On Indiana In the Morning today, Doug Steve announced this year’s class of inductees into the Indiana County Sports Hall of Fame. The 38th Annual Banquet is Sunday, May 22, 2022 at the Rustic Lodge and tickets will go on sale in April.
Eight standouts will become members of the Hall this year. (Profiles provided by the Hall of Fame):
- Bob Carmo – Blairsville (born in 1939)
All all-around athlete, he played six years in the Phillies organization (1958-63). Batted better than .300 twice, including .320 in 1961, and in his career batted .262 in nearly 2,500 plate appearances and competed a .758 OPS. Had a football tryout as a punter with the Browns. Placed second in the state in the javelin.
- Frank Cignetti Jr. – Indiana
Has spent more than 30 years as an assistant football coach, most of those years as an offensive coordinator or quarterbacks coach, and made it to the NFL ranks in 1999 with the Kansas City Chiefs. Also coach with the 49ers, Saints, Rams, Giants, and Packers. His college stops include IUP, Pitt, Fresno State, Rutgers and Boston College, where he now serves as offensive coordinator.
- Bob Rado – Homer-Center
Retired two years ago with more than 500 wins as a boys’ basketball coach at Marion Center, Indiana and Homer-Center. The only coach in county history to have more than 100 wins at three different schools. District championships. Played basketball at IUP.
- Joe Saffron – Homer City (Laura Lamar, 1959)
Four-sport letterman at Laura Lamar H.S. Played baseball and football at IUP. He was a freshman pitcher on the 1960 team that went 14-5, set a school record for wins, won the PSAC and NAIA District 30 championships and advanced to the NAIA World Series. The conference title was IUP’s first in 21 years. He played QB on the football team and in 1962 went 5-0-1 as a starter. Played ICL baseball and basketball for four years before embarking on a long and distinguished career in the military.
- John Waters (posthumously) – Robindale/Armagh, 1951 (deceased)
This is taken from Bob Fulton’s story that ran a couple months ago: Played alongside the man who shattered Babe Ruth’s home run record, was compared favorably to Willie Mays and earned lavish praise from a boss who later employed Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain and Joe Theismann. The native of Robindale played 12 seasons of professional baseball and was teammates with Sparky Anderson, who managed the Reds and Tigers to five pennants and three World Series championships; Roger Maris, whose 61 homers for the Yankees in 1961 toppled the Babe from his long-ball pedestal; Chuck Tanner, who guided the Pirates to a world title in 1979; and Steve Demeter, a Homer City native who coached for the Bucs under Tanner. But any discussion of Waters’ career inevitably turns to his defensive prowess and comparisons to Mays. In 1960, when he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Class AAA International League, praise fell on Waters like tropical rain in monsoon season. So why didn’t Waters, who died in 2006, make the jump to the majors? He often struggled in the batter’s box, hitting only .247 in parts of five seasons at the Triple-A level, with highs of 12 home runs and 50 RBIs. But in the field? There Waters was without peer, at least in the eyes of Canadian businessman and Leafs owner Jack Kent Cooke, who later ran the Los Angeles Lakers, L.A. Kings and Washington Redskins. “Never in my life have I seen a center fielder play his position as well as Waters,” Cooke said in 1960. “I wouldn’t care if he hit .001. His fielding ability puts him a notch above Willie Mays. I know that sounds like an awfully flamboyant statement, but he’s the most exciting player I’ve ever owned”
- David Whitesel – Marion Center (1982)
12-time letterman in cross country, swimming and track and field over four years. Two-time state qualifier in cross country and three times each in track and field and swimming. Won a District 6 championship in cross country and helped lead the team to the district title. Also helped lead the team to the district title in track and won an individual title in the 800 and a relay title in the 3,200. The 3,200 team held the Indiana County record for 35 years. According to Barb Yenchik, was one of the top make athletes produced by the high school.
- Dave Woodall – Indiana
Recorded more than 350 wins as varsity girls’ basketball coach at Indiana. Led team to state finals in 2010 and 11 WPIAL section titles. Has coached more than 1,000 games at all levels in 35 seasons.
- Mindy Sawtelle-Zottola – Indiana resident since 1996. Clearfield H.S. and IUP
An eight-time All-American at IUP in cross country. Qualified for the 2000 Olympic Trials in the marathon. Has won various major marathons (16) and half-marathons (22) beginning in 1999 through 2019. IUP hall in 2016, Pittsburgh Marathon hall in 2018. PRs are 2:46.13 in the marathon and 1:20.16 in the half-marathon. Also ran in the Penn Relays and continues to run in 10Ks and 5Ks as a member of the Indiana Road Runners Club for more than 20 years.
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