Due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame rescheduled the induction ceremony for the Class of 2020 to a later date in 2021.
The six-member class and two distinguished area teams will be honored in the fall of 2021. The CCSHOF Committee previously had selected its Class of 2020 and was prepared to announce the original July 11, 2020 banquet date when the coronavirus situation resulted in stay-at-home orders, social distancing requirements and forced many people out of employment. A second date of July 10, 2021 also had to be pushed back.
“In light of the uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame Committee decided that the formal induction ceremony for the Class of 2020 will be postponed one year,” said CCSHOF Committee Chairman Bruce Haselrig. “It is out of concern for the health and safety of the honorees, their family and friends and supporters of this biennial event that the formal induction ceremony for the Class of 2020 will be held in 2021 at the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center in Johnstown.
“The committee felt it imperative that the Class of 2020 experience a first-class event like those that have been provided to the past 142 honorees over 20 banquets dating to 1965,” Haselrig said. “We urge all to continue to undertake the precautions and best practices recommended by public health experts during this time.”
The Class of 2020 runs from A (Andrew Hawkins) to Z (Jess Zinobile).
The six inductees are a study in sporting diversity, with careers ranging from the NFL to Division III volleyball and track, and boasting accolades earned in playing, coaching, or athletic administration.
The Class of 2020 includes:
- Bishop McCort High School graduate Andrew Hawkins was a member of two Grey Cup championship teams in the Canadian Football League before moving to the NFL and enjoying a six-year career from 2011 through 2016 with the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns. He retired while in training camp with the New England Patriots in 2017 due to injury issues.
- Don Bailey’s Forest Hills High School football teams were 375-120-8 during his 45 years of running the program. His teams won 10 District 6 or 5/6 championships, advanced to the western finals of the state playoffs five times and lost to Mount Carmel, 20-14, in double overtime in the 1994 Class AA state championship game. In 2017, Bailey was presented the Lifetime Contribution to Football Award during the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Central Pennsylvania Chapter’s 20th annual banquet.
- Northern Cambria High School graduate Melissa Myers earned All-America honors in volleyball and track and field while playing for Division III Juniata College in the late 1990s. She went on to produce consistent winners and earn honors for her coaching of volleyball during a six-season career at Division II California University of Pennsylvania and had a similarly successful nine-year run coaching volleyball at Division I Illinois State.
- Windber native Ed Sherlock served as athletic director at Pitt-Johnstown from 1970 into 2001. During his tenure overseeing the UPJ athletic programs, the school gained admission to NCAA Division II, the Sports Center was built and the wrestling and women’s basketball programs gained national prominence. Sherlock also played and coached basketball at UPJ.
- Westmont Hilltop High School graduate Brad Stramanak endured six knee injuries – two complete reconstructions – during his career as a fullback at the United States Naval Academy from 1990 through 1993. He had 16 career touchdowns and a rushing average of 3.8 yards a carry. He also became the first Navy player to score vs. Army during a freshman game and varsity game in the same season.
- Jess Zinobile was a key player on four NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament teams at St. Francis University from 1996 through 2000. She holds school and Northeast Conference all-time records for scoring (2,338 points) and rebounds (1,295). She is a member of both the St. Francis and NEC halls of fame and went on to play professional basketball in Spain.
The Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame also will recognize two distinguished area teams. The 2018 Martella’s baseball team became the first Johnstown representative to win the AAABA Tournament. The Northern Cambria High School girls volleyball team won state championships in 2018 and 2019.
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