• By Mike Mastovich
  mmastovich@tribdem.com

The Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2016 was introduced to an enthusiastic crowd of 300 people on Saturday night at the Pasquerilla Conference Center.

The inductees and coaches of the three high school programs recognized for outstanding performances mixed humor, emotion and and heartfelt messages throughout the program.

“I attended the first hall of fame dinner in 1965, and I never dreamed I would be standing here this evening,” said inductee John Goettlicher, the former golf professional at Berkley Hills, Sunnehanna Country Club and Rolling Rock Club and a member of the Tri-State PGA Hall of Fame.

“There are many people that are responsible for the success I have had as a golf professional,” Goettlicher said. “At the top of the list is my wife, we were married 64 years, Barbara, as well as my three children. I love you guys.”

Goettlicher started the evening’s induction speeches, and he received the first of multiple standing ovations.

Also in the Class of 2016 were: Westmont Hilltop graduate Karlee McQuillen, an All-American javelin thrower at Penn State University and a member of the Pennsylvania High School Track and Field Hall of Fame; Conemaugh Valley graduate Samantha Pollino, who scored 1,437 points at NCAA Division I Duquesne University after tallying more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds with the Blue Jays; the late Gen. George B. Simler, a Ferndale graduate who served as athletic director at the Air Force Academy and was a driving force in establishing the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy; Greater Johnstown graduate Geroy Simon, the Canadian Football League’s all-time leading receiver and a former standout at the University of Maryland; and Evan Slonac, an Adams Township graduate who was part of Michigan State University’s 1952 national championship football team.

“There is always somebody in the background, some hero who doesn’t get recognized as much as they should,” said McQuillen, who competed internationally. 

“For me, it’s my parents, especially my father. He would move the earth just to make sure that I had everything that I needed to succeed.”

She said her late father used to drive her to Fredericksburg, Virginia, for training sessions each week.

“My mom is the rock of my life. I can’t thank her enough for everything she does for me,” McQuillen added. “It was quite incredible. When I was at Penn State, they never missed a track meet in my four years of throwing javelin. We were at all four corners of the country and never missed a meet. I would like to thank you for your unconditional love and support.”

Health issues prevented Slonac from attending the banquet.

Simler’s sister, Bonee Strauch of Hinnsdale, Illinois, sent a letter stating, “I’m terribly proud and pleased about this (induction). When George got a scholarship to play football at Maryland, it was a big deal, especially to my father. He had received a scholarship to play football at Penn State.”

Simon praised his former coaches and teammates at Johnstown and broke down when talking about his friends from home.

“Truthfully, it (stems from) the people like my older brother, Gerrod, Chucky Wyatt, Alex Roebuck, B.J. Gibson. The 1988 undefeated Johnstown Trojan football team,” said Simon of how his former teammates and coaches Jerry Davitch, Tom Fleming and Paul Litwalk influenced him. “These were the stars I grew up idolizing and wanted to have my name in the same conversation as those guys.”

Coach Ernie Fetzer spoke about the 13-0 Johnstown Vo-Tech football team that defeated Indiana 7-6 in the 1986 District 6 Class AAAA title game many considered to be one of the region’s biggest football upsets.

“It was a group of players who were completely unselfish,” Fetzer said. “They had one common goal – success. They believed in and played for each other.”

Fetzer said 16 Spartans attended the banquet.

Former Westmont Hilltop coach Jodi Hillegass-Wachs talked about the two-time state runner-up Hilltoppers, who went 61-5 during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. McQuillen, who was among a half-dozen players from the team at the banquet, will never forget those years.

“It was always a team effort,” McQuillen said. 

“That’s why it’s so special to be here tonight while Westmont is being (honored). It was never a selfish game. I think that’s why we were so successful.”

Conemaugh Valley coach Teri Cruse talked about how the Blue Jays used the motto, “Nine. That’s all we need,” because the team only had nine players en route to the state championship appearance.

“The girls just came together,” said Cruse, who welcomed seven former players to the banquet. “Now we have nurses, educators, physician assistants, directors of pharmacy, wives, mothers. These are great all-round people, and sports helped them become who they are.”

Pollino echoed her coach’s sentiments.

“They played with so much heart and so much dedication that to this day it is the best team that I ever played with,” Pollino said. “I feel so grateful to them.” 

• By Sam Ross Jr. 
  sports@tribdem.com
•  
• Jun 30, 2016

Propelling objects great distances always came easily to Karlee McQuillen.

That prowess earned her accolades in Punt, Pass and Kick competitions, including posting a national best combined total distance for age 14 and 15 girls in 2005.

But it was with a javelin in her hand that McQuillen did the most damage, figuratively speaking.

Her pair of state championships and a runner-up finish while competing for Westmont Hilltop High School helped earn her an eventual spot in the Pennsylvania High School Track and Field Hall of Fame.

At Penn State, she was a three-time All-American based on her performances at the NCAA championships. McQuillen was the Big Ten champion as a senior.

McQuillen’s latest honor will bring her back home. She will be inducted into the Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2016 during a ceremony that begins at 6 p.m. on July 9 at the Pasquerilla Conference Center.

She will join inductees John Goettlicher, Samantha Pollino, Gen. George B. Simler (posthumous), Geroy Simon and Evan Slonac in the Class of 2016.

The hall also will honor Johnstown Vo-Tech’s 1986 District 6 Class AAAA championship football team and girls basketball state runner-up teams from McQuillen’s Westmont Hilltop (2004-05, 2005-06) and Conemaugh Valley (2005-06).

McQuillen’s career highlights include:

• She was inducted into the Pennsylvania High School Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2015.

 McQuillen won two state titles (2006 and 2007) and had one runner-up finish (2005) in the javelin while at Westmont Hilltop High School. She also won the javelin event at the prestigious Penn Relays in 2007.

• She was a two-time, first-team All-American honoree from Track & Field News while at Penn State University.

• McQuillen was a two-time NIKE Outdoor National champion in javelin while in high school.

• She was named to The USA Today All-USA team in 2007.

• McQuillen took the Big Ten championship in javelin as a senior at Penn State, with a throw of 162-10.

• She was named a second team All-American as a senior, finishing 10th at the NCAA outdoor championships.

• McQuillen took eighth in the USATF Outdoor championships as a senior with a javelin throw of 170-1.

• She competed at World Junior Championships in Poland in 2008, finishing 14th.

• McQuillen played on two state runner-up basketball teams at Westmont Hilltop and will join her teammates in being honored by the hall.