystone Games, and directed the NIKE Summer
Lacrosse camp 13 years. He started the varsity men and women’s cross country and men and women’s lacrosse programs at Saint Vincent and coached the first female athlete and first female XC All-American. Coach also worked in Alumni Affairs at the college.

Abby Peck attended Skidmore College, graduating in 1978 with an art degree. She rowed briefly at Skidmore but really took up the sport after college while living near Boston. Abby began rowing on her 25th birthday in October, 1981. She made her first National Rowing Team 9 months later in June of 1982, making her the first “Novice” (someone who has rowed for less than 1 year) rower to make the National Team. She went on to represent the United States at the World Championships as a member of the ’83, ’85, ’86, ’87 National Teams and the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Teams. She was elected Captain of the ’88 Olympic Rowing Team.

She is a 12 time National Champion, World Championship and Goodwill Games silver medalist, and 6 time winner at the Head of the Charles in Boston (largest regatta in the world). As a coach, she worked with “One-In-Nine” a rowing program for cancer patients/survivors, helped create “WeCanRow”, a program to teach cancer patients/survivors to row and regain physical capability, and developed an exercise protocol for a Dana Farber cancer study. The free, exercise program she created locally for cancer survivors, began in 2002.

Peck started PAISBC, pronounced “pays back,” but which stands for “Physical Activity Intervention – Surviving Beyond Cancer,” in which she works with oncology patients at the Northeast Radiation Oncology Center near Boston. Peck still speaks passionately about her rowing career, talking about how much it taught her, and that the journey was more important than any of the medals.

She has coached at Smith & Wellesley Colleges, and at Masters and pre-Elite levels, where her teams won numerous medals. Abby is a graduate of Abington Heights where she lettered in Field Hockey, Basketball, Softball and Track.

Kathleen Klein Prindle (Scranton Preparatory School ’89, Penn State University ’93, PASHOF/ NE ‘15) has been in aquatics since 1978, first as swimmer and later as coach. Her elite athletes include National Champions and qualifiers from over 18 countries including USA, Germany, Ecuador, Kenya, Norway, Colombia, Austria, Bolivia, Mexico, Ireland, Bahamas, Antigua, Trinidad, and more.

Accomplishments: USA Olympic Trials Coach 2008, 2012, 2016. Olympic Coach (private) 2008, 2016. FINA World Championships Coach 2014, 2015. ASCA Fellow, 2010. Varsity Head Coach, 14 seasons/12 State Championships appearances. Coached 8 FHSAA State Champions, 12 County Champions, 5 JO/Zone/Sectional Champions, multiple All-Americans, and assisted with 2 American Records, 1 World Record, 3 Olympic medals. ASCA Level 5 (awarded to top 5% of coaches).

Elected/Sport Service: Vice-President, American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) Board of Directors. Chair, Florida State High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Advisory Board. Diversity Chair, Florida Gold Coast Swimming Board of Directors. USA-Swimming National Executive Committee/Senior Athlete Development. USA-Swimming National Taskforce Chair on Athlete Inclusion. Featured speaker globally on coaching.

Prindle also works with other professional athletes including tri-athletes, pentathletes, baseball players, and LPGA tour members, using aquatics as a cross training technique to finesse their athletic performances. Prindle was the founding Head Coach of the Hoboken Hurricanes Swim Team in New Jersey (at Stevens Institute of Technology). She has taught and coached swimming throughout Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Virginia, and at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

In addition to her work on deck, Prindle is active in governance of the sport. She was recently elected to a 4-year term on the USA Swimming Board of Directors, is the Vice -President of the American Swim Coaches Association, the Finance Vice-Chair of the Florida Gold Coast Board of Directors, and volunteers her time with several additional industry-related organizations. Locally, Prindle has been a featured guest lecturer at Lynn University and at American Red Cross events, and a consultant for multiple swim programs. She has been a featured speaker at International Coaching Clinics, and the USA-Swimming Convention. She lends her expertise to the Grandview Preparatory School in Boca Raton, FL, as the Aquatics Administrator and Varsity Boys’ and Girls Head Coach since 2003. At Grandview, she developed the Lower School Physical Education curriculum and instituted Middle School swimming as a funded sport. Prindle is also past Chair and still serves on the FHSAA Advisory Board (the governing body for high school sports in Florida).

