Quaker Valley inducts five individuals and a cross country team into sports hall of fame
The 2011 boys cross country squad, the program's first state champions, joined four former athletes and a long-time youth sports coordinator for the Oct. 18 ceremony.
By Anthony Shevchenko ·
Quaker Valley High School celebrated its Class of 2026 for the Sports Hall of Fame on Oct. 18 at the Sewickley Heights Golf Club. The group included the 2011 boys cross country team, which captured the PIAA Class 2A title, alongside four individual inductees.
The 2011 cross country squad, coached by David Noyes, ended a 35-year drought for the school. They defeated Slippery Rock in the WPIAL finals and then won the state championship in Hershey. This marked the first PIAA Class 2A title for a WPIAL boys cross country team since 1976.
Noyes described the group as resilient and strong. "I was proud to be associated with those young men," Noyes said. "That was a strong and resilient team. They ran for each other and all of those (at QV) who had come so close to a state championship before them."
Nat Fox, Roy Hadfield, L.J. Westwood, Matt Cooper, and Rob Velte led the team at the state meet. The group also included Xavier Lane and John Szymanski in the top seven. The Quakers had previously won four WPIAL titles between 2008 and 2011. Westwood, who was individually inducted in 2025, called the weekend a chance to relive glory days with former teammates.
John Martin, a football standout from the class of 2000, joined the class of 2026 as a contributor. Martin is the only quarterback in school history to record three seasons of 1,000 passing yards. He finished his career with 3,288 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and 192 completions. Martin also played basketball, baseball, and lacrosse during his high school years.
Martin, who stands 6-foot-2, played quarterback and free safety in his senior year under head coach Tom Liberty. He earned all-state honors that season. Martin currently lives in Charleston, S.C., with his wife, Kelsey, and their two sons. He said the induction weekend allowed him to reconnect with friends and coaches.
Farrah Causby Clanagan, a 1995 graduate, was inducted for her basketball career. A 6-foot center, she became the first girls player in school history to reach 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Her career totals included 1,396 points and 1,225 rebounds. She set single-game records for points and rebounds and held the single-season rebound record with 384.
Kara Vezza-Herring, a 2004 graduate, was recognized for her achievements in soccer. She finished her high school career as the all-time leading scorer with 116 goals and 166 points. Vezza-Herring was a four-time all-section selection and a two-time all-state pick. She played center midfielder and right winger for a team that won four section championships during her tenure.
Dennis Pauley was inducted for his nearly 40 years of support for Quaker Valley athletics. A Leetsdale resident and sports management graduate from Robert Morris University, Pauley has served as a youth sports coordinator for the Sewickley Valley YMCA. He assisted with statistics and scorekeeping for football, basketball, track and field, and lacrosse teams. Pauley said the event exceeded his expectations and allowed him to meet other inductees.
The induction luncheon followed an introduction of the honorees at the Quakers' home football game on Oct. 16 at Chuck Knox Stadium. The weather was cold and rainy on Friday, but the banquet on Sunday proceeded as planned. Former athletes shared memories of their playing days and the impact of their coaches.
