Class of 2011- Class of 2015
Class of 2011
Steve Oliver- Steve Oliver was a standout member of the Mercer Wrestling Program. A four-year letter winner, Steve compiled an overall record of 110-17 with three undefeated dual match seasons. Steve was a 2nd team All-MCAC selection as a freshman and earned 1st team AllMCAC honors following his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. He is the only wrestler in the history of the Mercer Wrestling Program to earn four Section Championships. His 110 wins currently ranks 7th best in school history. Steve was a three-time place-winner at both the Seneca Valley Tournament and Fred Bell Memorial Tournament. In addition to his four Section Championships, he also placed 2nd at the District 10 Tournament three times and secured a 3rd place finish (sophomore season) and 4th place finish (senior season) at the Northwest Regional Tournament, earning him two trips to the PIAA State Championships at Hershey. He was also a two-time winner of the Keystone State Games during the summers following both his freshman and senior seasons. A team captain during his senior season, Steve helped lead the Mustangs to an undefeated dual match season, upsetting Reynolds High School and capturing the Section 2 Team Championship. Steve was also a member of the Mustang football team, earning 2nd team All-MCAC selection as a sophomore and 1st team All-MCAC honors following both his junior and senior seasons. During his junior season, the Mustangs finished with a 6-3-1 record, winning the MCAC Championship and securing a District 10 playoff appearance. As a team co-captain his senior year, Steve helped lead the team to a 2nd consecutive MCAC Championship and a trip to the District 10 Championship game, falling to Northwestern 7-6. Steve was named class valedictorian and graduated from Mercer High School in 1994. He then attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. Steve graduated from West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army in 1998. He served as an armory officer for 9 years, including two tours of duty in Iraq. Steve returned to the area in 2007 and is currently working as a project manager at General Electric Transportation in Grove City.
Class of 2012
Mia (Adair) Forman- One of the greatest track and field athletes in Mercer High School history, Mia (Adair) Forman was a four-year letter winner and a three-time PIAA state qualifier for the Mercer Girls’ Track and Field team. As a freshman, Mia qualified for the District 10 Championships in the 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 400 meter relay, and the long jump. Helping the Mustangs to a 2nd place finish at the District 10 meet at Oil City High School, Mia finished 2nd in the long jump and qualified for the PIAA State Track and Field Championships, becoming the first freshman in school history to compete in the State Championships at Shippensburg University. During her sophomore season, Mia established a school record in the 100 meter dash. At the District 10 Championships, she finished 3rd in the 100 meter dash and was a member of the 400 meter relay team that finished in 3rd place, just missing a trip to the PIAA State Championships. Mia set school records in the 400 meter dash, 400 meter dash, and the triple jump during her junior season. She finished 2nd in the 400 meter dash, 3rd in the 200 meter dash, and 6th in the triple jump at the District 10 Championships. Competing at the PIAA State Track and Field Championships for the 2nd time in 3 years, Mia finished 13th in both the 200 and 400 meter dash. As a senior, Mia was named the most outstanding performer in the running events at the Lakeview Invitational. She finished 1st in the 100 meter dash and triple jump, 2nd in the 200 meter dash, and was a member of the 2nd place 400 meter relay team. She helped lead the Mustangs to a 6th place finish at the District 10 Championships, finishing 1st in the 200 meter dash, 2nd in the 100 meter, and 3rd in the triple jump. At the PIAA State Track and Field Championships, Mia finished 3rd in the 200 meter dash and 4th in the 100 meter dash. Upon graduation, Mia held or shared seven school records in girls’ track and field (100m, 200m, 400m, long jump, triple jump, 400m relay, and 1600m relay). She currently still holds the school record in both the 100 and 400 meter dash. Mia also competed in AAU Track and Field meets throughout the summer beginning in the 6th grade and continuing through her graduation from high school. Mia was also a member of the Lady M’s basketball team throughout her four years at Mercer High School. During her senior year, Mia helped lead the Lady M’s to an undefeated 8-0 league record and a Mercer County League Championship. The Lady M’s had an overall record of 19-5, finishing the season as the District 10 Runner-Up and qualifying for the PIAA State Playoffs. Currently an administrative trainer at Transamerica Agency Network, Inc., Mia and her husband, Kevin Forman live in Coatesville, PA.
