West Jefferson Hills welcomes 4th Hall of Fame class

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, July 27, 2025 | 11:46 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

The West Jefferson Hills School District Hall of Fame was launched in 2019; its first two classes were inducted in March of 2023. The third class consisted of 24 graduates and contributors and two athletic teams.

The hall of fame program recognizes and celebrates Thomas Jefferson High School graduates who have distinguished themselves in the areas of academics, arts or athletics, as well as educators, staff and community members who have positively impacted the WJH community.

George Wilson, a longtime teacher and coach in the WJHSD who was inducted this year, served on the HOF selection committee.

“My focus is strictly on academics,” Wilson said. “When we get applications completed and returned, we do a thorough evaluation of each application assigning a numerical value to insure objectivity.

“We take great pride in hopefully identifying the ‘best and the brightest’ for that particular year. Those not selected remain in the pool of candidates for the next induction. We continually encourage our community to nominate candidates that are worthy of consideration. This year, we have a terrific and successful group in the academic area.”

Earlier this year, 17 graduates and contributors plus two athletic teams — representing a “sea of talent” — were honored as the WJHSD’s fourth HOF class.

Class of 2025 members were lauded April 12 at the Hall of Fame banquet, which was presented by U.S. Steel and held at Georgetown Centre.

First up on the banquet agenda was a celebration of the remarkable career accomplishments of Dr. David Bohonak, William E. Carr (space shuttle technician), Dr. Ronald Polcawich, Dr. Gary Sanders, Lt. Colonel Cory Scharbo and Dr. William Stoops. All were honored in the academics category.

Other esteemed guests were former TJ athletes Jon Drager, Tom LaFrankie, Cuyler Mikell, Keith Potts, Tyler Reed, Peter Winovich III, the 1974 boys track and field team and 2002 boys soccer team.

One year after winning the WPIAL title but falling short in the state championship game, TJ’s boys soccer team had another shot at bringing home gold from Hershey in 2002.

This time, the Jaguars wouldn’t leave Hersheypark Stadium without the championship trophy.

“I would say this team was the best in school history,” coach Mike “Doc” Kulish said. “Also, probably one of the best teams in WPIAL history.

“It seemed like this team had a two-goal advantage on other teams even before the games started. That is how dominant this team was. We scored 171 goals and gave up 11 during the 28-game season.”

TJ had a dynamic starting lineup consisting of goalkeeper Jeff Stich; forwards Rich Costanzo and Jon Browne; midfielders Dan Robb, Shawn Wildman, Brian Bartek, Adam Cline and Evan Browne; with Greg Liebenguth, Jon Yee and Tom Bennett on defense.

The Jaguars finished the regular season with a 12-0 record in Section 3-2A and 19-1 overall. The section champs earned the top seed in the WPIAL playoffs and roared past McGuffey, 11-0, in the first round.

TJ defeated rival Elizabeth Forward in the quarterfinals by another lopsided score of 9-2, then cruised to a 5-1 semifinal-round win over (Ambridge) to earn a spot in the title game.

TJ shut out Shady Side Academy, 3-0, on Halloween night at Peters Township to earn the school’s second WPIAL championship in boys soccer.

And similar to the district playoffs, the Jaguars enjoyed relatively easy wins on the road in the PIAA playoffs on their way to the championship game.

After victories over Harbor Creek, Ligonier Valley and Ambridge, TJ was set to face ELCO in the state finals Nov. 15 in Hershey.

Robb gave the Jaguars an early lead with the game’s first goal on a Wildman assist. Bartek then chipped in a shot to give TJ a 2-0 edge. Cline provided the Jaguars with an insurance goal by heading in a Yee cross with 12 minutes remaining. Stich finished with six saves, and TJ ended up with a 3-0 victory.

TJ finished 27-1 overall and ended the year on a 26-game winning streak to become the first team in school history to win a PIAA title.

Next up at the Hall of Fame banquet was Mark Deklin-­Schwotzer (Arts) followed by Eric Holzworth (Academics & Athletics).

A new category was incorporated into this year’s induction process as Haleigh Karcher was presented with the Courage & Perseverance Award.

The final category recognized either a staff member, contributor or volunteer.

Scott Breisinger, Joseph Dolata and Wilson were chosen in this category.

Wilson, a 1967 TJ graduate, taught and coached for more than three decades in the same district he attended as a student.

In high school, he played football and was part of two section champion team in baseball in 1966 and 1967. He also performed in the concert band as well as the mixed and a Capella choirs.

Wilson then attend IUP and served his country for eight years, assigned in the IRR and earning the rank of captain.

Wilson is well-known as being a beloved storyteller.

“I have so many great memories — and some bad — that I can share,” he said. “I had the opportunity to experience coaching with Bap Manzini winning the WPIAL championship over Aliquippa in 1980. The following spring, Hoppy (Mitruski) and I coached the girls softball team to its first section title when we defeated Penn Hills.

“When Bap retired and Phil (Reynolds) took over, we enjoyed winning the conference but the next year we couldn’t win a game and Phil left to coach with Jim Render at USC. Nobody wanted to try for the head coaching position, so I threw my hat in. And guess what, they gave me the job with a two-year contract. The first year was OK and we went 5-5, so things were looking up. Rick Voss and Mark Brubaker led that group.”

At the middle school level, Wilson coached wrestling, football, track and field and girls basketball. He moved to the high school and was an assistant football coach from 1980 to 198 and head coach in 1984 and 1985.

Wilson returned to the TJ sideline as a coach from 1990 to 2010.

“When Jack Garrity was hired, he asked me to come back and to build the defense and design a passing game,” Wilson said. “That was easy because we had Brandon Adams and Tommy Alexander. In 1991, we went from 2-8 to 10-0. Our staff was a combination of Steel Valley and old TJ coaches. Billy Cherpak joined the staff also. The basic structure for practice and game preparation was established then and has never deviated.

“Jack was sold on weight training and over time we got bigger, faster, stronger. The next season we suffered the heartbreaking loss to Blackhawk which kept us from the WPIAL championship. That’s still one of the greatest games I’ve ever seen. Jack resigned and Billy was hired, and we really took off as a program. All those trips to Heinz Field and to Altoona and Hershey. All those championships. I literally had the opportunity to watch Cherp grow and mature into the legendary coach he is today.”

Wilson was part of three state champion football teams, serving as the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator under the renowned Cherpak.

“Billy ranks now as the fourth winningest active coach in the state and could approach 400,” Wilson said. “One thing about Billy is he let me freelance all over the practice field which was so comfortable for me, and when I had an illness with my heart, all he did was bring in Jerry Olsavsky to help me ease back into my responsibilities.

“I enjoyed the times I contributed to the success of the program even though I got a little banged up because I couldn’t stay out of the drills. For 30-plus years, I taught a full schedule of classes in addition to all the preparation and film study.”

Wilson has been married for almost five decades to his wife Patricia, a district math teacher for 34 years. He tacked on one final significant note to his bio.

“The TJ ‘Finest 50 at 50’ (football feature) was cool,” Wilson said, “and we could have added 100 more players.”

Ava Rash, a general assignment reporter for WTAE, served as master of ceremonies at the banquet again this year.

A 2016 TJ graduate, Rash can be seen reporting live weekdays on “Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 This Morning.”

Tags: Thomas Jefferson