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Mercer Area School District 

Class of 2006 - Class of 2010

Class of 2006

Dan Weikal-  Dan Weikal’s coaching career at Mercer spanned three head coaches and more than 35 years. He began coaching the 8th grade basketball team during the 1967-1968 season, but made his mark as the school’s 9th grade basketball coach for nearly 30 years. Dan began his tenure as the 9th grade coach in 1972-1973 under head coach Ken Palmer. He served as head coach Dave Cook’s freshman coach through his entire 26-year stint as Mercer’s varsity coach. Dan mentored Mercer coach Mike Williams for four years before retiring from basketball coaching following the 1999-2000 season. His record as 9th grade coach was 523-230 with a winning percentage of over 70%. Seven of Dan’s teams captured mythical Mercer County championships with also claiming one Tri-County title. Eleven of his freshmen teams achieved twenty or more wins. In addition to his lengthy tenure in junior high basketball coaching, Dan also coached junior high football for 15 years, and he served as a varsity assistant in baseball. Dan retired as a language arts teacher at Mercer after 35 years in the district. 
 
Mont Mattocks-  Mont was the starting point guard on the undefeated 1966 Mercer Mustangs boys’ basketball state championship team under head coach John Dale Swogger. In his two-year tenure as a starter, the Mustangs were 42-8. Mont still holds the single-season record at Mercer with 374 assists during the magical 1965-1966 season as well as the single-game assist record of 20, which he accomplished twice. In cross-country, Mont placed 9th in the state during his senior year, the only year he ran cross-country, and set a school record for 2 1/8 miles. In track and field, he was undefeated in both the 880-yard run and the mile run. Mont matriculated to Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he was a three-year starter in basketball and a three-time District 18 all-star. Recognized for being a defensive stopper as a guard at IUP, he still holds the school’s career assist record with 450 and the single game record with 14. Mont was inducted into the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. Upon graduation from IUP, Mont was head coach of the Grove City High School boys’ basketball program for seven years from 1976-1983, winning two Mercer County titles and a District 10 championship in 1979. Mont was a business education teacher at Neshannock High School and retired after his 36th year in education.
 
Marty Mattocks-  A two-sport standout at Mercer High School, Marty was a state medalist in cross-country as a sophomore (6th) and as a senior (3rd). He was a member of Mercer’s 1970 District 10 champion cross-country team under head coach Jim Waldorf that placed as state runner-up. Marty was a three-year starter on Mercer’s boys’ basketball teams from 1968-1971 that posted a combined 48-23 record under head coach Ken Palmer. During his senior year the Mustangs captured the District 10 championship and lost in the state final four to eventual state champion Midland. Marty currently ranks as the 26th leading scorer in Mercer history with 723 points, despite missing 8 games during his senior season due to mononucleosis. He was a three-year starter at Indiana University of Pennsylvania from 1972-1975 on teams that posted an aggregate 51-24 record. During Marty’s junior year, IUP captured the District 18 title and advanced to the final eight at the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City.
 


Class of 2007

Ken Palmer- The late Ken Palmer was one of the most successful basketball coaches in Mercer High School history. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach during the 1965-1966 season when Mercer won its first State Championship. Ken became the varsity head coach in 1967 and led a very inexperienced group of young players to the District 10 playoffs. His most successful season came during the 1970-1971 campaign. Led by Hall of Famers Art Amos, Kelly Jones, and Marty Mattocks, the Mustangs compiled a record of 24-3 and captured both the MCAC and District 10 Championships before falling to the eventual State Champion Midland in the Western Finals. Coach Palmer retired from coaching following the 1973-1974 season with an overall record of 94-65, which currently ranks fourth in school history. Ken returned as the head coach of the girls’ basketball team during the 1988-1989 season and led the Mercer Lady M’s to two consecutive District 10 playoff appearances. In addition to his contributions in athletics, Ken Palmer was a highly respected teacher of Health, Physical Education, and Physiology for 31 years in the Mercer Area School District before retiring in 1990. 

