Sharpsburg Sports Hall of Fame set to induct inaugural class at Linden Gym

The inaugural class of the Sharpsburg Sports Hall of Fame will be inducted later this month.

A banner with the names of the inductees will be raised high into the rafters of the Linden Gym during halftime of the youth basketball game between the Sharpsburg Wolves and Caveman AAU on Oct. 28.

Festivities are scheduled from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at 205 N. Canal St.

Admission is free. Spots can be reserved through eventbrite.com.

“I am really looking forward to this community event,” said councilwoman Kayla Portis. “We will finally have a Hall of Fame of our own. This is way overdue. I am honored to be a part of this pivotal part of Sharpsburg history.”

Portis, District Judge Matthew Rudzki and volunteers with the Sharpsburg Historical Commission have worked on the Hall of Fame creation for years. They sorted through at least 25 submissions and selected four individuals and one team.

Rudzki said those nominated were “all outstanding and worthy athletes,” and selection was difficult.

“The first class of athletes truly stands apart,” Rudzki said. “As a lifelong resident, former athlete and trained historian, I am elated to finally help create the Sharpsburg Sports Hall of Fame. There are so many talented athletes, coaches, and builders to come from our small town. In fact, the Wolverine mascot chosen to represent Sharpsburg High School was done for a reason: small but mighty.”

The Sharpsburg School District merged with Fox Chapel Area in 1970.

Inductees include Ronald “Bumpy” Powell, Jack “Mr. Versatile” Praski, Christa Salerno, Donald C. Shubert Jr. and the 1941 Sharpsburg Wolverines WPIAL champion basketball team.

The following are some accomplishments of the inaugural class:

Ronald ‘Bumpy’ Powell

Powell graduated from Sharpsburg in 1958 as one of the top athletes in school history. Powell, a basketball and football star, was a two-year starter in basketball and named to the All-Section Team as a senior. During his senior year, Powell helped lead the Wolverines to the Section 19-B title, later losing in the WPIAL quarterfinals. In football, he was a four-year starter at running back and linebacker. Mr. Powell led the Wolverines to an 8-1 record his senior year, scoring 27 touchdowns and gaining nearly 2,000 yards. The Herald named Mr. Powell MVP of its High School All-Star Team.

Jack ‘Mr. Versatile’ Praski

Praski graduated from Sharpsburg in 1968 as one of the school’s most decorated gridiron stars, earning the nickname “Mr. Versatile” from coach Al Tarquinio. Praski was a three-year letterman in both basketball and football but made his mark on the gridiron. Playing in 25 straight football games, Praski was a running back, linebacker, kicker and punter. He was a two-time first-team All-WPIAL Class B, the only player ever to repeat at the time. During his senior year, Praski led the Wolverines over the Etna Rams for the first time in eight years, scoring four touchdowns in a 37-6 Sharpsburg victory at Heinz Memorial Field.

Christa Salerno

Salerno graduated from Fox Chapel in 2004 and amassed an incredible 15 WPIAL medals in the pool, in addition to nine varsity letters across soccer, swimming and athletic training during her career. Salerno made her mark in the pool for the Foxes, holding school records in the 100-meter breaststroke as well as the 200-medley relay. At the WPIAL championships, Salerno set scoring records while collecting WPIAL medals.

Donald C. Shubert Jr.

Schubert is a 1976 Fox Chapel graduate and perhaps the most successful athlete to come out of Sharpsburg. Schubert took the mound as a dominating right-handed pitcher. He compiled a 16-5 record with a 1.92 ERA in his career while averaging 10 strikeouts and two walks per game. In 1975, he helped lead the Foxes to a section championship. As a senior, Schubert co-captained the team while going 10-2 on the mound with a 0.67 ERA, averaging 12 strikeouts per game and also leading the team in RBIs. He became the first Fox Chapel baseball player drafted by a professional team when the Oakland Athletics took him 16th overall in 1976.

1941 Sharpsburg Wolverines

The 1941 Wolverines basketball team was the only Sharpsburg sports team to win a WPIAL title. In addition to the WPIAL Class B championship, the team also captured the Section 19 title. Coached by John B. Veltri and led by Robert Adams, George Becker, Robert Brose, Joseph “Peppy” DeLuca, James Dennis, James Malley, Frank Marsico, Eddie Tryc, Albert “Toots” Urso and Michael Urso, the Wolverines ran the table in 1941.

In the first round of the WPIAL playoffs, they beat Glassport, 31-16. In the quarterfinals, Sharpsburg bested Bridgeville, 35-23. Sharpsburg then defeated Ligonier in the semifinals, 38-35, and won the championship at Pitt when they beat Bentleyville, 41-39, in overtime.