Class of 2013
Justin Allan- was a four-year letterwinner for the Mercer Track & Field team under head coach Rev. Dr. F. Stanley Keehlwetter. He was a four-time qualifier for the District 10 AA Championships in both the Shot Put & Discus and was the District 10 AA Champion in the Javelin during his senior year. Justin qualified for the PIAA State Championships at Shippensburg University during both his junior & senior years. He finished 6th in the Shot Put during his junior year. As a senior, Justin finished 5th in the Shot Put and 8th in the Javelin. He was undefeated in the Shot Put during dual meet competition as a sophomore, junior, & senior. He currently holds the school record in both the Shot Put (54’ 10 ½”) and the Discus (158’ 10”). A three-year letterwinner for the Varsity Boys’ Basketball team under head coach Dave Cook, Justin was a 1st team all-MCAC selection at the conclusion of both his junior and senior seasons. During his junior year, he led the team in scoring with 297 points as the Mustangs finished 3rd in the District 10 Playoffs and qualified for the PIAA State Tournament. As a senior, Justin was named MCAC Most Valuable Player as the Mustangs qualified for the PIAA State Playoffs as District 10 Runner-Up with a 22-6 record. For his career, Justin scored 659 points, which ranks him 35th on the all-time scoring list for the Mercer Boys’ Basketball Program. A three-year letterwinner for the Varsity Football team under head coach Frank Makarevich, Justin led the Mustangs to the District 10 Championship game during his senior year. He was named 1993 MCAC Offensive MVP and was a 1st team all-MCAC selection at quarterback, leading the conference in scoring during the regular season. Justin continued his football career at Thiel College and was a three-year starter at quarterback for the Tomcats from 1996-1998. A three-year letterwinner, he was named Offensive MVP during the 1996 season and is currently 8th all-time in passing yards (2,074 yards) and 7th in passing attempts (389 attempts) in Thiel College History. Justin has coached at the middle school and high school levels in football, boys’ basketball, and track & field at both Clarion and Mercer High School. During his time at Clarion, he served as the head coach of the Bobcat Football team (2010), offensive coordinator (1999-2005), and middle school boys’ basketball coach(1999-2004). Justin returned to Mercer High School to serve as the head coach of the Boys’ Track & Field team (2007-2009), assistant track & field coach (2004-2006), and middle school track & field coach (1999). He was an assistant boys’ basketball coach during the 2009-2010 season and served as an assistant coach for the Mustang football team from 2007-2009. Currently a mathematics teacher at Grove City Middle School, Justin and his wife, Jessica, reside in Grove City with their three (3) children, Savannah (8), Issac (4), and Jenna (2).
