The Bernie Romanoski Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame held induction ceremonies last week.
Among those inducted and honored were the following:
Joseph Bordell Scholar-Athlete
Darien Levi Craft
Shamokin Area
A two-sport athlete, Levi has earned six letters in swimming (4) and baseball (2). He has enjoyed great success in dual meets and as a competitor in the backstroke, earning two medals in the district championships.
In baseball, he has pitched for three years while competing for the Indians. Currently ranked first in his class, Levi holds memberships in the National Honor Society, Math Club, Science Olympiad, Chemistry Club, and also tutors college students in various math courses.
A son of Iris and Mark Chowka, he plans on attending the University of Pennsylvania and enroll in their neuroscience program.
Joseph Bordell Scholar-Athlete
Samantha Schiccatano
Shamokin Area
Samantha "Sami" Schiccatano, ranks third in her class and has earned six varsity letters, three in basketball, two in soccer and one in softball. In basketball she was a member of one district championship team and two Heartland Conference Division I championship teams.
She is a member of the National Honor Society, Chemistry Club, The Works Club, Students Against Bullying, Varsity Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions, student council, National Honor Society of High School Scholars, and the Environmental Club.
She is a volunteer with Shepard's Table at Our Lady of Hope Church and Mountain View: A Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, a lifeguard, PIAA basketball official and coach in the Shamokin Youth Girls Basketball League.
Sami plans to major in pharmacy at either Wilkes University or the University of Pittsburgh.
Francis L. Gurski
Community Service Award
Violette Feudale
Violette (Nezerski) Feudale is a graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School and has been treasurer of the Council of Catholic Women at Our Lady of Hope Church for 14 years. She has served as Eucharistic minister for 16 years.
A licensed practical nurse, she has been membership chairperson for the American Legion auxiliary, Lincoln Unit 73, Shamokin, for 18 years and also served as auxiliary treasurer for five years. She has been a Salvation Army board member for 10 years.
Feudale has been a guidance administrative assistant at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School for 13 years and serves as moderator of the Boys Service Club and Girls Action League. She is chapel moderator at the school.
She has been married for 36 years to Senior Judge Barry Feudale and they have two sons, Matthew, 27, and Michael, 19.
Harvey Boughner Booster Award
Don Blessing
Blessing, a 1971 Shamokin Area High School graduate, served as an elementary wrestling coach for Shamokin Area for 20 years and has been a member of the wrestling boosters for 23 years, serving as president and treasuer.
Blessing helped nurture the careers of many outstanding Shamokin Area wrestlers and has been integral in running numerous wrestling tournaments at Shamokin Area over the years. He is employed as a kitchen and bath designer and sales specialist at Lowe's, Pottsville, and lives in Coal Township with his wife of 40 years, Antoinette. They have two children, Kristopher and Heather, two grandsons and one granddaughter.
Edward J. Binkoski Coaching Award
Joseph Wightman
Wightman began his teaching and coaching career at Shamokin Area School District in 1971, from which time he taught social studies, science, reading, English, language arts and literature at the elementary and junior high levels.
His diverse coaching career included three years as head coach and one year as assistant of the cross country team, three years as an assistant junior high wrestling coach, six years as seventh grade girls basketball coach and a total of 36 years as an assistant track and field coach.
He started the girls cross country program at Shamokin Area in 1976 and his first team won the District Four title and finished 11th in state competition out of 36 teams. He helped develop more than 24 district champions and state meet qualifiers.
Wightman also served as a coach or assistant coach in the Shamokin Youth Basketball League for six years. He has been a public address announcer at Shamokin Area basketball and soccer games.
Wightman is married to the former Cheryl Milbrand. They are parents of a son, Joseph.
Special Recognition Award
Coach
Joseph Klebon
Warrior Run H.S. - Shamokin Area H.S.
A three-sport star (football, basketball and track) at Shamokin Area and a three-time letter winner in the Lycoming College football program, Klebon began his career at Warrior Run High School, serving as both head basketball and track coach. His basketball squad in 1980-81 brought the school its first ever West Branch League title. In track he coached two PIAA state champions.
Klebon returned to Shamokin in 1988. During his 24 seasons as head basketball coach he posted 481 wins, captured eight District 4 AAA crowns, won Schuylkill League titles and Knights of Columbus championship banners. Combined with his 110 victories at Warrior Run, he won 591 games and continued the tradition of basketball excellence at Shamokin Area.
Klebon has coached summer camps at Duke, Bucknell, Lycoming and Susquehanna, to mention only a few. He has been a registered PIAA official in basketball and football for 30 years.
He and his wife Barbara have four children and reside in the Elysburg area.
