GROVE CITY — In terms of being an athletic pioneer, Patty Cekella completed the hat trick at Grove City College.

The 1986 Seneca Valley graduate is being inducted into the GCC Athletic Hall of Fame as a result.

Cekella, whose maiden name was Brain, was a member of the Wolverines' first Presidents' Athletic Conference women's basketball championship team in 1987. She also competed on Grove City's first three women's track and cross country teams.

She was eventually named team MVP in all three sports.

“Basketball was my big sport in high school,” said Cekella, now a math teacher in the Pine-Richland School District. “I was named MVP and received the top female athlete and top academic female athlete awards at Seneca Valley.

“Basketball was going to be my sport in college. When the other teams started up, I wanted to participate. They were a lot of fun as well.”

Cekella, who graduated from GCC in three years, will join football standout Rick Sems (1993), soccer star Michelle (Novosel) Dudash (2005) and baseball star Brian Moran (2008) for the Hall of Fame inductions during a ceremony Feb. 9.

“I'm surprised to be going into the Hall since I only played for three years,” Cekella said. “It means a lot to me to be recognized for my accomplishments there.”

GCC's women's basketball team won its first PAC title during Cekella's freshman year. The team finished 17-3 overall, 12-0 in conference play.

“That team was mainly all seniors,” Cekella recalled. “I was the sixth man as a freshman. I learned a lot from that season. The seniors sort of took me under their wing.”

Cekella was named a team captain her sophomore year. She ranked second on the team with 13.1 points and 12 rebounds per game that year as a 5-foot-11 post player.

In her final basketball season, she averaged 15.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game, leading GCC to a 16-7 record (9-3 in PAC), earning team MVP and All-PAC honors.

“It was difficult, giving up my senior year in all three sports,” Cekella said. “But you live life, do what you think is right at the time. I was able to graduate early, so I did.”

Cekella competed on the first three women's track and field teams at Grove City. In fact, she had a hand in getting the program started.

“Another girl and myself ... We missed competing in track and the college had a men's track team in place,” Cekella said. “When the men's coach agreed to coach the women as well, we went to the board and asked about starting a team.

“It took a lot of convincing, but we got it going.”

Cekella helped the Wolverine women's track team to its first PAC title in 1989. She earned runner-up honors in the high jump and 800 meters at the conference championships that year.

Her school high jump record of 5 feet, 4 inches — set in 1988 — still stands today.

“So many athletes have come through that school over the years. I'm amazed, and very proud, that record is still there.” Cekella said.

She also set the school mark in the 800 at 2:28.93, but that record has since fallen.

Cekella was named track MVP and cross country MVP in 1988. She graduated with a degree in mathematics/secondaruy education.

She went on to teach at Seneca Valley for four years — coaching middle school and junior varsity basketball as well — before her husband, Chris, was transferred to a job in Maryland.

The couple met at GCC, where he played basketball for two years.

The family returned to the area and Cekella is in her 15th year as a teacher at Pine-Richland.

“I still play in an adult basketball league in Cranberry,” she said. “Sports have always been a lot of fun for me. Going back (to GCC) and seeing everyone is something I'm looking forward to.”