Student Scholar Athletes 2013
The Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame annually honors senior scholar-athletes representing the nine school districts within the Mid Monongahela Valley. Tonight’s students are being sponsored by the generous support of Charleroi’s Lee Supply Company. This evening the spotlight shines upon these young men and women who have made a difference in the classroom, in athletics, and in their communities.
2013 Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame Senior High School Scholar Athletes:
Seated left to right: Charleroi’s Natalie Baker, Belle Vernon’s Heather Wells, Bentworth’s Taylor Pompei, California’s Christina Puhnaty, Elizabeth Forward’s Braelyn Tracy, Monessen’s Alexis Malarbi, Ringgold’s Christina Wills and Yough’s Natalie Beers.
Standing left to right: Belle Vernon’s Geno Leone, Bentworth’s Jesse Paul Martin, California’s Benjamin Thomas, Charleroi’s Luke Simpson, Ringgold’s Chris Spahr, Yough’s Domanic Miele and Elizabeth Forward’s Matthew Casturo
WPIAL Valley High School Championship awardees for the 2012-2013 school year:
Three awardees of the prestigious WPIAL gold are pictured from left Braelyn Tracy, Nick Gavazzi, Kailyn Clancy
Charleroi’s Class AA wrestling weight class of 138 lb. Nick Gavazzi a two-time WPIAL champion in 2012 and 2013
California’s Class AA track and field two medals for Kailyn Clancy: one in discus with a recorded distance of 112’ 5” and one in shot put (toss of 43’ feet was not only a school record, it was also farther than the gold medal winning effort in Class AAA). Kailyn also won gold in shot put at PIAA.
Elizabeth Forward’s Braelyn Tracy, four-time WPIAL and PIAA swimming championship participant, won two medals Class AA in the 200 freestyle (2012 and 2013) and 500 freestyle (2013) and holds five school records.
Belle Vernon Area High School
Geno Leone
- 2-year Varsity soccer letterman
- 4-year Varsity track
- 2-year Varsity Swimming letterman/captain
- 2012 WPIAL Qualifier in 200 Medley Relay
- 2013 WPIAL Qualifier in 500 free style, 200 medley, 200 free style relay
- Judge John Driscoll scholar athlete award (Westmoreland County)
- National Honor Society Treasurer, Student Council Vice President, Sound and Light Crew President, The Future is Mine President, Student School Board Representative, Interact Club, MIC/SADD, Symphonic Band, Concert Choir, Trib Total Media Outstanding Young Citizen
- Volunteer: Boy Scouts of America-Eagle Scout, Troop 1543, Relay for Life, Church alter server
- Pennsylvania State University: Chemical Engineering
Heather Ann Wells
- 3-year varsity soccer letterwoman/ captain
- All Section player 2012, Tom Zubritsky Heart of Courage award
- 2-year varsity track letterwoman
- Record setter for BVA girl’s sprints: 100, 200, 400 meter
- 2013 Valedictorian National Honor Society, Women in Science award
- MIC/SADD, Spanish Club, Interact Club, Student Advisory Council
- Volunteer: Toys for Tots, Rostraver Food Bank, Relay for Life, Church and Rotary
- Washington & Jefferson College: Biology (pre-med)
Bentworth High School
Jesse Paul Martin
- Varsity Football freshman and sophomore letterman
- MSA Sports WPIAL, Class A Players’ to Watch
- Varsity Soccer junior and senior letterman
- Varsity Wrestling freshman
- 3-Year Varsity Track & Field letterman/captain
- WPIAL finalist medalist 3-years, Mid Mon Valley Classic 4x8 champion 2013, 4x8 runner-up 2012, 400m 3rd place 2012-13, 800m 3rd place 2013 4x4 3rd place, Black Hills Championship, 4x8 meet record, 400m runner-up 2013, Washington Greene County Coaches Meet Multiple Medalist (400m, 800m, 4x8)
- National Honor Society, Army National Scholar Athlete award 2013
- ROTC National Scholarship Duquesne University/Robert Morris University
- Congressional nomination to West Point Military Academy
- Westinghouse Science Honors Institute Graduate
- Delegate for FBLA, FBLA Regional 2-time medalist, Varsity Club
- Volunteer: Bentworth Youth football camp, Carnegie Mellon Elementary Science Fair
- Duquesne University: Chemistry
Taylor Pompei
- 4-Year Varsity Soccer letterwoman
- All Section, All Star Game
- 2-Year Varsity Basketball letterwoman
- All Section, All Star, Roundball Classic, 2nd Team All District
