Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle headlines 2026 WPIAL Hall of Fame class

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | 11:06 AM

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Kurt Angle was an impact wrestler at many levels for more than 30 years.

He was a professional champion and a member of several pro wrestling halls of fame. He won Olympic gold after a standout Division I tenure at Clarion.

But before he made his mark in front of national and international audiences, he delivered the goods in his hometown as a two-sport star — wrestling and football — at Mt. Lebanon High School.

His accomplishments with the Blue Devils, as well as all he has done since, will be celebrated with a group of athletic greats June 5 as part of the Class of 2026 of the WPIAL Hall of Fame.

Trish Alderson, who will share the stage with Angle and more than a dozen other individuals and teams at the hall of fame ceremony, was almost at a loss for words Wednesday morning as the former standout softball star at Chartiers-Houston and now a record-setting coach at her alma mater took in the feeling of being selected for induction into the WPIAL Hall of Fame.

“It’s very exciting, overwhelming and surreal,” said Alderson, who will share the hall-of-fame honor with fellow Chartiers-Houston graduate Phil Mary, an accomplished wrestler at the WPIAL and PIAA levels.

“I sometimes don’t think of things like (a hall of fame) because I am still involved in coaching. Just knowing and reading about the accomplishments of everybody else in this class, it is truly amazing. I am so honored to be a part of this group.

This year’s class, the 19th to earn induction, was introduced Wednesday morning at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at the Sen. John Heinz History Center.

Joining Angle, Alderson and Mary as hall of famers in the athletes category are Hempfield track and field stars Bridget Guy-Williams and Maddie Holmberg-Nickal, Derek Moye (Rochester, football) and Jordan Whitehead (Central Valley, football).

Guy-Williams, who captured the PIAA pole vault title as a senior in 2014 and set multiple school records in the event before continuing on to a career that took her to the Paris Olympics in 2024, said it is a true honor to be inducted with Holmberg-Nickal, a longtime friend before becoming teammates at Hempfield.

“Maddie and I go way back,” said Guy-Williams of Holmberg-Nickal, who won four PIAA championships and captured nine WPIAL titles, setting multiple WPIAL records during her time with the Spartans before an equally successful career at Penn State.

“We always joke that we were each other’s first friend outside of family. Our careers really paralleled each other the whole way through. Not only has she been a tremendous teammate through the years, but she still is one of my best friends outside of track and field. I couldn’t think of anyone else who I would want to be inducted with more than Maddie.

“It’s been cool, through all of this, to relive some of those great high school moments and also see how life has unfolded since then.”

Joe Salvino retired in 2025 from a 41-year basketball coaching career that included multiple WPIAL championships at Monessen and a WPIAL title at Belle Vernon in his final season in 2024-25.

He beamed with pride Wednesday as ceremony emcee Chris Shovlin read off his long list of accomplishments.

Salvino finished his career with a 745-313 record, ranking him second all-time in WPIAL history for career wins.

He will share enshrinement with fellow basketball coaching legend Tim McConnell, who won multiple WPIAL titles with both the Chartiers Valley boys and girls and won 684 games in his career.

“When I reflect back on it, it’s an honor to be recognized in this class for doing something that I love,” said McConnell, who became the fastest coach in WPIAL boys history to reach 500 career wins.

“It is a great class of inductees, and I am excited.”

This year’s induction ceremony will be at the DoubleTree Hotel in Green Tree.

“It is an absolute honor to be able to recognize some of the great talent that has come through the WPIAL over the years,” WPIAL executive director Vince Sortino said at the soon-to-be rechristened Franco Harris Sports Museum.

Sortino was quick to recognize Anne Madarasz, chief curator and historian with the Heinz History Center and director of the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, for her tireless efforts in helping put the rich history of the WPIAL on display throughout the museum.

Madarasz’s partnership with the WPIAL will be celebrated with her hall-of-fame induction in June.

“One of our most important partnerships is with the WPIAL,” she said.

“Now that we have received a very generous gift and kids are free (to the history center), this is a story that can provide inspiration, provide guidance and provide a life for these kids to see that sports matter. The things that they learn on the courts, on the playing field, they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. If they are imbued with the values that the members of our great (WPIAL induction) class represents this year, it can be life changing.”

In addition to the athletes and coaches, football official Charlie Hunnell will be inducted as well as the 1981 Mt. Lebanon boys soccer and the 2004 Hopewell girls volleyball teams.

The Heritage inductee this year is Jim Conklin from Waynesburg Central wrestling.

The Courage Award will be presented to both Ethan Keener (South Fayette) and Warren Timko (Upper St. Clair).

