BY JOHN D'ABRUZZO JD'ABRUZZO@NCNEWSONLINE.COM
Although they presented their own speeches, the majority of the honorees were all on the same page. It was friends, spouses and children, moms and dads, and coaches and teammates who were highlighted as what has meant the most to this year's class of inductees into the Lawrence County Historical Society Sports Hall of Fame. A total of 12 -- nine living and three posthumous -- were celebrated yesterday at a banquet held at The New Englander. Laurel High's Jenn Emery and Union's Bobby Burkes -- Lawrence County's Athletes of the Year -- as well as this year's Hall of Honor inductee, Michael "Mickey" Michalojko, also were honored. Each honoree showered the crowd with thanks and appreciation to each and everyone who had influenced the respective individual's athletic career and life. Burkes, now a freshman playing football at Allegheny College, not only conveyed his appreciation in being honored among some of the county's best athletes ever, but also expressed his gratitude toward his parents. "They taught me to bleed blue and white and to understand how important it is to be a Scottie," Burkes said. "More importantly, they taught me that the name on the back of the jersey wasn't as important as taking pride in the name on the front." But it was the inductees, however, who expressed the most gratefulness, believing numerous individuals had specific roles in allowing each to reach Hall of Fame status. "Growing up, you think it's all about you as an individual or what we did, but it's never about you," Wilmington's J.R. McFarland said. "It's about the people in our lives. It's about the ones who have supported, and I deeply appreciate that support." McFarland, inducted for his many years dedicated to track and field at Wilmington, followed Ellwood City Lincoln's Don Costa, who was inducted for his legendary career playing and coaching football. Besides noting a few fond memories, Costa dedicated most of his time explaining how his family and former coaches influenced his life. "I'm a very rich man," Costa said. "If you look in Fortune 500 you won't see my name, but I am truly blessed. I am rich with everything that counts in life, everything that really matters." McFarland and Costa, along with Jan Budai, Pam Grell, Angelo Pezzuolo, Mike Hambrick, Fred Ryan, Dennis Latess and Bruce Tanner rounded out Lawrence County's 23rd class into the sports hall of fame. "I know I could not be the person I am today without my mom and dad," Hambrick said. "I could not help to be a good person. That is because of them." While each inductee remarked on how humble and undeserving they believed they were, Hambrick opened his speech with pure honesty. "Everyone has said how they don't deserve to be here, but I wanted to be up here," said Hambrick, who excelled in track and field after graduating from New Castle. "I worked hard to get up here. I always wanted to be a good enough athlete and represent New Castle." Family was an obvious factor for Pezzuolo, who asked members of his family who were on hand to stand. A third of the room rose to their feet. "Our coaches taught us the value of fair play and hard work, and for that I am thankful," said Latess, who was a three-sport athlete at Laurel and played football at Youngstown State University. "I can not forget the nurture of my family. "My mom and dad are awesome. I will always remember my mother having dinner ready for me at 8 p.m. after practice, and my dad for instilling me with a hard-work ethic."
Sports
HALL OF FAME DINNER
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PIAA Track Championships: Wilmington's Yohman wins discus gold
Wilmington High track and field standout Jon Yohman turned in a golden effort Saturday. Yohman claimed a gold medal in the discus with a toss of 177-10 in Class AA at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
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District 10 Softball: Wilmington girls get past Titusville
The Wilmington High softball team exacted some revenge yesterday. The Lady Greyhounds scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh inning, claiming a 4-3 District 10, Class AA semifinal-round win over Titusville at Penn State-Behrend.
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Photo Gallery, Story: Unbeaten Neshannock falls in WPIAL playoffs
The Neshannock High girls softball team is used to seeing a zero on the scoreboard. Just not in its own run column and especially not after seven innings. That was the case yesterday as Neshannock’s offense failed to produce any runs in a 2-0 setback to Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class AA semifnal at North Allegheny.
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Girard names Hannon boys basketball coach
While he doesn't have much coaching experience, 26-year-old Craig Hannon has been successful in his four years coaching basketball. The Union High and Westminster College graduate steps in as the new boys coach at Girard (Ohio) High, replacing Nolan Cubellis, who resigned after two seasons and a 16-25 record.
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Former ’Hounds’ football stars suffers possible stroke
Former Wilmington High football star Derrick Burns was in stable condition at a Pittsburgh hospital last night after falling ill. A local church with which he is affiliated asked for prayers yesterday for the University of Pittsburgh sophomore running back after he suffered a possible mild stroke.
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WPIAL Title Games: Dates and times set for Neshannock, Ellwood
The road to a championship goes through Consol Energy Park for the Neshannock and Ellwood City Lincoln baseball teams. The Wolverines (20-2) will square off against Riverside (18-5) at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Consol Energy Park,
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Photo Gallery, Story: Neshannock advances to WPIAL title game
The dominance continues for the Neshannock High baseball team. The Lancers, competing in the WPIAL semifinals for the fourth straight season, advanced to their third straight district championship game yesterday.
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Photo Gallery: Neshannock vs. OLSH in WPIAL baseball playoffs
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District 10 Track and Field: Yohman leads Wilmington teammates to PIAA meet
Wilmington High track and field standout Jon Yohman broke through on Saturday.
Two times. Yohman, who has finished second to Hickory’s Matt Bell four times this season, made sure that didn’t happen this time. Yohman, a junior, won two gold medals for the Greyhounds at the District 10, Class AA Track and Field Championships at Hickory High School. -
District 10 Track and Field: Yohman leads Wilmington teammates to PIAA meet
Wilmington High track and field standout Jon Yohman broke through on Saturday. Two times. Yohman, who has finished second to Hickory’s Matt Bell four times this season, made sure that didn’t happen this time. Yohman, a junior, won two gold medals for the Greyhounds at the District 10, Class AA Track and Field Championships at Hickory High School.
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