Thomas, Tragesser to join Penn-Trafford Football HOF

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, October 2, 2017 | 6:12 PM

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The Penn-Trafford Football Hall of Fame will induct eight members in its second annual class Oct. 14 during a banquet at Giannilli's II in Greensburg. Tickets are $35 each; $20 for members of the ‘81 team. For ticket information, email warriorfootballhof@gmail.com.

The class includes players Mike Bird (Class of 1993), Tony Casino (1974), Bill McHugh (1961), Bill Sullivan (1962) and Marko Thomas (1999); coaches Art Tragesser (1996-08) and Pat Kelly (1969-78); and the 1981 team.

The inductees also will be recognized during a ceremony prior to the Warriors' game against Armstrong on Oct. 13.

Here's a look at half of the class:

Marko Thomas (1995-98)

Marko Thomas inherited the love of football from his dad, Sonny Thomas, who has been coaching high school football for 50 seasons. That love translated to a lot of success.

He finished his career as one of only six players in Penn-Trafford history to letter all four years from 1995-98. He ended near the top of many all-time lists with 94 receptions (fifth), 1,946 yards (second), 20.7 yards per catch (tied first), 198 points (sixth) and 32 total touchdowns (12th). He made three Quad South All-Conference teams.

He helped Penn-Trafford go 35-11, making the playoffs every season, including a trip to Three Rivers Stadium to play for the WPIAL Quad A title his junior year. During his senior year in 1998, his Warriors won the Quad South Conference championship for only the fourth time in school history.

Thomas moved on to be an All-American at Geneva, where he is the all-time leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns. He played four seasons in the Arena Football League before injuries ended his playing days. From there he carried on in his father's footsteps by starting his coaching career with stops at Penn-Trafford, Hempfield, Yough and Franklin Regional. Earlier this year, Thomas was named coach of Big East Conference foe Connellsville.

Coach Art Tragesser (1996-08)

The winningest coach in Penn-Trafford history is a man who spent most of his career coaching nearby schools. Before and after his 13 seasons spent at P-T, coach Art Tragesser was the coach at neighboring rivals Jeannette (1986-95) and Norwin (2010-13).

Tragesser started his career as an assistant at Jeannette under the legendary Joe Mucci from 1969-85. The Hawks won the WPIAL championship in 1971, 1981 and 1983 and were finalists in 1972. When Mucci retired in 1986, Tragesser stepped in and produced a 73-33-3 record from 1986-95.

When an opportunity came to coach at a larger Quad A school, Tragesser accepted the challenge and got the Penn-Trafford job left vacant by John Yaccino. The 1997 team reached the WPIAL championship game at Three Rivers Stadium. The next four seasons, Tragesser's Warriors won the Quad South Conference each year.

Tragesser's Warriors qualified for the WPIAL playoffs 12 of his 13 years. He is the longest-tenured coach in Penn-Trafford football history and also has the most career wins with 83.

1981 team

The 1981 Warriors shocked the WPIAL by winning Penn-Trafford's first football championship and claiming the Keystone Conference title. Entering the season, the milestone seemed impossible since P-T ended the 1979 and 1980 campaigns with 1-9 records.

But the 1981 team wanted to write a different script. Coach Ron Smith, entering his third season, guided the Warriors to a 9-3 record and an undefeated mark in Keystone Conference play.

The Warriors proved ‘81 was a different season, with decisive wins over Derry (40-14) and Mt. Pleasant (26-7) and shutouts at Yough (14-0) and Southmoreland (34-0). But the real test was against defending conference champion East Allegheny. On Oct. 24, an estimated crowd of more than 4,000 fans turned out to watch the biggest game in the short 10-season history of Penn-Trafford football. The Warriors came away with a 7-0 win on a 4-yard J.P. Sarsfield touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Senior running back Glenn Klingensmith had a big day in the first round of the playoffs, racking up 177 yards as the Warriors made history again, defeating Uniontown, 21-10, to move on to the semifinals. On Nov. 20, P-T lost to Knoch, 14-0, at Valley Stadium.

Smith earned Coach of the Year honors, and Rob Cortazzo won the Most Valuable Player award.

Coach John ‘Pat' Kelly (1969-78)

John “Pat” Kelly played a significant role in the history of Penn-Trafford football when he was named the school's first head coach in 1972.

Merging the Trafford Tomahawks with the Penn Joint Indians would be no easy task, and required a special individual. That individual was Pat Kelly.

After graduating from St. Vincent in 1958, Kelly got a teaching job at Penn Joint and became an assistant coach from 1958-68.

In 1969, Kelly got the coaching job at Penn Joint and went 10-16-1 in three seasons.

During Penn-Trafford's inaugural season of 1972, Kelly finished 6-2-1, taking second in the Keystone to Jeannette and narrowly missing the playoffs. He finished his career 39-45-7, including 29-29-6 at P-T.

Kelly was the school's second athletic director for 13 years from 1985 until his retirement in 1997. He passed away Dec. 24, 2012 at 76.

The next year, the press box at Warrior Stadium officially was named after Pat Kelly for his contributions.

Tags: Penn-Trafford