Here’s a closer look at the inductees:

Tricia (Fabian) Alderson (Athlete) – Led Chartiers-Houston to back-to-back WPIAL softball championships in 1987 and 1988 and a PIAA runner-up finish in 1987 … Compiled a 70-7 career pitching record, a PIAA record at the time, while throwing 13 no-hitters and one perfect game … Added 10 one-hitters, 12 two-hitters, and 30 shutouts, striking out 519 batters in 476 innings … Also excelled offensively with a .382 career batting average … Continued her career at Charleston (W.Va.) on a full softball and academic scholarship from 1988-92 … Named WVIAC Pitcher of the Year and WVIAC Scholar Athlete of the Year in 1991 after posting an 11-5 record and 1.21 ERA … Returned to Chartiers-Houston as softball coach in 2004 and has compiled a 462-145 career record through the 2025 season … Led her teams to a PIAA championship in 2010, six WPIAL titles, four WPIAL runner-up finishes and 15 PIAA playoff appearances in 22 seasons … Currently serves as a seventh-grade English teacher at Chartiers-Houston and has earned multiple Coach of the Year honors.

Phil Mary (Athlete) – Helped lead Chartiers-Houston to WPIAL team wrestling championships in 1981 and 1982 and a PIAA team championship in 1982 … Two-time WPIAL individual champion and WPIAL runner-up once … Captured two PIAA individual championships and placed third once, winning state titles as a sophomore and junior … Compiled a 109-6-1 career record and earned two All-America honors … Member of the Pennsylvania team champion at the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic and the Class AAA team winner in the Challenge of Champions at Penn State … Continued his wrestling career at Clarion from 1983-86, placing fourth in both the PSAC and EWL in 1986 … Started for the undefeated 1985-86 Clarion squad that finished 17-0-1 and ranked third nationally … Transitioned into coaching and compiled a 113-49 career record … Served as assistant coach at Chartiers-Houston, head coach at Chartiers-Houston and Peters Township (1990-99) and assistant coach at Canon-McMillan (2001-06).

Jordan Whitehead (Athlete) – Helped lead Central Valley to the 2014 WPIAL football championship and a PIAA runner-up finish … Four-year starter and four-time all-conference selection at defensive back and running back … Guided the Warriors to a 45-7 team record and served as team captain as a senior … Finished his high school career as the school’s all-time leader in touchdowns with 68 and formerly the all-time leading rusher … Delivered a dominant senior season with 1,933 rushing yards on 148 carries, 24 receptions for 471 yards and 35 total touchdowns … Earned first-team all-state honors and was named a Tribune-Review Terrific 25 honoree … Nominated for Pennsylvania Player of the Year … Also starred in track and field as Central Valley’s all-time leader in the 100-meter dash (10.8) … Continued his career at Pitt, earning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and ACC Rookie of the Year honors in 2015 …… Selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and won Super Bowl LV with Tampa Bay following the 2020 season.

Kurt Angle (Athlete) – Captured the state wrestling championship in 1987 while also earning all-state honors in football at Mt. Lebanon … Compiled a 90-8 wrestling record over three varsity seasons … Continued his amateur wrestling career at Clarion, where he became one of the most accomplished wrestlers in NCAA history … Two-time NCAA Division I national champion, national runner-up in 1991 and three-time NCAA Division I All-American … Earned national recognition as the 1987 USA Junior Freestyle champion, a two-time USA Senior Freestyle champion and the 1988 FILA Junior World Freestyle champion … Achieved historic success on the international stage by winning a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, becoming the only WPIAL wrestler ever to claim an Olympic title … Later transitioned to professional wrestling, where he enjoyed a Hall of Fame career in WWE and is widely regarded as one of the most successful amateur wrestlers to ever compete in the sport.

Bridget (Guy) Williams (Athlete) – Captured the high school pole vault state championship while at Hempfield in 2014 and set multiple school records in the event … Continued her vaulting career at Virginia from 2015-19, where she was a three-time NCAA Division I All-American and a two-time Atlantic Coast Conference pole vault champion, setting UVA school records both indoors and outdoors in the vault … A six-time All-ACC performer who also served as a volunteer assistant coach post-graduation … Claimed the national title at the 2024 U.S. Olympic track and field trials with a clearance of 4.73 meters to earn her first Olympic berth representing the U.S. … Won the gold medal in the pole vault at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, and qualified for the finals at the 2023 World Athletics Championships … Made her Olympic Games debut at Paris 2024, competing in the women’s pole vault qualifying round and finishing among the top tier of international competitors.

