Melanie Buddemeyer 

Melanie graduated from Penn Hills High School in 1984, where she was both Female Athlete of the Year and Valedictorian.  She attended the University of North Carolina, earning degrees in Biology and German. 

High School:

*1984 Dial National Female High School Athlete/Scholar of the Year

*1982 & 1984 Dapper Dan Female Athlete of the Year

*5 time PIAA State Champion and 8 time WPIAL Champion

*Set 5 WPIAL records (100 Butterfly record still stands)

*Set 3 PIAA records (100 Butterfly record stood 25 years)

*1983 set National High School Record (100 Butterfly)

 Collegiate:

*1985 North Carolina Athlete of the Year

*NCAA All-American 1985-1987, 1989

*8 time ACC Champion (100 & 200 Butterfly)

*UNC & ACC record holder (100 & 200 Butterfly)

*Undefeated in every dual meet/conference championship (100 & 200 Butterfly) 

United States/International:

*1981 USA Swimming “Rookie of the Year”

*1984 & 1988 Olympic Trials Finalist

*1982 set World Record (400 Medley Relay)

*1982 World Championships (gold & bronze medals)

*1987 United States National Champion (200 Butterfly)

*1981 & 1983 National Sports Festival Champion

*1981 & 1982 USA/Russia Dual Meet Champion

*1985 & 1987 World University Games Champion

*1985 & 1987 Pan-Pacific Games (gold & silver medals)

*1986 Goodwill Games finalist

*1981-1989 USA National Team Member

*1981-1989 ranked Top 3 in the World and Top 3 in the USA

Michael Caroccia 

Mike has been a life-long resident of East Pittsburgh and began his bowling career at the Terrace Recreation Center in East Pittsburgh as a pinboy. Mike is a WW II Navy veteran, a retired U.S. Postal worker and, for many years, worked part-time at The Terrace Lanes until the early 1980’s. 

As an ABC sanctioned bowler for over 50 years, Mike has bowled in 51 Greater Pittsburgh Assoc., 41 Pa. State and 51 ABC tournaments. He bowled 2 sanctioned 300 games, two 299’s, 35-700 series (high 787) with a lifetime +200 average. 

Mike was a member of Pittsburgh’s All-Air Products team, one of America’s top teams in the 60’s. In 1962, he was the Greater Pittsburgh Doubles Champion and a member of the Pennsylvania State Team Champions. He rolled the first sanctioned 300 game in the Greater Pittsburgh Assoc. in 1964 and the first 300 at Great Valley Lanes in 1975. 

Mike was All-Events Champion at the Federal EmployeesTournament in 1966. In 1977, Mike was elected President of the Greater Pittsburgh BPA and inducted into their Hall-of- Fame. Since 1991, Mike has been Secretary/Treasurer of the GPBPA and works daily in their office in Turtle Creek. After serving in several offices, Mike was elected President of the Pennsylvania Bowling Association in 2004, was inducted into the Pennsylvania Bowling Hall-of- Fame in 1977. 

Don “D.I.” Ireland 

Although Don “D.I.” Ireland never played a minute of organized sports; he became well-recognized as a sports announcer, writer and promoter three decades. 

Starting at his native Turtle Creek Area High School, Don later announced at North Catholic and Penn Hills – including several WPIAL and PIAA championship squads - as well as doing some radio and cable TV work. In 1984, he became the P.A. announcer for the University of Pittsburgh’s women’s basketball program and later added women’s volleyball and men’s football, basketball and wrestling to his regular duties. He announced a few Big East championships in addition to WPIAL title games and numerous community and sports events over a 27-year span. 

Don wrote news and sports stories for several local weekly newspapers. He won several writing awards as a reporter for the Gateway Newspaper chain in suburban Pittsburgh. Later, he became a regular contributor to The Pittsburgh Press, The Post-Gazette and Associated Press in the 1980s and 1990s. 

In 1984, Don founded and directed the Top Cagers Girls Summer Basketball League in Turtle Creek. The league attracted hundreds of top high school and college players. Top Cagers, which grew to 46 teams and over 800 players, was the nation’s largest NCAA-sanctioned women’s summer league several times. 

Don organized and hosted a “High School Super Team” banquet for 12 years for the East Boros Chapter. He was on the Board for many years. 

Jennie (Joyce) Brown 

Jenine is a 1990 graduate of Penn Hills High School and a 1995 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh.  She was inducted into the Penn Hills Sports Hall of Fame on April 30, 2004. 

