2017 Hall of Fame Inductees

Walter Fitzpatrick - Contributor

A distinguished professor of the Social Sciences at BC3 for 42 years and a fixture in the sports program for practically its entire history, no one has consistently contributed to BC3 athletics more than Walter “Fitz” Fitzpatrick.

Originally from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Fitzpatrick is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor’s degree in History (1963) and a Masters in Geography (1966). In 1967, he was hired at BC3 for the new community college’s second year. A Phi Beta Kappa elected faculty member, Fitzpatrick spent his whole career teaching at BC3 until retiring in 2009. He won multiple Teacher of the Year Awards and receive the 2007 Outstanding Service Community Achievement Recognition Award along with other recognitions for his many years of service to the BC3 community.

Fitzpatrick is an active member of his church where he has been an usher for over 35 years. He is married, has two children, two grandchildren and is an avid Pitt fan. A longtime supporter of area sports, Fitzpatrick has been a commissioner for the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame, a commissioner of the Butler County Eagle Baseball League, and has been active in Butler County American Legion baseball.

The official scorekeeper for men’s basketball since the team’s second season in 1968, Fitzpatrick has been the one constant in the basketball program for over 50 years. He has also been the scorekeeper for men’s baseball and women’s basketball, and is an enthusiastic supporter of all the BC3 athletic teams.

Fitzpatrick has left a lasting impression not only on the athletes, but also on everyone associated with BC3 athletics. If one person personifies a love of BC3 sports, it would be Walter Fitzpatrick. The only thing that Fitz might love more than sports…is his ever present can of Coke.

Andrew Matonak - Athlete

Andrew “Drew” Matonak had his first official action as a BC3 athlete on the hardwood as a member of the 1972-73 Pioneer Basketball team. However, his real impact would not be felt until that spring when he stepped to the pitcher’s mound for the BC3 Baseball team’s second season.

Sporting an earned run average (ERA) of 1.08 in his freshman campaign, Matonak helped lead the young Pioneers to the 1973 Skyline Athletic Conference Championship. This accomplishment included pitching a shutout of Penn State Beaver in the conference tournament. Not only a “southpaw” pitcher, Matonak also hit for a .407 batting average on his way to earning Region XIX All-Star honors.

The following year, BC3 began playing fall baseball. Picking up right where he left off in the spring, Matonak opened 1973 with a 13 strikeout win over CCAC South. His 5-2 record, 1.16 ERA, and .450 batting average helped the Pioneers finish 9-3 for the fall season. Matonak closed out his BC3 career with a win over Montgomery College in the 1974 NJCAA Region XX Baseball playoffs.

After graduating from BC3, Matonak played two seasons at the College of Wooster. In 1974-75, finishing 8-1 with a 1.49 ERA, he was voted team MVP and was honored as All-Ohio Athletic Conference Second Team. Matonak followed that up in the 1975-76 season with another team MVP, first team All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors, a 10-3 record, and a 1.88 ERA.
Influenced by his experience at BC3, Matonak pursued a career in Higher Education Administration becoming President of Hudson Valley Community College in 2005.

Missy (Haney) Schnur - Athlete 

Missy (Haney) Schnur was not only one of the best all-around volleyball players in BC3 history, but one of the most impactful. Her arrival at BC3 helped turn around the struggling volleyball program, push BC3’s women’s sports into the NJCAA, and usher in a period of volleyball success that would last for years.

The women’s volleyball team run of losing seasons ended when Schnur joined the Pioneers in the fall of 1998. In her first season, she led the team to a 15-4 finish, won the WPCC Conference Championship, the PCAA State Championship and garnered WPCC All-Conference and PCAA All-State honors.

Buoyed by the success of the 1998 team, BC3 Women’s Athletics would become members of the NJCAA in 1999 making them eligible for regional play and national recognition. Once again named to the all-conference and all-state teams for 1999, Schnur led the Pioneers to a 19-2 record and volleyball’s first NJCAA Region XX Championship. She was also recognized with Region XX honors for all-region, all-tournament, tournament MVP, and earned the first NJCAA All-American award for a BC3 woman’s athlete.

Schnur was also a member of the 1999 softball team before transferring to IUP where she continued her volleyball career. After receiving an Exercise Science Bachelor’s degree from SRU in 2003, Schnur returned to BC3 to obtain a Physical Therapy Assistant Degree in 2005.

Robert Wilson - Athlete

Robert Wilson was one of the first athletes to garner national recognition for the fledgling BC3 athletic program. Wilson set the standard for excellence at BC3 as a member of the cross country team in 1970 and 1971 earning NJCAA All-American honors in each of those seasons.

As a freshman, Wilson went undefeated in all of his first season meets prior to nationals. He won the BC3-hosted 1970 Region XIX Championship with a course record time of 22:19.5. Winning the regional championship qualified Wilson for the 1970 NJCAA National Championship meet in Vincennes, Indiana where he finished 7th earning his first All-American honor.
As a sophomore, Wilson won the 1971 Region XIX Championship with a new school record time of 22:07; qualifying him for the NJCAA National Championship meet in Danville, Illinois. Wilson finished 14th earning a second All-American Award.

Wilson is one of three athletes to win two NJCAA All-American Awards in BC3’s first 50 years of competition. While at BC3, Wilson set many team and area course records. He would continue his cross country career at North Carolina State earning All-ACC honors in 1973 placing 15th at the ACC Conference Meet.

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(Published May 2017)