Shaler Area Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2010 Shaler Area High School October 2, 2010 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 Don Bender, Retired Teacher/Coach Amy Bodenlos, Secretary Marna Bodnar, Community Member Michael Brooks, Assistant High School Principal James DiNucci, 2001 Hall of Fame Inductee Richard T. Dixon, 2001 Hall of Fame Inductee Susan Fisher, Community Member David Fortun, 2007 Hall of Fame Inductee and Retired Teacher/Coach Lynn Handza, Community Member Robert Hinds, Retired Teacher/Coach Paul Holzshu, Athletic Director Joseph Laslovic, Community Member Carol Martin, Teacher/Coach Melissa McConville, Teacher David Shutter, Community Member William Suit, High School Principal Joseph T. Schwartz, Student Mark Weidner, Community Member
PROGRAM Welcome...Dr.Donald Lee,Superintendent Invocation.......James Giel, Jr. School Board President DINNER Master of Ceremonies...William Suit PRESENTATIONS INDUCTEES PRESENTER Nicholas Christy.......Paul Christy Yuri Demetri....Jason Hood, Jason Borkowski, and Paul McGrath Leo Elter.....Jerry Matulevic Joseph Miller....... Lee Myers Michael Mickey Moran...Michael Moran Milo Orsini.......Janet Orsini Howard Ruppert...Paul Holzshu
Gazette and Tribune Review. Nicholas Christy Shaler Area Class of 2004 Nick Christy distinguished himself on both the soccer and baseball fields, earning a combined 6 varsity letters. Nick s 61 career goals as a 4 year starter and 4 time soccer team most valuable player rank him 2nd all time in Shaler Area history. His other soccer honors include being named to both the All- Section and All-WPIAL teams 3 times and the All-State team twice. Nick captained the soccer team during his junior and senior seasons, and he was named Athlete of the Week and an All Star selection by both the Post Nick also excelled on the baseball diamond. As a junior, his all-time team record of 32 runs scored helped to lead the Titans to a section championship as well as the distinction of being WPIAL Runners Up. Nick was named to the All-Section team twice, was voted team most valuable player, and he played in the WPIAL All-Star Game at Falconi Field. After high school, Nick continued his soccer career at Slippery Rock University where he was a 4 year starter. He was named to the All- Conference team 3 times and ESPN the Magazine s Academic All-District second team. During Nick s sophomore season, the team won the PSAC Championship for the first time since the mid 1970s and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
Yuri Demetris Shaler Area Class of 2000 The play of Titan basketball star Yuri Demetris from 1997-2000 was simply amazing. He ended his high school career ranked 8 th on the WPIAL all-time scoring list with 2,221 career points. He averaged 25.2 points per game as a sophomore, 26.1 points per game as a junior, and 30.7 points per game as a senior. Yuri was twice named a Street and Smith s All-American, and he earned a 2 nd team selection on the Associated Press All-State Team. Yuri was also a member of the Post Gazette s Fabulous 5 and the Tribune Review s Terrific 10. He was a 3 time all-section selection and the most valuable player of the 2000 Titan team that won the section 3 championship. Yuri continued playing stellar basketball in college at the University of Pittsburgh where he played 85 regular season games. During his time at Pitt, the Panthers won 3 Big East Championships, played in the NCAA Tournament 4 times, and advanced to the Sweet 16 3 times. Yuri has the distinction of scoring the final points ever in the historic Fitzgerald Field House.
Leo Elter, Jr. Shaler Area Class of 1975 Leo Elter Jr s. accomplishments on the baseball and football fields have earned him a place in the Shaler Area Athletic Hall of Fame with his father, a 2002 inductee. Leo was awarded an impressive 6 combined varsity letters in these sports. More importantly, he captained both teams, demonstrating the respect his teammates had for his talents and leadership. Leo really made a name for himself on the baseball diamond. He was named the most valuable player of the 1975 team. Upon his graduation that year, he held 5 school records including most hits and walks in a season. Leo was selected in the 7 th round by the Chicago White Sox and played 2 seasons in the Gulf Coast League. He then returned to Western Pennsylvania and played 3 seasons for the North Pittsburgh Semi-Pro Baseball League.
Joseph Miller Millvale Class of 1964 Perhaps no one has done more to promote Shaler Area athletes and teams than Joe Miller of Shaler Area Television. Since helping to start SATV in 1985, this graduate of Millvale High School has worked with more than 200 students to broadcast over 800 sporting events on cable television. In 1985, Joe s vision turned the simple filming of a football game into the first local cable broadcast of a game, an idea which would not spread to area schools for another 15 years. SATV then expanded its coverage to basketball, wrestling, and hockey in 1987. For the past 25 years, Joe has travelled throughout Western Pennsylvania with his crew, allowing people to enjoy Shaler Area athletics from the comfort of their homes. Joe s efforts have not only provided increased exposure to athletes, but have also profoundly influenced students who have worked for him. Former SATV students include a triple A baseball announcer, a MTV VJ, a local Fox Sports broadcaster, and a producer at a local sports radio station.
