Scott part of local hall of fame class
Coleman Scott’s career has been filled with victories of every type, medals and accolades.
Next month, Scott will be able to boast about another accomplishment: leading a hall of fame class.
Scott will be honored with nine others at the induction ceremonies for the Washington-Greene Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. The ceremony will be held June 8 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Meadow Lands.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.wash-greenesportshall.org through PayPal or by calling 724-678-4325.
Scott joins Ron Dellapina (wrestling), Craig Dellorso (wrestling), Lee Fritz (baseball), Bob Grove (sports journalism) George Linck (athletic director), Nancy Merkle (volleyball), Morgan “Mike” Mosser (track and field), Kurt Schottenheimer (football) and Rodney Wilson in this year’s group. Scott of Waynesburg was originally elected in 2017 but because of a schedule conflict couldn’t attend and will be inducted this year. The 1971 Chartiers-Houston WPIAL championship football team will be inducted as the Team of Yesteryear.
The Chapter will also recognize former major league baseball players, Eddie Kazak of Cecil, and Andy Seminick of Muse, and the 1939 Waynesburg College football team – first team to play in a televised game – as Special Honorees.
The following are bios from a portion of the inductees. The other bios were published at an earlier date.
Coleman Scott
Waynesburg High School
Oklahoma State
Scott was a 3-time PIAA champion and 3-time Powerade champion at Waynesburg High School. He was Iron Man champion and Beast of the East champion in 2003.
In 2004, he was named National High School Wrestler of the Year, given the PIAA Outstanding Wrestler Award, the Dapper Dan Outstanding Wrestler Award, the US Dream Team Outstanding Wrestler Award, the David Shultz National Excellence Award and the Wade Shalles Pin Award winner.
Scott was a Cadet National Champion, 2-time Junior National Champion, and a 2006 Junior World Team member.
At Oklahoma State University, Scott was a 4-time NCAA Division I All-American, an NCAA Division I runner-up in 2007 and NCAA champion in 2008.
Scott was a 3-time National Team member and won an Olympic bronze medal in 2012.
He was assistant wrestling coach at Oklahoma State from 2008 – 2014, assistant wrestling coach at the University of North Carolina in 2014 and is currently the head wrestling coach at the University of North Carolina.
Nancy Merkle
Washington High School
West Virginia University
Merkle’s athletic career centered around volleyball and track.
She was team captain and four-year starter for the West Virginia
University volleyball team from 1982-85.
Merkle was a PIAA triple jump champion as a senior at Wash High in 1982. She also won the WPIAL championships that year in the 100-yard hurdles, 300-yard hurdles and the triple jump. She is one of seven females at the school to win individual gold medals at the PIAA Championships.
Merkle is tied for the WVU record for sets played at 142 in 1983 and is in the top 10 in some single-season records, including seventh with a .318 hitting percentage in 1984, first in blocked shots with 73 in 1984, fifth with 54 in 1983, second in total blocks with 185 in 1985 and fifth in blocks per set with1.41 in 1985.
In Merkle’s career, she ranks seventh in hitting percentage at .252, second in blocked shots (solos) with 186, fourth in blocks per set with 11.4, fourth in total blocks with 448 and sixth in block assists with 262.
She was All-Atlantic 10 Conference Second Team in 1984 and 1985.
Morgan “Mike” Mosser
East Washington High School
Washington High School
West Virginia University
Mosser attended East Washington and Washington High School. At Wash High, he lettered in golf, basketball, cross country and track and field, running the mile in 4:30 and the 880 in 2:01.
At East Washington, he lettered in basketball and football.
Mosser attended West Virginia University and competed in track. He set school records in the mile, half mile, 1,000 yards, 800 run, 1,500 meters, two-mile relay, distance medley and sprint medley.
Was one of the nation’s top miler in 1972 and won more than 50
meets during his Mountaineer career
Mosser was an NCAA Indoor Champion in the 1,000-yard run in 1972 and was the indoor college co-record holder (2:06.9). He was a four-time All-American in track and a four-time NCAA qualifier in cross country. He qualified for the 1972 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 800 meters.
Kurt Schottenheimer
Fort Cherry High School
Coffeyville Community College (KS)
University of Miami (FL)
Schottenheimer earned nine combined letters at Fort Cherry in football, basketball, wrestling and golf. In 1966, he was honorable mention
All-WPIAL as a quarterback and middle linebacker.
At Coffeyville Junior College, Schottenheimer lettered in football as a quarterback, running back, defensive back and linebacker. In 1968, he was named to the Junior College All-American team as a quarterback, leading the nation in passing yards.
At the University of Miami, he lettered in 1969 and started at safety and led the team in interceptions in 1970.
His coaching career began in 1978 and he has been assistant coach with Michigan State, Tulane, LSU, Notre Dame, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers. He was a defensive coordinator for the Chiefs, Redskins and Lions
Schottenheimer was defensive coordinator for the Virginia Beach Destroyers, who won the United Football League in 2011 and was head coach of the team in 2012.
Rodney Wilson
West Greene High School
Slippery Rock University
Wilson was a three-sport letterwinner at West Greene
He was a three-time All-Tri-County South Conference selection, a two-time Greene County Player of the Year and two-time All-State pick in football in 1992 and 1993
Wilson was a Big 33 nominee and the Dapper Dan Class A Player of the Year in 1993. He finished his career as the WPIAL all-time rushing leader with 6,304 yards and 75 touchdowns. He finished as the second-leading rusher in PIAA history and was a member of West Greene’s 1993 WPIAL Class A runner- up team.
Wilson was a two-time WPIAL wrestling champion and PIAA regional champion in 1992. He finished with a 106-25-1 record and a member of the West Greene WPIAL Class AA champion wrestling team in 1994.
Wilson was a four-year letterman at Slippery Rock and two-time All-PSAC conference team member as a linebacker in 1996 and a defensive back in 1997. He was a member of the 1997 PSAC champion Rock team and NCAA Division II quarterfinalist in 1997.
Team of Yesteryear
1971 Chartiers-Houston Football Team
The Bucs were the WPIAL Class B champions in 1971 and 1972 with back-to-back 10-0 records.
C-H was one of three Washington County teams to win consecutive WPIAL Championships, defeating Midland both times.
The Bucs averaged 44.9 points and allowed an average of 3.9. Its closest game was a 21-point win over Peters Township in the season-opener. The team was coached by Don Clendaniel.