Prindle is also focused on sport development and growth of competitive swimming. In 2011 she founded Performance Aquatics (PAQ), with a “boutique approach” to team training that’s replicated throughout the US and Europe. At PAQ, Olympic hopefuls from all over the world are trained alongside local swimmers, achieving success locally at Junior Olympic/Sectional/State, to nationally at NCAA/USA Nationals, and internationally at World Champs/Olympic Games levels. She also trains pros from other disciplines (triathlon, pentathlon). Since 1989, Prindle has created 9 Learn-to-Swim programs, 2 USA-Swimming competitive teams, 2 US Masters teams, 1 Girls/Boys Varsity team, and instituted middle school swimming locally.

Prindle is driven by a desire to help every athlete achieve their athletic goals. Through intense focus on technical proficiency, providing resources, and managing a positive and professional enviroment, Prindle's positive coaching style helps illuminate some of life's lessons as athletes pursue success in the pool. She sees tremendous value in interacting with her swimmers with laughter and kindness, to create an environment where every success is possible.

Coach Prindle fiercely advocates for athlete safety, clean sport, and professionalizing the role of swim coaches worldwide. She and her husband, Chris Prindle, reside near the beach in Boca Raton, Florida.

Shoudt was a renowned track and field coach on both the high school and collegiate levels. The well-traveled Shoudt has had success follow him wherever he goes. Starting at Norristown High in 1969, Shoudt’s cross country and track and field legacy includes stops at Ursinus, West Chester University, Villanova, Ursinus again and Springfield (Montco) High.

Highlights include a 207-7 record at Norristown High, NCAA Division I Track Coach of the Year at Villanova in 1984, many league Coach of the Year awards at every level and more all-league, all-district, all-state and All-America performers than can be counted. One of Shoudt’s proudest coaching moments came in 1973 when he led Norristown High to the Eastern National Interscholastic Team Championship, the first Pennsylvania school ever to win the title.

Bob graduated from Pennridge High School, East Stroudsburg University (where he was awarded the Athletic Achievement Award by the Alumni Association), and Temple U. Thereafter he was high school referee of the Penn Relays in 1976. Bob coached at Morrisville High School, Chichester High School, Norristown High School, Delaware County Community College, Ursinus College, West Chester University, Villanova University, Springfield High School, Christopher Dock High School, Lansdale Catholic High School, Valley Forge Military Academy, Pennridge High School, and Springside School.

In 1984, Bob was NCAA Div. 1 National Track and Field Coach of the Year and Eastern Collegiate Coach of the Year. At Penn Relays, Villanova set a World record in Distance Medley relay and an American Collegiate record in the 4x800 meter relay. His teams won 10 Penn Relays championships. Six times he was Big East Coach of the Year. At Ursinus he was Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year 4 times. His Norristown High School team won the Eastern Interscholastic Championship Meet, and he has won 5 state team championships.

Bob is the founding father of the PA High School Indoor Track & Field Championship Meet. He coached Billy “Whiteshoes” Johnson of NFL fame, along with 1 Olympian, 7 Olympic trials qualifiers, 44 All-Americans, 15 Eastern Collegiate Champions and 38 Big East champions. He is in 7 Halls of Fame, including Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame, Montgomery County’s Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Pennsylvania High School Track and Field Hall of Fame, Pennridge High School Wall of Fame, Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame, Pennridge/Quakertown Hall of Fame, and in 2017 his ’84 World Record Distance Medley Relay team was inducted into the Penn Relays “Wall of Fame.”

Bob serves on the Montgomery County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame board, as well as boards of the Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame, and the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame.

A 60 year football career as a player, scout, and coach. Two-time All-American at the University of Pittsburgh, consensus in 1956. Played 8 years in the NFL for the Redskins and Giants. Following injury, scouted 4 seasons for the Giants. Coached professional and college football for 43 seasons. Assistant Coach for the Giants, Redskins, Jets, and Steelers during a 23-year stretch. Head coach of Jets, leading them to playoffs game twice in 7 seasons. Recently retired after a 20-year career football program founder and head coach at Robert Morris University, winning two division 1-AA National Championships and six Northeast Conference Titles.

