Fox Chapel to honor 6 inductees in 24th annual Hall of Fame class

The Fox Chapel Area Schools Hall of Fame will induct six new individuals and a championship team as part of the 24th annual class during a banquet June 5, at the Harmar House in Cheswick.

Each inductee excelled at Fox Chapel and solidified a legacy throughout decorated high school careers.

Four of the six individual athletes went on to play college sports, while one served eight years in the U.S. Army, including six and a half years as an Army Ranger. The sixth led the Foxes to a PIAA Class AAA title during his junior year and a WPIAL championship the year after.

The Fox Chapel Hall of Fame also will honor the 1964 boys soccer team that went undefeated and captured the program’s first WPIAL championship. They won again three years later, and the program has won three more WPIAL titles since, with their most recent one coming in 1995.

Those interested in attending the banquet should contact Jim Perry at gymbeck63@aol.com or 724-681-4642.

Here’s a look at the inductees:

Becky (Fortune) Long, Class of 2003

A school record holder in the 400 meters, 200 meters, 400-meter relay, and 800-meter relay, Long was a standout in both track and field and cross country during her high school career. She earned four varsity letters in track and field and two in cross country. She also qualified for the WPIAL championship meet in both sports every year she competed. During her senior year she made her first trip to the PIAA meet after qualifying in the 200.

Stan Malyszka, 2003

After tearing his ACL during his junior year of high school, Malyszka led the Foxes to the WPIAL football playoffs during his senior year as a starting safety and receiver. He scored 11 touchdowns (seven receiving, two rushing, one interception and one punt return). During his one start at running back, he rushed for more than 100 yards. Malyszka was a three-year letterman in both football and baseball before attending Yale, where he earned three varsity letters in football. He overcame two more ACL injuries during his time at Yale. The program won the Ivy League championship his senior year.

E.J. McCormick, 2005

A four-year letterman for the Fox Chapel boys soccer team, McCormick received all-section and all-WPIAL honors during both his junior and senior years. As a senior, McCormick scored 33 goals while earning all-state honors, and he was also named a regional and national All-American. He capped of his high school career by winning Pennsylvania’s boys Gatorade Player of the Year honors. He scored 67 career goals.

Steve McKenna, 1998

McKenna was a three-year starter in three different sports — football, basketball and baseball and served as a team captain in basketball and baseball. He earned a first-team all-conference nod as a defensive back and also helped the Foxes make the WPIAL playoffs twice. He had seven interceptions during his senior year and returned two of them for touchdowns. After high school, and graduating from Point Park, McKenna spent eight years in the U.S. Army and was an Army Ranger for six and a half years.

Jennifer Papich, 2010

A four-year starter on the girls basketball team, Papich joined the 1,000-point club as a senior, was named all-state and was also named Fox Chapel’s Female Athlete of the Year during her senior year. When she was a junior, the Foxes finished as WPIAL runners-up. After a storied high school career, Papich attended Gannon where she ranks sixth all-time on the scoring list, seventh in rebounds, fifth in steals, fourth in blocks, third in free throws made, and sixth in games played. She led the Knights to a No. 6 national ranking as a junior and was named Gannon’s Female Athlete of the Year twice. She was inducted into the school’s hall of fame in 2020.

Reed Smith, 1992

As a four-year starter for both the soccer and lacrosse teams, Smith shined throughout his career at Fox Chapel. In soccer he was named all-WPIAL, all-state, and was a regional All-American during his junior year when the Foxes won the 1990 PIAA Class AAA championship. The team also earned a No. 5 ranking in the country during the same season. Smith led the Foxes to a WPIAL championship the following year with an undefeated record during the regular season. He scored 25 goals and had 14 assists. On the lacrosse field, Smith was a captain during both his junior and senior seasons and scored 40 goals during his final high school campaign when he was awarded the team MVP honor.