On Friday, June 17, 2016, the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame will honor area senior scholar athletes during its 23rd annual induction banquet at The Willow Room in Rostraver Township at 5:30 p.m.

Area students are selected by Mon Valley athletic directors and high school principals and are recognized at the banquet for their academic and athletic accomplishments.  The Sports Hall of Fame Committee awards a certificate of merit reflecting personal dedication to achieving the highest standards of excellence as a scholar and in sportsmanship.

The 2016 student scholar athlete recipients are:

• Belle Vernon Area High School: Joseph Gruber and Sarah Sepesky
• Bentworth High School: Ty Mitchell and Heather Chester
• Brownsville Area High School: Travis Bevard and Peyton Jacobs
• California Area High School: Casey Zajicek and Destiny Gudel
• Charleroi Area High School: Michael Kondratik and Kyra Watkins
• Elizabeth Forward High School: Connor Poolett and Lauren Cain
• Monessen High School: Zachary J. Baker and Shelby Minardi
• Ringgold High School: Douglas Gudenburr and Katherine Sendek
• Yough High School: Daniel Cox and Madison Nestor

Belle Vernon Area senior wrestling captains and Coach Michael Doppelheuer will be recognized with the Achievement award for winning this year’s WPIAL Class AAA wrestling championship (15-1), first in the school’s history.

In addition to honoring the area’s finest scholar athletes, the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame will induct eight new members who include Keith Bassi, Esq.; John Ballein, Ed. D.; Bobby Burns; Jim Edwards; Brigadier General David Papak; and deceased: Ken Kulak; Joseph Fedorchik, Jr., M.D.; and Wilbert Otto “Barney” Wolfe. The recipient of this year’s Hall of Fame appreciation award, Bill Kubin, is a longtime Mon Valley educator and member of the Hall of Famer Board of Directors.  The President of Waynesburg University, Douglas G. Lee, a 1977 Charleroi High School graduate, will serve as this year’s master of ceremonies.  

For ticket availability email stephenrussell1106@comcast.net or phone 724-258-3823.      

By Charlotte Hopkins

The young athletes of Elizabeth had a great opening day that included a shake-up of their teams. For the first time in 50 years, the Mount Vernon baseball and softball leagues merged with the Elizabeth Township Athletic Association to create the Elizabeth Forward Youth Athletics.

Jacob Duncan is an 8th grade student at Ringgold Middle School in Finleyville, PA. At RMS, he has placed in honors classes, maintained an A-average and was named to this year’s math team.

Kickball sign-ups will be held at North Charleroi Recreation Park. Read more...