- 4-Year Varsity track letterwoman
- 4-time WPIAL Qualifier, 3-time WPIAL finalist
- National Honor Society, award, clubs, organizations
- Edinboro University: Nursing
Brownsville Area High School
Brandon Myrga
- Varsity Track and Cross Country letterman
- Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame
- Scholar Athlete award for Cross Country
- National Honor Society, French Honor Society Superintendent’s Achievement award, Fayette County 4.0 club, Rotary Youth Leadership award and Student of Month, Interact President, Student Council President, The Future is Mine, Big Brother Big Sister, Ski Club Treasurer, Senior Cabinet
- Volunteer: PA Highway Clean-Up, Baseball Field Clean-Up, Bible School Teacher
- University of Pittsburgh: Chemistry / Pre Med
Miranda Arison
- Varsity softball letterwoman/captain
- MVP Junior year, All County Team
- 3-year Junior Olympic travel softball team/captain, Team Impact
- National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Superintendent’s Academic Excellence, Rotary/Falcon Student of the Month, Brownsville Faculty Scholarship and the Challenge Program Attendance award, Fayette County Chamber of Commerce Student of the Month as a junior
- Tri-Hi-Y, Youth Education Association, Yearbook Editor, Senior Cabinet Student Council, Newspaper
- Volunteer: Nemocolin Castle maintenance decorating, pancake breakfast, Catholic Youth Services
- Allegheny College: Biology pre-med
California Area High School
Benjamin V. Thomas
- Varsity football
- Varsity track
- Varsity Soccer letterman/captain
- 2012 All Section Player
- Wendy’s High School Heisman State Finalist, Rotary Student of the Month, Centennial Chevrolet scholar/athlete Spotlight
- National Honor Society President, Senior Class Treasurer
- Valedictorian, US Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete, Pennsylvania Academy of Science first place, PA Music Educators District Orchestra, PMEA District Band, WCMEA Band
- Scholarships: Charleroi Academic League, Jesse Conway Band Memorial, Roscoe Lions Club, BCR Lions Club, Binstow Lowhill Lions Club, Allegheny College Trustees, Old Trails Business/Professional Women Pamela Antonio Memorial, Burger King
- Leo Club President, Students against Destructive Decisions President, Marching Band-drum line captain, Drama Club, Academic League, Model UN, Student Forum, Student Council, Rotary World Affairs Institute, Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Conference, Presidents Volunteer Service, Linda Harry Serene Leadership Institute
- Volunteer: Church audio/visual operator, California United Methodist Church’s Case and Share Shop, Vacation Bible School Assistant
- Allegheny College: Biology
Christina Puhnaty
- Varsity 4-year softball letterwoman
- 2012-13 softball MVP
- Centennial Chevrolet Scholar Athlete award, Rotary Youth Leadership, George Novak Junior Scholar Athlete award, Serene Leadership Institute Graduate, California Rotary December Student of the Month, Washington County ZONTA school representative, Rachel Carson Book award
- National Honor Society President, Valedictorian, Class President 2009-2013, Model United Nations delegate, SADD, Blood Drive President, Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science, 2012 Musical as a dancer
- Volunteer: Usher, CHS 50 year reunion, Cancer walk
- University of Pittsburgh: Biology
Charleroi Area High School
Luke Simpson
- Varsity 4-years swimming letterman/captain, qualifier, 2-time PIAA state swimming finalist
- Varsity track & Field
- National Honor Society
- Clubs: Physics, Calculus (Treasurer), Leo, Spanish FBLA, Drafting Student Council, Executive Committee, Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Musical Stage Tech $ Build Crew
- Volunteer: Relay for Life, YMCA Day Care Counselor, Swim instructor, Baby care
- Clarion University of Pennsylvania: Engineering
Natalie Baker
- Varsity 4-year soccer letterwoman
- Jack Stevenson M.V.P. award-Female Soccer Player
- Varsity basketball
- Cheerleader
- National Honor Society
- Scholarship recipient: Corey Joseph Adams, Pittsburgh Italian, Italian American Heritage Society of Washington County, Cougar Boosters, I.O.O.F., Rotary Club, Pamela Antonio, Knights of Columbus, Rupert Chiropractic
