[UPDATED] Students, Hall of Fame Inductees Honored for Athletic Achievements

In addition to Saucon Valley winter and spring athletes, a number of alumni and former coaches were inducted into at a ceremony held at the on June 6, 2012.

The event was organized and sponsored by the Saucon Valley Athletic Club and the Saucon Valley Booster Club, whose officers and fundraising committee members this year include Sandra Miller, Angela Cote, Sharon Stack, Eileen Burke, Jill Heffelfinger, Bette O'Donnell, Denise Roche, Jennifer Schriffert, Brenda Smiley and Anne Weeks.

Boys and girls basketball players, cheerleaders, swimmers, wrestlers, boys tennis players, girls soccer players, boys and girls softball players, track & field team members, baseball players and softball players were recognized with a number of end-of-season and special awards during the ceremony.

The following student-athletes received awards:

Boys Basketball
            MVP -
            Outstanding Senior -
            Tom Stern Outstanding JV Player - Keith Mosher

Girls Basketball
            MVP - 
            Outstanding Senior - 
            Most Improved - Deborah Martin

Swimming
             MVP - Boys - Avery Soong  /  Girls - Liz Chikotas
             Outstanding Senior - Boys -   / Girls -
             Most Improved - Boys - Justin Reccek  / Girls - Susanne Neher

Wrestling
            MVP -
            Outstanding Senior - Paul Sloand
            Most Improved - Tyler Harka

Cheerleading
            MVP - Jordan Taylor
            Outstanding Senior - Alex Harte
            Most Improved - Brookelle Fleming

Baseball
            MVP - Matt Laub
            Outstanding Senior - Kevin Schreder
            Outstanding JV - Tommy O’Connell

Girls Soccer
            MVP - Alicia Binn
            Outstanding Senior -
            Most Improved - Andie Evans 

Softball
            MVP - Jessica Mowrey
            Outstanding Senior - Kelly Schreder
            Most Improved - Arastina Barry

Boys Tennis
            MVP - Doubles Team of Atsuro Nakajima & David Mason
            Outstanding Senior - Gavin Coyne
            Most Improved - Niko Hahalis

Track & Field
            MVP - Boys -  / Girls - Liz Chikotas
            Outstanding Senior - Boys - / Girls - Emma Schanzenbach
            Most Improved - Boys - John Amber  / Girls - Caroline Trimble

Boys Lacrosse
            MVP - Nick Savant
            Outstanding Senior - Aaron Wieand
            Most Improved - Jeff Kern 

Girls Lacrosse
            Co-MVP - Dani Heft
            Co-MVP - Mackenzie Till
            Most Improved - Alexa Korinchek

2011-2012 Athletic Awards

US Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete
            Male - Sean Miller
            Female - Susanne Neher

US Marine Distinguished Scholar Athlete
            Male - Zac Estojak
            Female -

Ernie Savakis Award (Memorial Scholarship)
           

Steven C. Shermetta Memorial Scholarship
            Football - Josh Hough
            Field Hockey -

Leadership Award
            Brian Peterson

Sportsmanship Award
            Marcos Flores

Volunteer of the Year
            Mrs. Jill Heffelfinger

Colonial League Academic All Stars
            Garrett Powell
            Susanne Neher

Male Athlete of the Year
            Josh Hough

Female Athlete of the Year
            Amanda Long

The following people were inducted into the Saucon Valley Sports Hall of Fame (the information below is from the induction ceremony program):

Robert R. Hoppes (Baseball & Soccer)* - "Robert R. Hoppes was instrumental in bringing athletics to Hellertown High School for the first time in 1918. Robert was Hellertown's first Head Baseball Coach from 1918-1934, winning three league championships in 1932, 1933 and 1934. In 1927, Coach Hoppes brought soccer to Hellertown High School, again as their Head Coach from 1927-1945, winning two league championships in 1931 and 1939. In addition to his coaching career, Robert was a well respected teacher in the district from 1916-1958." The award was accepted by Hoppes' son, Al Hoppes.

