Kiski Area Sports Hall of Fame set to induct Class of 2024

By: Michael Love
Tuesday, July 9, 2024 | 11:28 AM

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Shane Kuhn left it all out on the field and on the mat for the Kiski Area football and wrestling teams.

The 2014 graduate earned eight varsity letters across both sports while garnering numerous accolades for his performances.

Kuhn was a two-time all-conference tight end and was all-state as a senior before becoming a four-year letter winner at Youngstown State.

He also was a two-time WPIAL wrestling champion and twice finished third at the PIAA tournament.

Kuhn’s athletic exploits, as well as those of seven other Cavaliers athletic greats, will be celebrated with induction in the Kiski Area Sports Hall of Fame on Aug. 31 at the Greek Orthodox Church Social Hall on Washington Avenue in Oakmont.

Joining Kuhn in this year’s class are Jennifer Tokar Alter (Class of 2000, golf, basketball, track); Joe Brungo (Class of 2014, football, basketball, baseball); Brent Kennedy (Class of 2014, cross country, track and field, soccer); John Mazurek (Class of 1996, swimming, track and field); Jodi Travaglia (Class of 1987, volleyball, softball); John Vida (Class of 1987, football, track and field, wrestling); and Michael Zidek (Class of 1980, football, basketball, track and field).

This year’s class of eight brings the total number of individual inductees to more than 150 since the first group was enshrined in 2006.

The hall of fame went on hiatus in 2020 and 2021 because of the covid pandemic, returned in 2022 and celebrated the Class of 2023 last September at the Greek Social Hall.

Plaques recognizing the inductees will be on display in the athletic wing of the high school.

In addition to the enshrinement of this year’s class, the hall-of-fame committee will honor Lefteri Despotakis with the Bill Miller Community Service Award for his many years of service to the school district and community.

The committee also will honor the WPIAL wrestling championship teams from 2017 and 2018.

The life of legendary football coach and athletic administrator Richard Dilts will be recognized with a special award and will be celebrated throughout the evening.

Dilts passed away May 22 at age 93.

Tickets for the hall of fame banquet are available by calling 724-727-2527.

Kiski Area Sports Hall of Fame — Class of 2024

Jennifer Tokar Alter (Class of 2000) — Tokar Alter earned six letters in golf, basketball and track. In girls golf, she earned three letters, was the team MVP her junior year and qualified for the WPIAL championships in her junior and senior seasons. In track, she threw the javelin and ran the 1,600-meter relay, and she earned the basketball team’s Most Improved Player award.

Joe Brungo (Class of 2014) — A nine-time varsity letter winner in football, basketball and baseball, Brungo twice was selected a football first-team all-conference all-star. He held the school record for receptions, yards and touchdowns. In basketball, he twice was an all-section honoree. In his senior year, Brungo helped the Cavaliers reach the WPIAL semifinals and state playoffs. He also helped the baseball team to a section championship in 2011.

Brent Kennedy (Class of 2014) — Kennedy earned eight varsity letters in cross country, track and field and soccer. The current cross country coach at Plum, Kennedy holds several track school records, including the 3,200 and as a member of the 3,200 and distance medley relays. He was a three-time WPIAL champion and six-time state medalist. Kennedy went on to Notre Dame and ran cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. He was captain of the Fighting Irish track and cross country teams his senior year.

Shane Kuhn (Class of 2014) — Kuhn earned eight varsity letters in football and wrestling. He was a first-team football all-conference honoree in his junior and senior seasons. As a senior, Kuhn earned second-team all-state laurels at tight end. In wrestling, he was a two-time WPIAL champion and twice placed third at the state tournament. He attended Youngstown State and was a four-year football letterman.

John Mazurek (Class of 1996) — Mazurek earned six varsity letters in swimming and track and field. Four of those letters came in swimming. He was a WPIAL qualifier for four years and twice was named team MVP. Mazurek went on to to swim four years at Edinboro and was a PSAC finalist every season.

Jodi Travaglia (Class of 1987) — Travaglia earned eight varsity letters in volleyball and softball. She helped the volleyball team make the WPIAL playoffs all four years and was MVP of the softball team her senior year. Travaglia also was chosen the Kiski Area Female Athlete of the Year as a senior. She coached junior high girls volleyball at Kiski Area for four years.

John Vida (Class of 1987) — Vida earned five varsity letters in football, track and field and wrestling. He helped lead the Kiski Area football team to the WPIAL championship game his senior year. During his career, he was fifth on the all-time Cavaliers rushing list with 1,548 yards. Vida was the football team MVP as a senior. In track and field, he placed third in the 100 at the Westmoreland County Coaches Association meet. Vida also lettered in wrestling his senior year.

Michael Zidek (Class of 1980) — Zidek earned five letters in football, basketball and track and field. Kiski Area football lost only two games his junior and senior seasons. His senior year, as the starting quarterback, he threw 10 touchdowns and added five more on the ground. In track, Zidek threw the discus and shot put. He also earned two varsity letters in basketball. At Allegheny College, Zidek played quarterback and defensive back.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Kiski Area