The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown is set to induct five new members as part of the 17^th Athletics Hall of Fame class on Saturday, April 25 in the Pitt-Johnstown Wellness Center.  The Class of 2026 includes:  Beth Kendera-Vaught '14 (Volleyball), LuAnn Ketter Mills '84 (Women's Basketball), Albert Miles '08 (Wrestling), Kevin Smay '79 (Baseball), and Marcus Tullis '09 (Men's Basketball).
 
                Pitt-Johnstown will also take time to recognize the 1981 Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Final Four basketball team.
 
                The Pitt-Johnstown Athletics Hall of Fame was created in 2007 to honor prestigious groups of athletes, coaches, and university supporters and their champion spirits. These individuals merit distinction for their accomplishments and leadership in athletic endeavors for Pitt-Johnstown.  Since its inception in 2007, 86 individuals and three teams have earned induction.
 
                The reception is 4:30 p.m. in the Sports Center Hall of Fame Room and dinner is 5:30 p.m. in the Wellness Center.
 
                Pitt-Johnstown Alum and Tribune-Democrat sportswriter Mike Mastovich will serve as Emcee for this year's event.
                  Beth Kendera-Vaught, a 2013 First-Team Daktronics All-Atlantic Region selection and the Mountain Cats' all-time leader in blocks, became one of the cornerstones that helped put Pitt-Johnstown volleyball on the NCAA Division II regional and national map.
                From 2010-2012, Ms. Kendera-Vaught played for fellow Pitt-Johnstown Hall of Famer Linda Renzi and led the Mountain Cats to a 44-35 overall record and a 26-16 mark, including going 18-8 overall and 10-4 in conference-play in 2012, as members of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC).
                However, it was her senior season in 2013 that Ms. Kendera-Vaught and the Pitt-Johnstown volleyball program exploded into the spotlight.
                Joanna Haupt took over as head coach and promptly guided Pitt-Johnstown to a 26-11 overall record and a 15-7 mark in the program's inaugural season as members of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).  The Mountain Cats got hot in the postseason and claimed the PSAC Tournament Championship with a five-set victory over California University (PA) to lock up the program's first berth in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Tournament.
                That season, Ms. Kendera-Vaught, a Johnstown native and Conemaugh Valley High School graduate, led Pitt-Johnstown with a .317 hitting percentage and a school-record 145 total blocks that also included team bests of 119 solo blocks and 26 block assists. She finished third on the team in kills (325), total points (418.5), and points per set (3.05) on her way to being named First-Team All-PSAC East and First-Team Daktronics All-Atlantic Region.
                Ms. Kendera-Vaught, a 2010 WVIAC All-Freshman Team choice, ranked 11^th in NCAA Division II in hitting percentage (.381) and 24^th in blocks per set (1.22) as a junior in 2012.  The following season, Ms. Kendera-Vaught finished second in the PSAC in hitting percentage (.317) and third in blocks per ser (1.06).  Nationally, she was 45^th in blocks per set and 73^rd in hitting percentage.
                Ms. Kendera-Vaught still holds the Mountain Cat record for career blocks with 460 and is 14^th in school history in kills with 802 and 11^th in sets-played with 414.
                After graduating in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education, she began her professional career with UPMC, serving in several different capacities.
                In 2023, Ms. Kendera-Vaught took the position of Community Manager at USSCO Federal Credit Union in Ebensburg, a position she still holds.
                In 2020, she assisted with the establishment of The Eastin Charles Foundation, a non-profit organization with the goal of providing water safety awareness and education, swimming lessons, and CPR education for families and children.
                Ms. Kendera-Vaught, who also served as an assistant girls' basketball coach under Pitt-Johnstown Hall of Famer Teri Menett Cruse from 2014-23, and her husband Phil Vaught reside in Johnstown.
                "Being inducted into the Pitt-Johnstown Athletics Hall of Fame means receiving one of the highest honors in sports," Ms. Kendera-Vaught said.  "It is an incredible honor that I accept with heartfelt appreciation. This recognition reflects the years of dedication, teamwork, and hard work.  My time at Pitt Johnstown helped shape who I am.  I was challenged by coaches who believed in me and supported by teammates who became family.  The success I had was not achieved alone, and this honor belongs to those who were on the journey with me.  I am humbled to become part of the lasting legacy of this athletic program and thankful for everyone who made this journey possible."
