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By: Ed Weaver  /  April 10, 2019

The Wellsboro Sports Hall of Fame committee is proud to announce its class of 2019.

The Wellsboro Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2019 includes two athletes: Susan Sweet (Hars) (1976) and Mike Burns (1961).

Sweet (girls basketball) was a pioneer in girls sports at Wellsboro. After Title IX was passed in 1972, Sweet was in the first class as a 4-year beneficiary of the equal rights amendment to the Constitution.

Sweet was a 4-year starter and letter winner in basketball, member of the 1973-74 Tioga County League championship team, and 1975-76 team captain. Susan held records at the time for 716 points scored during her career (55 games spanning 4 years) and scoring 36 points in a single game, currently tied for 2nd place all-time in Wellsboro girls basketball history, while averaging 20 points per game as a senior.

In addition to her success on the basketball court Sweet was a member of 4 volleyball league championship teams, including the Lady Hornets’ first District IV championship in 1975-76, and held records in the 440 yard relay, 880 yard relay, 880 yard medley relay, and the long jump in track & field.

After high school Sweet attended Lock Haven University, coached basketball at Cowanesque Valley, coached track & field at Athens for multiple seasons, and taught elementary physical education.

Burns (football) was a three-sport star for the Hornets lettering in football, basketball, and baseball. Burns was a member of Wellsboro’s recently reinstated football team as a sophomore in 1958-59 then led the Hornets to a 6-1-1 season in 1959, then earned honorable mention all-state honors as a senior.

As a member of the basketball team Burns helped lead the Hornets in scoring and a Tioga County League titles in 1958-59 and 1959-60. During his senior year, which he again earned honorable mention all-state honors, Burns scored 354 points, 429 total, to win the Tioga County League’s scoring title. He also scored 40 points in a single game against Williamson, which ranks 2nd all-time in Wellsboro history.

Burns also stood out in baseball, batting .340 as a sophomore, and .346 during his junior year as part of the Tioga County League championship team, where he started in center field and hit lead-off.

After high school Burns received a 4-year athletic scholarship to Xavier University to play football, where he started at defensive back from 1963-65. Burns graduated with a B.S. in Education and minored in American History and Government, where he later obtained his Masters. Burns taught for 40 plus years in both Ohio and Kentucky and coached football all of those years, and was an assistant coach on 5 Kentucky State Championship football teams. Burns is also a member of the Kentucky Coaches Hall of Fame.

The Wellsboro Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2019 will be inducted on Friday, September 13, 2019, at halftime of the Wellsboro-Towanda football game.

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By: Ed Weaver  /  September 10, 2018  /  Photo: Ed Weaver

The Wellsboro Hornets Sports Booster Club and the Wellsboro Athletic Department held their 3rd annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony at halftime of the Wellsboro vs. Montgomery football game on Friday, September 7.

Making up the Hall of Fame Class of 2018 are athletes Dale Tombs, Derek Harsch, and Russ Manney, III and coach Russ Manney, Jr.

Tombs (boys basketball) earned nine varsity letters, three each in football, basketball, and baseball, during his sophomore, junior, and senior years. Tombs received the 1963-64 John Antoine Prevost Award as the top male athlete of his senior class and was inducted into the Tioga County (PA) Sports Hall of Fame for baseball in 1990. As a captain of the 1963-64 team, Tombs led the Tioga County League in scoring and helped the Hornets finish 2nd in the league while being named a 1st team TCL All-Star.

“I’m very humbled by this honor. I played sports here and never thought of anything like this, I just loved the game at an early age. My parents let me play sports and I took it from there and fortunately had some great teammates that I played with. It’s just awesome.”

Harsch (football) had a breakout year for the Hornets in 2001, setting not only Wellsboro’s all-time rushing record of 2,064 yards but also setting the Northern Tier League’s single-season record that same year, before it was broken in 2004. Harsch was the first Hornet since 1997 to break the 1,000-yard mark and is the only Hornet running back to ever rush for 2,000 yards in a single season.

“It means the world, I didn’t really expect it. I wouldn’t really say I had a good career because I just went out there and had fun every weekend with my teammates.”

