Tri-County Chapter to induct 7 new members

The Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Tri-County Area Chapter will welcome seven new members at its annual banquet on October 27 at Sunnybrook Ballroom in Pottstown.

Among the new members will be Creighton Gunabich, Frank Lacey, Tim Hughes, Theresa (Minzola) Afflerbach, Joanne (Kehs) Conte, Jodi Calvario and William “Trip” O’Donnell. Here is a brief look at each member to be honored at the banquet:

• Creighton Gubanich was an outstanding baseball player at Phoenixville before graduating in 1990. He was named 2nd Team All-PAC 3B, 1st Team All-Area DH, hit safely in 12 of 13 games (1988). Named 1st Team All-PAC 3B, 1st Team All-Area & Inquirer 3B (1989). Sr year (1990) named 1st Team All-PAC C, 1st Team All-Area, Daily Local, Inquirer C and was named PA Gatorade Player of the Year. The Phantoms were PAC champions 1988-1990 & District I champs in 1990. He had a HS career batting average .429, amassed 87 hits, 12 doubles, 14 home runs before being drafted in the 6th round by Oakland A’s. He played for 13 minor league seasons for 8 teams. His major league highlight was hitting a Grand Slam for the Boston Red Sox for his first hit in the major league!

• Frank Lacey became one of the most accomplished athletes at Pottstown before graduating in 1965. He excelled in Track, Cross Country, and Basketball. A modest man, Lacey went about his business very quietly amassing rooms full of trophies for his many accomplishments. He broke track and cross country records nearly every time he ran. He broke every cross country record in the ChesMont in 1964 & ’65. He broke the mile run record 3 straight years (1963-’65), and received the Gold Medal in the 880 and mile in District I two years. He earned the Outstanding Athlete Award at the prestigious Venzke Relays beating rival James Franey once again. He was a tireless defender on the basketball court and averaged 20 pts per game in 1964. He became a legendary “City League” player in the Pottstown area for years after graduating from PHS.

• Tim Hughes was a standout football player at St. Pius X HS. He was a 2-way player, who was named 1st Team All-ChesMont TE, and 2nd Team All-ChesMont DE in his Sr year in 1984. He played Tight End at KutztownU and was named PCAC Player of the Week 1 time during his Sr. season. He led the Golden Bears in receptions with 46 that year. From 1994-2011 was the Defensive Coordinator at Pottsgrove and coached on many championship teams (6 PAC titles, 1 District I title). He has developed one of the top girls’ softball teams in the state. Head Coach at Spring-Ford from 1997-present: 374-112-1 overall record (nearly 500 games) including: 9 PAC championships, 20 District I appearances/1 title, 6 PA state appearances/twice making Final 4.

• Theresa (Minzola) Afflerbach was a two-sport star at Boyertown High School, Minzola-Afflerbach was MVP in field hockey, leading her team to a District III championship, and led her lacrosse team to PAC-10 & District I championships in 1994 and 1995. She was selected to he Pa. School Girls All-Star team, and named AllAmerican by USWLA. She received scholarship to West Chester University, where she was a two-time Division II Athlete of the Year, a first team All-American, PSAC and West Chester Athlete of Year in 1998 & 1999 and named to several national Division II teams. Her most prestigious honor was being inducted into West Chester’s Hall of Fame in 2013.

• Joanne (Kehs) Conte had an almost unbelievable track career at Perkiomen Valley HS. Kehs-Conte is remembered for her stamina and endurance and numerous records throughout the county and state. At PV, she accomplished the following: 10-time PIAA Track & Field State Champion (most in state history at graduation/1982); eight-time PIAA Team State Champion; eight-time District I Champion: seven-time BuxMont Champion; seventime BuxMont Team Champion; National Indoor High School, District I and PIAA State record holder; Prep All American; Dannehower Scholar-Athlete Award (first female); Congreeman’s Medal of Merit. 4.0 GPA. She then went to Villanova, where she accomplished the following: World record holder and National Champion (4x800 relay indoor/1985; five-time NCAA Indoor All American; six-time Big East Indoor Champion; seven-time Big East Champion; and three-time Academic All-American. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with 3.91 grade-point average and was inducted into Villanova’s Varsity Club Hall of Fame.

• Jodi Calvario arrived at The Hill School in the second year of co-education and quickly became the first female athlete leader. She excelled in water polo and on the swim team. She led the Water Polo team in assists and goals in 2001 &’02, and led the team to the New England Championship in 2001, while being named tournament MVP. She was named All-American in water polo for her accomplishments in 2002. She also set records in swimming at Hill School and won its Athletic Award for both swimming and water polo. She not only excelled in the water but also the classroom and the school community. She won many awards, including the Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Leadership in Enhancing Morale, Spirit and Character. She has an award named after her “The Jodi Calvario ’03 Award”, given out annually in testament to the tremendous impact she left on the Hill School. “Her life measured short in years but continues to be honored by thousands”…… a memorable quote about Jodi’s life.

• William “Trip” O’Donnell attended the Hill School from 1960-1963; while there, he excelled on the golf course. He was the Hill’s champion all four years, and the Eastern Interscholastic champion in 1962. He was the Philadelphia & Pa. champion in 1963. After graduating from the Hill, he accepted a scholarship to Duke University for golf. He was the No. 1 player in 1965, 1966, & 1967 (captain) for the Blue Devils. Finished second in ACC Individual championships in 1965, and Duke won the ACC championship in 1966. He then excelled in many Philadelphia and Pa. amateur events, including qualifying for the U.S. Amateur in 1964 & 1965. He shot the course record at Brookside Country club in 1966 with a

64. He then went to the Wharton School of Business to pursue his love for golf. He then started Arnold Palmer Golf Course Design Company, was the Director of Golf, and served as liaison between himself and Arnold Palmer.

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Tickets for the banquet, again being held at Sunnybrook. are $40 and available to the general public. They include admission and dinner.

Additional information may be obtained by calling 484-300-1971.