Michael Mickey Moran Shaler Area Class of 2004 Mike Moran s dominance on the wrestling mat is evident by his 144 career wins along with numerous other honors such as being a 2 time Allegheny County Champion, a 4 time section champion, a 3 time WPIAL Place Winner, a 1 time WPIAL Champion, and a 2 time PIAA Place Winner. He was also named Shaler Area s Most Valuable Wrestler twice, and earned a spot on the prestigious Dapper Dan Classic Team. At the time of his graduation in 2004, Mike ranked 3 rd for most career wins, 2 nd for most career takedowns, 3 rd for most career falls, a 1 st for most season wins. After high school, Mike attended the University of Buffalo where his incredible success continued. He was a 2 time New York State Collegiate Champion, a 2 time All- American at University Nationals, a NCAA Qualifier, and a 3 rd place winner at the University World Team Trials.
Milo Orsini Shaler Area Class of 1985 Milo Orsini is one of the all time great Shaler Area soccer players. His 66 career goals make him the highest goal scorer in school history. In 1984, Milo also set the season record for goals and points, 42 and 55 respectively. That same year, he scored an amazing 8 points with 6 goals and 2 assists in a single game. Milo ended his high school soccer career with 4 varsity letters and the distinction of being named to the All- WPIAL Team, All-State Team, and the Dapper Dan Classic Pennsylvania All-Star Team. After high school, Milo attended Bethany College where he helped to lead the school s soccer team to 4 PAC Championships and 3 division titles. Milo was an all PAC Player and a Regional All-American in 1986 and1987. He still plays on an over 40 team, Milo Services, which won an indoor championship in 2009.
Howard Ruppert Coach Howie was a dedicated teacher and basketball coach who devoted his life to helping students achieve their personal, academic, and athletic goals. Howie s incredible success as a coach began in 1977 at St. Peters High School on Staten Island, where his teams compiled a 134-45 record which included 6 championships. His 1984 team became the only Staten Island school to ever win a New York City CHSAA title, a designation which resulted in Howie achieving hall of fame status in New York. After some very successful years coaching on the college level, Howie came to Pittsburgh. He turned around a struggling basketball program at Northgate High School before coming to Shaler Area. Howie s record as coach of the Titans was an amazing 166-113, which included section titles in 2000, 2003, and 2004. He was named by the Tribune Review as Coach of the Year in 2001 when his team placed 3 rd overall in the WPIAL. Howie was also instrumental in connecting a number of former players with college coaches, sending more than a dozen Titans to play college basketball at all levels from junior college to major division 1. Howie s dedication to kids and basketball did not end as a high school coach. To improve basketball in the area, he founded the North Pittsburgh Basketball Cavemen, a group which provided many area youngsters with the opportunity to learn the game that Howie loved so much.
Athletic Hall of Fame *Class of 2010* Nicholas Christy Yuri Demetris Leo Elter Joseph Miller Michael Moran Howard Rupper *Class of 2009* 2004Shaler Area Girls Softball Team Curtis Hetz Hannah Joyce Doug Maggio Clarence Metzger William Suit * Class of 2008* 1945 Etna Basketball Team Scott Alexander Sam Bair Dan Kite Carol Martin Glenn Meyer Harris Price *Class of 2007* Michael Bacasa Dave Fortun Thomas Whitey Gralewski Michael Handza Richard LaFerriere Kevin Nellis Kraig Nellis 1947/48 Shaler Football Team *Class of 2006* Colleen Geyer Troy Letters John Kuzniewski Rich Massucci 1941 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 1980 Shaler Area State Champion Girls Basketball Team *Class of 2003* Robert Bestwick Gene Biles Lauren Colaizzi Henzler Clifford Lefty Fair Keith Nellis Kyle Nellis Paul Schweiger Gary M. Siriano 1977-78-79 Boys Swim Team PIAA Qualifiers *Class of 2002* Mary Bukovac Julie Deer Keenan Leo Ducky Elter Forrest Ford Jan Kepple Robert Kopnisky Jerry Matulevic Michael McDermott Kenneth Nellis 1980 Shaler Baseball Team *Class of 2001* James DiNucci Richard T. Dixon Arthur Howe Kenneth Karcher Joseph Kopnisky James Laslavic Louis Martig Beverly Miller Markwith Edwin Peery Robert Siar