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Sports

Olympic Athlete, Former Pennsbury Wrestling Coaches Inducted Into Sports Hall Of Fame

The banquet honored 15 local athletes and coaches for their achievements, including Olympic swimmer Dave Wharton.

United States Olympic swimmer Dave Wharton was inducted into the Bucks County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame at Kings Caterers in Levittown Monday night for his lifelong athletic achievements.

Wharton holds two world records as a former butterfly and medley swimmer, one for the 400 meter and one for the 200 meter, and has competed in the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games -- winning a silver medal in the 400 meter individual medley in 1988 at Seoul, South Korea.

"I didn’t know what the world record was before I actually set it," Wharton said. "It’s just something I enjoyed doing."

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Wharton also won four gold medals in the Pan Pacific Championships and was named Swimming World's American Swimmer of the Year in 1987.

Wharton said he started his passion for swimming at age 6 at the Warminster Swim Club.

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"It was a joy everyday to be [Wharton’s] coach," Dick Shoulberg said.

Shoulberg is the head coach and aquatics director at Germantown Academy where Wharton went to school.

"I knew he was going to be very good, and so did my older athletes who were Olympians. They told him, 'You have to listen. You have to listen because you’re going to make the Olympics,'" Shoulberg said.

Also inducted into the Hall of Fame was Chris Poff; head wrestling coach at Pennsbury High School from 1955 to 1959 -- maintaining a 40-4-1 record during that time.

Poff coached seven district champions, three regional champions, and two state runners-up. Poff is also in the Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame, The Neshaminy High School Hall of Fame and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

He passed away in February 1999 at age 69. His daughter, Leslie, accepted the honor on his behalf.

"People’s posture improved when they spoke of my dad," Leslie said. "He was a true gentleman and a fantastic fan of the world of wrestling."

Also from Pennsbury High School was Chuck Kane. Kane coached the high school football team from 1959 to 1981 with a record of 99-28-5 as head coach.

"I had the first undefeated team that Pennsbury ever had in 1972," Kane said.

In 1974, Kane’s team ranked No. 1 in the state.

Kane is also a member of the Pennsylvania Football Coaches Hall of Fame, West Chester University Hall of Fame and the Pennsbury Athletic Hall of Fame.

"Tonight is a night of 'Thank yous,'" Kane said. "I’d like to thank my own high school and college coaches, my assisting coaches, the young men who gave me their best on the field, and even the opposing coaches, who kept me on my toes."

All 15 inductees, from around the Bucks County area, received large recognition plaques that were donated by QCI Hills Laser Marking, a laser engraving company based out of California.

The 30 tables in the banquet hall were filled with friends and family of the inductees, who all enjoyed a three-course meal and open bar.

Joe Blair, executive vice president of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Bucks County Chapter, hosted the award ceremony.

The ceremony itself dates back to 1962 when the first Pennsylvania chapter was created. However, Bucks County earned its chapter only three years ago in 2008, started by Joe DeAngelo.

The non-profit organization was founded to "perpetuate the memory of athletes, male or female, who have brought lasting fame and recognition to the state of Pennsylvania through their athletic achievements."

Individuals who brought similar recognition to the state through managerial, promotional, or other influential capacities are also eligible for distinction.

Winners were selected by nominations made by members of the Bucks County chapter. Those nominations are then put on a ballot and voted upon.

The Bucks County Sports Hall of Fame is located at the in Bensalem on Street Road.

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