              A 1983-84 American Women's Sports Federation (AWSF) All-American, LuAnn Ketter Mills helped guide the Pitt-Johnstown women's basketball team to a spot in the 1981 Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Final Four and was a leader on the team that saw the Lady Cats ranked in the nation's top-10 all four years, including holding the top-spot in the country for seven straight weeks in 1982-83.
            After winning three consecutive section championships and earning a spot on the 1979-80 Pittsburgh Press Terrific 20 Team at Jeannette High School, Ms. Ketter Mills joined Pitt-Johnstown hall of fame Head Coach Clyde Horner's Lady Cat squad and promptly helped lead the team to a 26-4 overall record and spot in the 1981 AIAW Final Four with a victory over Elizabethtown College in the Eastern Regional Finals.
            The following year, Pitt-Johnstown climbed as high a fifth in the national polls and was one of just 16 teams from across the country to receive a bid in the NCAA Division III Tournament.  Despite suffering a narrow one-point overtime loss to Norfolk State in the regional finals, Ms. Ketter Mills, along with teammates Sue Shimkus and Auddie Truitt locked up spots on the all-tournament team.
            In 1982-83, Pitt-Johnstown Hall of Famer Jodi Gault took over as head coach of the Lady Cats, and Ms. Ketter Mills was one of five starters who averaged double figures in scoring to help the team hold the No. 1 ranking in the country for seven straight weeks.  Pitt-Johnstown closed out the year at 23-2, with the only losses coming to Division I Youngstown State and Knoxville in the second round of the postseason.
            As a senior, Ms. Ketter Mills, along with three other starters, were named AWSF All-Americans after guiding the Lady Cats to the 1983-84 Great Lake Regional Championship and a spot in the Division III national quarterfinals in Chicago.  Along with being selected to the Great Lakes All-Region Team, Ms. Ketter Mills was also named to the 1983 Mountain Cat Classic All-Tournament Team and earned the Pitt-Johnstown Outstanding Achievement in Basketball Award in June 1984.
            She closed out her Lady Cat career ranked fifth on the all-time rebound list and currently sits 26^th on the list.
            The Jeannette, Pa. native graduated from Pitt-Johnstown in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology.
            Ms. Ketter Mills spent six years as an Electrical Design Engineer with West Penn Power, before taking a sabbatical to raise her children Kalie, Kirstie, and Kane.
            Later, she began a vending machine business and served as treasurer of the Parent-Teacher Association at Hempfield Area High School.
            In 2007, Ms. Ketter Mills began working as an assistant basketball coach, substitute teacher, and math lab teacher at Greensburg Central Catholic High School.
            She took over as head basketball coach at Jeannette High School in 2010 and led her team to three section titles and a Class A Runner-up finish in the WPIAL Playoffs.
            For the previous nine years, Ms. Ketter Mills has been employed by PennDot District 12 Engineering as a Transportation Construction Inspector, working with utilities, engineering firms, and customers on permit-related projects, ensuring compliance with specifications with the goal of keeping the motoring public and Pennsylvania roads safe.
            Ms. Ketter Mills, a 2019 inductee into the Jeannette High School Athletics Hall of Fame, resides in Greensburg and remains active with her church and spending time with her family.
            "To sum up the Honor ..Humility..& Gratitude in one word ...SLAMDUNK," Ms. Ketter Mills said.
                  Mr. Albert Miles, a two-time national qualifier, took the wrestling world by storm as a senior in 2007-08 by winning an East Region Tournament title and becoming the ninth Pitt-Johnstown wrestler to win an NCAA Division II National Championship.
                After a stellar high school career at Canon-McMillan High School that saw him collect 122 career victories and place fifth at the 2003 PIAA AAA State Tournament, Mr. Miles, joined Head Coach Pat Pecora's Mountain Cats where he red-shirted as a true freshman.
                Mr. Miles went 18-6 with nine falls as a red-shirt freshman at 165 lbs., before joining the starting lineup in 2005-06, where he was 23-10 overall and 13-5 in dual meets.  He placed third at the East Regional Tournament and became an All-American with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA National Tournament.
                As a junior in 2006-07, Mr. Miles was 21-10 overall and 12-7 in dual meets and claimed individual championships at both the West Virginia and Wilkes Opens.
                However, it was his senior year in 2007-08 that Mr. Miles dominated the competition and etched his name into the Pitt-Johnstown wrestling history books.  Mr. Miles, who moved from 165 to 174 lbs., was 29-7 overall and 17-5 in dual meets with 10 falls and placed third at the Division I-dominated Penn State Open.  In the postseason, Mr. Miles claimed his first regional championship to punch his ticket to the national tournament in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  He stormed through the tournament and defeated Nebraska-Omaha's Ross Taplin, 5-2, in the finals at 174 lbs. to become the program's ninth individual champion.
