Vikings Athletics
Upper Merion Area School District
Announcements and Important Events
Posted 8.0 years ago @ 9:50AM
The Athletic Alumni Committee and the Athletic Department recently inducted 3 members and 1 team into the Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday January 16th, 2016.
The 1942 Undefeated and Unscored Upon Football Team included a great generation of young men who most went off to serve in the military during WWII immediately following graduation, some even leaving school early to serve our country. You might recognize some familiar last names as many descendants still live in Upper Merion at attend schools in the District. Team members were:
Donald Beck – Line (12)
Jack Buehler (10)
Charles Forth (10)
William Gilbert – Line (12)
Jack Herring (12)
Walter Hertzog – Line (12)
William Knoebel – Line (12)
Joseph “Kane” Kracunak – Back (11)
Edward Lachowicz – Fullback (11)
Michael Mager (11)
Chester “Pete” Makoid – Line/End (12)
Jack McDermott (11)
F. “Stanley" Michanowicz (11)
Joseph “Boosty” Novak (12)
Donald Orner (11)
Joseph Osinski (10)
Vincent Palaia – Line (12)
Pete “Frank” Ranieri (11)
Rogers (?)
Rocco “Ross” Rossi – Quarterback (12)
Stanley Salkowski (12)
Robert Shoemaker (11)
Stephen Soupik (12)
Samuel Tassoni – Guard (12)
James Thomas (12)
Leighton Tomkins – Back (12)
Stephen Vargo – Line (12)
Leo Vasick (11)
George Yascoe (11)
Coach Lachman Rinehart
Manager Frank “Gabby” DiGiambattista (12)
Assistant Manager Pete Conti (12)
Assistant Manager Massino (12)
Assistant Manager Michael Tarhovicky (12)
Jeffrey J. Menago
Class of 1993 – Inducted 2016
Lettered in Cross Country (XC), Indoor Track and Track & Field 1989-1993
XC Suburban One League Team Champions 1990-92; HS Co-Record (w/E.Churchville) 14:53 in 5,000m
District 1 Championship Finishes: 1992 XC – 2nd, 1993 Track & Field – 1st (Champion) in 3200m
State Championship Finishes: 1992 XC – 1st (Champion), 1991 XC – 29th, 1990 XC – 79th; 1993 Indoor Track – 2nd in 3200m
National Track Championship at UCLA: 1993 – 6th in 3200m
Attended James Madison University
XC 1994 & 1995 – IC4A Qualifier
Track 1994 – Freshman Record 9:29 – 3000m Steeplechase 6th Place
Track 1995 – CAA Champ in 3000m Steeplechase 9:08; 3:00.00 1200m leg of the JMU DMR at Mobile 1 Invitational
Track 1996 – Provisional Qualifier US Olympic Trials in 3000m Steeplechase 8:48
Dennis “Denny" McKernan
Class of 1963 – Inducted 2016
Lettered in Football 1961-62, Basketball 61-63, Baseball 61-63, Volleyball 62-63
All Main Line Times 1962-63 - 1st Team Football, 2nd Team Basketball
All State 1962 - Honorable Mention Football; All Philadelphia Area 1963 - 1st Team Basketball
All Suburban Section 2 1963 - Basketball 1st Team – Scoring Champ w/22 pts/gm; Baseball 1st Team – Batting Champ .511 BA
1962 - 1st UMHS QB to pass for 1000 yards in a season; 1st UMHS to 1000 pts for career in Basketball (1053)
Represented Eastern PA Baseball All-Star vs. US All-Stars at Yankee Stadium
Attended Kutztown University
Basketball 1st Team All-State 1965 & 1966; 1111 Career Points (Ranks 17th) w/career 22 pts/gm avg.
Baseball - 1st Team All-State 1966, PA State College Champions 1966, Career .514 BA
Drafted Washington Senators 65 & Oakland A’s 66, Minor Leagues from 66-68
Inducted into the KU Athletic Hall of Fame – 1989; PA State Sports Hall of Fame – Mont. Co. Chapter – 2013
Paul “Mitch” Michener
Class of 1966 – Inducted 2016
Lettered in Cross Country 1964-66, Basketball 64-66, Baseball 65-66, Volleyball 65-66, Varsity Club 65-66 & Treasurer UM Chorale 66
1966 – Basketball Captain & Team MVP (19pts/gm, leading rebounder), All Suburban North – 1st Team, Main Line Scholastic All-Star Team
Played in inaugural PA East-West All-Star Classic at the Philadelphia Convention Center
Attended Kutztown University
1968-70 Men’s Varsity Basketball, Captain 1970, 1967 Freshman Basketball & Captain, Golf & Rifle Team 1970
1968 – KU Team Leader in Rebounds, Pocono Classic All-Tournament Team
PSAC Basketball All Conference – 1969 1st Team, 1968 Honorable Mention
Inducted into the KU Athletic Hall of Fame – 2008