Nativity BVM High School proudly honored its Class of 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees during a ceremony held on Sunday afternoon.
The event began with a celebratory dinner in the school cafeteria at 1:15 p.m., followed by the official induction ceremony in the gymnasium.
This year’s inductees included standout athletes Dean Gherghel ’88, Meghan Ann Wynosky-Dolfi ’01, Mark Grapsy ’80, Sean MacCready ’00, and the legendary 1989 Green Wave Football Team.
Those inducted included:
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| Dean Gherghel ’88; Meghan Wynosky-Dolfi ’01; Sean MacCready ’00 |
DEAN GHERGHEL
Dean Gherghel is the son of Rudy and Judy Gherghel. A Pottsville native, he graduated from Nativity BVM High School in 1988. He attended Mansfield University where he received a degree in Environmental Science.
Dean’s years at Nativity were filled with athletic achievements. He earned Varsity letters in both football and track all four years, excelling in track.
In his sophomore year, Dean earned 2nd Place in Pole Vault during the Schuylkill League playoffs and 3rd Place in Pole Vault during the District 11 Championships.
Dean continued his outstanding career in track as a junior with a school record in Pole Vault, a Schuylkill League Championship in Pole Vault and a District 11—2nd place finish in Pole Vault.
Dean flew high in his senior year. He was voted the Most Valuable Track Athlete. He set a school record and a Schuylkill League record in Pole Vault. He was the Schuylkill League Champion and the District 11 Champion in Pole Vault and earned a spot at the PIAA State Championship where he placed 8th in Pole Vault. Dean was undefeated in Pole Vault both his junior and senior years.
Dean is now retired and resides in Auburn, PA. He is the father of three sons, including Jack, who is currently a Senior at Nativity BVM, and serves on the Lake Wynonah Home Owners Board.
MEGHAN ANN WYNOSKY-DOLFI
Meghan Ann Wynosky-Dolfi is a 2001 graduate of Nativity BVM High School. Daughter of Charles and Mary Ann Wynosky, Meghan had an outstanding career while representing the Green Wave.
Meghan was involved in Nativity athletics during her entire four years on the hill. She earned varsity letters all four years in Cross Country and Track. She also received two varsity letters in cheerleading.
Long distance running was Meghan’s specialty. In 1999, she was the Cross-Country District 11 Champion, and received the silver medal in the Schuylkill League Championships. That year, she was undefeated during Schuylkill League divisional races.
During her senior year, she was captain of the 2000 District 11 Championship team and captain of the 2000 Schuylkill League Championship team. Not only did Meghan win meets but she also set course records at Nativity, Weatherly, Minersville, Mount Carmel, and Mahanoy Area. She was the first Nativity Female Cross Country District 11 Champion, the 1st to qualify for states for four years and a four-time Schuylkill League All Star.
Meghan continued her winning performance on the Track. In 1998, Meghan was the District 11 Champion in the 3200 Meter and a silver medalist on the State 3200 Meter Relay Team. In 1999, she repeated as District 11 Champion in the 3200 Meter race.
Today Meghan resides with her husband, Doug, and her two children, Aiden and Annabelle, in Audubon, PA.
MARK GRAPSY
A 1982 graduate of Nativity BVM, Mark Grapsy was a star athlete on “The Hill”. Mark is the son of Ramon and Joan Grapsy and the husband of the late Elaine Grapsy. He is also the proud father of Jillian and Shane.
During his illustrious career, he earned 11 varsity letters as a member of the Cross Country, Basketball and Track Teams.
In 1980, Mark took the Schuylkill League Championship in Cross Country. He qualified to run in the Cross-Country State Championships three times.
Throughout his career, Mark garnered Schuylkill League Track Championships in the Individual 400 meter, the 1600 meter relay and the 3200 meter relay. He also gathered District 11 Championships in the 400 meter, the 1600 meter relay and the 3200 meter relay. In 1981, he placed 6th in the PIAA State Track meet for the 400 meter race and 4th for the 3200 meter relay.
Mark excelled on the basketball court alongside his twin brother, Mike, who is also a member of Nativity’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Athletic prowess runs deep in the Grapsy family as Mark and Mike’s sister, Debbie, is a previous inductee into Nativity’s Athletic Hall of Fame, the only trio of immediate family members to ever be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.
After graduation, Mark went on to Drexel University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business. While at Drexel, he continued his running career, receiving 5 Varsity letters in Track and Cross Country.
Mark is currently employed as the Region VP of Ascendance Truck Centers.
