TREESDALE — Brad Mueller did not simply compete in football and track at Mars High School, he set new standards for the Planets in both sports.

The 2003 graduate left Mars as the school’s all-time leading rusher on the gridiron with 3,460 yards. His exploits on the track included five individual WPIAL titles and three PIAA gold medals.

Those performances earned Mueller induction into the district’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He, along with four others, was inducted at a ceremony at Mars Middle School this year.

Mueller turned in a solid junior campaign for Mars’ football team in 2001, rushing for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns while helping the Planets reach the WPIAL Class AA quarterfinals.

From both an individual and team perspective, however, it was just a taste of things to come.

After losing three of their first six games in 2002, the Planets reeled off three straight victories to clinch a berth into the district playoffs. Mueller was the workhorse behind the run, amassing an incredible 1,043 yards on the ground in the three contests. His onslaught began with 407 yards against Apollo-Ridge and was followed by 347 against North Catholic and 289 against Deer Lakes.

“It was amazing,” Mueller said. “Earlier in the season, we had some wrinkles to iron out and we just needed to simplify things. We started to peak the last few games of the regular season.”

“Brad was the fastest and most explosive running back I’ve ever been around,” said Mars coach Scott Heinauer. “By his third step, when most guys are just starting to go, Brad was at full speed.

“Getting over 1,000 yards in three games, I don’t know if that will ever be broken.”

Playoff wins over Riverside, Jeannette and Beaver sent Mars to the WPIAL championship game for just the second time in program history.

The Planets’ season came to an end with a 20-6 setback to Seton LaSalle at Heinz Field.

“It was a tough loss,” Mueller said. “The worst part was realizing that I’d never get to play another game with the guys I grew up with.”

Mueller, though, still had some business to take care of on the track.

Entering the spring of 2003, he had already won three WPIAL titles — the 100-meter dash as a sophomore and junior and the 200 dash his junior year. He was also the defending state champ in the 100 event.

He added two more district titles to his resume as a senior and did not disappoint in the PIAA meet at Shippensburg University, winning the 100 and 200 with times of 10.7 seconds and 21.85, respectively. The latter broke the school record.

“To be able to end my high school career as a state champion was very important to me,” said Mueller.

He accepted a full scholarship to play football at Boston College. Following a redshirt freshman season, he served as a reserve cornerback and saw time on special teams from 2004-06. After earning a communications degree there, he came to Slippery Rock University as a safety and environmental management major with one year of eligibility left.

“I played safety at SRU,” he said. “It was a good experience, but that season went by so quickly.”

Mueller and his wife, Rebecca, live in Treesdale.

“I like where we are,” he said. “If and when we have kids, I’d love to have them end up going to Mars. It’s a good school district.

“My high school teammates and I all had goals and achievements,” he said. “When you surround yourself with good people, good things often happen.”

Also part of the Mars Athletic Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013 are:

Ed Best (Class of 1972): Earned seven varsity letters (four in track, three in football). ... In football, led Butler County in scoring as a junior in 1970 and rushed for over 900 yards during his senior season. ... Was part of the Mars boys’ mile-relay team that won the state title in 1972.

Christine (Holmes) Bocian (1971): Lettered in basketball all four years of high school. ... A forward, she earned all-star recognition her senior year.

Scott Heinauer: Mars’ varsity football coach from 1992-present, he has amassed an overall record of 149-87 and led the Planets to eight conference titles and 17 WPIAL playoff appearances in 22 seasons. ... Coached Mars to WPIAL title-game appearances in 1996 and 2002.

Don Wix (1955): Lettered three times in basketball for the Planets, scoring 964 points in his varsity career. ... His total of 486 points during his senior year stood as Mars’ single-season record for over 50 years. ... In baseball, played in two all-star games at Forbes Field.