SPORTS

Athletes to be inducted to PYA Athletic Hall of Fame

Gary Pinneo
Richard Marchionda

The Penn Yan Academy Athletic Hall of fame will induct its 2015 Class Sept. 18. Last week we introduced the 1998 Penn Yan Mustang Girl’s Lacrosse team. This special PYA team ran the table that year, winning the Finger Lakes Championship, Far West Regional, and New York State Championship. They were a perfect 24-0 that year and were the first Penn Yan and Section V team to win a New York State Championship. I really appreciate the nice comments made about last week’s article. I do need to make one correction concerning this story. I mistakenly listed Alaina Axtell in that championship roster. It should have said Alaina Hey. My mistake and apology. This is a tremendous honor for every team member and coach of that special, championship team.

This week will introduce the three individual Mustang athletes who will be inducted this year. In the Sept. 2 Chronicle-Express edition, we will introduce the Hall’s first special community contributor, the Penn Yan Moose Lodge.

Richard Marchionda

Wrestling, Class of 1962

If Penn Yan Academy was to announce a “First Family of Wrestling” category, that family would be the Marchionda Family. The brother trio of Gordon, Larry, and Dick, through hard work and dedication, brought wrestling excellence to Penn Yan Academy and our community. The school introduced wrestling as a varsity sport in 1955, and by the end of that decade the Marchionda boys had put the sport on the map in our town. They were small in stature, but huge in heart and desire — true winners. And as the Ol’ Professor, Yankee manager Casey Stengel used to say to the press when he was holding court after a game, “You can look it up!” Larry Marchionda was inducted into the PYA Sports Hall of Fame last year. Brother Dick Marchionda will enter the Hall of Fame this year. Can brother Gordy be far behind?

Richard Marchionda graduated from Penn Yan Academy in 1962. He was a four year letter winner in his sport of wrestling in 1959-’60-’61- and ‘62, competing in the 95 lb., 102 lb. and 112 lb. categories. Richard lost one match in his freshman year to an eventual Section V champion, and then never lost another match in his high school career. This is certainly a PYA school and Section V record for his sport. Quite possibly this feat is unequaled in the entire country. During his amazing wrestling career, he was a three-time Finger Lakes Conference champ and a three-time Section V champion. There was no NYS tournament back in those years. He won ever honor he could.

Dick Marchionda was courted by numerous colleges offering him scholarships after his high school career. But he opted to serve his country instead. He enlisted in the United States Navy and went into the submarine service. Marchionda served eight years on the nuclear submarine Tusk as a nuclear reactor operator. After his service in the Navy, Richard worked at the Ginna Nuclear Power Plant near Rochester. He earned a Masters Degree in Engineering from R.I.T. An extremely impressive resume from a gifted local athlete and Penn Yan native. And now, Richard will join brother Larry in the Penn Yan Academy Athletic Hall of Fame.

Erin Griffiths

Soccer, Basketball, Softball, Class of 1988

The middle 1980’s ushered in the era of the dominant Penn Yan Mustang Girl’s athletic teams. The Mustangs sported winning programs in every female sport and the school produced some of its finest athletes during this time frame. One of these special and talented athletes was Erin Griffiths. Erin was a standout player in three sports during her playing years at the Academy. From 1984 until her graduation year of 1988, she starred in soccer, basketball, and softball, lettering each year. In soccer she was an All-League selection as a defender/midfielder and in softball anchored the infield as an all-league shortstop. But it was the sport of basketball where Erin made her greatest impact.

Erin Griffiths was a star guard and captain on Coach Bob Church’s championship basketball teams of those years. The Mustang Lady Cagers won two Finger Lakes titles, 2 Section V championships, and appeared in the New York State Final Fours twice. During her varsity basketball career at PYA, the Mustangs were 51-3, with two of those losses coming in the NYS Final Four tournament. Erin was a true leader of these highly successful teams.

Erin scored 692 points, accounted for 116 assists, and had 125 steals while leading the Mustangs. She average over 13 points per game and was named to the All-League team twice. Erin also was named to the Ronald McDonald All-star team and was also a Section V All-tournament selection twice. After high school, Griffith was a successful basketball player in college at Colgate University. Erin Griffiths (Young) currently resides in Geneva, and is a mother of two — Sally and Jake. This September, Erin Griffiths will also be a proud member of the PYA Sports Hall of Fame.

Steve Legg

Basketball, Football, Class of 2000

The sport of Boy’s Basketball at Penn Yan Academy over the years has had its ups and downs. Penn Yan won their first Section V title in basketball in 1942. There were some good teams over the next couple of decades, but never a championship team until the Orange and Blue surprised the local basketball world by winning a Class A title in 1968. That Jerry Turner-coached team came out of nowhere to upset some powerhouse teams, and win the Sectional title. The ‘68 team was lead by a talented point guard named Brian Legg. The Mustangs girl’s basketball program flourished in the 1980’s and 90’s, but there were few basketball triumphs in the Mustang boy’s basketball program during those years. The next 25 seasons produced few basketball triumphs in Penn Yan. But in the late 1990’s, the Mustang boy’s round-ball program made a triumphant return. Winning basketball was back with the Orange and Blue winning a Section V Class B championship in 1998. They made it to the New York State Final Four that season. A couple of years later, Penn Yan won a Finger Lakes League championship for the first time in the school’s history. This winning basketball resurgence was led by another very talented guard named Legg. This time it was Steve Legg, Brian Legg’s son.

Steve Legg could light up the scoreboard during his playing career at PYA. He scored 1,383 points during his round-ball tenure at PYA, a school record. The 2000 PYA graduate, averaged over 20 points a game in his varsity career. He was named to the First Team Finger Lakes All-League twice and also a All Greater Rochester All-star twice. In his senior year, Steven was also named to the Ronald McDonald High School All-star team. A very prestigious honor for this talented Mustang basketball player. Legg also starred on two Western team in the Empire State Games winning two gold metdals. Quite a basketball resume for sure. Steve Legg also made his mark on the Orange and Blue gridiron teams of those years. He was a two year starting quarterback during that time. He holds the school record for most passing attempts in a game and completions in a game.

Steve Legg enjoyed a phenomenal athletic career at Penn Yan Academy. On Friday, Sept. 18, he will be on stage at the PYA auditorium as one of the newest members of the PYA Sports Hall of Fame.