Special Recognition Award
Basketball
Carl Olley
Coal Township High School
Coal Township's greatest basketball performer, the sharpshooter holds the Purple Demon record for most points in a game (58 vs. St. Edward's) and most points in a career (1,340).
In his 58-point performance against the Speedboys, Olley shot 26 of 29 from the floor and 6 of 7 at the charity stripe. Over his final two seasons he averaged 22.4 points per game and led the team to a district title in 1955 when the Demons defeated Williamsport 66-65 on two Olley foul shots with four seconds left to play.
He was selected first-team all-state and in 1955 he was the state's second leading scorer (686 points, 25.4 ppg) behind only Wilt Chamberlain.
2013 Inductee
Carolyn Bull
Our Lady of Lourdes
Bull excelled in both basketball and softball for the Raiders.
A four-year letter winner in basketball, her teams posted a record of 111-18, including back-to-back appearances in the PIAA Class A state championship game. The Raiders captured the gold medal in 1994 with a 41-32 victory over Altoona's Bishop Guilfoyle.
Bull's is in Lourdes' top 10 in scoring (1,227 points), rebounds (843), assists (198), and steals (241).
Rated as the best hitter in OLOL softball history, she earned four letters and posted a career batting average of .473, including .675 her senior year.
An outstanding student, she continued her basketball career for the Red Flash at Division I St. Francis University.
During her first two seasons she was a major contributor to St. Francis winning back-to-back Northeast Conference titles and a trip to the NCAA tournament. She finished her playing days in the Patriot League at Bucknell University and graduated magna cum laude.
She is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. James Bull, and resides in Brockville, Md.
2013 Inductee
Richard Martz
Mahanoy Joint
An outstanding student-athlete for the Mahanoy Joint Bruins, Martz won six varsity letters while participating in football, baseball, track and wrestling. He was a key performer for the 1960 Twin Valley League champions.
Martz took his diversified athletic talents to Lock Haven University where he merited seven varsity letters while competing in soccer, gymnastics and baseball.
His 38-year coaching career began at South Williamsport High School where he coached track and wrestling. He moved on to Danville, and as head baseball coach, he posted a 116-81 record. His squads captured five Susquehanna Valley League pennants and the 1972 district championship.
He earned two master's degrees from Bucknell University and spent almost 40 years in secondary education. He served as a guidance counselor, central office administrator, and superintendent of both the Danville and Midd-West school districts.
Married to his high school sweetheart, the Martz's reside in Catawissa.
Bruce Barr
Shamokin Area
A son of Penn State basketball All-American and state Hall of Famer John Barr, Bruce continued the Barr legacy of basketball excellence.
Barr earned three varsity letters while leading his squads to an overall 58-18 record in the Susquehanna Valley League.
A member of the Indians' 1,000-point club (1,061 points), Barr was instrumental in the success of the 1970-71 squad. The Indians captured the SVL title, the District 4 championship and qualified for the PIAA tournament.
He was named one of the top 25 players in Indian history.
He took his talents to Bucknell University, where he led the freshman team in scoring (21.1 ppg) before an injury ended his playing days.
Bruce and his family reside in Derry, N.H.
2013 Inductee
Tim Fanella
Shamokin Area
Fanella was a leader on what many people consider to be the greatest squad in Shamokin Area football history.
Playing both ways at center and defensive tackle, Fanella helped the 1975 squad to an 11-1 record and the school's only Eastern Conference title.
Fanella's skills earned him numerous post season honors including being named to the APs All-State Third Team. He also earned first team in the Southern Division of the Eastern Conference, and was named to the Reading Eagle, All-East Squad, and Susquehanna Valley League All-Star Teams.
Fanella was selected to the prestigious Pennsylvania Big 33 Team, the first Indian to be named to the squad.
He continued his football career at Division I Illinois State University.
Fanella also excelled in track and field. As a shot putter, he led the Indians in points scored in 1976, served as a two-time captain and captured the District 4 shot put gold medal his senior year.
Tim is married to the former Denise Klebasco and they have a daughter, Lindsay. The Fanellas reside in Coal Township.
2013 Inductee
Harry Reed
Coal Township
A seven-time letter winner at Coal Township, Reed starred in football and wrestling.
He was a key member of the 1964 Demon football squad that posted the only perfect regular season in the history of Coal Township football at 10 - 0. He was part of an explosive backfield with Bob Paczkoskie, Dave Witkoskie and Bill Pavelko.
In the season opener vs. Bloomsburg, Reed set a school record with
a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
An outstanding wrestler, Reed captured a sectional title. His wrestling ability earned him a Division I scholarship to North Dakota and he ended his career as a member of the Division II Slippery Rock Rockets.