Valarie (White) Rhodes- was a three-sport standout in basketball, volleyball, and track & field during her athletic career at Mercer High School. A four-year letterwinner for the Lady M’s basketball team, Valarie scored 1,126 points in her career. This ranks her 4th all-time in girls’ basketball and 13th overall in school history. As a freshman, Valarie led the Lady M’s in free throw percentage (63%) and was 3rd on the team in points scored (168), assists (21), steals (36), and rebounds (84). She was voted Mercer County Athletic Conference (MCAC) Freshman of the Year and was a 1st team all-MCAC selection. During her sophomore season, she was the team leader in points scored (270), free throw percentage (60.4%), and assists (75). At the conclusion of the season, Valarie was voted 1st team all-MCAC and was named to the Sharon Herald “Fab 5” 2nd team. Voted team co-captain as both a junior & senior, Valarie led the Lady M’s in scoring (302 points), assists (94), and steals (118) during her junior season. The girls’ basketball team had a 15-11 record during the 1999-2000 season, finishing in 2nd place in the MCAC & qualifying for the District 10 playoffs. She was name MCAC Conference MVP and 1st team all-MCAC following the season. Earning all-MCAC honors again as a senior, Valarie was 2nd on team in points scored (386) and assists (123) and helped lead the Lady M’s to a MCAC League Championship, a 3rd place finish in the District 10 Playoffs, and a berth in the PIAA State Tournament with a 20-8 record. A two-year letterwinner in track & field, Valarie helped the girls’ track & field team secure back-to-back MCAC Division 2 Championships during her freshman & sophomore seasons. As a freshman, she finished 5th in the High Jump at the District 10 AA Championships and was a member of the 400 meter relay team that qualified for the PIAA State Championships at Shippensburg University. Valarie was also a four-year letterwinner for the Lady M’s volleyball program, serving as team co-captain and earning all-MCAC honors during both her junior & senior seasons. Upon graduation from Mercer, Valarie attended West Virginia University. After earning her bachelor’s degre-e she continued her studies at WVU and obtained her Masters Degree in Sports Management. Currently a Corporate Partnerships Manager for the Walt Disney Company, Valarie and her new husband, Larry, reside in Winter Garden, Florida.
Samuel Leech Maskrey- was a major league left fielder in the American Major League Baseball Association from 1882 until 1886. He began his professional baseball career in the early 1880s playing for the Akrons, an independent team based out of Akron, Ohio that become widely know for the development of major league baseball players. Samuel Leech Maskrey joined the Louisville Eclipse of the Amercian Association during the 1882 season. He made his debut for the Eclipse on May 2, 1882. Know for his defense in the outfield, Maskrey had the fourth (4th) best fielding average among American Association outfielders in both the 1882 (.902 average) and 1883 (.914 average) seasons. During the 1883 season he led the league in putouts by an outfielder with 193 in 96 games. Maskrey concluded his career in the American Association during the 1886 season, playing for both the Louisville Eclipse and the Cincinnati Red Stockings. He returned to playing Minor League Baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers in the Western Association from 1887-1889. Maskrey then joined a group of professional players that traveled to England in 1890 to help establish the National Baseball League of Great Britain. Serving as both a player & manager for the team in Preston, Maskrey posted a .347 batting average and led the league in runs with 74 in 35 games. He returned to the United States in 1891 and signed as a player-manager with the Tacoma Daisies of the Pacific Northwest League. He spent the 1892 season as a player-manager for the Atlanta Firecrackers of the Southern Association before retiring from professional baseball in 1893. Maskrey returned to baseball in 1895 with an unsuccessful attempt to secure a minor league baseball franchise in Meadville that would have played in the Iron & Oil League. He eventually ended up managing the team out of Warren, OH in the same league for three (3) seasons (1901-1903) before he officially retired from professional baseball at the age of 50 in 1904. Following his playing career, Maskrey returned to live in Mercer. He took an active interest in local politics and explored several business ventures, including a hotel business with his brother, Harry Maskrey. Samuel Leech Maskrey passed away in his home at the age of 68 on April 1, 1922.
Class of 2014
The 1976 - 1977 Boys’ Basketball team- under head coach Dave Cook, assisted by Ron McEntire, was the last of six Mercer basketball squads that played in a PIAA State Championship game. The Mustangs rolled through the regular season with a 21-1 record, winning the Mercer County Athletic Conference (MCAC) Championship. During the District 10 Playoffs, the Mustangs “Mighty Mites” defeated Rocky Grove (72-45), Northwestern (62-55), and captured the District 10 Championship with a 55-40 win over Kennedy Christian in front of a standing room only crowd of close to 4,000 fans at Westminster College. In the inter-district playoffs, the Mustangs ousted Greensburg Central Catholic (81-65), Kennedy Christian (65-57), and Midland (58-56). The boys’ basketball team defeated Bishop Boyle 86-71 in the PIAA Western final, securing a spot in the PIAA State Championship game in Hershey. The Mustangs battled Cocalico in the state championship game, falling by a score of 75-59 and finishing the season with a 28-2 record.