Manney, III (football) was named the NTL’s “Offensive Player of the Year” and “Player of the Year” during his senior season in 1995 as he rushed for 1,351 yards, averaged 7.7 yards per carry, and scored 20 touchdowns. The Hornets finished the regular season 9-1 that year, and Manney was a 1st team All-Twin Tiers selection and District IV All-Star. In wrestling, Manney was two-time sectional champion and competed at districts all four years in four different weight classes. In track, Manney won eight District IV Championship medals and won the 110m hurdle District title in 1995 and participated in the PIAA State Championships in the same event. Manney went on to be named Outstanding Offensive Player in football, Outstanding Wrestler, and Track Athlete of the Year at the annual WHS Athletic Awards ceremony, while also being named the Male Athlete of the Year.

“It’s an honor, it’s a privilege and when I got the news I was really excited. Just to come from Wellsboro, where I’m at now and what it meant to be here tonight and see all these people, and I’m back to where it all started. It’s been 22 years since I’ve been to a game so this is just real special to see the facilities and how things have come. I think all of us through the years, with Derek and my father especially, have left our mark on this and I’m glad the community supports this beautiful place.”

Manny, Jr (coaching) is currently Wellsboro’s all-time wins leader in football. After being an assistant coach with the Hornets during the 1973-77 seasons, Manney became head coach of the Hornets in 1985 and coached until 1997, then later returned for another two years in 2001 and 2002. During that time, Manney won 66 games, with his best season coming in 1995 when he guided the Hornets to a 9-1 regular season record. In 1999, Coach Manney was inducted into the Bernie Romanoski Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2012 he was inducted into the Tioga County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame for his high school athletic achievements and his coaching successes on the gridiron. During his tenure at Wellsboro, Coach Manney also coached wrestling, track, and strength training. He also founded the Wellsboro Gridders Club in the early 1990’s.

“I’ve been here for over 40 years now and my career started at Wellsboro as an assistant coach and just the people and the community, I’m just thrilled that the committee selected me. This is only the third time they’ve had this and I just appreciate what they’ve done and I look at the facilities and see how everything has changed. To be inducted into this is a special moment for me, it’s more of a special moment when I get inducted with my own son. I really appreciate that and Derek, I had the opportunity to coach him during his 2,000-yard season, it’s just a great situation and I appreciate it so much.”

WellsboroAthletics.com would like to congratulate all of the members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2018.

Nominations for the Hall of Fame Class of 2019 are now open, running from now until January 1, 2019.

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By: Ed Weaver  /  March 21, 2018  /  Photo: Ed Weaver

The Wellsboro Sports Hall of Fame committee is proud to announce its class of 2018.

The Wellsboro Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2018 includes three athletes and one former head coach. Derek Harsch (2002), Dale Tombs (1964), Russ Manney, III (1996), and Russ Manney, Jr.

Harsch (football) had a breakout year for the Hornets in 2001, setting not only Wellsboro’s all-time rushing record of 2,064 yards but also setting the Northern Tier League’s single-season record that same year, before it was broken in 2004. Harsch was the first Hornet since 1997 to break the 1,000-yard mark and is the only Hornet running back to ever rush for 2,000 yards in a single season.

Tombs (boys basketball) earned nine varsity letters, three each in football, basketball, and baseball, during his sophomore, junior, and senior years. Tombs received the 1963-64 John Antoine Prevost Award as the top male athlete of his senior class and was inducted into the Tioga County (PA) Sports Hall of Fame for baseball in 1990. As a captain of the 1963-64 team, Tombs led the Tioga County League in scoring and helped the Hornets finish 2nd in the league while being named a 1st team TCL All-Star.

Russ Manney, III (football) was named the NTL’s “Offensive Player of the Year” and “Player of the Year” during his senior season in 1995 as he rushed for 1,351 yards, averaged 7.7 yards per carry, and scored 20 touchdowns. The Hornets finished the regular season 9-1 that year, and Manney was a 1st team All-Twin Tiers selection and District IV All-Star. In wrestling, Manney was two-time sectional champion and competed at districts all four years in four different weight classes. In track, Manney won eight District IV Championship medals and won the 110m hurdle District title in 1995 and participated in the PIAA State Championships in the same event. Manney went on to be named Outstanding Offensive Player in football, Outstanding Wrestler, and Track Athlete of the Year at the annual WHS Athletic Awards ceremony, while also being named the Male Athlete of the Year.