                That same year, the Canonsburg, Pa. native set the Mountain Cat Single-Season record for wins in a regular season with 31 and wins in a season with 39.  Both records still stand today.
                Mr. Miles closed out his Pitt-Johnstown career ranked 19^th on the Pitt-Johnstown Wins List at 102-33.  He currently ranks 25^th on the all-time wins list and 28^th on the Mountain Cat All-Time Winning Percentage List (.756).
                In 2008, Mr. Miles earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from Pitt-Johnstown.  In February 2009, he enrolled in the Pennsylvania State Police Academy and has been a Pennsylvania State Trooper ever since.
                Mr. Miles has remained active in the wrestling community.  From 2014-2017 he served as an assistant coach at Trinity High School and he is currently an assistant coach at his alma mater Cannonsburg High School where he has tutored several PIAA State Place-winners and helped guide the team to the 2023 WPIAL and Section titles and a fourth-place finish at the PIAA Team Championships.  In 2024, Mr. Miles was named the Section High School Assistant Coach of the Year.
                Mr. Miles, his wife Farrah, and daughter Vada currently reside in Washington, Pa.
                "I am honored to be recognized by the Pitt-Johnstown Athletics Hall of Fame Committee" Mr. Miles, said.  "The success I had on the wrestling mat would not have been possible without my coaches, teammates and family.  They deserve all the credit.  I was fortunate to have a very strong support system throughout my time at Pitt-Johnstown.  The life lessons and experiences I had while attending Pitt-Johnstown shaped the person I am today and for that, I am forever grateful."  
                  Mr. Kevin Smay joined the Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats baseball program in 1975, led by Head Coach and Mountain Cat Hall of Famer Ken Keiper, after a stellar senior year at nearby Forest Hills High School where he struck out 106 hitters in just 46 innings.  Throughout his four standout seasons as a Mountain Cat, Mr. Smay was not only a fire-thrower on the mound but also played every position except catcher and batted over .400 his senior year.  Mr. Smay also pitched for Johnstown's Monte Carlo AAABA Tournament team where he earned the honors of Most Valuable Pitcher in the 1977 Johnstown League.
                He graduated from Pitt-Johnstown in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and embarked on a kindergarten teaching career in the Meyersdale Area School District, where he also coached junior high wrestling and junior high football.  However, after a year and a half at Meyersdale, Mr. Smay resigned his teaching position when the San Francisco Giants offered him an opportunity to continue his baseball career at the professional level.  In 1981, Mr. Smay signed a contract with the Clinton (Iowa) Giants in the Class A Midwest League.  That summer, he pitched 97 innings in 31 appearances, striking out 67 opponents.
                After one season with the Clinton Giants, Mr. Smay returned to his hometown of Sidman, Pa. to continue his teaching career in the Forest Hills School District.  Along with teaching, Mr. Smay spent time at Forest Hills coaching and assistant coaching various sports such as varsity football, varsity baseball, and junior high wrestling.  Most notably, he became the Forest Hills School District strength coach and started the Powerlifting Club Team as Head Coach. 
                Many would agree that Mr. Smay made some his greatest impacts through his roles of strength coach and powerlifting coach. Smay's powerlifters were consistently among the best in the state, earning three Pennsylvania State Powerlifting team championships along with numerous individual first place finishes.  He also organized and hosted the annual Forest Hills Powerlifting Competition in Sidman from 2002 to 2016, bringing in the best lifters from local schools to compete. 
                In addition to his time spent teaching and coaching at the Forest Hills School District, Mr. Smay owned and operated Smay's Gym, a place not only for current and past student-athletes to continue to grow in the weight room, but also a place where comradery and lifelong friendships were forged.  In his spare time, Mr. Smay enjoyed coaching his daughters' softball and basketball teams, often spending summers traveling up and down the east coast for tournaments.  He also competed in and won various local bench press competitions and played men's league softball and recreational basketball.
