In a special ceremony on Sunday, two iconic figures from Schuylkill County sports history were inducted into the District XI Sports Hall of Fame.
Meggan Yedsena, a former standout from Mahanoy Area Basketball, and Paul Brutto, a legendary coach from Marian Catholic Basketball, were honored for their remarkable achievements and contributions to local athletics.
Meggan Yedsena
Meggan Yedsena, a 1990 graduate of Mahanoy Area, left a mark on Pennsylvania high school basketball. Yedsena, widely recognized for her leadership on the court, was named the 1990 Gatorade Player of the Year for Pennsylvania and the entire Northeast Region. Her prowess led the Golden Bears to back-to-back PIAA State Championships in 1988 and 1989, where she earned 1st Team All-State honors in both 1989 and 1990.
In her junior season, Yedsena dazzled fans by scoring over 40 points in five different games, finishing the year with over 1,000 points. By the end of her high school career, she had accumulated an astounding 2,751 points.
Yedsena's talent took her to the University of Nebraska, where she continued to excel. In 1991, she was named the Big 8 Newcomer of the Year and earned a spot on three Big 8 2nd Team All-Star rosters during her collegiate career. Yedsena led the Huskers to their first-ever NCAA tournament victory and started an impressive 120 games for the team. After college, she transitioned to professional basketball, continuing her impact on the sport at the highest levels.
Paul Brutto
Paul Brutto, the long-time head coach of Marian Catholic Girls Basketball, was honored for his success over more than 30 years of coaching. Brutto's crowning achievement came in 2008 when he led the Marian Catholic Fillies to a PIAA State Championship, marking a highlight in his storied career.
Brutto began his career at Marian Catholic in 1981, not only coaching but also serving as a teacher and administrator. Prior to taking the helm at Marian, he spent 10 successful seasons at Shenandoah Valley, where he notched 144 wins.
During his tenure at Marian Catholic, Brutto amassed an incredible win-loss record of 606-223. Between 2001 and 2008, his Fillies teams averaged 28 wins per season, establishing a reputation for dominance in the Schuylkill League. Under his leadership, the team won 15 Division Titles, 3 Schuylkill League Championships, and earned 5 Schuylkill League Runner-Up finishes. Brutto also guided his teams to 3 District XI Championships and 11 Silver Medals.
Of the 40 teams he coached, 22 qualified for the PIAA tournament, with three advancing to the State Final—a testament to his consistency and excellence as a coach.
District XI Hall of Fame 2024
— Schuylkill League (@SchLeague) October 20, 2024
Paul Brutto pic.twitter.com/FmgLgVcdFx
- Paul Brutto - Shenandoah Valley / Marian Catholic - Basketball
- Linda Cruttenden - Dieruff - Basketball / Volleyball
- Kayla Cunningham - Whitehall - Field Hockey / Soccer
- Chuck DiBilio - Nazareth - Football / Basketball
- Keith Dorney - Emmaus - Football / Basketball / Track and Field
- Tim Massaquoi - Parkland - Football / Basketball / Track and Fiedl
- Ross Moore - Dieruff - Football / Basketball
- Steve Powell - Easton - Wrestling
- Dennis Ramella - Central Catholic / Emmaus - Athletic Administration
- Mike Schneider - Northampton - Basketball / Baseball / Athletic Administration
- Rich Sniscak - Dieruff /Wm Allen /Parkland - Football /Basketball /Baseball /Athletic Administration
- Shannon Williams - Emmaus - Softball
- Meggan Yedsena - Mahanoy Area - Basketball
- Jason Yeisley - Salisbury - Soccer