Maddie (Holmberg) Nickal (Athlete) – A standout at Hempfield where she won four PIAA championships and captured nine WPIAL titles, including county and multi-event victories … Set all-time WPIAL records in the long jump and 400 relay and won 12 Westmoreland County championships, earning Westmoreland MVP honors three times … Four-year letterwinner who also achieved New Balance Nationals All-America status and was named 2014 PIAA Women’s Track Athlete of the Year and Tribune-Review Athlete of the Year … Continued her career at Penn State, where she became a three-time first-team All-American and one of the Nittany Lions’ most decorated multi-event athletes … Captured Big Ten championships in both the heptathlon and pentathlon, including a heptathlon title in 2021 and a pentathlon title in 2020, and set the Penn State heptathlon school record with 5,976 points … Earned NCAA Outdoor Championships All-America honors with a sixth-place heptathlon finish, and owns top marks among PSU’s all-time leaders in multiple events, including long jump and pentathlon

Derek Moye (Athlete) – Helped lead Rochester to the 2004 WPIAL Class A football title … Excelled as a multi-sport standout, winning PIAA Class 2A gold medals in both the 200-meter and 400-meter dash in 2007 … Was named first-team all-state in football and selected to play in the Big 33 Football Classic … Also earned Pittsburgh Tribune-Review all-star honors in basketball … Continued his football career at Penn State, where he played wide receiver from 2008-11 and served as a team captain as a senior … Finished his Nittany Lion career with 144 receptions for 2,395 yards and 18 touchdowns, ranking third in program history in receiving yards at the time and currently seventh all-time … Earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition in 2010 … Signed as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins in 2012 and later spent time with the New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans.

Joe Salvino (Coach) – Guided his teams to multiple WPIAL and PIAA championships over a storied career, including WPIAL Class A titles at Monessen in 1995, 2001, 2002, 2015 and 2017, a WPIAL Class 2A championship in 2011, and a WPIAL Class 4A championship at Belle Vernon in 2025 … Led Monessen to back-to-back PIAA championships in 1988 and 1989 and captured 21 section championships with the Greyhounds, along with three section titles at Belle Vernon … Compiled a 745-313 career record over 41 seasons as a head coach, ranking second all-time in WPIAL history for career wins … Never missed the playoffs during his head coaching career … Earned Associated Press Pennsylvania Small High School Coach of the Year honors in 1989 and received numerous Coach of the Year awards throughout his career … Inducted into the Mon Valley Hall of Fame in 2017 and was inducted into the Pittsburgh Basketball Club “Coaches” Hall of Fame in 2025 … Retired from coaching following the 2025 season after more than four decades.

Tim McConnell (Coach) – One of the most accomplished coaches in WPIAL basketball history, winning nine WPIAL championships overall, including six titles with the Chartiers Valley boys (tied for sixth-most in league history) and three WPIAL championships with the Chartiers Valley girls, along with a PIAA championship during an undefeated 31-0 season with the girls … Captured 24 section championships in 30 seasons as a head coach, including 19 section titles with the Chartiers Valley boys, four with the Chartiers Valley girls and one in his lone season at Bishop Canevin … Compiled a 684-160 career record (.810 winning percentage), highlighted by becoming the fastest coach in WPIAL boys history to reach 500 career wins … Coached three 2,000-point scorers (most in WPIAL history), along with 16 boys and three girls 1,000-point scorers.

Hopewell girls volleyball (2004) – One of the most dominant teams in WPIAL and PIAA history, capturing the WPIAL championship for a third consecutive season and winning the PIAA Class AA state championship, while also claiming section, Midwestern Athletic Conference, Montour tournament, Blackhawk tournament and State College tournament titles … Finished the season undefeated in section play at 12-0 and entered the year with a 59-0 record against WPIAL opponents … Featured a roster led by Christa Harmotto, the 2004 Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year, PrepVolleyball.com All-American, Penn State standout, USA Women’s National Team member and two-time Olympic participant (2012, 2016) … Produced five Division I volleyball players and multiple additional collegiate athletes.

Warren Timko (Courage) – Three-year letter winner for Upper St. Clair, competing on both the offensive and defensive lines and earning the respect of teammates and coaches for his toughness and commitment … Member of the 2022 WPIAL finals team and the 2024 and 2025 WPIAL semifinalist teams … Warren’s football career was interrupted by a cancer diagnosis that required brain surgery and months of treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital … Demonstrated strength and resilience throughout his recovery, ultimately overcoming the odds and ringing the bell at St. Jude … Returned to the sidelines and was honored on Senior Night … Warren was voted homecoming king, a reflection of his character, leadership and spirit … A true champion whose courage, perseverance and heart extend far beyond the game.