                Mr. Smay was a lifetime member of the Association of Professional Ballplayers of America, as well as a member of the Pitt-Johnstown Baseball Alumni Group, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), and the National Education Association (NEA).  In 2016, after 35 years of service in the Forest Hills community, Mr. Smay retired at the age of 58.
                Mr. Smay is survived by his wife Christine, two daughters, Cara, married to Mick Ferrante, and Courtney, married to Andrew Swanson.  The Smay's also have five grandchildren and a sixth due in May 2026.
"This induction is such an honor for our family. We are deeply grateful to see his legacy live on and to witness his contributions to the sport and to his community recognized and preserved for future generations."
                  Johnstown native and Greater Johnstown High School graduate Marcus Tullis, a four-year starter for Head Coach Bob Rukavina's Mountain Cats, earned Honorable Mention All-America Division II Bulletin honors following his senior season in 2008-09 and finished his career ranked third on the Pitt-Johnstown All-Time Scoring List and seventh on the all-time rebounding list.
                After red-shirting as a true freshman in 2004-05, Mr. Tullis joined the Mountain Cats' starting line-up as a red-shirt freshman the following season and averaged 9.1 points on 50.9% field goal percentage, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 27 games played.  He answered that by averaging 9.6 points (57.1 FG%) and 4.3 rebounds per game as a red-shirt sophomore in 2006-07.  Mr. Tullis was also named to the All-Tournament Team at the 2007 National Independent Tournament in Fort Myers, Fla.
                Mr. Tullis's numbers continued to climb in 2007-08.  He started all 31 Mountain Cat games and finished as the team's second leading scorer (14.3 ppg.) and third leading rebounder (5.1 rpg.) on his way to being named Second-Team All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC), earning a spot on the WVIAC All-Tournament Team, and guiding Pitt-Johnstown to a spot in the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament.  Mr. Tullis' 62.1% (192-309) field goal percentage ranked third in the WVIAC and 18^th in NCAA Division II.
                However, it was his senior season in 2008-09 when Mr. Tullis dominated the WVIAC and the Atlantic Region.  The Co-WVIAC Men's Basketball Player of the Week on Feb. 9, 2009, Mr. Tullis averaged 18.4 points and 6.2 rebounds in 32-games-played and was tabbed Honorable Mention Division II Bulletin All-American, Second-Team National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-Atlantic Region, and First-Team All-WVIAC.  His 57.6% (247-429) field goal percentage ranked fourth in the WVIAC and 30^th nationally, while his 18.4 points per game were 57^th nationally.
                On March 7, 2009, Mr. Tullis earned WVIAC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors after pouring in 30 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to lead Pitt-Johnstown to a dramatic, 74-73, overtime victory over Alderson-Broaddus (WV) College in the conference tournament title game.  The victory gave Pitt-Johnstown an automatic bid to its second consecutive NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament.
                Mr. Tullis recorded single-game highs of 30 points against the University of the District of Columbia on Feb. 2, 2009 and 30 points against Alderson-Broaddus in the WVIAC Tournament Championship game.  He also posted highs of 12 rebounds against West Liberty State (WV) College on Nov. 19, 2005 and eight assists against Penn State-Harrisburg on Dec. 9, 2006.
                Mr. Tullis currently ranks sixth on the Mountain Cats All-Time Scoring List (1,570 points) and 11 on the all-time rebounding list (604 rebounds).
                After earning his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Humanities in 2009, Mr. Tullis, a member of the Dean's List, played professionally in Luxembourg for one year and in England for two seasons where he averaged 18.0 points per game on 60% shooting from the field and 37% from 3-point range.  He also averaged 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game.
                Mr. Tullis also served as an assistant coach for Pitt-Johnstown in 2013-14 and as an assistant coach at Mount Aloysius College in 2021-22.  He recently finished his sixth season as an assistant coach at Greater Johnstown High School.
                Today, Mr. Tullis, who still resides in Johnstown, owns and operates his own business, "Be Great Basketball Group", where he trains and provides private basketball lessons, including for several college athletes.
                "I can't say I ever dreamed of being in anyone's basketball hall of fame, if I'm being honest, Mr. Tullis said.  "I just always loved the game and through my passion for basketball it landed me here!  Going from using a metal clothes hanger as a hoop and rolled up socks as a ball in the projects to being inducted into the Pitt-Johnstown Athletics Hall of Fame is pretty dope for me. I just feel grateful, thankful, humble, and honored!"
 
