Beaver Area, like most other school districts, takes pride in its athletic programs’ longstanding tradition of excellence. But surprisingly, there was no formal recognition of the Bobcat greats. Well, all of that has changed with the introduction of a hall of fame October 6.

Taking place the same night as the homecoming football game, the Beaver Area School District Athletic Hall of Fame inaugural ceremony was the perfect place for all to come and commemorate local legends.

Before the event even took place, a HoF council including—Mr. Snowden, Mr. Krzeczowski, Mr. Huston, Ms. Haggart, Mr. Snitger, two board members, and other community leaders gathered in the Spring to plan this celebration.

Right before the homecoming game started, the inaugural ceremony was more like a meet and greet where the community could chat with the great Bobcats.

The HoF class of 2023 consisted of 16 members, and as Athletic Director Mr. Krzeczowski said, “future classes that get inaugurated will not be as large as this year’s. The only reason it’s so large is because 2023 is the first year we’ve ever had a Hall of Fame.”

Football coaching legend Pat Tarquinio had a gigantic impact on our community. Tarquinio’s decade-spanning football career landed him in our town in 1966 where he proudly coached the football team for 34 years winning 241 games, three WPIAL championships, two WPIAL Runners-Up, four WPIAL Semi-Finalists, three WPIAL Quarter Finalists, obtained WPIAL recognition for a perfect 10-0 season in 1968 and 12 Conference titles. Now, Tarquinio’s legacy lives on when the school named the football/soccer field after him in 2007.

Jim Cutri also had lasting impact during Beaver Area’s “golden age” in the 60’s. He coached the Bobcats in football for 11 years, basketball for 16 years and track and field for 11 years. Cutri’s 1960 basketball team was the first ever to win a section title in our school’s history.

John Burkett’s baseball career went from playing for the Bobcats to playing in the major leagues. Burkett joined the MLB, and then returned to the Majors in 1990 after playing in the minors, and over his Major League career played for the San Francisco Giants (1987, 1990-1994), Florida Marlins (1995, 1996), Texas Rangers (1996-1999), Atlanta Braves (2000-2001), and Boston Red Sox (2002-2003).

Another local baseball local star and Burkett’s teammate is Doug Piatt who crushed the high school leagues. Piatt lettered four years on the diamond and in 1983, during his senior year, Piatt and Burkett helped the baseball team win the WPIAL Championship with the team going the distance at the PIAA Finals.

Mike Casp shows that some of these inductees are more than just athletes, they’re heroes. Casp played football with the Bobcats from 1955-1958. After graduation, Casp was elected captain of the Army football team for the 1962 season after demonstrating his leadership prowess on the field. While on a reconnaissance mission during his second tour in Vietnam November 17, 1967, a helicopter carrying Casp and other troops was shot down, and Casp was tragically killed. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. with all the appropriate military honors and was only age 27.

Jerald Ingram needs no introduction for anyone that is a local NFL fan. Ingram started his football career right here as a Bobcat running back who then played fullback for the Michigan Wolverines (1979-1983). Soon after, Ingram joined to the NFL in 1994 as running back coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars and joined the New York Giants staff in 2004.

Another football/basketball/baseball star is John Skorupan, who also joined the NFL. Skorupan lettered in basketball and baseball and was a three-year starter as tight end and defensive end and captain of the football team for his senior year. As a linebacker at Penn State, Skorupan played in three bowl games including the Hula Bowl. Skorupan was then drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1973 and started for five seasons.

A Beaver resident to this day is Radiologist Heather Shaw Grisafi, who also led a terrific basketball career here at Beaver Area. Grisafi was the first Bobcat ever to score 1,000 points. Later, Grisafi would be accepted at Carnegie Mellon University to continue basketball where studied medical research.

Jana Sipes Kohler was a four-year letter winner in volleyball, basketball and track and field. She was recognized as MVP for the Beaver County Times Track and Field Invitational in 1979 and 1980.

Kelley Anderson Brummit, after many years of her swimming achievements, feels that her family is still her biggest one. Brummitt remains the top female diver in the history of the Allegheny College swimming and diving program following her tenure at Beaver Area.

Brothers Tim and Scott Brook both dominated the tennis court during the 60’s and 70’s. Tim earned the following recognitions: WPIAL Doubles Champion with Tom Denbow (1967), WPIAL Singles Champion (1968) and State Doubles Champion with his brother, Scott (1970). Tim was part of the the Bobcat tennis team that won the WPIAL Championships in 1967. In 1972, Scott partnered with Mark Darby and together they won the WPIAL Doubles Championship.

Nikki Borza Mathews had another great tennis run that even landed her into the University of Pittsburgh. Mathews was an accomplished tennis player, representing Beaver Area as the PIAA State Singles Runner Up (1998), WPIAL Singles Champion (1998), three-time First Team All-State player (1997-1999), four-time MAC and Section Singles Champion, and member of WPIAL Championship team (1995 and 1998).

Ed Snitger—one of the committee members—has been crucial to this community’s athletic presence with his all-around athletic skills. Snitger participated in three sports at Beaver Area: football, basketball and baseball. Snitger was captain and starting end for the Bobcats when they played for the 1960 WPIAL Championship. Not too long after, Snitger was even invited to pitch for the Pirates, but came back to Beaver Area and coached baseball for 34 years, earning a WPIAL championship along the way.

Paul Jones (otherwise known as just PJ) was an incredible athlete in football and baseball here at the school and was even signed by the Pirates. Unfortunately, PJ suffered a line drive to the head, causing PJ to lose some vision thus ending his professional career. However, PJ helped the community by being a community recreation director for both youth and adult activities.

Coach John Berdell held another school record of having a winning streak of 25 straight football games at Beaver Area HS from 1961 to 1963. He served as Assistant Principal at the same time as coaching and then as High School Principal from 1971 to 1978.

Rounding out individual inductees, Beaver Area even has its own Olympic gymnast. Judy Hult Deibel joined the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia and was the pinnacle for the USA Women’s Team against their foreign competitors.

The 1968 to 1969 Undefeated Varsity Football Team consisting of John Skorupan, Stu List, Dave Morris, Robert Russell, Gary Columbo, Jim Petley, Larry Gillespie, Bill Bittner, Dennis Stahl, Kent Baker, Gary Suchanec, Vern Welsh, Eugene Miley, Bob Swartz, Randy Stiffler, Greg Puhalla, Rich DiRuscia, and Bill Wardle all were inducted as well.

To any successful athletes in our school currently: who knows, maybe one day in the future you will just be as remembered as these incredible Beaver Bobcats!