IN Shaler Winter 2016 | Page 12

INEVENTS SASD 2016 ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Shaler Area School District inducted a new group of distinguished athletes into its Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 1, during a dinner banquet held at Shaler Area Middle School. The following alumni were inducted: Walter Brown: Shaler Area Class of 1973. While in high school, he played football, wrestling and track. Brown played on the 1976 National Championship team of the University of Pittsburgh. He also played in the ’75 Sun Bowl, ’76 Sugar Bowl, ’77 Gator Bowl and ’78 Tangerine Bowl. He was the fifth round draft choice for the Detroit Lions. Jesse Della Valle: Shaler Area Class of 2010. Della Valle played both football and basketball in high school. He was a three-time All Conference selection in AAAA North Conference. At Penn State he was elected team captain his senior season by his coaches and teammates. Della Valle was a three-time Academic All Big Ten Selection. Jill DiNucci: Shaler Area Class of 2006. DiNucci played basketball in high school. She was the leading scorer for all four years at Shaler Area High School. She was the third leading scorer in Shaler Area history. DiNucci went on to play basketball at the University of Chicago. Olivia DiNucci: Shaler Area Class of 2009. At Shaler Area, DiNucci played basketball and ran track & field. She was among the Post-Gazette North Fabulous 5 for two years. DiNucci was the fifth leading scorer in Shaler Area history. At Emerson College she was the GNAC Rookie of the Year. Brandon Lehmeier: Shaler Area Class of 2001. Lehmeier played football and was on the wrestling team. He was a WPIAL champion in the 189-lb. weight class. He was elected All Conference in football and is the school’s all-time leading rusher with over 3,000 yards. Lehmeier was also elected All Conference in wrestling with over 100 wins. Samantha Smyers: Shaler Area Class of 2010. Smyers played three years on the boys golf team until a separate girls golf team was formed. She was #22 in the PAA Championship. She was a four-time WPIAL Championship qualifier. Smyers was on the golf team at St. Francis College. PHOTOS BY PRIMETIME SHOTS 10 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Shaler