       
        Pitt-Johnstown's inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame class was inducted on September 30, 2007 and included:  Lisa Britt (Women's Basketball), Sean Isgan (Wrestling), Carl Sax (Men's Basketball), C. Edward Sherlock (Men's Basketball and Athletic Director), and James Wilkes (Men's Basketball)
 
Class of 2009:  Carlton Haselrig (Wrestling), Clyde Horner (Head Coach), Joachim Knispel (Men's Soccer), Paul Leonard (Baseball), Dave Roman, Sr. (Men's Basketball), and Mindy Young-Gagliardi (Women's Basketball)
 
Class of 2010:  Jodi Gault (Head Women's Basketball Coach), Dr. Robert Hartnett (Men's Basketball/Meritorious Service), Dave Hoff (Baseball), Rich Ragan (Men's Basketball), Patty Ritter-Sharbaugh (Women's Gymnastics), and Lee Schickel (Wrestling), and the 1996 National Championship Wrestling Team
 
Class of 2011:  Bob Bulas (Men's Basketball), Don Elzer (Men's Basketball), Steve Parker (Men's Track and Field/Cross Country), Jody Strittmatter (Wrestling), and Trish Wajers-Carr (Women's Basketball)
 
Class of 2012:  Mike Gresik (Baseball/Men's Basketball), Quinn Harris (Men's Basketball), Maureen Latterner-Brown (Women's Basketball), Teri Menett-Cruse (Women's Basketball/Volleyball), John Strittmatter (Wrestling), and the 1999 National Championship Wrestling Team
 
Class of 2013:  Tony Albertelli (Wrestling), Jill Halapin (Women's Basketball), Bruce Haselrig (Wrestling Coach), Justin Walther (Men's Basketball), and the 1986-87 Women's Basketball NCAA Final Four Team
 
Class of 2014:  Eric Dinyar (Baseball), Barry Gresh (Wrestling), Ken Keiper (Baseball Coach), Emanuel "Book" Richardson (Men's Basketball), and Lenore Shimkus-Schell (Women's Basketball)
 
Class of 2015:  Denise Gallo (Women's Basketball), Devlin Herring (Men's Basketball), Tim Nolen (Men's Soccer), Pat Pecora (Wrestling Coach), and Rob Yahner (Wrestling)
       
Class of 2016:  Rick Baxter (Baseball), Chuck Bradford (Men's Basketball), Bridget Hale-Sherick (Women's Basketball), Steve Littleton (Men's Cross Country and Track and Field), and Dan Revesz (Wrestling)
 
Class of 2017: Troy Barbush (Wrestling), Amy Kessler (Women's Basketball), Brent Matish (Baseball), Chris Rhames (Men's Basketball), Dr. Clark Strausser (Meritorious Service, and John Sumoski (Men's Soccer)
 
Class of 2018: Carlos Buford (Men's Soccer), Larry Hohman (Wrestling), Casey Long (Baseball), Josué Nieves (Men's Basketball), Terry (Solema) Woods (Women's Basketball)
 
Class of 2019: Carrie Ferguson (Women's Basketball), Isaac Greeley (Wrestling), Matt Lushko (Men's Basketball), Larry Robey (Wrestling), John Jay (J.J.) Thomas (Baseball)
 
Class of 2022: Ron Haden (Men's Basketball), Mike Mastovich (Meritorious Service), Sally Mosay (Women's Basketball), Brandon Newill (Wrestling), Ben Watkins (Baseball)
 
Class of 2023: Shad Benton (Wrestling), Kaleb Fleck (Baseball), Linda Renzi (Meritorious Service), Bob Rukavina (Men's Basketball Coach), Craig Thurber (Wrestling), and Jennifer Tuscano (Women's Basketball)
 
Class of 2024: Michael "Moon" Black (Men's Basketball), Dr. Lindsay Baker (Women's Basketball), John Fasola (Baseball), Chris Gilliam (Men's Basketball), Michelle Kropelak-Brownback (Women's Track and Field), Jared Kuleck (Wrestling), and Dave Yahner (Wrestling)
 
Class of 2025: Thad Benton (Wrestling), Eric Bowser (Wrestling), Quinton Davis (Men's Basketball), Janet Hess (Women's Basketball), Melissa Patterson-Yarkowski (Women's Basketball), and Alicia (Zack) Brentzel (Women's Soccer)