Art Amos- Art Amos was the starting point guard on the 1970-1971 basketball team that posted a 24-3 record, winning both the Mercer County and District 10 Championships and advancing to the Western Regional finals. During his senior season, Art was elected co-captain and was named 1st Team All-Mercer County. For his career, Art led the Mustangs to a 58-13 record and scored 626 points, which currently ranks him 37th all-time in Mercer Boys’ Basketball history. In football, Art was selected team co-captain in both his junior and senior years. He quarterbacked the Mustangs to the only undefeated season in school history in 1971 and helped capture the Tri-County League Championship with a 9-0 record. Art was selected 2nd Team All-Tri County quarterback as a junior and 1st Team All-County quarterback as a senior. He continued his football career at Thiel College and was a three-year starter for the Tomcats from 1973-1975. He was selected team co-captain during his senior season and was a 1975 All-Presidents Athletic Conference selection at wide receiver. During his teaching tenure at Mercer High School, Art has served as both the varsity baseball and girls’ basketball coach. He was the inaugural varsity baseball coach in 1996, and led the Mustangs to both their first winning season in 1998 and their first MCAC Championship in 1999. While serving as head coach for the Mercer Lady M’s, Art has led his teams to two District 10 playoff appearances and one MCAC title during the 2002-2003 season. Art retired in 2010 after many years of teaching social studies at Mercer High School.

Kelly Jones- Kelly Jones was an outstanding performer in both basketball and football at Mercer High School. A three-year starter in basketball, Kelly led the Mustangs to a 48-23 record and scored 880 career points, placing him 14th in Mercer Boys’ Basketball history. As a senior, Kelly was the leading scorer and helped the Mustangs capture both the MCAC and District 10 Championships and advance to the Western Regional Finals. Kelly was an exceptional wide receiver, defensive back, and punter for the Mustang football team. He was an All-Tri County selection during his senior season, helping the Mustangs to a 7-1-1 record. During his 26 years as an elementary teacher in the Greenville Area School District, Kelly has recorded a highly successful tenure as the varsity boys’ basketball coach. After serving as an assistant coach for ten years, Kelly is currently in his sixteenth season as the varsity basketball coach. He has led the Trojans to eight District 10 and two state playoff appearances, including a District 10 Championship in 1996-1997 and a third-place finish in 2004-2005. Kelly is a graduate of Allegheny College in Meadville where he received both his B.A. and M.A. degrees.


Class of 2008

Jenepher (Crawford) Banker- Jenepher was a two-sport standout in both basketball and track and field during her athletic career at Mercer High School. During her junior year, she qualified to compete in the PIAA State Track and Field Championships in the triple jump. AS a senior Jenepher led the girls’ basketball team to a share of the Mercer County Athletic Conference championship with a 17-7 record. The Lady M’s advanced to the District 10 championship game and earned a berth in the PIAA state playoffs. She led the team in scoring that season with 384 points. Following her high school athletic career, Jenepher played basketball at Springfield College in Massachusetts. During her four-year collegiate career, she scored 1202 points and was named a three-time Academic All-American. She led her team in assists during both her junior and senior seasons. Jenepher’s college coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Iowa State University. She then moved on to become the head women’s basketball coach at Penn State Behrend where she led the women’s program to national recognition. Jenepher set the school record for most coaching wins in women’s basketball history with 67. Her 1991-1992 team was the first team in any sport in school history to win an ECAC regional championship and achieve a national ranking. Jenepher was inducted into the Penn State Behrend Athletic Hall of Fame as a coach in 1994 and again with her 1991-1992 women’s basketball team in 1998. She later served as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Division I Canisius College. Jenepher is currently serving as the head girls’ basketball coach at Grand Island High School in New York. Her teams have compiled a 160-70 record, winning two league and two Section VI championships, and have appeared in New York’s western regional finals on two occasions. Jenepher is a physical education teacher and community education director at Grand Island High School.

Gary Sansom- Gary Sansom is one of the most successful basketball coaches in Mercer High School history. Gary served as the head coach for the Mercer girls’ basketball team from 19761987 and again from 1999-2002. During his 14 years as head coach, Gary led the Lady M’s to seven MCAC Championships and two second place finishes. His teams also made eight District 10 and five PIAA state playoff appearances. His 1985-1986 team raced to a 26-2 record and captured both the MCAC and District 10 Championships on their way to a berth in the Western Regional Semi-finals. Overall, Gary’s 202 wins as girls’ basketball coach are third in Mercer High School basketball history, trailing only boys’ basketball coaches and Mercer Hall of Fame inductees Dave Cook and Renzie Hoffman. A graduate of Grove City High School, Gary attended Treveccca Nazarene College and graduated from Findlay College in 1966. He taught one year at Findlay Middle School before coming to Mercer Area School District. He taught at Mercer Elementary School for 35 years before retiring in 2002. Gary is also ordained as a minister in the Church of the Nazarene, where he has pastured churches for 21 years while teaching and coaching. 

