8 to be inducted into Berks chapter of state Hall
The Berks County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame will induct eight members at its 45th annual banquet Sunday, Sept. 12, at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, Reading.
Bob Birmingham, Rick Ferry, Laura (Carter) Gingrich, Ted Jamula, the late Steve Little, Bob McCool, Keith Schlegel and Kim (Schroll) Underwood have been selected by the chapter’s voting members from this year’s list of nominees.
The inductions will bring the Berks chapter to 396 members, including 32 who have been inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
The 1997 and 2000 Oley Valley High School field hockey teams, which won PIAA Class 2A championships, also will be honored.
The banquet, which is open to the public, will begin at 5 p.m.
For more information, contact chapter president Troy Snyder at tsnyder@homesale.com.
Bob Birmingham
Has coached Holy Name and Berks Catholic girls basketball teams to a 596291 record since 1989. Owns the Berks County record for coaching victories in girls basketball. Teams have won five Berks and three District 3 crowns. His 1993 Holy Name and his 2018 Berks Catholic teams reached PIAA title games. Threesport athlete at Holy Name.
Rick Ferry
Men’s basketball coach and co-athletic director at Albright. Has guided the Lions to a 281-226 record, three MAC Commonwealth titles and three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in 20 seasons.
Wilson grad played basketball at Susquehanna and helped lead the team to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 in 1984.
Laura (Carter) Gingrich
Field hockey coach and associate athletic director at Alvernia. Has guided Golden Wolves to a 242-154 record in 19 seasons, two PAC and three ECAC titles and three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances. Solanco grad is Alvernia’s winningest field hockey coach and has been named league Coach of the Year twice.
Ted Jamula
Standout football player at Reading
High who twice was named to the All-Central Penn League team and was selected to play in the inaugural East/West All-Star Game. Received scholarship to play football at Lehigh. Started three seasons on offensive line. Named to the Kodak All-America first team in 1969. Drafted by the Cleveland Browns.
Steve Little
Reading High grad was a two-time world boxing champion. Defeated Michael Nunn in 1994 for the WBA super middleweight title and Joaquin Velasquez in 1996 for the IBC super middleweight title at FirstEnergy Stadium. Won 228 fights as an amateur. Finished pro career with a 25-17-3 record.
Bob McCool
Sports broadcaster for 30-plus years on local radio and statewide television. Has called more than 200 PIAA title games on PCN in football, basketball, baseball, soccer and volleyball, as well as track and field. Seven-time winner of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters award for outstanding coverage of a sporting event. Gov. Mifflin grad.
Keith Schlegel
Four-sport athlete at Fleetwood who excelled in soccer. Was named to All-State and All-America teams as a senior in 1989. Four-year college starter at East Stroudsburg. Threetime All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference pick. Made All-America team in 1994. Has coached Fleetwood boys to a 233-110-22 record in 16 years, three Berks titles, two District 3 titles and the 2018 PIAA
Class 2A championship.
Kim (Schroll) Underwood
Three-sport athlete at
Wilson who excelled in field hockey. Was named to high school All-America team. Played at North Carolina and helped lead Tar Heels to the 1995 NCAA title. Was named to AllAtlantic Coast Conference and All-America teams. Has coached Wilson to a 18965-2 record in 12 years and the 2019 PIAA Class 3A championship. Named national field hockey Coach of the Year in 2019.