SEAN MACCREADY
Sean MacCready, the son of Bob and Regina MacCready, is a 2000 graduate of Nativity BVM High School. During his years at Nativity, Sean was a very active member of Nativity athletics including the Cross Country, Soccer, Basketball and Track & Field teams.
Sean earned 13 Varsity letters during his four years on the hill: 4 in Cross Country, 4 in soccer, 1 in Basketball and 4 in Track and Field.
Sean began achieving his Cross-Country awards in his freshman year as that year the team was Division II champs. They repeated in his sophomore year and he was also named Division All-Star. In his junior year, he set three Cross country school records in 3 meets while setting a school record at 15:06. As a result, he was named Division All Star. As a senior, he placed 6th at the Schuylkill League Championships, 57th at states and was again named Division All- Star.
Nativity High School fielded its first soccer team during Sean’s freshman year. During his four years on the team, he was a 2-year starter at midfield and was named Nativity’s 2000 SCYSA Soccer Scholar Athlete.
Sean excelled in Track and Field during the spring season. He placed 1st in the 1600m during the Freshman Meet. That year, he garnished 6th in the 3200m at the Schuylkill League Meet and 8th at Districts in the 3200m. Sophomore year continued the 3200m achievements with 2nd place at Leagues and 3rd place at Districts. He was also named Division All-Star. As a junior, he placed 5th in the 1600 and 3200 at Leagues and 4th at Districts and named Division All-Star. Sean excelled in his senior year, placing 3rd in the 1600m and the 3200m relay and 1st in the 3200m at the Schuylkill League meet. At the District XI meet he ran a time of 4:33.74 to take 1st place in the 1600m. He also took the gold in the 3200m. He went on to the PIAA State meet where he placed 10th in the 3200m and 12th in the 1600m. He was a Division All-Star and named to the 1st Team All-Area Track in the 3200m.
Sean’s sister, Katelyn, is also a member of nativity BVM High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Sean currently resides with his family in Illinois.
1989 NATIVITY BVM HIGH SCHOOL GREEN WAVE FOOTBALL TEAM
According to the 1990 Lawtonian yearbook, “History was made on ‘The Hill’ during the 1989 season as Nativity won its first Eastern Conference Divisional Championship by capturing the Southern Division Class III-1 Title with a thrilling 26-20 double overtime victory over Southern Columbia.” As the yearbook author explains, it was “the dedicated work and effective leadership by the seniors (that) allowed the team to effectively meet the challenges of its demanding schedule. Although being outscored in the Eastern Conference Championship game against Old Forge, the final game did not rob the players of any honor or glory.”
The “Senior Posse” included: Chris Bane, Bob Brish, Chris Cremo, Larry Moore, Eric Muldowney, Greg Roeder, Scott Scheider, Jeff Shay, Mike Spirko, Larry Umbenhauer and Scott Zimerofsky. The Juniors on the team were: Mike Bolich, John Dunchick, Joe Ferhat, Gerry Kuperavage, Greg Lieberman, Vince Mercuri, Shawn Reilly, Kevin Rugh, Matt Samay, Greg Snyder and Brian Sokola. Representing the Sophomores were: Shawn Campion, Chris Cunningham, Eric Doyle, Jason Gherghel, Steve Lucas, Scott Roeder, Chris Shay, Bob Verbosh, and Vince Zimerofsky. Freshmen on the team included: Bill Dormer, Dan Ferhat, Mike Flickinger, Jeff Kimmel, Howie Nagle, Phu O, Neil Sokola, Bernie Stabinsky, Bill Umbenhauer, Dan Umbenhauer, Dave Wixted, and Bill Zaharis.
The season brought numerous team and individual records. The team set a school record of 8 wins and 20 team interceptions. Larry Umbenhauer set school records on the defensive side of the field. Scott Scheider kicked his way to Nativity’s all- time leading kicker with 53 extra points and 41 field goals. Eric Muldowney set school, county and regional records with 6 kickoff returns for touchdowns. He also was the only player to both rush and receive for over 100 yards in a single game. At the end of the season, Eric held the school records of 2,331 all purpose yards and 19.9 yards per reception. Bob Brish, a senior transfer, is credited for being an inspiration and a leader on the field, guiding the team to a 4-1 start, before he was injured against Lourdes.
The 1989-1990 Green Wave Football Team concluded their season with an impressive record of 8 wins and 5 losses. Over 35 years later, their upset victory over Southern Columbia is still considered one of the most prolific sports moments in Nativity BVM High School’s long, storied history.