Arthur J. Rooney Jr. is the second son of Arthur J. Rooney, founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played football at North Catholic High School and St. Vincent College. He began his employment with the Steelers in 1961 and from 1966 until 1987 oversaw the Steelers scouting department. During that time the Steelers won four Super Bowls and was voted the NFL 1970s “Team of the Decade.” Nine players drafted during that period became pro football Hall of Famers. He has been nominated 8 times to join his players in the pro football Hall of Fame.

She was a four-year starter on Nazareth Academy’s basketball team that won three consecutive championships from 1962-64 when she led the team in points and rebounds her senior season. Her teams won three consecutive championships from 1962-64. She was the leading scorer and rebounder her senior year.

At Temple University, Murphy earned eleven varsity letters in field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Health & Physical Education. She was a member of the Lady Owls basketball team from 1965-1968 and led the team in scoring her senior and junior seasons. Murphy was also a member of Temple’s lacrosse (1966-68) and field hockey (1966) teams. She was awarded the Women’s Athletic Association (WAA) Blazer Award as the most outstanding female athlete, and also served as president of the WAA for three years (1966-68). Murphy’s academic honors at Temple include the President’s Scholar and the College of Education Awards. She was inducted into Temple’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.

At Neshaminy High School, where she coached the field hockey team for nineteen seasons and amassed a record of 259-52-29. Her team won 11 consecutive league championships, a District 1 Championship in 1983, and two PIAA state championships in 1983 and 1990. Stearing the softball team, Murphy bolstered a record of 140-63 and won 2 league titles in 1976 and 1980. She was named Coach of the Year in field hockey five times and in softball twice by the Bucks County Courier Times and earned the Gold Medal Award for coaching from Scholastic Coach. She was appointed as the assistant principal in charge of athletics in 1993, a position she held until retirement in 2007. Murphy also coached basketball at Neshaminy and Little Flower High Schools, as well as the collegiate level at Beaver College (now Arcadia University) and Penn State Ogontz. Her softball team’s record was 140-63 and won 2 league titles in 1976 and 1980.

She was named Coach of the year and Field Hockey five times and softball twice by the Bucks County Courier Times. Gold Medal Award for coaching from Scholastic Coach. Inducted into Neshaminy High School Sports Hall of Fame, Temple University Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia All Stars Hall of Fame.

As a senior at Cathedral Prep in Erie, he was named team captain and was chosen First Team All-State as he led the Ramblers to the state championship game. His #20 was retired by the school in 2007. At Iowa he was named to three All-Big 10 teams and was a Second Team All-American as a senior. Played in the Senior Bowl and won numerous college awards. Drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He was named AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2007, the first Colt to win the award. Was an integral part of the Colts’ defense that led the team to a victory in Super Bowl XLI against the Chicago Bears. Also played for the San Diego Chargers.

Wil Robinson was a high school All-American and led Laurel highlands to the 1968 PA State Championship. He tallied 1,841 points in high school. In 1972, he had the highest season scoring average in WVU history (29.4), breaking a record set by Jerry West. Robinson scored 1,850 points at WVU, trailing West (2,309), Rod Hundley (2,180), and Da’Sean Butler (2,095). He holds the WVU Coliseum record for points in a game by a Mountaineer player (45 vs. Penn State in 1971). He was named 1st team All-American by Basketball Weekly, United Savings and Helms Foundation. Played in the ABA.

Wil Robinson hasn’t played basketball in a long time, but the former Laurel Highlands High School star hasn’t been forgotten.

Robinson was surprised when he was notified that he had been elected for induction into the first class in the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame.
Wil Robinson

Robinson was also a star at West Virginia University and was inducted into the WVU Hall of Fame in 1997 and the western chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, but he feels this latest honor is very special.

“This is home and it means a lot to be recognized where you grew up,” he said.

Robinson’s credentials are impressive. He was a high school All-American with a 30-point scoring average and led Laurel Highlands to the 1968 Pennsylvania state championship.

Robinson played in the 1968 Dapper Dan Roundball Classic and scored 20 points as the Pennsylvania stars fell to the United States All-Stars 103-90.