Anne Madarasz (Contributor) – Has served the Sen. John Heinz History Center for more than 33 years and holds the roles of chief curator and historian and director of the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum … Oversees the museum’s collecting and interpretation and has led extensive efforts to collect, preserve and share the stories of high school athletes, teams, coaches and communities throughout Western Pennsylvania and nationally … Directed the team that developed the award-winning Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, which opened in 2004 … Partnered with the WPIAL to plan and celebrate the league’s 100th anniversary in 2006 and has served as a member of the WPIAL Hall of Fame committee since its founding in 2007 … Coordinated 16 WPIAL Sportsmanship Summits in collaboration with the league, all hosted at the History Center … … A former multi-sport student-athlete, Anne played field hockey and basketball and co-captained the lacrosse team at Great Valley in the District 1 Ches-Mont League, earning one varsity letter in basketball and four in lacrosse … Served as an assistant coach with East End lacrosse and as an assistant and head coach at Oakland Catholic from 2013-17, leading the program to its first Section co-championship and a second-place finish in Class 2A.

Charles Evans Hunnell (Official) – Began his officiating career in 1962 at age 19, becoming a card-carrying PIAA football official while a sophomore at Penn State and serving continuously through Dec. 1, 2025, spanning more than six decades … Officiated his first game in 1963 and went on to serve as a member of the Greater Pittsburgh Football Officials Association and later the Eastern Association of Intercollegiate Football Officials (EAIFO) from 1976-2025 … Volunteered as EAIFO Rules Interpreter beginning in 2002 and continued in that role for more than a decade after stepping away from the field … Concluded his on-field officiating career in 2014, transitioning to training and mentoring officials and helping establish ongoing post-season training sessions that continue today … A Vietnam Veteran who served in the U.S. Navy and later retired as a Lieutenant Commander, USNR … Also dedicated nearly 30 years to education as a teacher at Upper St. Clair and has remained active in service to education, history and athletics.

James “Jim” Conklin (Heritage) – The first Pennsylvania high school wrestler to win four state championships, compiling a 70-0-1 record during his prep career at Waynesburg Central, with his only draw coming as a freshman … Captained the Waynesburg squad as a senior and won all but one match by fall … Earned state titles in four consecutive seasons at four different weight classes from 85 to 120 pounds (1939–43) … Served as a navigator in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II … Resumed his wrestling career at Indiana, winning all but one match in each of two seasons … Continued at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School, competing for Pitt’s newly formed wrestling program from 1949-51, losing only one dual match each season while serving as team captain and being named an “Ideal Squad Member” by his teammates … Lost only four dual matches across eight years of prep and collegiate competition … Inducted into the Western Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Wrestling Halls of Fame and became the first recipient of the Outstanding Pennsylvania Award to be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Mt. Lebanon boys soccer (1981) – One of the most accomplished teams in program history, capturing the WPIAL championship and earning the PIAA Class AAA championship … Finished the season with a 30-1-2 overall record, with the lone loss coming in a preseason tournament before reeling off a 29-game unbeaten streak … Posted a dominant 13-0-1 league mark to claim the Section 4 title … Earned the WPIAL crown with playoff victories over Baldwin (2-1 in overtime), Springdale (2-1) and Upper St. Clair (4-1 in the championship final) … Featured senior Mark DuMars, voted the team’s most valuable player and leading scorer with 23 goals and 28 assists for 51 points, along with All-America candidate Rob Wilcher … Coached by John Wilcher, who guided the Blue Devils to sustained excellence and one of the finest seasons in school history.

Ethan Keener (Courage) – Ethan was diagnosed on Dec. 28, 2020, with severe aplastic anemia, a rare and life-threatening blood disorder, after being admitted to St. Clair Hospital and transferred to UPMC Children’s Hospital for extensive testing and treatment … Underwent immunosuppressive therapy, frequent blood and platelet transfusions, and later a bone marrow transplant after treatment proved unsuccessful, with the transplant process beginning Aug. 15, 2022 … Due to his compromised immune system, Ethan missed extended time from school between January 2021 and June 2021 and again during his transplant recovery, returning to in-person classes on March 27, 2023 … A three-sport athlete entering high school, Ethan’s participation was limited for multiple seasons due to medical treatment, followed by consecutive ACL injuries that ended two basketball and baseball seasons … Granted an additional year of eligibility by the WPIAL, Ethan returned to competition during his senior season before undergoing surgery that concluded his high school athletic career … Continued to support his teams while sidelined and served as a positive influence within his programs … In 2025, Ethan was named a Western Pennsylvania Positive Athlete Scholarship recipient and a UPMC Sports Medicine Comeback Player Award winner … Now healthy, Ethan is currently attending Kent State.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Central Valley, Chartiers Valley, Chartiers-Houston, Hempfield, Monessen, Mt. lebanon, Rochester, South Fayette, Upper St. Clair, Waynesburg