Five new members enter Fox Chapel's hall of fame

BLAWNOX: Fox Chapel Area High School will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year.

Since the school opened its doors four decades ago, Fox Chapel has produced many outstanding athletes.

Five of the best were recognized for their athletic achievements Sunday night.

Craig Lessman, David Natali, Linda Krumwiede-Piedt, Kevin Taylor and Chris Thorpe were inducted into the Fox Chapel Area Schools Sports Hall of Fame during a banquet at the Holiday Inn at RIDC Park.

Also honored at Sunday's banquet was Al Kinsel, who served as Fox Chapel's school physician for 22 years until his retirement in 1980.

Fox Chapel seniors Alli Bates and Andrew Salemme were announced as the recipients of this year's Shirley Campbell/Frank Fuhrer Family Athletic Scholarships.

Bates, who will swim at Harvard University, and Salemme, who will play baseball at Susquehanna University, will receive a $10,000 scholarship, $2,500 for each of their four years in school.

Fox Chapel's newest induction class is the fifth since the hall of fame's initial group in 1997. The addition of five new inductees brings the total membership in the hall of fame to 27.

Lessman, a 1971 graduate who was a three-sport standout in football, wrestling and baseball at Fox Chapel, was the first to accept his hall of fame plaque.

Next up was Natali, a 1972 graduate who set swimming records at Fox Chapel and Pitt and continues to break national butterfly marks as a member of Pitt's masters team.

Another standout swimmer, 1982 graduate Krumwiede-Piedt, was a WPIAL and state champion freestyler at Fox Chapel and later set records at Virginia Tech University.

'Swimming was a great experience for me,' Krumwiede-Piedt said. 'Now that I have my own kids involved in it, I realize how much my parents did for me.'

Taylor, a 1986 graduate, was a regional all-American soccer goalkeeper at Fox Chapel and later helped Clemson University win the NCAA soccer championship.

Taylor joined two of his former Fox Chapel coaches, Jim Perry and Ed Boyle, as a member of Fox Chapel's hall of fame.

Thorpe, a 1985 graduate who was an outstanding football player and state champion hurdler at Fox Chapel, got a special surprise Sunday.

Thorpe was a member of Penn State's 1986 national championship football team, and head coach Joe Paterno sent a congratulatory note to his former player that was read at the banquet.