From championship-winning athletes to longtime coaches who helped shape Pennsbury’s sports programs, 12 new members have joined the Pennsbury High School Athletic Hall of Fame, celebrating their accomplishments on and off the field.
Greg Bickel, Tim Cole, Tor Covello, Zakiyyah Herrera (Richardson), Brooke Muth, David Oppenheimer, Molly Phillips Scarlato, Samuel Raywood, Sam Ruta, Krista Van Wert Weimer, John “Doc” Wilson and Joseph Yasalonis were introduced at Pennsbury’s home football game on Friday, Sept. 25, a 42-0 win over Abington, then formally inducted on Saturday, Sept. 26 at Makefield Highlands in Yardley.
Here's a look at the newest inductees.
Bickel (2007) was a second-team all-state selection at defensive end on Pennsbury’s 2006 District One champion football team. A three-year varsity starter, he also earned all-Suburban One League recognition. He also ran track.
“It’s been a really nice experience to see everyone,” Bickel said. “I’ve seen not only the other inductees but also people I played with. A lot of my family came out to support me.
“I was really looking forward to coming back to the field. I poked my head in the field house and it’s a little smaller than I remember, but it’s still the same field house.
“Football was the biggest part of my life when I was in high school and not just the big plays but the bus rides, the time spent just being with the team, all those memories came back. Being a part of Pennsbury football was so important to me.
“I was with my daughter Blair doing archery when I got the call that I was being inducted and I was totally shocked and surprised. I wasn’t expecting it at all. It was great.”
Cole (2002) was a standout in volleyball, earning first-team all-state as a senior. He was all-SOL and a two-time team captain.
Covello (2008) was a first-team All-State choice in his junior and senior years in volleyball, earning All-American recognition as a senior. He was also all-district in his final two seasons for the Falcons.
Herrera (2012) ran indoor and outdoor track, winning the 100 meters at the SOL spring championships four times, the 200 three times and the 400 twice. She finished second in both the 100 and 200 at districts as a senior.
Muth (2007) was the winning pitcher in Pennsbury’s 3-2 PIAA championship victory over Latrobe for the 2007 softball state title. She also played on the 2005 state championship softball team. She was a four-year starter in softball and a three-year starter in volleyball.
“Winning states is definitely my best memory,” Muth said. “We were just a well-rounded team. We fit together. (Coach Frank) McSherry did a great job with us. I don’t see everyone much now but the memories are still there. That was a great time.”
Oppenheimer (1974) was an All-Big 8 selection in football as a senior in 1973 and was second-team all-state. He also received the Pennsbury Gold Award in track in 1974.
He taught physical education and coached football, track and wrestling at Pennsbury and ended his career as a middle school assistant principal at Charles Boehm.
“It really hit me at the football game,” he said. “It brought back a lot of memories and I was so glad they won. I was the ninth grade football coach at Pennsbury and the head coach (John Greiner) was one of my players so that was really cool.”
Phillips Scarlato (2011) earned nine varsity letters, highlighted by being named first-team all-SOL and first-team All-Southeast PA in soccer. She was a 2011 Falcon Award winner. She was also a standout in basketball and volleyball.
Raywood (2015) was a three-year starter in football, playing on the 2014 District One championship team, the 2015 Bucks County All-Star Classic and the Blue/Grey All-American Game. He also ran track for Pennsbury.
Ruta (2020) was a three-year starter in baseball. He was a first-team all-SOL National Conference selection in 2018 and 2019 and received the John Bodnarik Award for outstanding school citizenship in 2020. In college, he set West Point (Army) career records in home runs (40) and RBIs (187, also a Patriot League record). He signed with the Kansas City Royals as an undrafted free agent in 2024, advancing to Class AA in 2025 before being placed on military leave this spring.
He hopes to return to the Class AA team, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, soon.
“Pennsbury baseball was awesome,” Ruta said. “It shaped me in ways that helped me to continue my career to the next level, both at West Point and with the Royals. I gained some friendships that will last a lifetime. For example, yesterday I golfed with three former teammates that I hadn’t seen since I graduated, and it was like we hadn’t missed a minute.
“Pennsbury baseball is very near and dear to my heart and it’s awesome to be inducted. I didn’t know the call would come this soon. I was at Fort Benning in Georgia when I found out, and it was so exciting.
“It’s great to be here with so many great people and great athletes.”
Van Wert Weimer (2001) pitched the Falcons to the 2001 PIAA softball championship, earning Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year honors. She also earned the Pennsbury Falcon Award.
Wilson was the girls’ head swim coach for 18 years and led the boys’ program for 17, posting a .705 winning percentage and guiding the girls to the 2003 District One Class 3A title. The boys were the SOL champs in 2009 and 2010. Wilson died in 2014.
Yasalonis (2010) was a three-year starter, playing on the 2008 and 2009 District One champion volleyball teams and a pair of state runner-up squads. He was first-team all-state as a senior, as well as being named a high school All-American and the SOL Player of the Year. He holds the school career record for kills (671) and blocks (188) and the single-season record for kills (347).
Hall of Fame committee members Ginnie Napolitano and Robert Crouch announced the recipients of the Jean Filotei Unsung Hero Scholarship Award. Each student received a $500 scholarship.
This year’s winners are Alayna Barnhard, Abigail Hicks, Nolan Kolanko, Annaliese Manus, Emily Panaro, Charlotte Rittersbach, Sara Savkur, Dante Sciolla, Riley Stevenson and Bergen Wilhelm.
Scholarships and the Hall of Fame are made possible by donations. Those interested in donating can do so online.
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