Welcome to the 26th annual Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame Banquet. This is our first experience at The Georgetown Centre and we appreciate the graciousness of host Les George.
Our student honorees, outstanding senior scholar-athletes chosen by their respective Mon Valley high schools, are to be commended on a job well done! It is our privilege to honor you in tonight’s ceremony alongside the athletes who came before you. Most importantly, you represent the future for our communities, commonwealth and nation. We recognize the time, energy and dedication that you have demonstrated while participating in high school athletics and maintaining your academic excellence.
This year inductee Charel Allen will be the fifth MMVASHOF scholar athlete inducted. Charel joins previous scholar athletes inducted which include Gina Naccarato, Vinnie Graham, Jamont Kinds, and Dan LaCarte.
In the past decade, upon the recommendation of one of the original contributors to the Mon Valley Sportswriters Hall of Fame, Ron Paglia recommended recognizing WPIAL champions for our area high schools. Since it was so rare to have a Mon Valley High WPIAL winner, it appeared justified. Recently, we have entered a golden age of WPIAL champions. This year we have the privilege to recognize two teams and 10 individual champions.
Elizabeth Forward High School Warriors won their first-ever Class 4A softball (17-3) WPIAL championship on May 31, 2019.
California High School Trojans won their sixth baseball (18-1) WPIAL championship title on May 28, 2019 and second in the last three years.
Our Achievement award winners for Mon Valley High School WPIAL 2018- 2019 individual Gold include in wrestling Bentworth/Charleroi’s John Vargo (30-8) two-time Class AA 195 lbs. category and Elizabeth Forward’s Ryan Michaels (43-2) Class AA 113 lbs. category. In swimming, Belle Vernon Area’s two-time Robby Spekis Class AA 200-yard medley (1:57:41) and 100- yard breaststroke (56.99) a BVA and WPIAL meet record, and PIAA gold 100- yard breaststroke (56.63), and two-time Ian Shahan 100-yard butterfly (49.66) and PIAA100-yard freestyle (45.48) a new meet record along with 100-yard butterfly (48.83), and Elizabeth Forward’s Kaelyn McClain 500-yard freestyle (5:10.01), and Ringgold’s Anna Vogt two-time Class AA diving (score of 436.05) and PIAA diving gold (421.10); Elizabeth Forward’s Brianna Spirnak two-time Class AAA track and field javelin (141.3); Monessen’s Darnel Howell Class AA track and field high jump (leap of 6-3); Brownsville’s Gionna Quarzo two-time Class AA track and field 3,200 (10:34.35); California’s Jelani Stafford Class AA track and field shot put (51ft. 4 and one quarter inch).
This past year, the Sports Hall of Fame lost 2017 inductee Don Bartolomucci (1937-2018), 1956 inductee Ed Roebuck (1931-2018), 2010 inductee Stan Milchovich (1935-2019), 2007 inductee Ron Hughes (1943-2019), 1977 inductee Elmo Natali (1927-2019), and recently learned about the passing of 2004 inductee Craig Cotton (1947-2013). The Hall of Fame will miss these individuals and their contributions.
Congratulations to 2010 inductee Vic Trilli on his retirement after a 44-year athletic career and the 2019 recipient of Newman University Alumni award. Bill Contz a 1999 inductee was the after-dinner speaker at the 69th Annual Achievement Awards Banquet Toast To Our Stars at the Charleroi Elks April 28. Before his passing this year, 1977 inductee Elmo Natali was awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of his dedication to students, his decades of service, and his lasting legacy at California University of Pennsylvania. On April 7, at the Mon Valley YMCA, our MMVASHOF chairman Dennis Stitch was ordained by the Youghiogheny Western Baptists Ministerial Conference. Scott Frederick of Monongahela became a member of the MMVASHOF Board of Directors this year.
At the Baseball Hall of Fame Ceremonies in Cooperstown this July the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting will be posthumously bestowed upon Monongahela High School 1929 graduate Al Helfer (1911-1975). We salute Mr. Helfer with a special page dedicated to his career. We welcome back Waynesburg University’s Lanny Frattare to the speaker’s platform as our Master of Ceremonies. Lanny was the Voice of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1976 thru 2008.
Our artist, Gracie Abel of Finleyville, has again developed a keepsake program book cover and banquet ticket graciously sponsored by Jerry Zahand of Highway Appliance. Tim Urda of Badzik Printing in Donora along with Ted and Barb Jakela are invaluable for the production of the yearly program book. As a member of our special events committee, Tim has provided service in every area possible. Mark Lenart at Weldon Acres Trophy in McKeesport has provided our unique Pennsylvania Hall of Fame plaques. We are most grateful for the Pennsylvania Senate citations each inductee will receive this evening, compliments of state Senator Camera Bartolotta. Our photographer for the Sports Hall of Fame is Chris Grilli of the former Grilli’s Studio of New Eagle. Anyone wishing a digital photo of the scholar athletes receiving their awards should contact Mr. Russell at his email: stephenvrussell@gmail.com. Our disc jockey is retired speech and forensics educator Bill Lemonovich of Monongahela. Loren Carrota of Monessen Florist sponsors the corsages and boutonnieres for our inductees.
To all of our generous sponsors - it is you who make this souvenir program book a reality.
We are most fortunate to have press coverage of the Sports Hall of Fame provided by Jeremy Sellew and Jose Negron of The Mon Valley Independent, Bill Hughes, George Von Benko, and Wayne Stewart, of the Herald Standard, and Douglas E. Haniford of the South Hills - Mon Valley Messenger.
I want to thank the Board of Directors, special events committee and selection committee for another job well done. We thank the following Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame chapters in attendance this evening representing the Robert “Tick” Cloherty Western and Fayette County entities.
While cleaning out closets, attics or old trunks in the basement think of the Hall of Fame Sports Museum. Scrapbooks may have something we need to tell the story of our athletes. We treasure those vintage photographs. Remember to visit the Sports Hall of Fame Museum at the Bentleyville Best Western Garden Inn.
Again, thank you for attending. We deeply appreciate your continued support. See you at next year’s banquet June 19, 2020.
~ Stephen V. Russell, General Chairman