Pryor among star-studded class
Team doctor for Ravens also in group
One of the best two-sport athletes in the WPIAL, a former athlete now the team doctor of the Baltimore Ravens, a legendary coach and a dominating team are among the inductees in the 2017 WPIAL Hall of Fame.
This year’s class was announced Thursday morning at a news conference at the Heinz History Center. Inductees were selected in five classes — athlete, coach, team, official and contributor. Two others were selected for Courage Award and one for the Heritage Award.
Among the 2017 Hall of Fame members are Jeannette’s Terrelle Pryor, who starred in football and basketball and is now in the NFL; Leigh Curl, orthopedic doctor of the Baltimore Ravens who was a standout two-sport athlete at North Hills; George Novak, legendary football coach who retired after last season at Woodland Hills; and McKeesport’s 1994 football team.
Novak is in a handful of other halls of fame.
“This one means the most,” he said. “I was shocked. For someone who grew up with the WPIAL, played in the WPIAL [at Munhall High School], and and coached in the WPIAL, this is the biggest honor you can get, to be honored by this league.”
Induction ceremonies will be May 26.
The 2018 class (with graduation year):
• Leigh Curl, North Hills, 1981: She is the team orthopedic doctor with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, but was a tremendous two-sport athlete at North Hills. Made the Post-Gazette Fabulous 5 for basketball and was the softball player of the year in 1981 before a highly successful career as a basketball player at Connecticut.
• Brian Generalovich, Farrell, 1960: Generalovich was an all-state selection in football and basketball at Farrell who went on to score more than 1,000 points in his Pitt basketball career and also played one year of football for the Panthers. He was drafted by three different professional sports teams.
• Dan Mazzocco, Baldwin, 2002: A distance runner who won WPIAL and PIAA championships in track and cross country and was All- American in cross country at Penn State.
• Nico Megaludis, Franklin Regional, 2011: One of the most accomplished wrestlers in WPIAL history with a 170-1 record, four WPIAL titles and three PIAA championships. Won NCAA championship at Penn State.
• Melanie Morgan, Gateway, 1989: A talented swimmer once featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd.” Won seven WPIAL individual titles and six PIAA championships and was five-time SEC champion at Florida.
• Terrelle Pryor, Jeannette, 2008: One of the best two-sport athletes in WPIAL history. In football, was the only player in Pennsylvania history to rush for 4,000 career yards and throw for 4,000. In basketball, scored 2,285 career points. Played receiver for the Cleveland Browns last year and has signed with the Washington Redskins.
• Annessa Schnur Steele, Butler, 2000: An outstanding track athlete who won 10 WPIAL titles in five different events during her career at Butler. Competed in heptathlon at Michigan and now coaches Butler track and field team.
• Joe Thomas, Uniontown, 1960: Ran the fastest mile of any runner in U.S. high school history in 1950. Won five WPIAL individual titles in track, two in cross country, two PIAA titles in track and two in cross country.
• Joe Walton: An all-state football player at Beaver Falls in 1953, but also was a talented basketball and baseball player. Was football All-Amercian at Pitt and eventually became coach of the New York Jets. He was Robert Morris’ coach for 20 seasons.
• George Novak: Retired after the 2016 season as the WPIAL’s third-winningest football coach with a record of 306-139-3. Won six WPIAL titles and 11 of his Woodland Hills players made the NFL. Also coached at Steel Valley,
• Robert “Tick” Cloherty: Officiated WPIAL football for 35 years and basketball for 25. Worked numerous WPIAL championship games.
• Jim Collins: Was assistant to the executive director of the WPIAL before passing away last year. Ran the WPIAL Hall of Fame since its inception in 2007.
• McKeesport football 1994: The Tigers finished 15-0 and won WPIAL and PIAA championships under legendary coach George Smith. Team featured star linebacker Brandon Short, who played in the NFL.
• Jerry Roman: Headed the WPIAL golf committee for a number of years before passing away in 2016. Was instrumental in getting the WPIAL golf championships at top area courses.
• Emmanuel Hilton, Blackhawk: An orphan in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Hilton was brought to this country by a family in the Blackhawk School District two years ago. Despite having no legs below the knees, Hilton played goalkeeper on the Blackhawk junior varsity soccer team.