The Fox Chapel Area Schools Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2013, back row, from left to right, Andrew Tsai (2000 – soccer & basketball),
Ben Fortun (1996 – soccer, basketball & baseball), and Lori Barry Smith (1984 – soccer) and front row, left to right, Julie Seifried Dillenburg
(1959, Aspinwall – rifle), Jim Marelli (former football coach), and Emily Shoplik Stipanovich (2001 – golf).
SPORTS HALL OF FAME PRESERVES THE
PAST, INVIGORATES THE FUTURE
FOX CH APE L AR EA SC H OO L NE WS
ox Chapel Area
T
he hallways near the
gymnasium at Fox Chapel
Area High School are filled
with trophies, medals,
and plaques that commemorate the
triumphs of some of the school’s
most successful sports participants.
But an alcove across from the athletic
department includes a special display
case set aside for the best of the best –
the elite athletes, squads, coaches,
officials, and administrators who made
high school and collegiate history,
and in some cases, moved on to the
professional level. This is the exclusive
showcase reserved for members of the
Fox Chapel Area Schools Sports Hall
of Fame.
Since its inception in 1996, 111
individuals and four teams have been
honored for their contributions to Fox
Chapel Area athletics. Alumni, families,
and friends travel from as far away as
California to participate in the annual
induction ceremony and to reconnect
with former teachers, coaches, and
teammates. “There are dozens of
outstanding former Fox Chapel Area
student athletes who never have been
considered for induction,” says Hall of
Fame President Ron Frank, one of its
founding members and also the high
school’s longtime wrestling coach. “We
get asked all the time ‘why hasn’t so-
16 Fox Chapel Area
and-so been inducted,’ and the simple
answer is: Nobody nominated them!”
(See sidebar for more information
about eligibility requirements and how
to submit a nomination.)
Jeff Sigal, the newest Hall of Fame
committee member, is a 2003 graduate
of Fox Chapel Area High School and
former member of the golf and soccer
teams.
“All of the inductees talk about the
lasting impact that their coaches and
teammates have had throughout
their lives,” he recalls. “Sports teach
invaluable lessons about teamwork,
dedication, and commitment that
have value in many different areas of
life. It’s not a surprise to see an entire
team show up at one player’s induction
ceremony – a clear indication of what
these experiences have meant to so
many.”
One misconception is that the Hall of
Fame is all about the past. Nothing
could be further from the truth.
Michael O’Brien, director of athletics
for the Fox Chapel Area School
District and a member of the Hall of
Fame committee says, “It gives us a
wonderful opportunity to appreciate
outstanding previous athletic
accomplishments and allows us to
see how far we’ve come.” He adds,
“Preserving the past is exceptionally
important, but so too is meeting the
needs of the current student body. The
Hall of Fame works diligently to do just
that.”
Coach Frank further explains, “Our
goals include raising and awarding
scholarship money for current athletes
and providing funds to supplement
the costs of diverse projects involving
district athletic facilities.”
To date, the nonprofit organization
has channeled more than $150,000
in scholarship money to Fox Chapel
Area student athletes attending college.
The family of Ed Boyle established
one such scholarship with seed money
raised by faculty, friends, family, and
even former players. An All-American
soccer player and beloved physical
education teacher, Coach Boyle served
as the boys’ high school soccer coach
for nine years. His passion for soccer
was a driving force in the development
of the Fox Chapel Area High School
boys’ soccer program. The $1,000
annual award goes to a graduating
male soccer player in good academic
standing who exemplifies the spirit
and talent of Coach Boyle. The Frank
Fuhrer Family Athletic Scholarship