Russ Manney, Jr (coaching), a 1969 graduate of Shamokin, is currently Wellsboro’s all-time wins leader in football. After being an assistant coach with the Hornets during the 1973-77 seasons, Manney became head coach of the Hornets in 1985 and coached until 1997, then later returned for another two years in 2001 and 2002. During that time, Manney won 66 games, with his best season coming in 1995 when he guided the Hornets to a 9-1 regular season record. In 1999, Coach Manney was inducted into the Bernie Romanoski Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2012 he was inducted into the Tioga County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame for his high school athletic achievements and his coaching successes on the gridiron. During his tenure at Wellsboro, Coach Manney also coached wrestling, track, and strength training. He also founded the Wellsboro Gridders Club in the early 1990’s.

The Wellsboro Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2018 will be inducted on Friday, September 7, 2018, at halftime of the Wellsboro-Montgomery football game.

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By: Ed Weaver  /  September 2, 2017

The Wellsboro Hornets Sports Booster Club and the Wellsboro Athletic Department held their 2nd annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony at halftime of the Wellsboro vs. Sayre football game on Friday, September 1.

Making up the Hall of Fame Class of 2017 are athletes John Deibert and John Antoine Prevost, and the 1998 Girls Track 4x800m Relay State Championship team.

Deibert was a 1960 Wellsboro High School graduate and was a member of the first undefeated Wellsboro Football team in 1958. Deibert played two years of football, three years of basketball, and four years of baseball. Deibert was named Tioga County League MVP in basketball during the 1959-60 season and helped the baseball team win hree straight league championships in 1958, 1959, and 1960.

“Wellsboro High School was where I got my start,” Deibert said. “I was born and raised in Wellsboro, born at Soldiers + Sailors Memorial Hospital in 1942, lived my whole life here until I went to Penn State. This community and the school system and everything is responsible for me having the background to be successful. When I got the notice that I was selected for this honor I told my wife that I had to go. I live in New Jersey but I came up just for this.”

Prevost, who Wellsboro’s Male Athlete of the Year Award and Female Athlete of the Year Award are named after, graduated from Wellsboro in 1953. Prevost was the captain and starting guard of the 1951-52 District IV Boys Basketball Championship team, captain of the 1953 Baseball team, a Babe Ruth Leadership Award winner, President of the Sophomore and Junior Class, members of the National Honor Society, band, Glee Club, and Senior Class play before being killed on Navy Air Duty serving on the U.S.S. Oriskany in Subic Bay, Philippines in preparation for the Vietnam conflict on August 20, 1960.

“It’s everything, his dedication to sports is something that my kids, John, his namesake, Connor, I want them to look up to,” said John’s nephew Matt Prevost. “Our entire family, extended family, we get excited every time we come up to Wellsboro. My dad, my uncles, my aunts, it means a lot to the family as it has over time. Since his passing it means a lot to our family for the namesake and also the tribute to him in the gym.”

The 1998 Girls Track 4x800m Relay Team, consisting of Flori (Simonis) Prough, Daria (Guelig) Keyser, Tara Guelig, and Kim (Sayre) Williams, set a new Wellsboro High School record (9:35.7) in their first time running together the entire year at the District IV Championships at Williamsport Area High School. After a first place finish at Districts, the team won their qualifying heat on the first day of States, then captured the gold medal with a time of 9:36.65, nearly 8 seconds ahead of the 2nd place Nativity BVM (9:44.93).

WellsboroAthletics.com would like to congratulate all of the members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2017.

Nominations for the Hall of Fame Class of 2018 are now open, running from now until January 1, 2018.

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By: Ed Weaver  /  August 22, 2016

The Wellsboro Hornets Sports Booster Club and the Wellsboro Athletic Department held their inaugural Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Swarm the Hive on Sunday, August 21.

