Penn Hills Sports Hall of Fame to induct Class of 2019

By: Andrew John
Thursday, April 18, 2019 | 5:37 PM

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The Penn Hills Sports Hall of Fame will induct seven athletes, one contributor and two teams in its Class of 2019.

An induction ceremony will take place April 27 at the Green Oaks Country Club, 5741 Third St. in Verona.

The evening will include a 5:30 p.m. cocktail hour, dinner at 6:30 and the inductions at 7:30.

Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at PennHillsSportsHOF.com or by emailing Cindy McCue at cindymcq1@gmail.com. Congratulatory ads can be purchased as well at Penn HillsSportsHOF.com.

Below is a look at the second half of this year’s class.

JOSEPH CARMACK, JR.

Football, basketball, track and field

Carmack Jr., a 1964 graduate of Penn Hills High School, was a six-time letterman in three sports — football, basketball and track and field. In football, Carmack Jr. played tight end and defensive end. During his senior season, he was co-captain and led the team in sacks and tackles for loss.

In basketball, Carmack Jr. was a two-year letterman and co-captain his senior year. Carmack Jr. led the Indians in rebounding and was second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.1 points. He was an honorable mention all-star in both sports.

In track and field, Carmack Jr. was a two-year letterman while mainly focusing on the field events — long, triple and high jumps. During his junior season, Carmack Jr. set the WPIAL and school record in the triple jump (44 feet, 8.75 inches), while finishing third in the nation. During his senior season, Carmack Jr. set the WPIAL and school record in the long jump (23-3) and broke his own WPIAL and school record in the triple jump (45-6). He was a WPIAL champion in both the long and triple jumps and won the long jump at states.

Carmack Jr. led Penn Hills to its first two WPIAL track championships, a first-place in the PIAA long jump, and a third-place team finish in the PIAA meet in 1964.

After graduation, Carmack Jr. attended both Western Michigan and Buffalo and participated and lettered in both football and track and field.

PAT LYNCH

Baseball, football, wrestling

Lynch was a three-sport athlete in baseball, football and wrestling at Penn Hills. During his senior year, Lynch started at offensive guard and special teams on the football team. Lynch was the special teams co-captain. His team won the All-West Conference championship and were WPIAL quarterfinalists. Lynch played in the Greater Pittsburgh Football League and made the East all-star team at defensive middle guard and special teams.

During his junior and senior year, Lynch wrestled at 165 pounds and was named co-captain his senior year. He was a Lower Burrell Northeast Christmas tournament runner-up, a Penn Hills tournament champion, a two-time Section 8 runner-up and WPIAL qualifier.

On the baseball diamond, Lynch played as a utility player during his junior and senior years. Lynch was named co-captain his senior year. During his junior year, Penn Hills finished as Section 8 champions and WPIAL semifinalists.

In 1974, Lynch was inducted into the Penn Hills High School Hall of Fame and was Athlete of the Year. He was a member of the Penn Hills Varsity Club his junior and senior year.

Lynch attended Point Park, playing fall and spring baseball as a utility player. Lynch was recruited by former Pittsburgh Pirate and manager Frankie Gustine and assistant manager Barry Hanburger. He was also scouted by Dick Probola of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Other teams interested were the Kansas City Royals and the Baltimore Orioles while pursuing a professional baseball contract.

After baseball, Lynch was employed by McConway & Torley Corp., Project Development Group, Kleen All of America, and Horsehead Corp.

Lynch was forced into retirement under the Trade Act Agreement, receiving the opportunity to go back to college and attend CCAC. He graduated in May 2016 with a degree in business management and accounting. Lynch made the dean’s list in the spring semesters of 2015 and ‘16.

BRAEDEN (BJ) MATHIEU

Soccer, volleyball

Mathieu, a 1999 graduate of Penn Hills High School, was a four-year starter and letter winner in soccer and a two-year starter and three-year letter winner in volleyball. Mathieu was a captain for the soccer team during his junior and senior years while being a captain for the volleyball team during his senior year.

