Erie County Aquatic Hall of Fame to finally induct 2020 class. See who's getting the call.
The prolonged wait is nearly over for the Erie County Aquatic Hall of Fame's 2020 class.
Twelve former individual swimmers, plus members of Cathedral Prep's 1958 water polo team, will finally be honored July 24. Hall officials announced their inclusion two years ago but delayed an in-person induction ceremony because of COVID-19 concerns.
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The ceremony will take place at the Ambassador Center's Hemingway Ballroom, 7794 Peach St. Social hour will start at noon, followed at 1 p.m. by dinner and the inductions.
Event tickets are $28 per person. Reservations, including the names of those attending, are due by July 15 at jtmyrick@outlook.com or by calling 814 460-0699.
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Members of the hall's 2020 class, with their high school and graduation year in parenthesis:
Bill Bauman (Cathedral Prep 2005): He was a three-year letter winner in water polo. He also concluded his varsity swimming career as a four-time medalist in the PIAA Class 3A meet. He was recruited to compete for the University of Notre Dame, where older brother Doug Bauman also attended.
David Brooks (East 1954): Water polo and swimming were two of four sports he participated in for four seasons. The retired U.S. Coast Guard master captain also served as a PIAA swimming and diving official from the mid-1960s to mid-1980s.
Mike Ferritto (Iroquois 1995): The distance specialist qualified for PIAA Class 2A 500-yard freestyle in 1993 and 1994. That distance was brief, though, compared to the 23.8 miles he covered Aug. 1, 2013, when he swam from Long Point, Ontario, to North East's Freeport Beach in 15 hours, 20 minutes.
Jay Hertel (Cathedral Prep 1995): He graduated as the Ramblers' all-time scoring leader, even though he was their starting goalkeeper for his first two seasons. As a senior, he anchored Prep's 200 medley relay that won the PIAA 3A final in 1 minute, 36.60 seconds.
Tenley Marsteller (McDowell 2005): The 2004 all-state second-team water polo player helped the Trojans beat Wilson 6-2 in that year's girls state final Mechanicsburg. She also competed in the 100 backstroke and was good enough to resume her career with Miami (Ohio) University.
Pat McGinley (Cathedral Prep 1996): He was a junior when he received a gold medal as a starter for the Ramblers' PIAA 3A champion 200 medley relay. He also starred in water polo while at Prep and later played for the inaugural men's team at Washington & Jefferson College.
Jon Myrick (Strong Vincent 1968): The hall's current president competed for the Colonels' water polo and swimming programs during their golden eras of the late 1960s. He swam for two seasons at Washington & Jefferson College and later as a masters swimmer for the Glenwood YMCA.
Nancy Seifer Herbst (McDowell 1977): She was a member of the Trojans' inaugural girls swimming team and among its first participants in PIAA meets. Success in in the pool carried over to her adult life as a 12-time overall champion of the Highmark Quad Games. That's the most for any male or female in the history of the four-leg event, which schedules swimming as its first one.
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Brian Sharbaugh (Cathedral Prep 1995): He's a third starter in this class for the Ramblers' 200 medley relay that won the PIAA 3A final. He also played water polo.
David Utley (Fairview 1982): The former District 10 swimming champion and Highmark Quad Games titlist went on to become a cancer surgeon and founder and CEO of Carrot Inc., a digital behavioral health company dedicated to helping people quit smoking. The Fairview School Foundation honored him as its inaugural Distinguished Alumnus in 2018.
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Sandi Carlson (Strong Vincent 1960): The longtime co-owner of Carlson Tax and Accounting, who died in 2016 at age 73, lost the use of her legs at an early age because of polio. She persevered to become Erie's first participant in the Paralympics. Among her varied accomplishments was winning the women's 20-meter breaststroke for the 1963 Games at London and the 1964 Games at Tokyo.
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Barb Budny (Strong Vincent 1955): She will receive the lifetime achievement award for her 40-plus years of service as a swimming teacher and water safety instructor at the former YWCA, as well as pools and natatoriums throughout Erie and Millcreek Township.
1958 Cathedral Prep water polo team: The Ramblers, coached by Jim Mahoney, went 7-1 and won the City Series title for the first time. Team members were Ron Turby; Bill Rollinger; Tom Arrowsmith; Paul Sweeney; Jack Schiller; Tom Jarzomski; Tom Kaczmarek; Mike Coughlin; Mike Zaczyk; Walt Akus; and Tom Dwyer.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County Aquatic Hall of Fame to finally induct 2020 class