Making up the Hall of Fame Class of 2016 are athletes Phil Hickey and Tom Mann, coaches Anne McNaight and Keith Tombs, and the 1997-98 Girls Cross Country State Championship team.

Hickey was a two-time All-State selection in basketball and led Wellsboro to 3 NTL Championships. Hickey currently holds school records in points (2,584), rebounds (1,468), blocked shots (338), foul shots (409-for-607), and field goals made (1,087).

Mann competed in Track during his sophomore, junior, and senior years. Mann was the District Champion in the High Jump all three years, placed 4th in the High Jump in the state meet as a junior, and placed 1st in the High Jump in the state meet during senior year, jumping 6-feet.

Anne McNaight started coaching in Wellsboro during the 1970-71 school year. She first started coaching basketball then went on to start the volleyball and the track & field programs later that year. Combined, her teams won 29 varsity league and district championships, was the top JV team once, the best middle school team twice, and has a combined career record of 589-160-4.

“I’m highly honored and especially honored that it’s the inaugural class,” McNaight said. “I didn’t play but my athletes did all the work. I organized them and took them to the event and they did so well. I’m so proud of all the ones, every one of them. We used to have 82 girls come out for volleyball and I’d have to make cuts, and cuts, and cuts until I got it down to a managable size. Everybody wanted to play, they wanted to be on the team wether they played or not. The parents wanted their daughter on a team to be part of a team. I feel very blessed that I coached when I did.”

Keith Tombs coached for the Wellsboro from 1964-2007. He coached 8 sports for various years which amounted to 72 sports seasons in those 43 years. The teams accumulated over 1,000 victories and over 30 NTL championships. Coach Tombs served as Athletic Director for 12 years in addition to teaching math, os member of the Pennsylvania American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame and the Tioga County Sports Hall of Fame.

“It’s just a tremendous honor and I can’t put it in words to be honest with you,” Tombs said. “This was my home for 70 years and went to school here and graduated so I played, and coached not only the parents of the kids that are here now but some of the grandparents of the kids who are here now. It’s hard to express but I really appreciate the committee in doing this and recognizing people, and for all the other inductees congratulations.”

The 1997-98 Girls Cross Country team is the only PIAA State Championship team in Wellsboro High School history. The girls had an undefeated dual meet season as well as being champs of the Big Valley and NTL Coaches Invitationals. They defeated rival Danville to win the District IV title and then the same Danville team by one point. The team went undefeated in dual meets for 100 consecutive wins, won 5 straight NTL titles, and were 1994 and 1997 District IV champions.

“It was a little nerve wracking because we had to wait because they kept viewing the film to see what team actually won,” said 1997 Girls Cross Country head coach Aaron Yungwirth. “We had a longer wait than usual but were sort of hoping. We knew Danville was probably close but when it was over, it was pouring down rain, but we didn’t worry about any of that stuff. It was a great day. It was a great finish and a great way for a couple of the girls to end their career.”

“It was kind of a surprise because we weren’t positive we were going to win,” said Holley (Sayre) Taboada. “It was a feeling of euphoria really.”

“I remember standing up on that podium and when they announced the runner-up, and it was Danville, so as soon as we heard the ‘D’ for Danville we just erupted,” said Flori (Simonis) Prough. “It was awesome and it was a really good feeling.”

“It was also extra special because we were all best friends already and it made it even more special experiencing that with our friends and sisters,” said Daria (Guelig) Keyser.

“We were standing out in the pouring down rain with all this anticipation waiting for that final announcement,” said Jessica Spencer.

Also taking place at Swarm the Hive was a speech from Strength Coach John DeLeonardis, a class vs. class tug of war competition won by the seniors, music from the band and cheers from the 2016 cheerleading squad, and the presentation of Lettermen’s jackets to eligible athletes.

WellsboroAthletics.com would like to congratulate all of the members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2016, and would like to wish all athletic teams the best of luck during the 2016-17 season. Nominations for the Hall of Fame Class of 2017 are now open, running from now until January 1, 2017.

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