Pine-Richland School District recognizes inductees as part of first-ever
PR Athletic Hall of Fame. BY NICOLE TAFE
F
ive individuals and one team were
inducted into the first-ever Pine-
Richland High School Athletic Hall
of Fame in early October. The inductees
include Class of 2007 soccer player
Meghan Klingenberg, RHS Class of 1967
football and track star Jack McCurry,
former athletic director Ossie Santacroce,
former football coach Eugene Sullivan,
professional baseball player Neil Walker,
and the WPIAL Championship football
team from 1969.
“Last year, Pine-Richland celebrated
its 60th anniversary; initiating a Hall of
Fame was an ideal way to celebrate the
past and look to the future,” says Assistant
Superintendent of Secondary Education
& Curriculum Michael Pasquinelli,
Ed.D. “One of the key concepts of Pine-
Richland’s vision is that learning occurs
both inside and outside of the classroom.
Athletics is one example of outside of the
classroom learning experiences, among
many others. The Athletic Hall of Fame
provides the district and community
with an annual opportunity to celebrate
and commemorate those who have
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made significant contributions linked to
athletics.”
There were many great candidates.
With 29 nominations, narrowing it
down was not easy. The committee
considered candidates from a wide
range of generations and connections to
Pine-Richland Athletics. Nominations
were accepted and considered for any
team, athlete, coach, administrator
or contributor who through his/
her commitment, sacrifice and dedication
to the Pine-Richland Athletic Program
brought pride and distinction to the
school and community.
The committee evaluated nominees
according to national, state, WPIAL
or conference accomplishments and
statistics during their high school career.
The committee evaluated each nominee’s
degree of recognition as a PR athlete,
coach, administrator or active supporter.
In addition, any distinctive or unique
accomplishments that received public
attention or brought acclaim to the
nominee or Pine-Richland School District
icmags.com
after the athlete’s tenure with the district
were considered.
“Athletics link tightly to all of our PRide
values—personal growth, resiliency,
innovation, diverse opportunities and
engagement. Those recognized this year
and into the future model hard work,
dedication and a deep passion for what
they do. The same behaviors that we
know are important regardless of one’s
chosen path.”
The inductees were honored on Oct. 4
at the Pine-Richland football game and
during a banquet on Oct. 5 at PRHS.
Football announcer Michael Young
emceed the banquet. More than 150
people were in attendance. In addition
to the awards—a plaque for inductees/
certificates for team members—that
the honorees received, the district is
designing an Athletic Hall of Fame Wall
with a virtual Hall of Fame. Current-year
plaques will go up and then archived via
a touch-screen Athletic Hall of Fame
through which people can review previous
inductees.
Honoring Alumni Athletes