Best of Bucks
The Bucks County Sports Hall of Fame announces its 2018 inductees
The Times
The Bucks County Sports Hall of Fame has announced its 2018 inductees.
The annual induction banquet will be held on Thursday, April 19, at 6 p.m. at the Brookside Manor at Somerton Springs, Bustleton Avenue and County Line Road in Feasterville.
Tickets cost $45.
Membership in the Sports Hall of Fame is open to all sports-minded individuals interested in perpetuating the memory of athletic greats who have brought recognition to the state during their careers — either through their own achievements, personal influence or contributions.
Meetings are held at noon the second Tuesday of each month at the Bucks County Visitor Center, 3207 Street Road in Bensalem. Annual dues are $7.
For banquet tickets, to become a member or to place an ad in the program, visit buckscountysportshof.com
Below are the inductees:
• Mike Chase, who was on the football and wrestling teams at Council Rock High School and later wrestled and officiated in college.
• Fred Conger, who played football at Neshaminy in the mid-1960s and who was a three-year starter at middle linebacker at the University of Kentucky and later coached at Morrisville from 1972–78.
• Sheree Davis, who was an excellent basketball player and a pitcher on Pennsbury’s softball team. She went on to pitch at Temple.
• Jim Dumont, who was a starting linebacker on Neshaminy-Maple Point’s football team for two years. He also played on the baseball team for four years. At Rutgers University, he was a four-year starter in football. In the seventh round of the NFL Draft, he was chosen by the Cleveland Browns. In 1984, he played for the Browns and in 1985 for the New Jersey Generals of the USFL.
• Mike Ellzy, who was an excellent basketball player at Bensalem High School from 1989–1993. He continued his athletic career at Bloomsburg University. Following graduation, he played for the Atlantic City Seagulls in the USBL.
• Traci Forchetti Fitzpatrick, who was a varsity starter in field hockey for four years at Council Rock. On the soccer field for two years, she was part of teams that were league champions and District One and state finalists. In two years on the varsity lacrosse team, she was named to the SOL First Team. She played field hockey at James Madison University.
• Joe Kiefer, who attended Bethlehem Liberty High School and was a member of the soccer, wrestling and track teams. At Wilkes University, in wrestling, he was an All-American and national runner-up in the College Division Tournament in 1966. At Pennsbury High School, he was named varsity head wrestling coach in 1986. Over 25 years, he posted a record of 411–115. He also coached the high school soccer team.
• Amy Pine McQuibben, who was a two-year varsity starter in field hockey at Neshaminy High School. On the soccer team, she was a varsity starter for three years. She was also a three-year starter on the basketball team.
• Matt Napoleon, who was coached in soccer by Hal Heffelfinger at Neshaminy High School. He was a two-year starting varsity player as goalie of the soccer team. In his senior year, he recorded 15 shutouts as the team won the PIAA championship. For five years in Major League Soccer — A League, he was the goalkeeper for the Miami Fusion, Columbus Crew and the Portland Timbers.
• Tony Petruccio, who was a member of the successful Bishop Egan High School football teams from 1971–75. At Penn State, he started for Joe Paterno for two years at defensive tackle. He was drafted in the NFL 10th round by the San Diego Chargers. That year, he played for the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL. In 1980, he was a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
• Carrie Neidhardt Voedisch, who was an outstanding field hockey player at Council Rock High School in the mid-1990s. At Wake Forest University, she was a starter on the varsity field hockey team for three years.
The legend inductees are:
• Maggie Moyer Baker, who was a prolific athlete at Central Bucks West High School from 1992–95. She was a three-year varsity letter winner on the basketball team. On the hockey field, she also earned three varsity letters and was named to the All-SOL First Team in her senior year. Soccer was probably her greatest accomplishment. She was a starter on the varsity team for four years. She led her team to three PIAA championships. She continued her soccer career at Rutgers University.
• Ed Cochrane, who began his career in athletics at Curwensville Joint High School. He lettered in football for three years and also lettered in basketball for two years and baseball for four years. His first coaching position was at Tyrone Area High School. He coached the varsity basketball team for four years with an overall record of 64–29. In 1972, he came to Bucks County as coach of the Pennsbury basketball team.
• Sheldon Per, who was the varsity boys basketball coach at Bensalem High School from 1980 to 2003. His teams won seven league championships. His most successful team was the 1980–81 team that won 25 consecutive games, placed second in District One and advanced to the PIAA quarterfinals. He finished his career with 312 wins, the most of any coach in Bensalem’s history. He founded the Bucks County Basketball Coaches Association and was its first president. In 1999, he was named the athletic director at Bensalem and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2007. ••