William A. Szabo (Soccer, Basketball & Baseball), Hellertown High School Class of 1942* - "William A. "Muggsy Szabo was a four year athlete in soccer, basketball and baseball and part of Hellertown's 1939 Soccer League Championship team and 1939 and 1941 Basketball League Championship teams. During the 1941-1942 basketball season, Bill was Hellertown's leading scorer. From 1943-1946, Bill proudly served his country as a member of the Marine Corps. From 1949-1952 Bill was a Class "B" professional baseball player in the Washington Senators organization. After his professional baseball career Mr. Szabo returned to the Hellertown-Lower Saucon School District for a long career as a teacher and administrator. The award was accepted by Szabo's widow, Marion Szabo.

Charles E. Bartolet Jr. (Wrestling) - "Responsible for the introduction of wrestling to Hellertown High School in 1960, Mr. Bartolet spent the next 25 years as the program's Head Coach. From 1960-1985, Mr. Bartolet's wrestlers accrued 86 team and individual championships including 32 individual District XI Champions, 30 Southeast Regional Champions, 9 PIAA State Champions, 12 League Team Championships, 2 District XI Team Championships and Saucon Valley's only Team State Championship as the 1976 AAA PIAA State Champions. In 1972, Coach Bartolet was named the Pennsylvania State Coach of the Year and (he) is also a member of the District XI Wrestling Hall of Fame. In addition to his 25 years on the mat, Mr. Bartolet has served the Hellertown/Saucon Valley School District for over 50 years as a teacher, administrator and school board director.

Don Rohn (Wrestling), Saucon Valley High School Class of 1972 - "An outstanding wrestler at the high school and collegiate level, Don helped lead Saucon Valley Wrestling into what would become a dominant decade for the Saucon Valley Wrestling program. Don's accomplishments include: 3-Time District XI Champion, 3-Time Southeast Regional Champion, 2-Time PIAA State Champion, 1972 High School All-American, 4-Time PSAC Champion-Clarion University, 3-Time NCAA Division I All-American, 1973 Division I NCAA Champion-Clarion University, Member of the District XI Wrestling and Lehigh Valley Sports Hall of Fame. In 2011, Don returned to Saucon Valley as an assistant wrestling coach after almost 400 victories as a Head Coach at both Hazleton and Northampton high schools."

The 1976 Saucon Valley High School Wrestling Team - "Competing in Class AAA as a AA school, Saucon Valley's 1976 Wrestling team's goal was to compete with the largest schools in the state of Pennsylvania. By the end of the 1975-1976 season, Saucon Valley had placed gold medals on three individuals and had captured the 1976 PIAA AAA Team Wrestling Championships at Penn State University. (The team captured) Saucon Valley's only PIAA State Team Championship in any sport."

Thea Ackerman (Track & Field), Saucon Valley High School Class of 1979 - "An accomplished track athlete in multiple events, Thea set records at both the District XI and PIAA State level. Her record jump of 5'10" in the 1979 High Jump remains the PIAA State record 33 years later. Thea's accomplishments at the high school and college level include: 2-Time District XI Low Hurdles Champion, 1979 PIAA State Low Hurdles Champion, 3-Time District XI High Jump Champion, 2-Time PIAA State High Jump Champion, 1979 State High Jump Chamion & State Record of 5'10", 2-Time High School All-American, 4-Time Mason Dixon Conference High Jump Champion-Mt. St. Mary's, 1981 NCAA Division II Champion-High Jump-Mt. St. Mary's, 1981 & 1982 NCAA Division II All-American-Mt. St. Mary's, Member of the Mount Saint Mary's Athletic Hall of Fame."

F. Nicholas Diehm (Baseball & Soccer) - "Nick Diehm spent 37 seasons as Hellertown/Saucon Valley High School's Head Baseball and Soccer coach from 1965-1984. Nick won six League Baseball Championships in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974 and 1979, three League Soccer Championships in 1972, 1976 and 1977, and one District XI Soccer Championship in 1972. In addition to serving his country in the Army, Nick spent 34 years at Hellertown/ as its first Physical Education teacher."

* Awarded posthumously.

Saucon Valley Hall of Fame Committee Members:

Robert W. Frey, CAA - Athletic Director

Dr. Sandra Fellin - Superintendent

Eric Kahler - High School Principal

Sandra Miller - School Board Representative

Matt Evancho - Coaching Representative

Ed Kolosky - Coaching Representative

Dave Spirk - Community Representative

John Lynch - Booster Representative

Amanda Long - Student Athlete Representative