Rachel Rohanna to be inducted into WPIAL HOF
The WPIAL announced its Hall of Fame class for 2016 and the class includes Waynesburg Central graduate Rachel Rohanna.
But, Rohanna said she needed an understanding committee for the induction to take place.
鈥淭hey actually called me in February, and I wasn鈥檛 going to be inducted because the ceremony is during the KPMG (one of our majors) and since I鈥檓 not able to attend, they weren鈥檛 going to induct me!,鈥� Rohanna said with emphasis via Facebook Messenger before Wednesday鈥檚 first round of the Lotte Championship presented by Hershey in Oahu, Hawaii. 鈥淚 had to send them an email asking for Ethan (husband Ethan Virgili) to accept it for me. I told them about all of his accomplishments (how he has won WPIALs in multiple sports) and he understands how important this is. They gave that the okay.鈥�
The induction ceremony dinner will be held on Friday, June 10, at the Greentree Doubletree Hotel. Cost of the dinner is $50 per person.
The rest of the 2016 class includes athletes Meg Bulger (Oakland Catholic), Dorin Dickerson (West Allegheny), Jonna Huemrich Burke (Bethel Park), Jerry Koller (Bethel Park), T.J. McConnell (Chartiers Valley), and Rick Razzano (New Castle), coaches Leonard 鈥淕us鈥� DeAugustino (wrestling), Chris Mary (wrestling), Joe Mucci (football), and Pat Tarquino (football), teams Blackhawk (basketball, 1992) and Central Catholic (football, 2004), contest official Bill Sinning, Heritage Award winner Dr. Ray Fioroni, contributor James Bruni and Courage Award winner Luke Blanock (Canon-McMillan).
A 2009 graduate from Waynesburg, Rohanna is the second-youngest inductee by a year to McConnell.
鈥淥h wow, that鈥檚 pretty cool,鈥� Rohanna said of being the next-youngest inductee.
鈥淚 was extremely surprised. I really did not expect to get a call that I would be inducted. There are so many WPIAL champions that don鈥檛 get inducted, so it is definitely an honor,鈥� said Rohanna.
Rohanna was a two-time WPIAL champion, in 2005 and 2007, as well as state champion those seasons. She was a two-time all-Big Ten Conference selection while at Ohio State, and led the Buckeyes to consecutive NCAA championship appearances in 2011-12. Rohanna was also a two-time academic at Ohio State. She is currently in her rookie season on the LPGA Tour.
Rohanna鈥檚 65 in the 2010 U.S. Women鈥檚 Amateur remains the record round for the tournament.
Rohanna is the second female golfer to be inducted (Missie Berteotti last year) and the fourth golfer overall (Arnold Palmer, 2007; Frank Fuhrer III, 2012).
鈥淭hat is crazy. I didn鈥檛 realize, only the fourth!,鈥� said Rohanna.
She joins Jefferson-Morgan鈥檚 Cary Kolat (2007) and Mapletown鈥檚 Derek Bochna (2012) as Greene County inductees. Other Hall of Fame honorees with local ties are Uniontown鈥檚 Abe Everhart, Richard Constantine, and Ron Sepic, the Red Raiders鈥� 1964 boys basketball team, Donora鈥檚 Stan Musial and Lou 鈥淏imbo鈥� Cecconi, Southmoreland鈥檚 Chris Dugan, Connellsville鈥檚 Tom Dolde and Tom Sankovich, Albert Gallatin鈥檚 Don Woodward, Frazier鈥檚 Joe Lafko and Monessen鈥檚 Gina Naccarato.