Following graduation, Reed began a coaching career as a valuable assistant in both football and wrestling for Shamokin Area.
An intrinsic part of the wrestling program, he helped guide Indian wrestlers to six state championships. He also served as a football assistant at Lourdes and as the Red Raiders head wrestling coach.
Harry and his wife Andrea reside in Coal Township.
2013 Inductee
Chad Fabian
Southern Columbia
Fabian is a member of District 4's exclusive 2,000-point club in basketball. During his four letter-winning years he scored 2,138 points. In addition, he garnered over 500 rebounds, dished out more than 300 assists and had over 200 steals.
His teams combined for 102 wins and 15 losses during his career. They captured two District 4 gold medals, and made four appearances in the PIAA state tournament. They also won two Central Susquehanna and three Mid-Penn League titles.
He earned him First Team All-State honors in 1996 and was twice named the MVP of the
Susquehanna and Mid-Penn Leagues.
Fabian continued his career at Wilkes College where he is a member of the 1,000-point club, was a four-time letter winner and served as captain. The Colonels posted an 83-24 record and won three Freedom League crowns, two Middle Atlantic Conference titles, and made a trip to the Division III Final Four.
Fabian resides in the Williamsport area with his wife Lauren and daughter Clara.
2013 Team Inductee
1995-96 Shamokin Area
Indian Girls Basketball
Under the tutelage of head coach Ed Martz and assistant coach Bob Zyla, the Indians captured the program's first District 4 crown.
Competing in Division I of the Schuylkill League, the squad was well prepared for its district title run. In non-S.I.A.L. games the Indians posted a 14-2 mark.
Head Coach: Edward Martz
Assistant Coach: Robert Zyla
Scorekeeper: Kitty Zyla
Team Members: Christine Bressi, Maureen Glover Brown, Marissa Miller Yoder, Susan Rarick Griscavage, Nicole Van Doren Adams, Stacy Worhacz, Regina Chesney Welkie, Amanda Keefer Prusch, Amber Morris Ryan, Trish Zalewski Carl, Clair Glover Robel, Karena Kodack Wiekel, Jill Poplaski Larson, Tracy Wagner Reader, Andrea Zawalick Fellin
2013 Team Inductee
1989 Shamokin Area Football
Under the leadership of head coach Dave Zielinskie and his staff, the Indians brought home the school's first district title in football by beating Selinsgrove 20-7. Overall the team had a 9-3 record.
Head Coach: Dave Zielinskie
Assistant coaches: Joe Klebon, Jim Lichty, Ed Zack, Francis Zielinskie
Team members: Mark Costa, Doug Sanders, Kevin Markowski, Mike Eichner, John Dunn, Mike Sewalk, Tim Anderson, Kirk Stehman, Gary Anascavage, Greg Slodysko, Lou Costa, Scott Schleig, Jim Lichty, Paul Nye, Tim Kilbride, Rick Yanishak, Scott Kulenguskey, Malcolm Farrow, Joe Schoch, Jason Ginck, John Shepard, Bob Nye, Chris Hoover, Del Roughton, Randy Ritzman, Jesse Zerbe, Dan Morgan, Jerry Waugh, Chris Hodrick, Kris Lukoskie, Dave Pennypacker, Doug Carter, Jeff Hodrick
2013 Team Inductee
1975 Shamokin Area Football
The Indians captured the school's only Eastern Conference championship by beating the Dunmore Bucks 33-20.
Head Coach: Tim Montgomery
Assistant coaches: Joe Gubernot, Dave Kopitsky, Harry Reed, George Dorko
Team members: Frank Marcinek, Randy Rumberger, Bob Janaskie, Dan Klebon, Ken Clark, Dave Zielinskie. Rich Brennan, Phil Manney, Rodney Boyer, Dean Olvany, Gary Swank, Ed Zack, Bob Olvany, Jim Scandle, Jim Weinhoffer, Scott Bailey, Tony Evans, Jim Dressler, Jim Gehris, Brian Adams, Ken Etzel, Joe Rakoski, Robert Drumheiser, Steve Wondoloski, Dave McAnnaney John Devereaux, Ed Zablosky, Dave Henninger, Mike Bonshock, Ned Hartman, John Lewis, Craig Scicchitano, Randy Rummel, Pete Rhoades, Tim Fanella, Dan Noll
Greg Bailey, Bob Demshock, Paul Zupicick, John Ferster, Brian Jeremiah, Brad Miller, Dave Troxell, Geoff Thomas, Rich Feese, Bob Poliniak, Mickey Walter, Dave Anderson, Allen Rozinski