The Bethel Park Athletic Hall of Fame, sponsored by Allegheny Health Network, has welcomed six former Bethel Park sports standouts.
The induction ceremony was held in the Bethel Park High School Large Group Instruction Room and later at halftime of the Hawks boys basketball game versus Thomas Jefferson. It included Jake Dixon (football, basketball, and volleyball) ’16, Ray Engott (football and basketball) ’33 (posthumously), Tina Hasselberg (swimming) ‘75, Karen Roeber (soccer) ‘88, and Bill Zadinski (football/baseball) ‘84.
Victor Pearson, a successful boys basketball and football coach for the program in the 1930s and 40s, was posthumously given the Distinguished Contribution Award.
More about this year’s inductees:
- Jake Dixon ’16 amassed 11 varsity letters during his illustrious high school career (2013-2016) as a football, basketball, and volleyball team member. A three-year starter at tight end on the football team, and center on the basketball team, he earned First Team All-Conference accolades in both sports his senior year. As a four-starter on the volleyball team, he was a two-time All-State selection, two-time All-WPIAL selection, and three-time Almanac MVP. Dixon guided the Hawks to four consecutive section crowns and a pair of WPIAL silver medals. He played Division I football at Duquesne University.
- Ray Engott ‘33 was a four-year member of the varsity football team (1929-1932), and a three-year member of the varsity basketball team (1931-1933). As a freshman, he was a member of the very first football team at Bethel Park and captained them to their first winning season in 1932 (6-1-1) as he starred at the halfback position. He went on to play collegiately at Geneva College.
- Tina Keisling (née Hasselberg) ’75 was a four-year letter winner on the girl’s swim team (1972-1975), and a three-time high school All-American. She garnered six All-State honors, was a five-time PIAA state medalist, was a 10-time WPIAL medalist, and captured three WPIAL gold medals. She helped guide the Hawks to back-to-back WPIAL titles (1974 & 1975) and received the Arthur C. Toner Award, presented to the best female swimmer in Western PA. She went on to swim collegiately at Division I University of South Carolina.
- Victor Pearson is the 2023 Distinguished Contribution Award winner for outstanding contributions and remarkable service to Black Hawks athletics. Mr. Pearson was the boys head varsity basketball coach (1934-1947), compiling 139 wins in 14 seasons. His 1940 team tallied a record of (20-2) and captured the first-ever section crown for the basketball program. In addition to basketball, Mr. Pearson coached in the football program for 15 seasons, the first nine as an assistant and the last six as the head varsity football coach (1942-1947), where he compiled a record of (31-14-5). His football teams appeared twice in the WPIAL Finals (1934 and 1946).
- Karen Dunn (née Roeber) ‘88 was a four-year starter on the girls’ soccer team (1984-1987). She was a regional All-American, a three-time All-WPIAL selection, and an All-Section honoree. She set the WPIAL record for most goals scored in a game (7), finishing her career with a school record 123 goals while adding 41 assists. Her 123 goals were the third most scored in WPIAL history when she graduated in 1988, and she is now 17th on the list. A two-time Keystone State gold medalist and member of the Olympic Development Team, Dunn played college soccer at Cortland State (NY) and the University of Delaware.
- Bill Zadinski ’84 was a prolific athlete for both the varsity football and baseball teams. As the starting tailback, Zadinski punched his way into the endzone 22 times for the Hawks, including four times in one game. He eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark and earned All-Conference and All-South accolades on the gridiron. He helped the Black Hawks reach the playoffs three consecutive seasons on the diamond, including capturing a 1982 section title. He was a two-time All-Section selection and an All-South honoree his senior year, hitting an impressive .478. Zadinski went on to play Division I football at Yale University in New Haven, CT.
Congratulations to the Bethel Park Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2023 and their families.