Shaler Area School District is proud to recognize the athletic accomplishments and contributions of its alumni and supporters. This year four individual athletes and one team will be honored with induction into the Shaler Area School District Athletic Hall of Fame.
The Class of 2022 inductees are:
- Sam Bair, Jr. In high school, Sam was a two-time State Champion in the 800-meter event. He then earned a Silver Medal at the Pan-Am Games, and his 1969 time in the mile was the second fastest in the country. Sam and his son are only the 14th father and son combination in the world to run the mile in under four minutes. Sam coached and trained numerous Shaler Area athletes who won WPIAL and PIAA medals.
- Bill Heinz. Bill played an integral role in the success of the 1982 and 1983 Titan Varsity Baseball Teams. His 45 hits in 1983 are still a school record. He led the team in doubles, triples, homeruns, and batting average and was named to the All Section and All WPIAL All Star Teams. Bill continued playing baseball in college at Iowa where he is still ranked in the top 5 in 13 categories.
- Victoria Soeder. Victoria was a two-time WPIAL Champion in the triple jump. In total, she won three PIAA and two WPIAL medals in the hurdles, triple jump, and long jump. At Duquesne, Victoria is ranked in the all-time top five in the hurdles and long jump.
- Ben Yeckel. Ben, a current Shaler Area School District teacher and baseball coach, led the 1999 Titan Baseball Team to a WPIAL Championship and a PIAA Runner Up. His career record as a pitcher is 22-9 which is fourth best in school history. Ben’s 224 innings pitched is the most in Titan baseball history, and his 197 strikeouts are second all time. Ben was the 1999 Post-Gazette North Player of the Year, and he was named to the Post Gazette’s and Tribune Review’s All-Star Teams.
- 1981 Shaler Area Varsity Baseball Team. The 1981 Shaler Area Varsity Baseball Team, coached by Jerry Matulevic and Dave Fortun, compiled an overall record of 29-2 and were crowned WPIAL Champions before being eliminated in the PIAA quarterfinals. An amazing six players were named to the Post Gazette’s All North Team, 12 players went on to play in college, and three players played professionally.
The Shaler Area School District Athletic Hall of Fame was created in 2000 to recognize those individuals who have brought prestige and pride to the Shaler Area School District athletic program and to our community as a player, coach, administrator, or supporter.
Hall of Fame inductees can include individual athletes, teams or coaches, administrators, teachers, community contributors or supporters. The Hall of Fame Committee reviews all nomination forms to determine nominees to be selected and inducted into the Shaler Area School District Athletic Hall of Fame.
The Class of 2022 Hall of Fame inductees will be celebrated on Friday, Oct. 14, with their introduction prior to the varsity football game. The inductees will be inducted during a ceremony at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15, at the Shaler Area High School auditorium. Admission is free. No dinner banquet will be held this year. For more information about the event, contact Denise Dillon in the Athletic Office at 412-492-1200 ext. 1550.