Athletic Hall of Fame 2019
Athletic Hall of Fame – 2019
George Chalmers
An outstanding athlete in his own right, the late George Chalmers left his mark in Mercer County as a coach.
At Findley Vocational School (West Allegheny High) George played football, basketball and baseball from 1932-1935. He went on to Penn State University where he played basketball and baseball for four years.
He played semi-pro baseball in Crafton and played baseball and basketball in the U.S. Navy. George was head basketball coach at Stoneboro High School from 1940-1955, except for missing 2 ½ years during World War II.
He returned as a coach for the now Lakeview High School, serving two stints from 1955-1960 and again from 1963-1965.
When he retired, he was the second winningest coach in Mercer County history. His teams posted an overall record of 302-161.
George’s teams won 5 Mercer County championships and 2 District 10 crowns. In the 1943-1944 season he coached the club to a 7-3 mark before leaving for the Navy. The team won the county and district championships, posing a final mark of 25-4.
Several of George’s players went on to college careers and many, thanks to his inspiration, entered the ranks as coaches.
Larry Joe Chalmers
Larry Joe Chalmers helped bring the basketball spotlight to Lakeview High School during his career here from 1962-1965.
Larry was the leading career scorer for the Sailors and in 1965 he finished second in scoring in Mercer County. That senior season, he received All-State honorable mention. He also competed in the Hoyle Tournament in 1965 and was named to the Hoyle All-Star team. He finished his high school career with 1016 points and the leading scorer in school history, and Lakeview’s FIRST 1000 point scorer.
He went on to an outstanding career at Clarion University, where he played from 1965-1969. He was named first team NAIA All-District 18 in 1967-68 and All-State College Conference 1967-68. He served as team captain from 1967-1969.
After graduation from Clarion, Larry went on to teach and served as basketball coach at Titusville High school for 23 years, 11 as head coach.
Molly Kepner Foster
Molly Kepner represents the Lakeview Class of 1982 as a 3 sport stand-out in track, basketball and cross country. In Track. Molly was a team member of three consecutive District 10 Team Championships in 1979-1981. Molly held the school record in the 200 meter dash until last year when it was broken by Senior Michaela Rose. Molly is also part of two school records in the 4x400 meter relay and the 4x 800 meter relay that still stand today.
Molly has the 2nd fastest 100 meter dash record of 12.5 seconds (1980) and the 2nd fastest 300 meter hurdle time (1982) and the second fastest 400 meter run. Her 300 meter hurdle time was in the first year that girls were permitted to compete in that event. Molly competed in that event only her senior year and was the District 10 Champion. Her record stood for 27 year finally being broken in 2009.
Molly was a District 10 Champion 9 times, 5 individual events and 4 relays. More than any other Lakeview athlete. She also competed at states 5 other times as the second place finisher at the District 10 meet. Molly was also a 4 time District winner in the 100 meter dash.
In basketball. Molly was a member and starter of the 1982 State Runner-up team and member and starter on 3 straight District 10 Championship teams (1979-1981) Molly was a great defensive player who was known for her hustle and speed on the court. Also skilled in outside shooting long before the 3 point shot.
Molly’s senior year at Lakeview included a stint on the cross country team where she helped the team win a regional championship. During that time, basketball and cross country were at the same time so Molly was a true dual sport athlete playing both sports at the same time. Molly may have been Lakeview’s first 3 sport athlete.
In college, Molly competed at West Virginia University in track for several years running the 400 hurdles, the most difficult race in track, and also running on various relay teams. She is only 1 of 4 girls that have competed at the division 1 level, from Lakeview.
Coaches have said “Molly Kepner was one of the finest athletes, and that includes boys and girls, that has ever come out of Lakeview High School”.
Molly is an athletic trainer and teacher at Peabody High School in Peabody, Massachusetts.
Rodney Wright
Rod Wright , Class of 1987, remembers riding into Hershey for the first time in 1984 and seeing Hersheypark Arena. As a freshman Rodney qualified for the PIAA wrestling championships. It was a moment he will never forget. Hershey has been a big part of his life. After losing his first match and being knocked out of the bracket, he returned home and honed his skills, putting in the extra work needed to become a champion.
After that first trip to Hershey as a freshman, Rod knew he could compete at a high level. He got a thirst to return and did so in grand style. By the time his career was over, he had racked up a 138-14-2 record with three state titles in 1985, 1986, and 1987, in class AA 185 pound weight class.
Rod furthered his wrestling career at Edinboro University. As a freshman, he took third in conferences but failed to make it to nationals. Just when it looked like Rod was going to make it big on the national stage, a career ending injury occurred.
After accepting a teaching position in Boiling Springs, Rodney began to build the program into a Boiler Powerhouse. Rod has coached the Bubblers for 17 seasons and boasts a record of 264-57. Rod has led the Bubblers to 8 District 3 team championships, which is a District 3 record.
Under Rod’s leadership and guidance the Bubblers were the 2012 PIAA State Team Runner-up, and the 2015 PIAA State Champions.
Rod has mentored and trained 2 –PIAA State Champions over the years and is a 5 time District 3 Coach of the Year, and was honored in 2015 as the PIAA Coach of the Year.
Rodney never lost touch with his roots. He is a small-town boy coaching a small-town team to plenty of big time victories.
Kelley Eidenmuller Tafazzoli
While at Lakeview, Kelley actively participated in all aspects of the high school experience. Graduating 4th in her class, she served as class Vice-President, was a 4 year member of the Varsity Cheerleading Squad, was selected to both Homecoming and Prom Courts, earned a place in the National Honor Society, played freshman basketball, lettered in track, was Secretary of the letterman Club and was a member of the International Club. But Kelley’s tur passion and “athletic talent” was found in dance. She danced at the Dotty McGill studio of 14 years. As a member of their competition team, she saw both State and National competition… earning a state title from Dance Masters of America as part of an adagio group.
After high school, Kelley continued her dance experience by earning a postion on the University of Tennessee Dance Team, serving as Captain her 4th and senior year. This team of dancers could be seen on the sidelines for football and courtside for basketball. The culmination of their heard work would take them to the ESPN Center at Disney in Orlando each January to compete in the National College Dance and Cheerleading Championships. Three of her four years at UT, Kelley’s squad finished in the top 10… with a 3rd place her senior year. After graduation, Kelley was ready to step into the coaching role when an opportunity presented itself at Farragut High school in Knoxville, TN. She coached the Admirals Dance Team from 2004 – 2006, securing their first State Championship in 2006 and a 6th place at the National Dance Team Competition of UDA.
Later in that year, Kelley was selected as the Head Coach for the Dance Team at the University of Tennessee. She coached them to win their first National Championship.. in her first year of coaching at a Division IA University. The went on to win 3 consecutive National Championships in the Jazz category (2007, 2008, 2009) and back to back titles in 2015 and 2016.
Not only does Kelley’s dance team represent the University on the sidelines and at the National Championships, but their reputation for perfected skills and professional attitudes has earned them opportunities as featured performers in the “Monday Night Football” commercial two years in a row, music videos, and as the highlight performers at the Rugby 7’s in Dubai. In 2009 Kelley was nominated as one of three for “Coach of the Year” by the University of Tennessee.
Kelley has taken her small town roots and values and been able to apply them through her love and talent in dance… making Lakeview Proud