Mathieu was named to the all-section team in soccer during his junior and senior years and his senior year in volleyball. He was named to the all-WPIAL team in both his junior and senior years in soccer and was named third-team all-WPIAL in volleyball his senior year.

During his senior year, Mathieu led the soccer program to its first section title, a semifinal finish in the WPIAL tournament and their first appearance in the PIAA playoffs, where Penn Hills advanced to the second round.

Mathieu was voted by his teammates his freshman year for the MVP defense award. During his sophomore year, he was given the Hustler Award, while being voted to the MVP Defense award again during his senior year.

Aside from sports recognition, Mathieu was a runner-up for the Kiwanis Junior Citizen of the Year award.

Mathieu attended Westminster where he was a starter all four years and was captain his junior and senior years. During his senior season, he guided the soccer team to its first PAC championship and the NCAA Division III playoffs. He received all-conference honors his junior and senior years and all-region honors his senior year.

Mathieu now resides in Mt Lebanon with his wife, Kelly. His parents still live in Penn Hills and both of his older brothers, Jimmy and Ryan, are also members of the Penn Hills High School Sports Hall of Fame.

ADAM MARTIN

Football, track and field

Martin, a 1991 graduate of Penn Hills High School, lettered four times in football and three times in indoor and outdoor track.

As a member of the football team, Martin was a four-year starter. Martin also was only the second freshman to start for Penn Hills football since the late great Bill Fralic. Martin, who played tailback and defensive back, earned all-conference honors in 1989 and ‘90. He also was a member of the all-state team as a sophomore. During his senior year, he became a top-100 high school recruit.

Martin was an integral part of the track and field team, where he was a sprinter who ran the 100, 200 and 400 relay. Martin tore his ACL his first scrimmage his senior year.

Martin earned an athletic scholarship to Akron for football, where he was a three-year letter winner at linebacker.

Martin served as a youth football coach in Huber Heights, Oho for his son’s teams while they played. Martin loves to spend time with his family and travel. He is in business management and is a business owner, as well. Martin resides in the North Hills where he has three children — Antoine, Sterling and Adejah.

1969 BOYS BASKETBALL

Penn Hills’ 1968-69 boys basketball season began with a 118-38 victory over Derry and ended with a 70-59 defeat at the hands of Farrell in the WPIAL championship game. The team compiled a record of 22-4, went 12-0 at home, and ended the season with 14 consecutive victories before the loss to Farrell. The fast-break, up-tempo style displayed by the team was something to behold and enjoy.

The team was led by a three-guard triumvirate: George Karl, who averaged 27 points; Don Wilson, who was the heart and soul of the team; and Art Barr, whose tenacious intensity kept the team focused and ready to play. Greg Schultz and Mike Saville rounded out the starting five. Important contributions coming off the bench were made by Skip Gibbon, Nick Lamonna and Warren Weisel.

The team was coached by Dick Misenhelter, whose planning, strategy and love of the game made it a season never to be forgotten. He was ably assisted by Craig Aston and Bill Hennon.

The season contained many highlights: a 28-point thrashing of perennial powerhouse Aliquippa; a four-point playoff victory over North Braddock Scott at the Pitt Field House that gave the Indians the section championship; and a crushing victory over Mt. Lebanon in the WPIAL quarterfinals. Lastly, was the greatest game no one ever saw. Because of a fight when the teams met in the previous year, the contest was played in the afternoon with no fans present. The Indians defeated Wilkinsburg, 91-88, with Greg Schultz sealing the victory with two free throws in the closing seconds.

The championship game was a clash of two distinct styles of play. The Farrell Steelers were a physically strong, defensive-minded team. The Indians wanted to run and play their exciting, fast-break game. But on the night of March 7, 1969, the Indians were unable to prevail. The journey that had generated a season of excitement and drama had come to a sudden and disappointing end.

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