The Quaker Valley Sports Hall of Fame is proud to announce the inductees for the Class of 2019. The inductees includes two teams- the 2006 Hockey Team, Penguin Cup and PIHL State champs, the 2006 and 2007 Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team, WPIAL champions and PIAA state runner-ups, and three athletes- Justin Hughes, Class of 1999, Darren Rogers, Class of 2006, and Catherine Stewart, Class of 2008.
" Once again we are extremely impressed with the qualifications of another hall of fame class” said Athletic Director Mike Mastroianni, “the credentials of the Class of 2019 are remarkable and unquestioned. Our athletic department and our school district are very fortunate to have had such distinguished contributors.” The Class of 2019 will be inducted into the Quaker Valley Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday, September 29 at a brunch and awards ceremony at Sewickley Heights Golf Club. This will be the featured event of the QV Sports Hall of Fame weekend celebration beginning with recognition at the football game on Friday, September 27. The Hall of Fame committee is encouraging all former Quaker Valley Hall of Fame inductees, athletes and supporters to attend the weekend festivities.
Inductee Highlights
The 2006 Boys’ Varsity Hockey Team coached by QV Sports Hall of Famer Kevin Quinn, won the Penguins Cup and then went on to dismantle defending state champions, Penncrest 9-2, to win the PIHL State title. The Quakers compiled a record of 21-1 during the regular season, scoring 138 goals while only allowing 31. The avenged their only loss of the season by defeating Serra Catholic 6-0 to win the 2006 Penguin Cup, representative of champions from the western half of the state. They then went on to defeat the Flyer’s Cup winner, Penncrest, the champions from the east. The South brothers, Furman and Colin, dominated Penncrest in the state final with four and three goals respectively and Tim Hall was a major factor with his all-around play. Other key contributors included PIHL all-stars, Breton McNamara, Zac Zinger, George Jackson, Mikael Lemieux, and Shawn Ritchey.
Two seasons of girls’ tennis teams will be inducted together. The 2006 and 2007 Varsity Girls’ Tennis Teams coached by Jeff Sebastian, were WPIAL champions and PIAA state runner-ups in both seasons. During those two years, the team’s combined record was 40-2 with the only two losses both years, in the championship match for the PIAA state title. The Quakers were also undefeated section champs and won MAC titles both seasons. Their number one player, Class of 2019 inductee Cate Stewart, led the Quakers. Cate was supported by Sarah and Noella Richman in singles and by double’s players Lucy Findley, Elizabeth Harbison, Brittany Hulings, Lindsay Toth, & Kaitlin Wolz.
Boys’ basketball standout, Justin Hughes, ’99, was the standout point guard and leader for some of the best teams in QV’s illustrious basketball history. Coached by Mike Mastroianni, Justin was a three-year starter and letter winner for the Quakers from 1997-99, starting every game his junior and senior years. During that time the Quakers won the WPIAL title in in 1997 and were WPIAL semi-finalists and PA state finalists in 1999. Justin was named 1st team all-section and Post-Gazette North Fabulous Five and Team MVP his senior year. Justin then went on to star for the University of Rochester where he lettered all four years and served as co-captain his senior year. His junior season Rochester progressed to the NCAA DIII Final Four and his senior year advanced to the Sweet 16.
Darren Rogers, ’06, is one of the finest all around athletes in Quaker Valley history. He was a QV letter winner nine times, 4 in track, 2 in basketball and 3 in football. In track he was a 2x state qualifier in the 110-meter hurdles, placing 2nd in the WPIAL and 4th at the state level in 2006. He was also captain of the basketball team, but it was football where Darren really excelled. He was the team captain his senior year and a three year starter at quarterback and defensive back. He earned all-conference, all-WPIAL and all-state honors his senior year and was a Post-Gazette North Fabulous 22 selection. Darren was also named a WPIAL Scholar-Athlete Award winner. After Quaker Valley Darren continued his football career at Kent State where he lettered his freshman and sophomore years as a quarterback, wide receiver and H-back. He then transferred to Gardner-Webb where he played wide receiver and defensive back. He then went on to play two years of professional football in the European Football League playing in Austria and Germany. Darren is currently an Instructor Pilot on the KC-135 for the 171st Air Refueling Wing of the PA Air National Guard.
Catherine Stewart, ’08, was the number one tennis player for QV girls’ tennis team three straight years and the number one player for the Class of ‘19’s 2006/7 Girls’ Tennis Team. During her three years as QV’s number one singles player Cate compiled an overall record of 85-8 with a 42-3 tournament record. Most impressively Cate was a 3x MAC champion and was the WPIAL champion 3 successive years. Her only tournament losses in her high school career were in the state final, where she was a PIAA finalist all 3 years. In her senior year Cate was named All-American, one of 36 girls chosen by the National High School Tennis All-American Foundation. After Quaker Valley Cate continued her tennis career at Brown University, where she was a letter winner and earned the ITA Scholar Athlete award.
The Quaker Valley Sports Hall of Fame will publish full biographies and records of each inductee throughout the summer. Watch for more updates and information regarding the weekend festivities. Tickets to attend the Hall of Fame induction banquet will go on sale in early August. For more information or for anyone interesting in contributing to the Hall of Fame and the weekend events, contact Gene Klein at [email protected].