Jan 15, 2025 4 min read

By Bill Hughes

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

Throughout her standout basketball career, Monessen native Charel Allen earned numerous accolades.

Allen was a three-time all-state player for the Greyhounds, a four-time Street & Smith All-American honorable mention player, was the Associated Press Pennsylvania Class A Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004 and led the Greyhounds to the 2003-04 WPIAL and PIAA Class A championships while leading Monessen to a 100-19 record during her four years.

Allen can add another accolade to her impressive resume. It was announced Wednesday morning that Allen is a member of the WPIAL’s 2025 Hall of Fame Class.

The class includes 13 individuals and two teams, and it has several ties to the Observer-Reporter’s coverage area. Former West Greene multi-sport standout Rodney Wilson and Upper St. Clair tennis coach Rich Saccani, of Charleroi, are among the inductees, and former Peters Township and Trinity football coach Terry Kushner was selected in the Contributor class.

The other inductees are Trilby Busch (Heritage class, Munhall, rifle), Russ Grimm (Southmoreland, football and basketball), Aiden Hanna (Courage award, Hampton, baseball and golf), Ty Law (Aliquippa, football), Spencer Lee (Franklin Regional, wrestling); Rick Locaitis (officiating), Dori Oldaker (coach, Mt. Lebanon, basketball), Ron Semkiw (Baldwin, track and field), Brooke Stewart (East Allegheny, basketball), the 1984 Seton LaSalle girls basketball team and the 2012 North Allegheny football team.

“I am beyond humbled to be acknowledged with this amazing honor,” said Allen, who finished her Monessen career with 3,110 points. “The history and tradition of the athletes that have come out of the WPIAL is well-known, and to be included as a member of this prestigious group is a blessing.”

Allen signed with Notre Dame and became a two-time All American, a two-time All-Big East first team selection and served as captain her junior and senior seasons. Allen was the first player in Notre Dame history to amass 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, and 200 steals.

After being selected 43rd overall by Sacramento in the 2008 WNBA draft, Allen played a season for the Monarchs and eight years in Turkey, Bulgaria and Israel, winning five Bulgarian Cup titles in 2010-12, 2015, and 2016.

Allen, who is currently an assistant coach at Notre Dame, said this honor isn’t just about her.

“This is about all of my teammates and coaches as well, as this honor would not have been possible without them,” she said.

Wilson was a 12-time letterman at West Greene and the first in an impressive string of running backs in the Pioneers’ football history. He graduated as the WPIAL’s all-time rushing leader with 6,304 yards and 75 touchdowns. He helped West Greene to the 1993 WPIAL Class A championship game.

As a wrestler, Wilson was a two-time WPIAL champion and a PIAA regional champion in 1992. He had a 106-25-1 career record and was a member of the Pioneers’ 1994 team that won the WPIAL Class AA team tournament.

Wilson played college football at Slippery Rock, where he was a four-year letterman and two-time All-PSAC selection, as a linebacker in 1996 and defensive back in 1997.

Saccani started the Upper St. Clair boys tennis program, compiling a 404-43 coaching record in 24 seasons. The Panthers won nine section titles and six WPIAL team championships. They had five undefeated seasons.

Additionally, Saccani coached two WPIAL singles champions, one PIAA singles winner and four doubles teams to WPIAL titles and two PIAA gold medals.

Saccani also coached at his alma mater, California University, to a 58-4 record with two PSAC championships and one runner-up finish.

Named PSAC Coach of the Year in 1991 and 1993, Saccani guided the 1991 Vulcans to the No. 1 national ranking. He retired from Cal with a 51-match winning streak.

Kushner served on the WPIAL Hall of Fame and James Collins Scholarship steering committees. He spent 10 years as a member of the WPIAL Board of Directors and 11 years on the WPIAL football steering committee.

He worked as a teacher, coach and administrator in the Peters

Township, Trinity, and Baldwin school districts before becoming the associate high school principal at Upper St. Clair in 1986. He held principal, assistant superintendent and acting superintendent positions at USC until his retirement in 2009.

Kushner was the Washington County Football Coach of the Year in 1980 while at Peters Township.

The 2025 Hall of Fame class will be inducted June 6 at the 18th WPIAL Hall of Fame Banquet at the DoubleTree Hotel in Green Tree.

Sports editor Chris Dugan and Almanac sports editor Eleanor Bailey contributed to this story.