JEFFERSON TWP — The Knoch High School Sports Hall of Fame will induct its eighth class prior to the Knights’ home football game against Indiana on Sept. 1.

The 2023 class includes former athletes Peter Albert, Jim Geist, Jordan Shoop, Carol Cress and Tim McNerney, along with long-time physical education teacher and coach Nancy Gillman.

To be considered for the Knoch High School Sports Hall of Fame, an individual must have made a significant contribution to Knoch sports through athletic excellence and/or exemplary leadership contribution in sports activity. Applicants must be at least 30 years of age for consideration.

Here is some information on the 2023 inductees:

Peter Albert

A 1979 Knoch graduate, he was a tri-captain on the Knights’ 1978 WPIAL Class AA championship football team. Albert earned three letters in football and was first team All-AOC as a tackle in his sophomore, junior and senior years.

He was one of the first freshmen to ever play varsity football at Knoch.

Albert also excelled in the shot put in 1976 and 1977. He earned a full football scholarship at William & Mary College, where he played from 1979-81.

Jim Geist

He was an outstanding track and field athlete at Knoch for four seasons before graduating in 1985. Geist was the WPIAL champion in the javelin in 1985, setting a Knoch record with a throw of 210 feet, 4 inches. He paced third in the state that season.

Geist was undefeated in all of his dual meets and individuals during the 1985 season. He pitched two no-hitters in baseball during his American Legion career. He went on to Slippery Rock University, becoming a four-time NCAA Division II All-American and four-time PSAC champion. Geist was the 1989 PSAC MVP in field events.

His javelin throw of 230 feet, 4 inches is still an SRU record. Geist was inducted into the SRU Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.

Jordan Shoop

A 2006 Knoch graduate, Shoop excelled in football and basketball with the Knights. A four-year varsity player in basketball, he holds the record for most games played as a Knight and is the third-leading scorer history with 1,364 points in 102 games.

He was named all-conference in basketball and football.

Shoop accepted a football scholarship to the University of Richmond and was a starting linebacker on the Spiders’ 2008 FCS national championship team.

Carol Cress

A 2008 Knoch graduate, Cress was a two-time WPIAL champion in track and field in 2007 and 2008. She earned a fifth-place finish at the state meet and still ranks second all-time at Knoch in the shot put and javelin. She was named MVP at both the Butler and Mars Invitationals and was Knights’ MVP in in 2007 and 2008.

Cress continued her career in college at Sacred Heart University for three years and at Clarion University for one season. She still holds the record for the hammer throw at Clarion. She was named all-conference in the shot put six times.

Tim McNerney

A 2009 Knoch graduate, McNerney earned first team all-state as a running back in 2007. He led the 2007 Knights to a WPIAL semifinal berth, rushing for 1,785 yards. He ran for 296 yards against New Castle in the first playoff game ever played at Knoch.

McNerney’s 24 touchdowns in 2007 remain a school record. He also holds the school record for career rushing yards at 2,903. He went on play for Washington & Jefferson College, where he became a team captain and led the Presidents’ Athletic Conference in rushing in 2011,

His life was cut short while he was still at W&J in 2012.

Nancy Gillman

A 1960 Knoch graduate, Gillman returned to her alma mater in 1964 after excelling in field hockey at Slippery Rock University. She earned her Master’s of Education from Colorado State University over the next few years.

Gillman coached just about every girls sport at Knoch, including intramural field hockey, archery and cross country. She was a driving force behind getting the Knights’ girls soccer program started and was their first coach until she died in 1995.