Awards and accomplishments in high school:

First player in WPIAL girl’s basketball history to start on 4 championship teams

Two time AAU Junior Olympics All-American

1990 Quad A State Champs, MVP with 27 points and 11 rebounds

1980 MVP Dapper Dan Roundball Classic

Senior year, All State 1st Team

Graduated as PHHS’s All-Time leading scorer with 1664 points 

Awards and accomplishments in college:

4 year letter earner, Pitt Women’s Basketball

1st collegiate start, freshman year, defeated UCONN (last Pitt women’s win vs. UCONN to present)

January 1991 Big East Rookie of the Week

Co-Captained the 1994-1995 team

MVP 1994 Lady Panther Invitational

1994-1994 Third Team All-Big East

Finished Pitt career with 959 points (11th all-time), top 15 all-time in career assists, rebounds and steals at time of graduation

Bell Atlantic/University of Pittsburgh scholar athlete

Grad Assistant Coach 1995-1996 - Pitt Women’s Basketball team 

Penn Hills unmatched seven consecutive WPIAL Championships remains very special to Jenine.  She was a proud contributor and starter in championships # 2 through #5.  Her sister, Colleen, started on the #6 and #7 championship teams under the guidance of Bill Lind, who completed the run.  

Anthony Petrocelli 

Tony Petrocelli continues to have passion and dedication to the Gateway Sports Hall of Fame.  He is humbled by his selection into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame East Boros’ Chapter.  When he started the Gateway Sports Hall of Fame, he had no idea that it would lead him to such recognition.  He appreciates the fact that the East Boros’ committee members think enough of him to bestow him this honor.  Anyone who knows Tony personally understands his passion and dedication to the Gateway Sports Hall of Fame. 

Born in 1956, Tony is not much older than Gateway itself.  Through the years, athletes with credentials second to none continued to graduate from Gateway - Tony felt Gateway’s special athletes and coaches needed to be honored.  He was proud of his alma mater and felt it was time - he decided to take action. When the school board first approved the new sports complex and Gateway was nearing its 40th anniversary fourteen years ago, Tony lobbied and the Gateway Sports Hall of Fame was born. 

Tony participated in athletics at Gateway.  In 44 varsity baseball games, he played 2nd base and maintained a better than .333 career batting average.  From 9th to 12th grades, he was a part of football teams that combined a record of 34 Wins, 2 Losses, and 1 Tie; 2 WPIAL Section Titles; 1 WPIAL Championship; 1 PIAA Championship; 1 trip to Three Rivers Stadium; 2 trips to Pitt Stadium and 1 snowy trip to Johnstown versus Penn Hills in 1973.

William Rometo 

Bill is a 1970 graduate of Plum Senior High School.  While there, he played football, basketball, track, and volleyball.  In his senior year, he was captain of the football and basketball teams – making All-Conference in football in his senior year. 

He attended Slippery Rock University.  In his freshman year, an ankle injury ended his football career.  Bill received his degree in Health and Physical Education, where he still teaches in that capacity at Plum. 

In 1975, Bill began his coaching career in Plum serving as an Assistant Football Coach and Head Girls’ Softball Coach.  In the spring of 1989, he was named Head Football Coach and he served in that position for twenty years.  In all, Bill has coached football at Plum for thirty-five years. 

Accomplishments include:

1972 thru 1974 president of the TKE Fraternity

1979 Girls Softball Keystone Conference Champions

1983 Assistant Coach of WPIAL Football Champions

1989 Pittsburgh East Coach of the Year

1989 Gateway Publications Coach of the Year

1995 Eastern Area Officials Coach of the Year

1996 Valley News Dispatch-Tribune Coach of the Year

1996 NFL & Pittsburgh Steelers High School Coach of the Week

1999 and 2001 Foothills Football Classic All-Star Head Coach

1995 thru 2001 Coach of the Plum Youth All-Star Baseball Traveling Team

2009 Founder and current President of the Plum Football Alumni Club

1975 – 2009 record holder for longest coaching career of 35 years in Plum Borough School District 

Terry Smith 

Terry played for Gateway where he was on 2 WPIAL championship teams.  He was selected to the Pennsylvania Big 33 and a 2001 Gateway Sports Hall of Fame Inductee.  Terry was a three-year basketball starter and Dapper Dan Round Ball select.  

Penn State University (1987 -1991)

4 letters; 3-year starter; Co-captain; and 1991 MVP

7th all time catches; and 8th all time yards receiving

1st team All East

1992 Japan Bowl

B.S. Degree Business Management 1991 

Professional Football

Drafted by Washington Redskins 1992

Toronto Argonauts (CFL) 1993

Shreveport Pirates (CFL) 1994-1995

Albany Firebirds (Arena League) 1996 

2002 Terry became Head Football Coach of Gateway and Athletic Director in 2003.  Terry has posted a 65-19 record, 7 play-off’s; 5 Conference Championships; 3-WPIAL Championship runner-up; 2-WPIAL Semi-Final’s; Coach of the Year (5-times); Times Express Coach of the Year (2-times); and Citizen of the year (2-times).  Terry has over 60 student athletes who have gone on to play collegiate football. 

November 2007 ESPN’s Top Play featured on ESPN’s “Mike & Mike Morning Show”. 

Terry participated in the NFL Coaches Summit 2004, Gatorade National Advisory Board 2006,   2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, 2006 Foothills Classic All-Star, 2008 Hawaii/Polynesian All Star game, and 2006 Pennsylvania East West All Star.  Head coach in 2009 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, 2003 Foothills Classic, and 2008 Pennsylvania East West All-Star.