Gary Yeager- Gary Yeager was a two-year starter for Coach Gene Blakely’s Mustang football team. During his junior year, Gary helped lead the team to a 7-1-1 record. He was selected 1st team All-Tri County linebacker and 2nd team running back. In his senior year, the Mustangs completed the only undefeated season in school history and captured the Tri-County League Championship with a 9-0 record. A two-way starter on both offense and defense, Gary scored 16 touchdowns and was selected the Tri-County Most Valuable Player and 1st Team All-Tri County running back and linebacker. Following his senior season, Gary was selected to play in the Big 33 All-Star Football Classic, the only player in school history to have received this honor. Gary played basketball for two years for Mercer Hall of Fame coach Ken Palmer. He was a member of the 1970-1971 basketball team that posted a 24-3 record, winning both the Mercer County and District 10 Championships and advancing to the Western Regional finals. During his senior year, Gary scored 121 points and helped lead the Mustangs to an 18-4 record. Gary continued his football career at Westminster College where he was a standout running back for the Titans before graduating in 1976. He led the Titans in rushing during the 1974 season with 301 yards and four touchdowns. Following college, Gary became a highly successful squash player and is currently a member of the United States Racquets Association. He remains a nationally ranked player and competes in both local leagues and national tournaments. Gary is also an avid golfer with a single-digit handicap. Gary is currently involved in the development of a start-up company that provides business continuity planning and disaster recovery services for financial institutions. 

Myron Bundrant- Myron Bundrant was a three-year starter at defensive tackle and a two-year starter at offensive guard for coach Frank Makarevich’s Mustang football team. During his sophomore season, Myron helped lead the Mustangs to an 8-2 record and was an MCAC honorable mention selection at defensive tackle. The following season, the Mustangs won the MCAC Division II Championship and qualified for the District 10 playoffs with a 6-3-1 record. Myron was named 1st Team All-MCAC at offensive guard and defensive tackle. Named co-captain during his senior season, Myron helped lead the football team to a 2nd consecutive MCAC Division II Championship and a berth in the District 10 Championship game. He was again honored as an All-MCAC at offensive guard and defensive tackle. Myron was also selected to participate in the West Penn Football Classic following his senior year. Myron continued his football career at Thiel College. He was a four-year starter and was selected team co-captain in both his junior and senior seasons. Myron received 2nd Team All-Presidents Athletic Conference honors at offensive tackle after his sophomore and junior seasons. Following his senior season, Myron was named 1st Team All-PAC at offensive tackle, the Thiel Tomcat’s Most Valuable Player, and was the Greenville Lion’s Club Player of the Year. After graduating from Thiel in 1999 with a major in communications and a minor in sociology, Myron played in the European Football League and also had tryouts with the Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Myron received a Master’s degree in Pyschology from the University of Phoenix in 2008. He currently works as a central intake/assessment case manager at Mercer County Behavioral Health Center.


Class of 2009

Mark Guiler- Mark Guiler was a three-year letter winner in the Mercer High School Track and Field program. During his junior and senior years, the track team compiled a composite 15-1 dual meet record, including an undefeated 8-0 record in his senior year. The teams won back-to-back Mercer County Championships and were runner-up at the District 10 Championships both seasons. Mark set the school record in the 3200 meter run during both his junior and senior seasons. Currently, he holds the fifth fasted time in the 3200 meter run in school history. Mark ran cross-country during his senior year at Mercer, finishing 3rd at the Mercer County Meet, 9th at the District 10 Championship meet, and 37th at the PIAA State Championships. He was named most outstanding cross-country runner for the 19821983 season, helping the Mustangs to a 12-2 dual meet record. The team finished 3rd at the Mercer County Meet and 4th at the District 10 Championships. As a member of the Mercer Boys’ Basketball team, Mark helped the Mustangs secure back-to-back MCAC League Championships in 1981-1982 and 1982-1983. His team was District 10 runner-up and competed in the PIAA State playoffs in his senior season. After graduation, Mark continued his academic and athletic career at Grove City College. He was a four-year letterman and three-time Presidents Athletic Conference All-Conference selection in crosscountry. Mark went undefeated and won the 1985-1986 PAC Conference Championship during his junior season, setting three course records. He also was a three-year letter winner for the Wolverine track team, receiving All-PAC honors in both the 1500 and 5000 meter runs. Mark set the school record in the 5000 meter run and was a member of the distance medley team that finished first at the 1986 PAC relays. Mark was a volunteer assistant coach for the Mercer Boys’ Basketball team, helping guide the Mustangs to three MCAC League Championships. He continues to volunteer his time coaching youth baseball, basketball, and soccer. Mark Guiler is currently a certified public accountant and owns Guiler and Guiler Accounting Inc.

