We are seeking funds to purchase plaques to honor legendary Mohawk coaches John Samsa, Ron Lape, and Henry Pezzulo. These commemorative plaques will depict a picture, statistics, and a quote for each coach and will be placed beside each of their respective sports arenas.
These three men laid the foundations for many young lives by motivating and mentoring many students who attended Mohawk Schools.
John Samsa
Coach Samsa acted as the boys basketball head coach from 1952 to 1986. During this time, he led the team to win the WPIAL Championship in 1970; Runner-Up State Championship in 1970; 10 WPIAL Playoff teams; Seven WPIAL Section Championships; one Tri-County Championship; one PIAA Western Region Championship; one PIAA State Championship Runner-Up; six Section Championships; 446 career victories (25 at Bessemer, 419 for the Mohawk Area).
He also served as Mohawk golf coach, assistant football coach, basketball clinician at the University of Pittsburgh and Clarion State College.
His awards include Coach of the Year for Basketball 1970; Mr. Basketball 1970; Dapper Dan Classic Coach 19970; inductee Lawrence County Sports Hall of Fame 1989.
Samsa served as Bessemer High School baseball head coach for four years and Bessemer High School assistant basketball coach for four years.
A 1937 graduate of Bessemer High School, he served as class president in grades 7 to 11, lettered in basketball participated in class plays and was selected for an Honors and Activity program held at the Union Area School District in 1937.
He was a World War II veteran, serving as a combat pilot in the European Theater of Operations. He earned a teaching degree at Slippery Rock University and a Master of Education degree at Westminster College. In addition to coaching, he served the district in the area as guidance counselor, physical education, world and American history, general science and driver's education.
Ronald C. Lape
Coach Lape served as boys head track coach from 1967 to 1995 His teams compiled a record of Dual Meets 291 wins, 27 loses, 1 tie; six WPIAL Team Championships; nine Section Team Championships; six Tri-County Team Championships and 13 undefeated seasons.
He established the Boys' Cross-Country program in 1968 and coached the team for 22 seasons. His record as head coach: Dual Meets 234 wins, 61 loses; two Section Championships; two Tri-County Championships and two undefeated seasons.
He also served for two years as an assistant football coach, coaching a total 60 seasons within the school district.
Lape was inducted into the Lawrence County Historical Society Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. He has been a PIAA Basketball official since 1968, officiating more than 4,000 games.
A 1957 graduate of Somerset High School, he earned a degree in health and physical education and general science at Slippery Rock University in 1961, and as a driver education instruction through Indiana University. He began as an elementary school physical education teacher and later taught health and physical education and drivers training at Mohawk Junior-Senior High School for 38 years, retiring in 2004 with 43 years of service
Henry "Hank" Pezzuolo Sr.
Coach Pezzuolo served as the baseball coach at Mohawk from 1958 to 1989 with a record of 318 wins and 82 losses.
He is remembered as a man who approached things honestly and fairly and always had time and conversation for everyone.
He taught his players to play fairly and said he would rather lose with respect and honor than win with disrespect and dishonor.
While in high school, Pezzuolo played baseball, football and basketball. He graduated in 1949, earning scholarships to both the University of Kentucky and Youngstown State University.
He was also a former Mahoning Township supervisor from 1984 to 1989.
“These guys weren’t your typical coaches. They were Hall of Fame coaches and people who made a lasting impression on the people who played for them, coached with them and knew them. They were the forefathers of their sports in the Mohawk School District.” - Archie Donofrio
Mohawk asked to recognize former coaching legends: http://www.ncnewsonline.com/sports/local_sports/mohawk-asked-to-recognize-former-coaching-legends/article_ec8dc299-8665-5349-b14e-f26f02b84c59.html
Plaques accepted as compromise in debate over naming Mohawk athletic facilities: http://www.ncnewsonline.com/news/plaques-accepted-as-compromise-in-debate-over-naming-mohawk-athletic/article_1e0b47bc-2173-11e7-8396-03429d933d95.html
These three men laid the foundations for many young lives by motivating and mentoring many students who attended Mohawk Schools.
John Samsa
Coach Samsa acted as the boys basketball head coach from 1952 to 1986. During this time, he led the team to win the WPIAL Championship in 1970; Runner-Up State Championship in 1970; 10 WPIAL Playoff teams; Seven WPIAL Section Championships; one Tri-County Championship; one PIAA Western Region Championship; one PIAA State Championship Runner-Up; six Section Championships; 446 career victories (25 at Bessemer, 419 for the Mohawk Area).
He also served as Mohawk golf coach, assistant football coach, basketball clinician at the University of Pittsburgh and Clarion State College.
His awards include Coach of the Year for Basketball 1970; Mr. Basketball 1970; Dapper Dan Classic Coach 19970; inductee Lawrence County Sports Hall of Fame 1989.
Samsa served as Bessemer High School baseball head coach for four years and Bessemer High School assistant basketball coach for four years.
A 1937 graduate of Bessemer High School, he served as class president in grades 7 to 11, lettered in basketball participated in class plays and was selected for an Honors and Activity program held at the Union Area School District in 1937.
He was a World War II veteran, serving as a combat pilot in the European Theater of Operations. He earned a teaching degree at Slippery Rock University and a Master of Education degree at Westminster College. In addition to coaching, he served the district in the area as guidance counselor, physical education, world and American history, general science and driver's education.
Ronald C. Lape
Coach Lape served as boys head track coach from 1967 to 1995 His teams compiled a record of Dual Meets 291 wins, 27 loses, 1 tie; six WPIAL Team Championships; nine Section Team Championships; six Tri-County Team Championships and 13 undefeated seasons.
He established the Boys' Cross-Country program in 1968 and coached the team for 22 seasons. His record as head coach: Dual Meets 234 wins, 61 loses; two Section Championships; two Tri-County Championships and two undefeated seasons.
He also served for two years as an assistant football coach, coaching a total 60 seasons within the school district.
Lape was inducted into the Lawrence County Historical Society Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. He has been a PIAA Basketball official since 1968, officiating more than 4,000 games.
A 1957 graduate of Somerset High School, he earned a degree in health and physical education and general science at Slippery Rock University in 1961, and as a driver education instruction through Indiana University. He began as an elementary school physical education teacher and later taught health and physical education and drivers training at Mohawk Junior-Senior High School for 38 years, retiring in 2004 with 43 years of service
Henry "Hank" Pezzuolo Sr.
Coach Pezzuolo served as the baseball coach at Mohawk from 1958 to 1989 with a record of 318 wins and 82 losses.
He is remembered as a man who approached things honestly and fairly and always had time and conversation for everyone.
He taught his players to play fairly and said he would rather lose with respect and honor than win with disrespect and dishonor.
While in high school, Pezzuolo played baseball, football and basketball. He graduated in 1949, earning scholarships to both the University of Kentucky and Youngstown State University.
He was also a former Mahoning Township supervisor from 1984 to 1989.
“These guys weren’t your typical coaches. They were Hall of Fame coaches and people who made a lasting impression on the people who played for them, coached with them and knew them. They were the forefathers of their sports in the Mohawk School District.” - Archie Donofrio
Mohawk asked to recognize former coaching legends: http://www.ncnewsonline.com/sports/local_sports/mohawk-asked-to-recognize-former-coaching-legends/article_ec8dc299-8665-5349-b14e-f26f02b84c59.html
Plaques accepted as compromise in debate over naming Mohawk athletic facilities: http://www.ncnewsonline.com/news/plaques-accepted-as-compromise-in-debate-over-naming-mohawk-athletic/article_1e0b47bc-2173-11e7-8396-03429d933d95.html