Pennridge Inductees
Jim Groff—Jim was successful athletically at both Pennridge and Moravian College. Picking up three letters in Ram football, he was a halfback-safety who led the Rams in rushing, scoring and interceptions his last two years. He was a senior co-captain and All Bux-Mont awardee his last two years. Jim also earned three letters in track, placing second in the broad jump, 220 yard dash, 440 relay team, 880 relay team and fourth in the 100 yard sprint at the Bux-Monts. At the time he had six school records and was voted MVP his senior year in track. He also lettered in basketball. At Moravian on a football scholarship Jim received two football letters, leading the team in interceptions the last two years while also playing running back on offense. Later he had two try-outs with the Philadelphia Eagles. After college he played basketball in the Pennridge Community League, competitive tennis and coached Little League baseball, soccer, and youth basketball. Jim graduated from Pennridge in 1961
Charles “Bud” Hollenbach—Bud (Charles) coached football at Sell-Perk and Pennridge for 25 years prior to retiring from that responsibility as his two sons started coming into the Ram gridiron program. He was an important sidekick to head coach Wayne Helman and handled the offensive backs (as offensive coordinator) and defensive backs through 1968. He helped those teams to four Bux-Mont titles in his first nine years. Bud played High School football in Allentown and then some at East Stroudsburg although injuries affected his playing career. His two sons, Mark and Jeff were award-winning High-School athletes at Pennridge and the University of Illinois in football.
Tim Lewis—Tim has had a 34 year run at local and national recognition as a football player and coach, presently the secondary coach for the Atlanta Falcons. In his pro playing career with the Green Bay Packers he finished with a career number of 16 interceptions in his four years of pro football, twice being named Second Team All-Pro. A severe neck injury suffered in a Monday night football game in the third week of 1986 finished his playing days. Prior to that Tim was at Pitt, playing four years when the team went 41-6. He was selected to the East-West Shrine game, Senior Bowl (Defensive Player of the Game) and played in four major bowl games for the Panthers. He was drafted in the first round (pick #11) by the Packers. Prior to Pitt he was All Bux-Mont on both offense and defense his senior year at Pennridge when he was co-captain and was selected for the Pennsylvania Big 33 team. In HS track he was team captain and MVP his senior year winning Bux-Mont and district honors. A Pennridge grad of 1979, he received a full scholarship to Pitt. Tim has held college coaching responsibilities (’87-94) and pro coaching jobs (‘95-present) including two stints as defensive coordinator (Steelers and Giants). At times he has been considered for head coaching jobs in the pros.
Gerald Souder—Jerry played sports year-round during his successful athletic career at Sell-Perk, the forerunner of Pennridge HS. He played four sports, lettering in every one. In his junior year the Redbirds won championships in basketball and baseball. In roundball he made a hook shot with only a few seconds remaining in overtime to propel Sell-Perk to a Bux-Mont title and followed that with an All Bux-Mont year as co-captain of the baseball team, the shortstop on the league winners also. Jerry also lettered in football (quarterback) and track. He later played quarterback for the Greenjacket’s semi-pro football squad, basketball in the Community League and the VFW Baseball League. From ’54-’59 he played on the Perkasie Trinity Lutheran Softball teams that won two state championships. Jerry served 2 1/2 years in the 8th Air Force during World War II and spent one year stateside during the Korean War where he played on baseball and basketball squads. He was a1943 Sell-Perk graduate. Jerry also coached in the early years of the Pennridge Little League for eight summers.
Quakertown Inductees
Diane Angstadt – Diane is a 1977 graduate who participated in field hockey, basketball and softball. In her senior year she was captain of the Bux-Mont Championship field hockey team and was chosen for the League All Star team. She earned a total of 10 varsity letters during her athletic career at Quakertown. She excelled in all three sports which caused her to be the only female athlete in the history of QHS to be chosen as the Female Athlete of the Year for two consecutive years. While at the University of Pennsylvania, she earned four letters in field hockey, two in basketball and three in softball. She was chosen for the first team All Ivy League field hockey team for two years and was the Ivy League player of the year in 1980. She was the recipient of the Elizabeth R. Burdick award for outstanding contribution to Penn’s women’s athletics as a freshman and was the U of P Outstanding Woman Athlete as a senior. She was selected to play for the USA Field Hockey Team in 1978, 1980-82 and was a member of the Under 21 National Field Hockey Team. She continues to play hockey with the Red Rose Field Hockey team and participates yearly at the USFHA National Festival. She has coached field hockey at Lower Dauphin High School and with U16 and U19 travel teams.
Richard (Dick) Hillegass – Dick graduated from QHS where he played football for three years, track for four years and baseball for two years. In football, he was a fullback on offense and cornerback on defense earning All Bux-Mont Honorable Mention as a senior. In track, he participated in the field events of javelin, discuss and long jump. In baseball, he played third base and was a member of the 1950 championship team as well as first team All League. He played American Legion baseball as a third baseman from 1949-1951. He also played for the Sell-Perk Greenjackets football team in 1951. He coached midget football in Quakertown for five years.
Valdis (Val) Keris – Val graduated from QHS in 1962 and is known as one of the most outstanding basketball players in the school’s history. He played varsity basketball for three years and lettered in all three years. As a sophomore he made honorable mention All Bux-Mont. As a junior he made second team All-League. During his senior year he averaged 23.5 points per game and was chosen for first team All-League. He finished his career in fifth place on the all time QHS scoring list with 943 points. He set what was at that time the school record of 45 points in a game. He was voted honorable mention for the Eastern PA All Star Team and played in a number of post season all star games. In 1962-63 he was a starter with the Temple University Freshman Team. He transferred to Kutztown State College where he set the Pennsylvania State College and Kutztown single game records of 49 points and 32 rebounds. In 2004 he was elected to the Kutztown University All Century Basketball Team. After college, he continued to play in several basketball leagues in the Philadelphia area. This included being the Player of the Year Award in the North American Latvian Basketball League.
Jay Poggi – Jay graduated from QHS in 1976 after a stellar career in football and track. He earned 8 varsity letters and was a co-captain of both teams. He finished his track career holding 15 school records (combined individual and relay teams. This is more school records than any athlete in school history in any sport. He was the Bux-Mont Champion in the 880 and the number one seed at the state meet for District One. He was the first Quakertown sprinter to break the 10 second mark (9.8 seconds) in the hundred yard dash and he did this three times. In football, he was a first team All-Bux Mont halfback in both his junior and senior years averaging 149 yards per game. He represented Quakertown as the starting halfback on the North Squad in the Lions Club Bucks County All Star Game and scored two touchdowns in that game. After high school he attended Millersville University for one semester and earned a varsity letter in football. He then transferred to Temple University where he played football and ran track until an injury shortened his career.