- Student Council, Executive Committee, Sophomore Class President, Calculus Club, Astrology Club, Musical (Little Shop of Horrors)
- Volunteer: Cantor/folk choir, Church programs, Relay for Life, Vince Vitori Memorial Service
- University of Pittsburgh: Health Services
Elizabeth Forward High School
Matthew Casturo
- Varsity 3-year Soccer letterman/captain
- All Tournament player
- Varsity 3-year cross country letterman/captain
- Varsity 1-year track and field
- Scholar Athlete School award, Wendy’s Heisman award
- National Honor Society, Academic Distinct graduate
- Outstanding Young Citizen Trib award (elite 20 nominee), Warrior Pride award, Engineering Prospect awards (Notre Dame, Purdue), Keystone Boys State Citizen
- Green Club President, Interact Vice President, Political Science Club Vice President, SADD, Math Club
- Volunteer: Relay for Life co-chair, CPR class, Youth group leader, Stair-lift program, Food Bank, Clean-Up, Rotary 5-K, Boston for Boston 5K creator
- Ohio State University: Environmental Engineering & Business
Braelyn N. Tracy
- Varsity 4-year swimming letterwoman/captain
- WPIAL champion (200 yard freestyle/500 yard freestyle)
- PIAA State Medalist 4 times
- 2012 USA Swimming Junior National Qualifier
- 8 USA Swimming Section Qualifier, undefeated for four Years in dual meets, 2013 USA Swimming Academic All-American
- Varsity 3-year Cross Country letterwoman/captain
- 2-time PIAA Championship qualifier
- Elizabeth Forward Warrior Pride award
- Physics Club Vice President, Leo Club, Homecoming Court
- Volunteer: 2012 Scott Folmer Service award with exceptional students, Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Center
- California University of Pennsylvania: Mortuary Science
Monessen High School
Zachary Abrahamsen
- Varsity Football
- Varsity 3-year Soccer
- National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor President
- Westinghouse Science Honor Inst., Academic League, HOBY
- Rotary and Lions Club Student of the Month
- Leo club Vice President, SADD
- Volunteer: Highway beautification Clean-Up, Car wash, broom sales
- University of Pittsburgh: Engineering
Alexis Malarbi
- Varsity 4-year softball letterwoman
- National Honor Society, French National Honor Society President
- Rotary and Lions Club Student of the Month
- Superintendent’s Achievement award
- SADD President, Yearbook, Student Government, French Club
- Volunteer: Leo Club
- Seton Hill University: Physician’s Assistant
Ringgold High School
Chris Spahr
- 2-Year Varsity Football letterman
- 3-Year Varsity Indoor Track letterman/captain
- Qualifier for TSTCA, Distance Medley Relay, 4x400 meter relay, 4x800 meter school record holds 800 meter dash
School record (2:02.68) - 4-Year Varsity Outdoor Track letterman/captain
- Qualifier for WPIAL championship, School record 4x800 meter relay
School record for the 800 meter dash (1:59.76) - National Honor Society
- Class President, The Future is Mine, Peer Jury, Prom Court
- University of Pittsburgh: Legal Studies
Cristina Wills
- 2-year Varsity Soccer letterwoman/captain
- All Section
- 3-Year Varsity Indoor Track letterwoman/captain
- Qualifier for TSTCA championship, school record holder in 60m, 400m, 4x4m relay
- 3-Year Varsity Outdoor Track letterwoman/captain
- Qualifier for WPIAL championship
- National Honor Society, Student of the Month
- Interact, SADD, The Future is Mine Vice President
- Volunteer: VFW, Kids Soccer camp
- California University of Pennsylvania
Yough High School
Domanic Miele
- Varsity 3-year basketball letterman/captain
- All-Tournament Team MVP
- National Honor Society
- Student Council, Senior Council
- Volunteer: Senior Mentor
- St Vincent College: Biology/Chemistry
Natalie Beers
- 2-year Varsity soccer letterwoman
- Tri-Athlete award 2011, 2012
- 4-year Varsity softball letterwoman
- 2-year Varsity Basketball letterwoman/captain
- East Allegheny Tournament MVP
- National Honor Society
- Rotary Student of the Month, Senior Committee, Student Council, Homecoming Court, Prom Committee
- Volunteer: Senior mentoring, Highway Clean Up, Youth basketball coach
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania: Accounting
Past Students
Read about our past Student Scholar Athletes here!