Centre County athletes awarded for success on and off the field with sports HOF scholarships
Although COVID-19 has forced the Centre County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame’s golf tournament and induction of its 2020 class to be postponed, the organization will still award its scholarships to 12 athletes from the six PIAA-member high schools in Centre County.
“This has certainly been a challenging year for all of us,” said Hall of Fame board President Bucky Quici. “Still, the board of directors has decided to award scholarships to deserving athletes in the county who were selected by their respective schools.
“We wish good luck to all of the young men and women who have received the scholarships and continued good luck as they pursue their dreams at the next level.”
The recipients of the $500 scholarships, sponsored by Reliance Bank, are:
Bald Eagle Area
Madison Rockey and Peter VanCise
Madison Rockey was a three-time District 6 and All-State selection and a key member of the 2018 girls’ volleyball team that won the PIAA title. She was a two-time Mountain League MVP and a three-time Mountain League All-Star.
She served on the student council, four years in SADD, Spanish Club and the National Honor Society.
She plans to attend Susquehanna University.
Peter VanCise holds a private pilot’s license and was a place kicker BEA’s District 6 champion football team the past two years. He was also named the Mountain League’s defensive player of the year in 2019 in soccer and the league’s best defensive player in 2018.
He was also a member of the marching band, the jazz band, student council and Spanish club.
VanCise will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Bellefonte
C.J. Funk and Chelsea Robson
C.J. Funk is one of the most decorated athletes in Raider history. He won eight letters, four each in football and baseball. He was an all-state selection in football and set school records in rushing, points scored and touchdowns. He was chosen as a member of the PA Football All-Academic Gold team.
In baseball he led the state in home runs in 2018 and was a two-time Mountain League All-Star.
He was a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Club Honor Society, PA Big2 6 baseball mentor, and also took part in the Day of Caring and the blood drive.
He will got to Pitt where he plans to play baseball and study accounting.
Chelsea Robson won five letters in volleyball and track and was a Mountain League all-star in track where she won two league titles in the long jump and also set the triple jump record.
She belonged to the National Honor Society, FBLA and her church youth group.
She plans to attend Liberty University as an Air Force ROTC cadet and major in chemistry.
Penns Valley
Logan Snyder and Audrey Duck
Audrey Duck was a four-year letter winner in swimming and was a three-time Mountain League All-Star and a three-time qualifier for the PIAA meet and a four-time District 6 qualifier.
She was a member of the student council and belonged to SADD, the National Honor Society, the Key Cub and the Varsity Club.
She will major in marketing at Susquehanna University, where she plans to compete on the women’s swim team.
Snyder won 11 letters with the Rams in football, basketball and baseball. He was a two-time all-state and Mountain League choice as a tight end, a two-time Mountain League choice in basketball and was a 1,000-point scorer. He was a member of Student Council, Varsity Club, Outdoor Club and was a YMCA Youth Counselor and a Church Youth Group leader.
He plans to attend Weber State to play football and study construction management. He also plans to serve a mission with the Jesus Christ Church of Latter Day Saints.
Philipsburg-Osceola
Keegan Soltis and Samantha Bainey
Keegan Soltis lettered in golf, basketball, baseball and football for the Mounties. He was a two-time Mountain League baseball All-Star and a golf All-Star.
He was a member of the National Honor Society, student council, Game Changers Sports Ministry and prom committee.
He plans to study statistics at Millersville University, where he will play baseball.
Samantha Bainey won 11 letters in cross country, basketball and track and field. She was a three-time Mountain League choice in cross country.
She was a drum major and member of the National Honor Society, She was a member of the Select Choir, jazz band, Game Changers and prom committee.
She is going to Indiana University of Pennsylvania to study criminology with a emphasis on pre-law.
State College
Kyle Domico and Elle Haushalter
Kyle Domico was a football letter-winner and also has letters in wrestling, lacrosse and track and field. He was a second-team Mid Penn Conference choice as a linebacker.
He plans to attend Penn Sate and major in computer science.
Elle Haushalter qualified for PIAA meets in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field 13 times and was an eight-time PIAA medalist.
She belonged to the Senior Senate, Little Lion Ambassadors, was a yearbook editor and co-founder of Pulse.
Her future plans are to attend Syracuse University, where she’ll run cross country and track.
St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy
Isabelle Warren and Caleb Dowling
Isabelle Warren was a three-year letter winner in gymnastics and track and field and won five PIAA medals in track.
She was a member of the a cappella choirs, the Music Club and took part in the school musical.
She plans to attend Monmouth University and major in marketing, decisions-making and management.
Caleb Dowling was a three-time PIAA medalist in wrestling, winning a state title this year.
He served as a volunteer at the local food pantry.
He is planning to attend West Virginia to wrestle and major in business.
The Hall of Fame will honor its class of 2020 at a later date. Members of that class are Bellefonte graduates Beth Devlin, Ron Pifer, Bucky Quici and the late Larry Fornicola and B.J. Wetzler. Other inductees include Penns Valley’s Max Dinges, P-O’s Gene Dixon and Keno Beezer, BEA’s Angela Hoover and State College‘s Dave Joyner.
This story was originally published July 9, 2020 at 8:00 AM.