Bedford Sports HOF Holds Induction in June 2024

The Bedford Sports Hall of Fame held its 2024 induction ceremony on Saturday, June 29 with two sessions. The first session honored the individuals. The second session honored the teams that were inducted along with some special recognitions.

Jeff Batzel, secretary of the Hall of Fame, says that the Hall represents the best in Bedford County sports history.

"I think it is very important to honor people who have brought publicity to our county, to our communities and to our area via athletics - it's something that I am proud to be a co-founder of in the early 2000s," he said.

The event was held at Everett Area High School. 

The Cove area is represented by several former athletes and coaches.  They include A.J. Nastasi from Northern Bedford High School, Mark Gartner from Claysburg Kimmel, and Bonnie Garner from Claysburg Kimmel. Receiving special recognition from the Hall will be Chris Harr from Claysburg Kimmel and Eric Martin from Northern Bedford.

A.J. Nastasi graduated from Northern Bedford County High School in 1998.  He was a three-sport standout in football, basketball, and baseball.  Nastasi was an All-State Selection and was the All-Time Pennsylvania career-scoring leader in basketball.  He was also a four-year letterwinner on special teams and as a wide receiver for the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Some of Nastasi's other accolades include: six-time All-State Selection in football and basketball, eight-time All-League All-Star in football and basketball, 2,429 career receiving yards at Northern Bedford, All-Time Pennsylvania Basketball Scoring Leader with 3,833 points, averaged over 30 points per game in high school basketball career (4 years), played in the 1998 Big 33 Game, 2000 Music City Bowl Championship Team, WVU leading receiver with 42 receptions in 2001, 2002 Continental Tire Bowl participant-WVU ranked #15 in nation

"It (Being inducted into the Hall) is a big honor for me", Nastasi said. "There are a lot of great players, who came out of the area. You go down the list of people who have been inducted before me, it's truly an honor. I am truly honored and blessed. I am just thrilled."

Mark Gartner is a 1995 graduate of Claysburg Kimmel High School and was involved in sports starting in junior high.  He wrestled throughout high school and was a four-year letter winner.  Gartner wrestled his freshman year for the varsity team. 

He played football as well.  By the end of his high school career, he was not tracking to do well academically.  Even though he did receive a lot of interest from colleges, he ended up joining the army instead.

"I called a coach at IUP named Frank Cignetti – Tom Rogish was his assistant," Gartner said. "I explained to them who I was and wanted to play football again.  I asked if I could come to walk-on tryouts."

Cignetti asked Gartner if we as in good shape.

"I explained that I was in the Army and that I was in an infantry unit and that I was in great shape," Gartner said. " He thanked me for my service and said you're on the team."

Gartner played at IUP for four years.  He had a great time and a great career there.  He met his wife and got married while in college.

After he left college, he was called back to active duty and was deployed. 

When Gartner got back from his deployment he started to teach middle school.  

"I am a health and physical education teacher at Hampton Township School District –  I am in my twentieth year as a teacher," he said. "I have coached junior high and high school wrestling during this time.  I have coached football in Cranberry Township and Seneca Valley as well."

Gartner said that when he first heard about his induction, his first thought was that other people had accomplished more than he did.

"They probably deserve the nomination more than I did," he said. "It's humbling that after almost thirty years after graduating from high school, someone thought enough of my contributions to Bedford County Sports to nominate me." 

Bonnie Garner was presented by one of her former student-athletes, Sue Connor. 

"She was not just a teacher who came in and put in her eight hours – she spent several hours shaping the lives of so many girls in her short tenure," Connor said. "She inspired the next generation to want to teach and coach.  She taught us to be tough, never quit, and to work hard.  The lessons that Bonnie taught us were invaluable. " 

Garner is a 1965 graduate of Claysburg High School.  When she attended high school, there were no organized girl's sports, but she was voted Most Athletic by her senior class.  She then attended Towson State and received a bachelor of science degree in health and physical education in 1969.  She was hired to teach health and physical education at Everett in 1969, where she taught and coached for the next 10 years. sShe received a master's degree in health from Penn State University in 1973.

When she began teaching, she became the cheerleading advisor.  In 1971, after Title 9 was passed, she started the girl's basketball program and coached for the next three seasons.  The teams that she coached accumulated a 22-9 varsity record.  In the first season, they went 9-1 and were the Bedford County League Champions.  She was also coaching the jr. varsity team at the same time.

In 1974, she started the softball program and coached until 1978.

In 1976, she started the girl's volleyball program and coached until leaving. The first three teams won three consecutive District V Titles. The '76 and '77 teams are also being inducted this year.

Garner was the first woman in the county to be appointed to the position of assistant athletic director.

When she left teaching, she moved to Baltimore, received her license for nuclear medicine and worked with cancer patients at Mercy Medical Center.  While in Baltimore, she coached sixth-grade girl's basketball at a private Catholic school and worked with sign language for the deaf.

Garner says that she is just blown away about being inducted into the Hall of Fame.  

"I am still trying to wrap my head around it," she said, "I am very humbled."

Chris Harr received special recognition at the ceremony. 

Harr said that he felt pretty good when he was told that he was going to receive this honor. 

"It's a great honor just to be considered," he said.

Some of the highlights of his career are as follows:

Wrestling: Claysburg Kimmel Wrestling Coach (1980-1999); Claysburg Kimmel Head Wrestling Coach (1985-1994)

Softball: Claysburg Kimmel Girls' Softball Coach; District 6 AA Champions (1994 and 1995); Slo-pitch Softball Team 'Nitro' (1991); PA-ASA Softball State Class 'C' Champions; PA-ASA Tournament Champions at State College, Tyrone, Lewistown, Bedford and Mifflinburg; Season record 100-24

Late Model RacingCumberland Raceway Track Champion (1996); Hagerstown Speedway, Challenge of the track Champion (1996); The Rock Allegany Speedway Track Champion (2006); Bed Rock Champion (2006)

Eric Martin received special recognition.  Representing Northern Bedford, he was Northern Bedford's first District 5 Wrestling Champion in 1965.  He went undefeated in the regular season at 133 lb weight class.

As far as being inducted into the Hall, Martin says that it was nice to still be thought of for something some sixty years later.

"I thought that was nice - I am happy that they thought of me and I am glad to receive this honor," he said.