During his playing career at West Virginia he garnered All-America honors during his senior season in 1972 when he forged the highest season scoring average in WVU history when he scored 706 points in 24 games (29.4), breaking a record set by Jerry West. The flamboyant Robinson scored 1,850 points in his career, trailing only All-Americans West (2,309) and Rod Hundley (2,180).

He holds the WVU Coliseum record for points in a game by a Mountaineer player (45 vs. Penn State in 1971). In fact, Robinson owns six of the Mountaineers top seven all-time single game scores at the Coliseum.

Looking back, the Laurel Highlands state championship still stands out for Robinson.

“That’s a highlight that you can’t forget,” Robinson remembered. “It is hard to beat as far as being the number one thing in your career unless you take an NBA championship or NCAA championship. The run to the state championship was something I’ll never forget.”

What made it so special was the way the community was caught up in the championship run and the great rivalry with Uniontown High School that made the whole town hoop crazy.

“You don’t see that too much anymore,” Robinson explained. “The whole town was caught up in it and for us to take the championship — you look back and you say, ‘Did we really do that?’ We went all the way and we won everything and that’s something that’s hard to do.”

Harold “Horse” Taylor was the architect of the Laurel Highlands basketball program and played a big role in Robinson’s development on and off the court.

“That is the bread and butter and that’s what makes you and breaks you after leaving high school,” Robinson said. “Either you’ve got it or you don’t and the high school coach is so important in developing people. Not only the basketball skills but the people skills and how you treat people and how you respond to pressure and how you respond to adversity and Horse taught us all that.

“He wanted to make sure that I got into college and that was most evident. He was concerned about basketball, but that wasn’t his main priority, it was to make sure that I grew up to be a man and carried responsibility and go on from there.”

When he ponders his career at West Virginia, Robinson sees unfulfilled promise. The 1971-72 squad got off to a 6-0 start before a terrible traffic accident involving players Larry Harris and Sam Oglesby ended their hopes for a great season.

Robinson is mentioned in the same breath in the record book at WVU with Jerry West and Rod Hundley and that is special.

“I didn’t go there trying to break records, I didn’t go there trying to be the number one scoring leader,” Robinson said. “I just went there to play basketball and do the best I could. When it all ended and I was number one in some categories and hold some records there I was just happy to be mentioned with the likes of Jerry West and Hot Rod Hundley.”

Following his college career, Robinson was selected in the fourth round of the NBA draft by the Houston Rockets and the fourth round of the ABA draft by the Pittsburgh Condors. He played one year in the ABA (1974) with Memphis and Utah.

“It was a disappointment because politics played a role in my pro career,” Robinson lamented. “That caused me to end my career short. When I was with Houston I had actually made that team, but due to political reasons they wanted to keep an older player; they kept him as a player-coach for pension reasons and that took my spot and when they did that the season was getting ready to start the next day and all the rosters were filled and I couldn’t get picked up.

“I had to leave basketball and once I did that it was an uphill battle just to get back to the ABA. Once I got back into the ABA and things were going good the leagues merged. I was starting in Memphis and that summer they merged and I had to make a decision. Was I going to keep on going? I just didn’t have it in me and I decided to go back to school. I made a decision on what I wanted to do in life. Am I going to be a basketball traveling bum or am I going to try and get my education and do something with it?”

Robinson returned to WVU to complete his bachelor’s degree in 1975 and eventually finished his master’s degree in safety in 1984.

Robinson, 59, and his wife, Pam, were married in 1987 and they have one son, 18-year-old Lance. Robinson is working for a company called The Shoe Show and is the district manager for 16 stores in western New York.

Coach Jerry Conboy received the 2009 Pittsburgh Sports Legends award for his lifetime achievement as a basketball coach with 800 wins in a fifty-year career. At South Hills Catholic HS. (1956-1967) he had a 203-46 record. He won four league championships, 2 state championships, 4 Coach of the Year awards, and was selected to coach the first two Roundball Classics. At Point Park College (1969-1989) he had 305 wins including 14 consecutive NAIA District 18 playoffs, 12 Championship wins, 2 District Championships and 3 NAIA National Tournaments. He returned to coach three WPIAL schools to 196 wins, 2 section championships, and 1 WPIAL title. He is in the Western Chapter, Point Park University, and South Hills Catholic Halls of Fame.