Mark Lusch- One of the fasted runners in the history of Mercer Track and Field, Mark Lusch was a record-setting three-year performer on the cinders for the Mustangs. As a sophomore he was a member of the 4 x 220 relay team that won the District 10 Championship and finished 3rd in the Class B State Championship meet in 1960. During Mark’s junior year he won the District 10 Championship in the 100 yard dash, the 220 yard dash, and the broad jump. At the Class B State Championship meet he finished 3rd in both the 100 yard dash and the broad jump. As team co-captain during his senior year, Mark placed 3rd in the 100 yard dash, 2nd in the 220 yard dash, and 3rd in the broad jump at the District 10 Championships and competed in the 220 yard dash at the State Championships. At the New Castle Invitational, he set the school record for the 220 yard dash (22.1 seconds). This record was never broken and was retired in 1976 when the distances in track and field changed to meters. Mark finished his stellar track and field career at Mercer High School as a four-year letter winner. During his junior and senior years he was undefeated in the 220 yard dash and was beaten only once in the 100 yard dash and the broad jump in dual meet competition. Mark was also a member of the Mustang football team, lettering during both his junior and senior seasons. He was also a four year member of the boys’ basketball team. After high school Mark accepted an athletic scholarship to West Virginia University where he was a member of the Mountaineers’ track and field team from 1962 through 1965. After attending Michigan State University for three years, he was graduated magna cum laude from Lansing Community College with a degree in computer science and business. Mark retired from the city of Fort Worth, Texas as a web-based software application tester.


Class of 2010

Fred McConnell- Fred McConnell played basketball for the legendary Hall of Fame coach John Swogger from 1962-1964. In those three seasons, Fred scored a total of 758 points, placing him 21st on the Mercer Boys’ Basketball all-time scoring list, and helped lead the Mustangs to a record of 74-11. The boys’ basketball team was unbeaten in Tri-County league play, won three District 10 and Western Regional Class B Championships, and competed in the PIAA Class B State Championship game all three seasons. During the 1963-1964 season, Fred led Mercer County in scoring with 528 points. He averaged 18.9 points per game, including a season high of 31 points against Cranberry and 28 points in the State Championship game versus Montrose. Fred was also a standout on the defensive end of the floor, averaging 13 rebounds per game and 5.5 steals per game during his senior season. Following the season, Fred was named to the 3rd team UPI Little All-State team. Fred continued his stellar basketball career at Westminster College, where he was a three-year letterman. During his junior season, he helped lead the Titans to a record of 22-6. The team won the NAIA District 18 Championship and advanced to the NAIA National Basketball Tournament in Kansas City. Named team co-captain during his senior season, Fred was an 81% free throw shooter and led the Titans to a 22-8 record, a 2nd NAIA District 18 Championship, and an appearance in the NAIA National Basketball Tournament, losing to Central State in the semifinals. After earning his bachelor’s degree in mathematics, Fred spent the next seven years teaching at Grove City High School and Altoona High School. He then became an administrator and boys’ basketball coach at nearby Lakeview High School. From 19771984, Fred led the Sailors to the District 10 playoffs six times, reaching the PIAA State playoffs during the 1981-1982 season. Following that season, Fred was named Mercer County Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year. Fred McConnell was inducted into the Mercer High School Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1961-1962 Boys’ Basketball Team in 2005. He is also a 2010 inductee into the Mercer County Hall of Fame. Fred retired from the Lakeview School District in 2007 after 39 years in education.