Apr 18, 2017 6 min read

At its annual banquet, the Tri-County Athletic Directors’ Association recognizes individuals who play a special part in athletics. Their participation or support in the program in their own way is vital and their devotion and loyalty invaluable.

Awards will be presented to these individuals at the Coach of the Year Banquet at 5 p.m., Sunday at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Meadow Lands.

Tickets for the banquet are $35 each and are on sale at Washington High School, 201 Allison Avenue, Washington, Pa., 15301. Reservations can be made by calling athletic director Mike Bosnic at 724-223-5085, ext. 2091.

All proceeds from the banquet benefit Special Olympics. The following are bios for these individuals:

Francesco “Frank” Franio

Franio, son of Nick and Hedi Franio of North Charleroi, enjoys motorcycles and music of all styles, but especially the Beatles and Grateful Dead. He likes to shoot arrows and go fishing with his mom and dad, Uncle Chuck, and brothers Santino and Mario. Franio is an avid WWE fan, so his family is always on the lookout for new wrestling action figures to add to this impressive collection.

Franio has participated on the local, sectional and state levels in bocce, bowling, basketball and golf teams for Washington County Special Olympics.

More than he likes music, sports or any of his hobbies, Franio is a compassionate person, and it’s undoubtedly his greatest gift. Franio inherently knows when someone is feeling sad or sick. He sits beside that person, puts his head on his or her shoulder and says encouragingly. “All done. All better.” He makes people feel better and see the best version of themselves.

Dick Kohl Memorial

Linda Messich, Mapletown High School

Messich is an elementary education graduate from California University in 1972. She received her masters degree in Health and Physical Education from West Virginia University. Messich retired from the Southeastern Greene School District in 2009 at the conclusion of a teaching career that lasted 37 years. After her retirement, she continued as athletic director at Mapletown High School, a position she has held for the last 21 years.

During two stints that totaled 12 years, Messich was head coach of the Lady Maples basketball team. In addition to her teaching and coaching duties, she served a two-year term as Girls Athletic Representative on the PIAA Board of Directors and currently sits on the WPIAL Board in the same capacity. She has served as WPIAL game manager for playoff contests in football and basketball.

In her spare time, Messich enjoys reading, attending sporting events, riding her Harley and hunting and fishing with her husband, George. The Messichs live in Greensboro and have four sons: Eric and Mark Gapen, and Matt and Mark Messich, and two grandchildren: Katie and David Gapen.

Bill Christy Sportsmanship Award

Emily Goodwin, West Greene High School

Goodwin spent four seasons each on the volleyball and softball teams. She is treasurer of the National Honor Society, a member of the Art Club, Environthon, Peer Mentoring, Senior Planning Committee and Science Club. Her grade-point average is 3.798.

Olympic Sports

Dave Derrico, Canon-McMillan girls soccer

Derrico brought his program its first state title when sophomore Addie Roman buried a shot into the corner of the net with 4:25 remaining in the first overtime to give Canon-McMillan a 1-0 victory over Central Bucks South in the PIAA Class AAAA championship match at Hersheypark Stadium.

The win capped a 22-1-1 season for Canon-McMillan, which became the second school from Washington County to win a girls soccer state title. Canon-McMillan was making its second appearance in the state final. The Big Macs lost to Central Bucks West in overtime in the 2014 Class AAA final. Derrico led the Big Macs to the WPIAL finals, which ended in a loss to Norwin.

Rick Tingle, Peters Township hockey

Peters Township completed a Cinderella season in ice hockey by sweeping two titles within four days. After winning the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League’s Class AAA championship with a resounding victory against top-seeded Central Catholic, 5-2, March 22 at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, the sixth-seeded Indians defeated Holy Ghost Prep, 2-1, in the state championship game March 25 at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center.

Will Barnes scored the game-winner against Holy Ghost Prep with 3:26 to play. Five different players scored against Central Catholic. PT finished with a 14-8-2 record.

Bill Christy Memorial Award Excellence in Officiating

Mike Larkin

Larkin began his officiating career in 1985 after a wrestling career that ran from age 5 to his first year of college. He comes from a fine family tradition in wrestling. His father, William, was a WPIAL champion under William “Doc” Harris and brother, Billy, was a member of Trinity High School’s 1970 championship team.

Larkin got into officiating because of a promise he made to his brother, who was later killed in a hunting accident in 1983. Larkin has worked three PIAA Individual Championships and one PIAA Team Tournament. He estimates working 30 Junior Olympic State Tournaments and has remained committed to the youth organizations.

A Field Operations Leader for Columbia Gas, where he has worked for 37 years, Larkin and his partner of 17 years, Cathy Whetzel, are parents of five children: Kristi Dalnokey, Bill Larkin, Mike Larkin, Matt Whetzel and Josh Battistone. Larkin loves to golf and was a successful golfer in high school.

Sam Puglisi

Puglisi is a registered official in PIAA softball, basketball and volleyball and NCAA softball. Puglisi serves as Coordinator of Officials and Secretary/Treasurer for the Washington-Greene Basketball Officials Association, the Bill Christy Softball Umpires Association and the Southwestern Volleyball Officials Association. He is the Supervisor of Umpires and Assistant Assigning Coordinator for the Collegiate Softball Umpires Association.

Puglisi is the District 7 Commissioner for PA USA/ASA Softball and serves as the President of the TWIST Softball Council in Washington. Puglisi and his wife Ann reside in South Strabane Township. They have two daughters – Dana (Jason) Winters and Leeann Puglisi (fiancé Matt Lombardo) – and two granddaughters, Clare and Anna Winters. The couple own Atomized Materials Co. of Cecil. Puglisi is an active member of Immaculate Conception Parish, where he is a Eucharistic Minister, member of the Knights of Columbus, and a member of the IC Choir.