Penn Hills Sports Hall of Fame to induct Class of ’19

By: Andrew John
Thursday, April 11, 2019 | 10:32 PM

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The Penn Hills Sports Hall of Fame will induct seven athletes, one contributor and two teams in its Class of 2019.

An induction ceremony will take place April 27 at the Green Oaks Country Club, 5741 Third St. in Verona.

The evening will include a 5:30 p.m. cocktail hour, dinner at 6:30 and the inductions at 7:30.

Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at PennHillsSportsHOF.com or by emailing Cindy McCue at cindymcq1@gmail.com. Congratulatory ads can be purchased as well at PennHillsSportsHOF.com.

Below is a look at half of this year’s class. Check out the other half next week.

HATTIE BRYANT

Community/Sports Contributor

Bryant was a fixture in the Penn Hills community. She helped organize and manage sports banquets at Lincoln Park Elementary, Seneca Junior High and Penn Senor. Bryant was a member of the PTA from Lincoln Park Elementary to Penn Senior High.

Bryant was one of the original boosters, and supporters of the Penn Hills Baseball Association Inc., Western Division Midgets and Mohawk Field-Lincoln Park. Bryant paved the way for the formation of the “Gridiron Mothers” booster club. Bryant was a member of the Penn Hills Parks and Recreation Committee and worked tirelessly with Hall of Famer Jack Schafer on projects throughout Penn Hills and Lincoln Park.

Bryant was instrumental in obtaining the Ross Street Park for the children and parents in the Ross Street area in Lincoln Park. Every Saturday in the spring, Hattie prepared a food basket for the Penn Hills track team’s all-day invitationals. Bryant was a volunteer and chairman for the gathering of food and preparing baskets for needy families in Penn Hills at Christmas time, and also clothing, which led to the formation of the Penn Hills Service Association.

Bryant was a supporter and contributor of the Penn Hills Boy Scouts, Troop 8 of Lincoln Park and the Penn Hills Charmelles drum and majorette marching and drill team.

Bryant, who was a member of the Penn Hills Bicentennial Committee, headed the first annual spring clean-up campaign in conjunction with the township, Action Housing, and the County Health Department, that led to the removal of tons of debris in Penn Hills.

CONSTANCE HURT GLOVER

Basketball

Glover, a 1987 graduate of Penn Hills High School, was a three-year letterman in basketball. Glover practiced with the varsity team as a ninth-grader while being bused from Linton Middle School. Glover, who played center, helped lead her teams to winning season during her entire high school career, in addition to gaining national recognition for the team in publications such as USA Today.

She also played four years at Pitt and holds the school’s record in rebounds and blocks.

Glover lives in Penn Hills and has worked for Highmark for 14 years. She is married to Jacob Glover and has two children, Julian and Imani, and one grandchild Juelz. Glover enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and volunteering at her church.

AKIDA McLAIN

Basketball

McLain, a 2004 graduate of Penn Hills High School, started on the road to basketball at a football camp, where he was advised by one of the coaches there to try basketball. Years later, McLain ended up becoming a NIKE All-American, the 2004 WPIAL Player of the Year and PIAA Player of the Year. He helped lead Penn Hills to WPIAL and PIAA titles. In one of his best games, McLain had 32 points, 13 rebounds, eight blocks and five dunks.

McLain’s accomplishments landed him a full athletic scholarship to play basketball at Boston College where he played in the ACC championship and also made earned a trip to the Sweet 16. McLain decided to transfer to IUP to play his senior season and major in sports management. McLain helped lead them to the program’s best season and a trip to the NCAA Division II national championship game.

After his collegiate career was over, McLain played professional basketball in Cyprus, Bulgari, Ukraine and Kosovo. In Kosovo, he contributed to his team winning the cup and was named MVP. McLain was selected to Kosovo league All-Star Game. He also made contributions to the teams he was on in the Croatia league, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Cyprus before tearing his Achilles in April 2017.

McLain, who resides in Pittsburgh, has been working in real estate and started his own company – Plenty Properties, LLC. McLain plans to mentor, coach, counsel and inspire community youth via camps and other needed services to accomplish their dreams in basketball.

VICTOR STRADER

Football

Strader, a 1997 Penn Hills graduate, was a four-year letterman in football. He was a three-year starter at defensive back and a two-year starter at running back. Strader played numerous positions such as tailback, fullback, flanker, cornerback and both safety positions and was the field goal holder for three seasons.

Penn Hills was 31-4 with 28 straight wins during his tenure. The Indians won the 1995 WPIAL and PIAA Class AAAA championships and were conference champions in 1995 and ‘96. In 1996, Penn Hills was ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today for nine weeks.

Offensively, Strader finished with 3,199 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns, along with 201 tackles, 11 interceptions and 14 fumble recoveries. Strader was an all-conference selection for two years at running back and safety and was an all-state selection at defensive back. He also was selected to play in the Big 33 all-star game.

Strader accepted a full football scholarship to Pitt, however, transferred and graduated from Slippery Rock where he played cornerback and graduated with a degree in safety and environmental management. Strader resides in Penn Hills and has a 4-year old daughter, Savannah Link-Strader.

GIRLS 1,600 relay

1992-93

In 1992, a group of sisters made Penn Hills girls track history by becoming the first WPIAL 1,600-meter relay champions and the WPIAL record holder (4:00.7). The team finished the season undefeated in Western Pennsylvania and third at the PIAA finals, running 3:58.9.

The relay team consisted of freshman Michelle Huntington, junior Lisa Huntington, junior Laquetta Carter and freshman Nina Carter.

The foursome had an impressive season again in 1993. The “Sister Act” as they came to be known, had never lost to a WPIAL or Western Pennsylvania team in two years. On May 25, 1993, they won their second straight WPIAL 1,600-meter relay championship in 4:00.1 seconds, more than six seconds faster than second-place Kiski Area.

Penn Hills was seeded in fourth-place going into the state championship meet at Shippensburg. Penncrest was seeded as the top seed with a time of 3:59.4. As it played out, the team ran a great race as it came down to the wire, placing third for the second year in a row.

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