North Hills Sports Hall Of Fame To Induct Five

ROSS TOWNSHIP, PA - The North Hills School District has announced five 2017 inductees into the North Hills Sports Hall of Fame. The 22-year-old organization honors those who distinguished themselves athletically at North Hills Senior High School or the former West View High School.

The Hall of Fame’s newest members:

• Keith Brown (Class of 1981)

Brown was a three-sport athlete, lettering in football, basketball and baseball. He helped lead North Hills to its first undefeated football season in school history and holds the school record for career extra points by a kicker. Brown received a full scholarship to the University of Louisville, lettering in tight end and special teams and received the Athletic Academic Achievement Award at Louisville. He lives in Pottstown and works in logistics.

• Liz Cleary (Class of 2003)

Cleary captained the North Hills’ girls’ swim team and broke the school record in the 100 Freestyle and the 200 Free Relay. She was the 50 Freestyle WPIAL champion, 100 Freestyle WPIAL runner up and top 12 PIAA finisher in the 50 Freestyle. At West Virginia University, Cleary captained the women’s swimming teams and was named to the academic honor roll. She is the varsity head coach of the North Hills men and women’s swimming and diving teams, head coach at the North Hills Aquatics Club and a North Hills High School counselor.

• Zach Hebda (Class of 2011)

Hebda was the 2010 Gatorade Pennsylvania Cross Country Athlete of the Year. He also was WPIAL champion, Red, White & Blue Classic champion, Central Catholic Invitational champion, PIAA State Championship third-place finisher, first-team All State and ninth place at the Foot Locker Northeast U.S. Championship. That qualified him for the Foot Locker National Championship, where he finished in 18th place. Hebda attended the U.S. Naval Academy and earned two varsity letters in cross country and three in track. He resides in Florida.

• Margo Malone (Class of 2012)

Malone was a cross country and track star and is one of the greatest distance runners in WPIAL history. In 2011, she was the PIAA state champion in the 1600 meters. She placed in the top five PIAA state championships five times, three times for track and twice for cross country. Nationally, Malone was fourth in the Nike Northeast Championship and 23rd in the Nike National championship in Portland. At Syracuse University, she was the 2015 ACC 10,000 meter champion and was the highest scoring distance runner in university history. She lives in Pittsburgh.

• Sal Marsico (Coach)

Marsico served as a North Hills coach for more than 30 years. He was the boys soccer coach for many years and was one of the girls softball coaches. The retired North Hills teacher was named Section Coach of the Year three times and Northern Area Coach once.

Inductees will be honored at the annual Sports Hall of Fame dinner on Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. at Rico’s Restaurant in Ross. They also will be recognized at the home football game the following evening at Martorelli Stadium.