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Five new members, along with two special honorees, will be inducted into the Belle Vernon Area Football Hall of Fame during halftime of the BVA-West Mifflin home opener September 7th at James Weir Stadium.
Former standouts Shawn Dominico, Jereme Dudzinski, Jason Shawley, Rich Triggani, and Thomas Young, along with former cheerleading sponsor Bernadine Fabrazini and retired athletic director James Bush, will be inducted for various their contributions made to the school’s football program.
In addition, players from the 1962 WPIAL co-Champion Rostraver Leopards, now part of the merged BVA School District, will gather for a team reunion and be recognized as part of 13th annual “Hall of Fame Night” festivities.
Shawn Dominico ’80 was a standout linebacker for the Leopards from 1977-1979 and played on two Big Ten Championship teams (1978-79) under head coach Jeff Petrucci. The three-year letterman anchored a defense that was, at the time, one of the best in the state.
Jereme Dudzinski ‘00 was a three- year starting lineman for three conference championships teams for coach Gary Dongilli from 1997 through 1999. With a blocking arsenal of sound techniques, intelligences, and “tremendous heart and desire for the game”, Dudzinski achieved all-conference honors in both his junior and senior seasons.
Playing quarterback as an underclassman, Jason Shawley ’98 moved to wide receiver and quickly caught on for the Leopards. As a senior, he hauled in 26 receptions for a then-school single season record of 567 yards. Shawley was also on the receiving end of many honors including all Keystone-Big 9 Conference and Westmoreland County’s Finest second team.
Rich Triggiani ‘84 helped lead the Leps to a 5-5 record in Coach Bill Connors’ first season. BVA had a dismal 0-9-1 showing the previous year and was 0-9-0 going into the last game in 1983. As a result of his outstanding performances, Triggiani was the lone BVA player named on offense to the 1985 Big 10 Conference All-Star Team.
As a member of Bellmar High School’s 1963 undefeated football squad, Tom Young ‘64 played a major role in that team’s successful season. Young, a two-year letterman, anchored Bellmar’s line, playing both offensive and defensive tackle. As a senior he was named All-Fayette County Conference, All-Westmoreland County, and All-WPIAL Honorable Mention. Following graduation,
James C. Bush was an athlete, educator, administrator, athletic director, and a registered P.I.A.A. official whose total years of service to the BVA School District spanned 43 years. Athletically, Bush, Rostraver Class of 1958, was a valuable, sharp-shooting member of the Section 10 Championship basketball team. In 1961, he would return to Rostraver to begin a fourteen year teaching career. Then moving into administration for 29 years, James served as principal of Rostraver Junior High School / Middle School and as athletic director of Belle Vernon Area.
Bernadine Fabriziani, affectionately known as “Mrs. Fab,” served the BVA School District for 34 years, retiring in 1999. Within that time, Mrs. Fab set the foundation for today’s cheerleading program. Also a teacher at the high school, Mrs. Fab began her 23- year stint as cheerleading coach under the direction of Athletic Directors James Weir and James Bush and high school principals Greg Caurso, William Kubin, and Dr. John Folmar, Jr.
The 1962 WPIAL Co-Champs Rostraver Leopards are by far the greatest football team in the history of Rostraver Leopard football. Led by head coach Ed Hogan and top assistant John Clark, “The Big Cats” standout performers for the ’62 Leopards included: Bill Blick, Jesse Burkes*, Roy Dudgeon, Jim Gillingham, Pat Gimbara, Clifford Gravitte, Wayne Hewitt, Bill Ruth, Barry Senich, Bill Simmons*, Denny Steiner, Roger Sullenberger, Dan Stebans, and Terry Peto. *Deceased
For more information about the Hall of Fame or about attending the induction ceremony, contact Todd Vaccaro at
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, Darrin Belsick at
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, or Stephen Russell at
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