Pennsbury Athletic Hall of Fame to induct 11 members
Eleven names will be added to the Pennsbury Athletic Hall of Fame at the organization's annual banquet and induction ceremonies Sept. 23 at the Yardley Country Club.
Tickets to the banquet, which starts at 6 p.m., are $45. For more information, contact cliffstout74@gmail.com before Aug. 22. The inductees will also be introduced at halftime of the Sept. 22 home football game against Central Bucks South.
Here are the inductees in alphabetical order and the year they graduated, if applicable:
Bill Bethel (2017 graduate, baseball)
A three-year starter, Bethel didn't allow a run in his final 45 innings to help the Falcons win the 2017 PIAA Class 6A state title. His senior season ended with a shutout in the 1-0 walk-off win over Dallastown for the state championship, giving him a 10-2 pitching record, 64 strikeouts and a 1.19 ERA.
Jim Dundala (1969 graduate, football)
A two-year starter at linebacker, Dundala earned a scholarship to play college football at Florida State. He also coached the Pennsbury football team, highlighted by the undefeated 1985 squad starring all-state linebacker Galen Snyder and all-state lineman Bob Burns.
George Eastburn (girls soccer, volleyball coach)
Instrumental in starting the Falcons' girls soccer and girls volleyball programs, Eastburn was named Courier Times Coach of the Year 12 times in 18 seasons in volleyball. He compiled a 341-71 record (237-23 in the Suburban One League), as his teams won 12 SOL volleyball titles, three District One crowns and earned state runner-up honors in 2003.
Diane Fritsch Cochrane
A physical education teacher at Pennsbury for 31 years, Fritsch Cochrane coached cheerleading, basketball and field hockey, plus served as director of the Falcons' annual sports night.
Kirby Groves (2009 graduate, softball)
A four-year varsity participant, Groves played on the Falcons' 2006 district championship team and 2007 state title squad. She was a first-team all-state pick as a clean-up hitter and first baseman in 2009 as a senior, then a four-year participant at Seton Hall.
Peter Jelstrom (1976 graduate, golf)
By going undefeated in the Lower Bucks County League as a junior and senior, Jelstrom propelled the Falcons to consecutive league titles. He finished sixth at states as a senior and played in college at Temple.
Howard Murphy (1961 graduate)
A soccer player on the Falcons' 1959 and '60 championship teams, as well as a swimmer and track runner, Murphy returned to Pennsbury after his collegiate career at Appalachian State and coached boys soccer, cross country, swimming and girls volleyball. His 1981 boys swim team won the Lower Bucks County League title.
Jamie Parell Penning (2002 graduate, field hockey, softball)
A three-year varsity softball player and goalie in field hockey, Parell Penning helped Pennsbury win the district title and state championship as a junior in 2000 and the district crown again in '01. She later coached varsity field hockey for 10 years, guiding the Falcons to the 2017 SOL National title with a 12-0 conference record.
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Lindsey Rogers Welch (2001 graduate, volleyball)
An outside hitter, Rogers Welch was named the Courier Times Player of the Year as a senior for playing a key role in the 2000 team that went 21-2. She played college volleyball at Quinnipiac University.
Kate Smyth Houck (2008 graduate, lacrosse)
A four-year varsity player, Smyth Houck set a school record with 222 career goals, including 86 as a junior, and was a two-time Courier Times Golden Team first-team selection.
Reggie Turner Sr. (1957 graduate, football, basketball, baseball)
Earning three varsity letters apiece in football, basketball and baseball, Turner batted .439 as a senior and went 5-1 as a pitcher, in addition to helping coach Don Henry and the Falcons win their first basketball championship in 1956-57.
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Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Pennsbury Athletic Hall of Fame to induct 11 members
