2010 WPIAL Hall of Fame Class Announced

The WPIAL's Hall of Fame Class for 2010 once again has a local flavor with inductees Manny Pihakis and Bill Christy along with Jim Montecalvo being honored with the Courage Award.

Pihakis graduated from Canonsburg High School in 1952 as one of the most accomplished wrestlers in Pennsylvania high school history. A four-time WPIAL champion and three-time state champion, his career record 99-1. "Buns" wrestled at Indiana University, where he went 57-8 for the Hoosiers.

He returned in 1957 and became athletic director at Canonsburg High School, which eventually became Canon-McMillan, and remained there for 36 years before retiring in 1993.

Christy enters the hall posthumously and as one of two contest officials.

A graduate of Beth-Center High School and California University, Christy lived in Monongahela until he died in October. He was 67.

When it came to officiating sports, Christy did it all. He served as an officials evaluator for the Big East and Atlantic 10 conferences. Christy also assigned officials for many local high school and college events. The Tri-County Athletic Directors Association awarded the Bill Christy Memorial Award for Excellence in Officiating for the first time at Saturday's banquet.

Montecalvo maintained a positive outlook and dogged determination despite battling cancer along with other challenges throughout his 26 years. Montecalvo died in June 2008. At Washington High School, Montecalvo played football, golf and track. He continued to play golf at Bethany College before becoming at sports writer at the Observer-Reporter.

The remaining inductees are:
Athletes
Steve Breaston, Woodland Hills (2002), football and track
Dick DeVenzio, Ambridge (1967), basketball
B.B. Flenory, Valley (1976), basketball
Chris Dugan (not the O-R sports editor), Southmoreland (1996), cross country and track
Ty Moore, North Allegheny (1990), wrestling
Gretchen Rush-Magers, Mt. Lebanon (1982), tennis
Brandon Short, McKeesport (1995), football and basketball
Coaches
Paul Hindes, Baldwin, girls volleyball, basketball, softball
Harriett Morrison, Farrell, girls volleyball
Art Walker, Mt. Lebanon and Shady Side Academy, football
Contest officials
Tom Stabile, football, baseball and basketball
Contributor
Michael Manzo, WPIAL leagal counsel
Teams
1959 Braddock Football
1986 Gateway Football