Team members included seniors Josh Borowicz, Greg Dydek, Mark Flannery, Dale King, Dale Kornbau, Wayne McCullough, & Jeff McDowell; juniors Jamie Borowicz, Mike Brandt, Mark Nelson, Robert Ramsey, Robert Schultz, Jim Smith, Paul Stiger, & Jeff Vallely; sophomores Eric Borowicz, Kurt Crawford, Kirk McClure, Dean Moose, Bruce Stiger, Jeff Wimer, Keith Wolfe, & Jerry Woods; and team managers Dale Adair & Tim Shillito.
Class of 2015
Luther Phillips- was a four-year letterwinner and two-time qualifier & placewinner at the PIAA Class AA State Championships for the Mercer Track & Field team under Hall of Fame coach Mark Hannay. As a freshman, Luther helped lead the Mustangs to a 4-3-1 dual meet record. He finished 4th in the 100 meter dash at the District 10 Southern Qualifier at Oil City High School. During his sophomore season, Luther finished 6th in the 100 meter dash and was a member of the 3rd place 4 × 100 meter relay team at the D-10 Southern Qualifier. The following week at the District 10 Championships in Oil City, he finished 6th in the 100 meter dash and the 4 × 100 relay team garnered 5th place honors. Luther helped lead the Mustangs to a Mercer County & Tri-County Championship with 7-1 dual meet record during his junior year. The team finished 1st at the Mercer JC Invitational and 2nd at the Fairview Inviational. At the Tri-County Meet, he finished 1st in the 100 meter dash & 200 meter dash and was a member of the 4 × 100 meter relay team that finished 1st and established both a meet & school record (44.7 seconds). Luther finished 3rd in the 100 meter dash, 4th in the 200 meter dash, and was a member of the 2nd place 4 × 100 relay team at the District 10 Southern Qualifier. The following week, he finished 3rd in the 100 meter dash and was a member of the 4 × 100 relay team that took 4th place at the District 10 Championship. The 4 × 100 relay team of Luther, Calvin Phillips, Ken Tarczy, & John Zurasky concluded their season by securing an 8th place medal at the PIAA State Track & Field Championships held at Shippensburg University. During his senior season, the Mustangs finished the dual meet season undefeated with an 8-0 mark earning both Mercer County & Tri-County Championships for the 2nd time in as many seasons. The team also finished in 1st place at both the Fairview & the McTaggart-Shaver Invitational and in 3rd place at the Mt. Lebanon Invitational. The Mustangs dominated the Tri-County Championships, earning a meet record 185 points. Luther was named Most Outstanding Performer at the meet, finishing 1st in both the 100 meter dash & 200 meter dash and was a member of the 1st place 4 × 100 meter relay team. Luther helped lead the Mustangs to a 2nd place finish at the District 10 Championships, finishing in 1st place in the 100 meter dash, 1st place in the 200 meter dash, and was a member of the 1st place 4 × 100 relay team. At the PIAA State Championships, Luther earned medals in the 100 meter dash (5th place), 200 meter dash (2nd place), and was a member of the 4 × 100 relay team that garnered 8th place honors. At the time of his graduation, Luther held or shared school records in the 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, and the 4 × 100 relay. He currently still holds the school record in the 200 meter dash. Luther was also a member of the Mustang football team, earning 3 varsity letters as a running back & defensive back. During his junior year, the football team finished 2nd in the Tri-County League and earned a berth in the WPIAL Class A playoffs, falling in the quarterfinals to Chartiers Houston 24-23 in an overtime thriller. An active member of the Cedar Avenue Church of God in Sharon, Luther retired from UPS after 20 years of service and now works for George Junior Republic as a driver. He & his wife, Laurie, reside in Mercer and have 3 children (Jazhmine, Ashley, & Channing) and 2 grandchildren (Jadon & Josiah).