Elected to the College Football of Fame in 2015. Former Marshall quarterback and won the Walter Payton Award in 1992. First player to earn National Player of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year. Set FCS national record in 1991 for highest single-season pass efficiency (181.3) and most yards passing in a half when he threw 383 yard in first half against VMI. Inducted into Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. Spent two seasons with Saskatchewan Roughriders of CFL.

Joe played on two undefeated John Harris High School teams and was a major contributor to the Gettysburg College 1966 University Lambert Cup Team. He was named the MVP of the Mid-Atlantic Conference, University Division, and was the only player in conference history to be named first team offense and defense in the same season. Joe was named to the Associated Press Little All-American First Team; Kodak All-American, First team; The Lutheran College All-American, first team; and the All-Pennsylvanian First Team. He played professionally with the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Boston Patriots and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was inducted into The Capital Area Chapter (1992), Gettysburg College (1991), and John Harris High School (1963) Halls of Fame

Coached University of New Hampshire football for 27 years . . . 175 wins, most in Yankee Conference history and top 25 in FCS history . . . claimed four conference and three division titles . . . four-time YC, three-time American Football Coaches Association District I and two-time New England Coach of the Year . . . helped 1975 team to Division II semifinals . . . earned four NCAA Tournament bids . . . 2002 New England Football Writers Contribution to Football award . . . mentor and college coach of Eagles’ coach Chip Kelly . . . 1964 Penn State captain . . . played in 1964 Blue-Gray Football Classic . . . 2000 PSU Alumni Athlete Award . . . Quarterback of undefeated 1960 Lock Haven HS team and played in the 1961 Big 33 game . Elected to College Football Hall of Fame 2016.

1956 1st Team National High School All-American Football at Centerville H. S. (Beth-Center); Scholastic Magazine All-American; 4X All WPIAL; 2X winner-Thom McAn Bronzed Shoe Award; PA Big 33 All Star selection; PIAA shot put and discus records; Recruited by 135 colleges, attending Penn State. Broke all rushing records w/ undefeated freshman team-scoring 6 td’s in game vs. Navy Plebe team featuring their future Heisman Award winner, Joe Bellino.

Penn State established the “Red Worrell Memorial Award” following his accidental death at home, 1957. Inducted into the Washington-Greene Hall of Fame in 1998 and Mid-Mon Valley Chapter Hall of Fame in 2007.

Pennsylvania’s all-time winningest high schoolboy’s basketball coach with 852 career wins in 41 years at Loyalsock Township HS . . . has won 19 district titles . . . led team to three PIAA state Eastern finals . . . 1993 state runner-up . . . helped team to 26 conference titles . . . helped Lancers to 35 20-win seasons . . . coached girls’ basketball team at LTHS for four years (1975-78), leading team to two district titles, four conference titles and state quarterfinals in 1978 . . . one of two high school coaches in Pennsylvania history to win 900 basketball games.

Harter graduated from the Hill School in 1948 after a distinguished athletic career. He played basketball at the University of Pennsylvania for 3 years. He was the Head coach at Penn and received Coach of the Year in 1970-71 season. Then was named Coach of the Year at Oregon in 1976. He also coached at Penn State and Rider and went on to be Chuck Daly’s top assistant with the NBA Champion Detroit Pistons. First head coach of the Charlotte Hornets and also was an assistant coach for Indianapolis Pacers and the Philadelphia 76ers. Had a 30+ year coaching career and was regarded as having a “great defensive mind.”

Sam “The Jet” Jethroe was a center fielder in the Negro League and Major League Baseball. While with the Cincinnati and Cleveland Buckeyes he won a pair of batting titles, hit .304 over seven seasons from 1942 to 1948, and helped the team to two pennants and the 1945 Negro World Series title. He was the fifth African-American played in history to play in the major leagues and was named the National League’s Rookie of the Year in 1950 (oldest player ever to achieve that honor) with the Boston Braves. Jethroe led the NL in stolen bases in his first two seasons. He was called “the quickest human being I’ve ever seen” by former minor league teammate Don Newcombe.