LYNDORA — After 53 years and 387 inductions, the theme of the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame remains the same.

It's about support and family.

Joining the Hall Saturday night at the Lyndora American Legion Hall during the BCSHOF's 53rd annual banquet were the late Sue Parisi and Tom Schneider, Dick Day, Ken Musko, Rob Fester, Matt Bachman, T.J. McCance, Mike Sikorski and Jeff Diehl, along with the 1978 WPIAL champion Knoch football team.

Parisi was the first girls basketball coach in Butler High School history. By her fourth season, she guided the Golden Tornado to an 18-2 record and berth in the WPIAL finals. She was 67-17 overall as Butler coach.

Her husband, Leo “Bucky” Parisi, accepted the honor on her behalf.

“She was the love of my life,” Parisi said. “She was one of the most compassionate people I've ever met in my entire life.

“It was never about Sue. It was always about somebody else. She deserves this honor ... She's been in my Hall of Fame for 40 years.

Brock Schneider, one of Tom's sons, accepted the Hall's Lifetime Achievement Award for his father. Tom Schneider was a member of the Zelienople Baseball Association for 23 years, coached Zelienople legion ball for 20 years, was with the Seneca Valley Baseball Boosters for 18 years — even played Santa Clause in Zelie for 13 years.

“Dad had a commitment to baseball, kids and the community,” Schneider said. “I'm still playing baseball today — I call it the Ben Gay League, for all the aches and pains I go through — because of the love of the game he gave me.

“You have to learn how to lose before you can be a good winner. My father told me that and it's stayed with me my whole life.”

Musko was a standout gymnast at Butler and West Virginia University who went on to pioneer many programs for motivating youths.

“Paul 'Red' Uram got me to try gymnastics and went on to help shape me as a person, by developing character, integrity and my own personal strength,” Musko said.

“Gymnastics gave me courage, confidence, creativity and motivation.”

Fester was unable to attend the banquet. He gained induction for a pitching career that includes 17 Eagle County League championships and berths in the Mars High School and Point Park University Hall of Fame.

Bachman was a stellar linebacker at Butler who went on to play at Rutgers University.

“I was lucky enough to play in a great era of Butler football,” Bachman said. “Coach Art Bernardi was instrumental in my career. When I got to Rutgers, I was fundamentally ahead of other guys.

“My brother Tim is three years older than me. He used to beat the crap out of me all the time ... Playing football was a good outlet for me,” he joked.

McCance was the first 100-win wrestler in Butler history and the program's first four-time WPIAL qualifier. He became the second wrestler inducted into the county Hall of Fame.

“I needed wrestling more than wrestling needed me,” McCance said. “I learned more from my losses than any win I ever had. In an era in which all kids receive participation trophies, there's a winner and a loser in wrestling. If the sport of wrestling isn't symbolic of life, I don't know what is.”

McCance pointed out there are now nine 100-win wrestlers at Butler and that, as a youngster, Cole Baxter told him he would one day break all of his records.

“I'm proud to be a part of that,” he said. And (Butler wrestling coach) Scott Stoner has been a mentor and second father to me and hundreds of kids. His commitment to the program, and everything he does for kids is something no one ever sees.”

Sikorski was a standout baseball player at Knoch and Slippery Rock University. He hit at least .340 every season he played in the Eagle County League.

“My parents were such unselfish people,” he said. “It didn't matter what I needed as a player, they found a way to get me what I needed.

“I have to quote George Bernard Shaw, who said: 'We don't stop playing because we're old, we get old because we stop playing.'”

Diehl was a WPIAL championship golfer At Butler who went on to play at Ohio State and Penn State.

“Walter Lonchena was my golf coach at Butler and he helped develop my game,” Diehl said. “I'm following my father Cliff into this Hall of Fame and that makes this a memorable experience for me and my entire family.”

Dick Day, a standout baseball player and bowler, became the oldest inductee in BCSHOF history. He is 94.

The former mayor of East Butler simply said “this is a very special day and honor” while giving the shortest speech of the night.

Tim Karrs, coach of the 1978 Knoch football team, accepted the induction on behalf of the squad. Knoch was 11-1 that season, defeating Beaver Falls 40-15 in the title game at Pitt Stadium.

“We had to dress at Trees Pool while the other three teams playing that day dressed at the stadium,” Karrs recalled. “We were fired up about that. As we walked down toward the field, we passed the Beaver Falls buses and all we kept hearing was 'Knoch Knoch, who's there? Knoch Knoch, who's there? ... That fired us up even more.

“We were a pretty motivated team by the time that game started. The rest is history. By the end of that game, they knew who was there.”

A number of the players from that team attended the banquet. They will be honored again as inductees into the Knoch High School Sports Hall of Fame prior to a Knights home game Sept. 14.

“I'm proud of what a lot of these guys have accomplished at this stage of their lives,” Karrs said. “I like to believe the discipline and work ethic of football had something to do with that.

“It's my privilege to stand here and represent 73 great young men ... and they were great young men.”

Bob Cupp served as master of ceremonies for the banquet.