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2016 Inductees & Honorees

The following inductees & honorees were celebrated by the Larry Bruno Foundation throughout several events in July 2016.

2016 Hall of Achievement Inductees

The following individuals were inducted into the Larry Bruno Foundation Circle of Achievement for 2016.
Lou D'Achille

Lou D’Achille – College Football

Lou D’Achille is rated one of the most gifted athletes to come out of Beaver Falls High School, but he is best known for his football prowess there and at Indiana University. In high school, he earned nine letters in football, basketball, and baseball from 1946 to 1949. He started his grid career as a halfback in the eighth grade but was switched to quarterback the next year. In his junior year (1947), he threw eleven touchdown passes and led the Tigers to an 8-2 record. As a senior, Lou threw twelve touchdown passes and the Tigers compiled a fine 8-1-1 record. He was named first team All-WPIAL in his senior year and second team All-State.

Read more about Lou D’Achille

Bert Kerstetter

Bert Kerstetter – Academics and Athletics

Bert was introduced early to coaches, teachers and managers that guided him to set goals and how to achieve them. In the 1950s Beaver Falls had one of the best sports programs in America and a history of dedicated coaches that cultivated a culture of attributes that inspired and empowered lifelong achievements. Bert’s learning to be part of a team began as early as Little League Baseball where he first joined Joe Namath on the baseball diamond (Beaver Falls Elks Team) and also on his 8th grade football team.

Read more about Bert Kerstetter

John Mazza

John Mazza – Golf

John David Mazza was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia in 1955; one year later, his family moved to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. At eight years old he would join his dad on the golf course every chance he had. At age ten, he began playing in the junior golf program at Blackhawk Golf Course every week. By the age of sixteen, John had begun to travel the east coast every summer competing and working on his game. In 1973 and 1977, John qualified for the United States Amateur Championship. In 1979, two years after his second appearance, John earned his PGA Tour Card.

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Luann Guzzetti Richardson_sm

Luann Guzzetti Richardson – Gymnastics

Luann Guzzetti Richardson, a native of New Galilee PA, attended Beaver Falls high school from 1975-79. During that period, she helped to lead her gymnastics team to four section, two WPIAL and two PIAA state titles. She was the first ever Beaver Falls freshman to compete in the PIAA state championship, where she earned second overall in the uneven bars. In addition, she set numerous records during her four years. While in high school, she also competed nationally, against advanced and elite gymnasts, as a member of the Gym Dandy’s private gymnastics team in Washington, PA. She then earned a full scholarship to the University of Alabama where she earned all-SEC status and numerous awards. Her team finished 4th nationally in her senior year.

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Joe Ursida

Joe Ursida – Coaching

Joe Ursida graduated from Beaver Falls High School in 1964. He then attended Geneva College graduating in 1968 with a degree in business education. He served as Golden Tornadoes captain his senior year. Joe started his coaching career at Beaver Falls Junior High School with Karl Florie. After a seven year stint at Seneca Valley, Joe went to New Brighton in 1977 and became head coach from 1990 until 1994. In 1994, his Lions won their first WPIAL title since 1951, with a 13-1 overall record and the school’s first undefeated (10-0) regular season, which earned Joe Coach of the Year honors.

Read more about Joe Ursida

2016 Hall of Achievement Honorees

1984 BFHS Football Team

The 1984 Beaver Falls WPIAL Championship Football Team

The year of 1984 was a tremendous year for the varsity football team. The 1st game ended in a 19-14 victory over Ambridge in an exhibition game.

The Fighting Tigers opened section play with a 28-6 win over the Center Trojans. Coming back from a tough struggle in an exhibition game against Brownsville, a 10-10 tie, the Tiger Offense dominated the host Freedom Bulldogs, 41-6.

The Tiger Express remained on a winning track the following two weeks. The team defeated Quaker Valley, 27-13 and then beat the undefeated Riverside Panthers, 25-7.

Read more about the 1984 Team

Larry Bruno Foundation

Hall of Achievement & Museum

1112 7th Avenue
Beaver Falls, PA 15010

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