Sharpsburg inducts new Sports Hall of Fame class

A beloved coach and center director, a cross-country champion turned district judge, a late basketball standout and business owner, and a youth athletic association became the latest members of the Sharpsburg Sports Hall of Fame.

Officials inducted Gregory Domain, Matthew Rudzki, Alan Susi and the Sharpsburg Baseball/Softball Association as the class of 2025.

Nominations were submitted to the Sharpsburg Historical Commission earlier this year.

A committee selects between three and four individuals and one organization to be recognized.

This year’s awardees were recognized at a council meeting Oct. 23.

Mayor Kayla Portis inducted Rudzki, who assisted with the other inductions and had help from several of his children.

A video of the ceremony and meeting is posted on the borough’s website.

Councilman Roman Mason said all nominees were worthy of the honor, and he has a connection with three out of the four.

Mason said he has always seen Rudzki as a mentor and plans to study law at Duquesne. He also played for Domain and for the association as a youngster.

Gregory Domian

Domian, 70, was born and raised in Sharpsburg and graduated from Fox Chapel Area High School in 1973.

That year was the inaugural season for Fox Chapel ice hockey, and he was the first senior goaltender for the team.

Following graduation, Domain attended Duquesne University and then began his teaching and coaching career in 1977 at St. Mary’s School in Sharpsburg.

While there, he built one of the most successful Diocesan basketball programs in the area, achieving many section and tournament championships. In 1980, he began coaching at North Catholic High School, where he also taught math. He was with the district for about 15 years.

Domian also opened one of the first hockey stores in the tristate area and moved on to Dick’s Sporting Goods as a buyer for that category.

He became a Sharpsburg councilman and took the role of executive director of the Sharpsburg Recreational Center in 2013. The center has become a safe haven for youths with its anti-drug philosophy and offering tutoring to students.

Domian revived the Sharpsburg Wolves basketball youth program that has impacted hundreds of young adults and is the top feeder program for Fox Chapel Area basketball (Wolves is a call back to Sharpsburg High School, which merged with Fox Chapel in 1970).

Domian currently serves as the vice president of sales at Innovative Designs in Pittsburgh.

He thanked the commission for the honor, commended previous inductees and said he was about as excited to get it as a new hip replacement he had scheduled the following day — Domian said he took a tumble in the gym in February and broke his femur, but would not be deterred.

“(I’m) very humbled,” he said after the ceremony. “I’ve always tried to do things for other people. That’s been my way since way back.”

He said taking over the center was one of the best things he could have done.

“The place was in shambles and we had no representation at Fox Chapel (Area) High School in the basketball program at all,” Domian said. “It was like our Sharpsburg kids were from a different school district. Opening the gym, we’ve had nothing but success.”

Matthew Rudzki

Rudzki, a Sharpsburg native, graduated from Fox Chapel Area in 2004 and ran cross country and track and field.

In cross country, Rudzki was a four-year letterman, a three-time PIAA qualifier, a two-time WPIAL medalist and medaled at the state competition his senior year.

Rudzki and the Foxes went undefeated during their section schedule, and the boys cross country team won their first Section Championship.

In track, Rudzki was a three-year letterman, a WPIAL medalist in the 3,200-meter run, and still holds a school record in the distance medley relay. He was inducted into the Fox Chapel Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.

Rudzki went to Washington & Jefferson College, where he earned a bachelor’s in history and German. He also competed in cross country, indoor and outdoor track while at college, earning two individual cross country Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships in three seasons and earning NCAA All-Region honors among other athletic achievements. He was inducted into the W&J Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

Rudzki later graduated from Duquesne University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law, served as a Sharpsburg councilman for seven years, mayor for four years and is in his fourth year as a district judge.

Rudzki kept his remarks brief when accepting the honor.

“I want to thank everyone in the room and everyone behind me for all that they do,” he said. “I appreciate this award and the nomination. Next, we can stop talking about me and get to the next one.”

Alan Susi

Sharpsburg native Alan Susi was a graduate of the final class of Sharpsburg High School in 1970.

He was a three-year letterman in basketball while also earning All-Section honors during his junior and senior seasons.

During his junior season, Susi averaged 17 points and seven rebounds per game. As a senior, he was a double-double player averaging 19 points and 10 rebounds per game. Susi also served as president of the high school art club.

He put his artistic talents to work opening his own business, A. Susi Painting and Wall Covering. He was owner and operator for 35 years and was widely recognized as one of the best wallpaper hangers in Western Pennsylvania.

Susi died Sept. 15, 2021, after a long battle with cancer. He was 69.

His widow, Claire, son Gino Susi, daughter Marisa Gniewkowski and grandson Torrin Gniewkowski accepted the posthumous honor.

“I always was telling everyone how good he was,” Claire Susi said. “I was a cheerleader when he was a basketball player. It just means really a lot since he’s gone. He would be really thrilled (to have this).”

Family members said he gave a lot to the community and was passionate about helping people going through hard times.

Sharpsburg Baseball/Softball Association

The association took root on June 28, 1952, as Sharpsburg Little League Baseball.

That Saturday began with a parade through town to Heinz Memorial Field, where the Sharpsburg High School band, the Sharpsburg Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps, as well as firemen, police cadets, and veterans all marched on to the field to dedicate the new baseball field.

After the ceremony, there was to be a double-header between the Firemen & Boys’ Club and Miller Spring & Basic Engineers. However, as often happens, a downpour started as the first game was about to begin and play was postponed.

While the first game may have been washed out, the league went on to flourish in Sharpsburg, growing from a few teams and players to about 60 current players, boys and girls, ages 4-12.

Some of the volunteers who contributed along the way include John Susi, Ben Urso, Robert Brose, Samuel “Freckles” Renzula, Salvator Panza and Joe Montemurro.

Sponsors included Miller Spring, Keystone Bank, the VFW, Sharpsburg VFD, the American Legion, Central Service and Basic Engineer.

Games are still played at the ballfield along 19th Street. In 2024, girls fastpitch was added to the program.

President Denise Hoffman, who has been involved in the association for 40 years, accepted the honor.

“I’m glad they recognized it,” Hoffman said. “I just thought it would have been done before I took over because a lot of people put a lot of work into doing this. We’re just following in their footsteps to keep it going.”

The association plans to add more opportunities next year.

“Sharpsburg was always considered rec ball,” Hoffman said. “It wasn’t for tournaments like the other federations are. We just want to teach the fundamentals, sportsmanship and all that good stuff. We’re going to start tournaments next season in the spring.”

Hoffman said tournament play is largely due to the growing rosters and possibly fundraise for field upgrades.