Nativity BVM High School will induct the Class of 2025 into its Athletic Hall of Fame on Sunday April 13.

Inductees include: Dean Gherghel ’88, Meghan Ann Wynosky-Dolfi ’01, Mark Grapsy ’80, Sean MacCready ’00 and the 1989 Green Wave Football team.

The event will be held at Nativity, with dinner in the cafeteria at 1:15 p.m. and the ceremony in the gymnasium to start at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Dean Gherghel

Class of 1988

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.

Gherghel’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, he earned second place in pole vault during the Schuylkill League Championships and third in pole vault during the District 11 Championships.

Gherghel 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 second-place finish in pole vault.

In his senior year, Gherghel 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 Championships where he placed eighth in pole vault. He was undefeated in pole vault in duals both his junior and senior years.

Gherghel is now retired and resides in Auburn, Pa. He is the father of three sons, including Jack, who is a senior at Nativity. Gherghel serves on the Lake Wynonah Home Owners Board.

Meghan Ann Wynosky-Dolfi

Class of 2001

Meghan Ann Wynosky-Dolfi is a 2001 graduate of Nativity BVM High School. A daughter of Charles and Mary Ann Wynosky, she had an outstanding career while representing the Green Wave.

Wynosky-Dolfi 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 Wynosky-Dolfi’s specialty. In 1999, she was a District 11 cross country 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 Wynosky-Dolfi win meets, but she also set course records at Nativity, Weatherly, Minersville, Mount Carmel and Mahanoy Area. She was the first Nativity District 11 cross country champion, the first to qualify for states for four years and a four-time Schuylkill League All-Star.

Wynosky-Dolfi continued her winning performance on the track. In 1998, she was the District 11 champion in the 3,200 meters and a silver medalist on the state 3,200-meter relay team. In 1999, she repeated as District 11 champion in the 3,200-meter run.

Today, Wynosky-Dolfi resides with her husband, Doug, and her two children, Aiden and Annabelle, in Audubon, Pa.

 Mark Grapsy

Class of 1982

A 1982 graduate of Nativity BVM, Grapsy was a star athlete on “The Hill”.  He 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, Grapsy took the Schuylkill League championship in cross country. He qualified to run in the PIAA Cross Country Championships three times.

Throughout his career, Grapsy garnered Schuylkill League track championships in the 400 meters, the 1,600-meter relay and the 3,200-meter relay. He also earned District 11 championships in the 400 meters, the 1,600-meter relay and the 3,200-meter relay.  In 1981, he placed sixth in the PIAA Track and Field Championships for the 400-meter race and fourth for the 3,200-meter relay.

Grapsy 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 ever to be inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

After graduation, Grapsy went on to Drexel University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business. While at Drexel, he continued his running career, receiving five varsity letters in track and cross country.

Grapsy is employed as the Region VP of Ascendance Truck Centers.

Sean MacCready

Class of 2000

Sean MacCready, the son of Bob and Regina MacCready, is a 2000 graduate of Nativity BVM High School. During his years at Nativity, he was a very active member of Nativity athletics, including the cross country, soccer, basketball and track and field teams.

MacCready earned 13 varsity letters during his four years at Nativity: four in cross country, four in soccer, one in basketball and four in track and field.

He 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 a Division All-Star. In his junior year, he set three cross country school records in three meets while setting a school record at 15:06. As a result, he was named a Division All-Star. As a senior, he placed sixth at the Schuylkill League Championships, 57^th at states and was again named a Division All-Star.

Nativity High School fielded its first soccer team during MacCready’s freshman year. During his four years on the team, he was a two-year starter at midfield and was named Nativity’s 2000 SCYSA Soccer Scholar Athlete.

MacCready excelled in track and field during the spring season.  He placed first in the 1,600 meters during the Freshman Meet. That year, he took sixth in the 3,200 meters at the Schuylkill League Meet and eighth at districts in the 3,200. In his sophomore year, he continued the 3,200 meters achievements with second place at leagues and third place at districts. He was also named a Division All-Star. As a junior, he placed fifth in the 1,600 and 3,200 at leagues and fourth at districts and named a Division All-Star. MacCready excelled in his senior year, placing third in the 1,600- and the 3200-meter relays and first in the 3,200-meter run at the Schuylkill League meet. At the District 11 Championships, he ran a time of 4:33.74 to take first place in the 1,600 meters. He also took the gold in the 3,200 meters. He went on to the PIAA Championships where he placed 10^th in the 3,200 and 12^th in the 1,600. He was a Division All-Star and named First-Team All-Area Track in the 3,200 meters.

MacCready’s sister, Katelyn, is also a member of Nativity BVM High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He 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 eight wins and 20 team interceptions.  Larry Umbenhauer set school records on the defensive side of the field. Scott Scheider booted his way to becoming Nativity’s all-time leading kicker with 53 extra points and 41 field goals. Eric Muldowney set school, county and regional records with six kickoff returns for touchdowns. He also was the only player to both rush and receive for more than 100 yards in a single game. At the end of the season, Muldowney 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 eight wins and five losses.  More than 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.