The Knoch Athletic Hall of Fame inducted the class of 2023 before the football game on Friday. The new class features five student-athletes and one coach. This year's honorees include Knoch graduates Peter Albert, Jim Geist, Jordan Shoop, Carol Cress, and Tim McNerney. Also included in this group was the late Nancy Gillman, a long-time physical education teacher and coach.
Peter Albert – a 1979 graduate, Pete was a tri-captain on the Knight’s1978 WPIAL AA football
championship team. During his football career, Pete earned three letters and earned All AIC First
team honors as a sophomore, junior, and senior, and all-state honorable mentions as a tackle
his senior year. He also was one of the first 9th graders to ever play varsity football. Pete earned
multiple postseason honors landing on the all-star teams of many local newspapers. Pete also
excelled in track and field where he threw the shotput in 1976 and 1977. He earned a full
football scholarship to William & Mary College where he played from 1979-1981.
championship team. During his football career, Pete earned three letters and earned All AIC First
team honors as a sophomore, junior, and senior, and all-state honorable mentions as a tackle
his senior year. He also was one of the first 9th graders to ever play varsity football. Pete earned
multiple postseason honors landing on the all-star teams of many local newspapers. Pete also
excelled in track and field where he threw the shotput in 1976 and 1977. He earned a full
football scholarship to William & Mary College where he played from 1979-1981.
Jim Geist – Jim was an outstanding track & field athlete at Knoch for four seasons before
graduating in 1985. He was the WPIAL Champion in the javelin in 1985 setting a Knoch school
record throw of 210 feet, 4 inches. He finished third in the state finals that season. Jim had the
distinction of going undefeated in all his dual meets and invitationals during the 1985 season. In
baseball, Jim pitched two no-hitters during his American Legion career. He would go on to
Slippery Rock University where he would be a four-time NCAA Division II all-American and four-
time PSAC Champion, and the 1989 PSAC MVP. His javelin throw of 230 feet 4 inches is still
an SRU school record. Jim was inducted into the SRU Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Butler
County Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
graduating in 1985. He was the WPIAL Champion in the javelin in 1985 setting a Knoch school
record throw of 210 feet, 4 inches. He finished third in the state finals that season. Jim had the
distinction of going undefeated in all his dual meets and invitationals during the 1985 season. In
baseball, Jim pitched two no-hitters during his American Legion career. He would go on to
Slippery Rock University where he would be a four-time NCAA Division II all-American and four-
time PSAC Champion, and the 1989 PSAC MVP. His javelin throw of 230 feet 4 inches is still
an SRU school record. Jim was inducted into the SRU Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Butler
County Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
Jordan Shoop – Jordan is a 2006 Knoch graduate who was a multi-sport athlete excelling in
both football and basketball. A four-year player for the Knight’s hoops teams, Jordan holds the
record for the most games played as a Knight and is currently the 3 rd leading scorer in school
history having netted 1,364 points in his 102 games. He was named all-conference in basketball
both football and basketball. A four-year player for the Knight’s hoops teams, Jordan holds the
record for the most games played as a Knight and is currently the 3 rd leading scorer in school
history having netted 1,364 points in his 102 games. He was named all-conference in basketball
following his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. A three-year starter on the gridiron, Jordan
also earned all-conference honors in all three years. He was named Athlete of the Year in 2006
by the Butler Eagle, Pittsburgh Post Gazette North, and the Tribune Review. Jordan accepted a
four-year scholarship and played football at the University of Richmond, where he was the
starting linebacker on the Spider’s 2008 Division 1 FCS National Championship Team.
also earned all-conference honors in all three years. He was named Athlete of the Year in 2006
by the Butler Eagle, Pittsburgh Post Gazette North, and the Tribune Review. Jordan accepted a
four-year scholarship and played football at the University of Richmond, where he was the
starting linebacker on the Spider’s 2008 Division 1 FCS National Championship Team.
Carol Cress – A 2008 Knoch graduate, Carol excelled in track & field where she was a two-time
WPIAL Champion in 2007 and 2008. She qualified twice for the PIAA State Championships,
and once earned a fifth-place finish. She still ranks second at Knoch in both the shot put and
javelin. Carol was named MVP at both the Butler and Mars invitationals and was the Knights'
MVP in both 2007 and 2008, earning the Fred Bernard Award of Excellence. Carol continued
her career in college at Sacred Heart University for 3 years, and Clarion University for 1 season,
where she still holds the record for the hammer throw. She also was named all-conference in
the shotput 6 times.
WPIAL Champion in 2007 and 2008. She qualified twice for the PIAA State Championships,
and once earned a fifth-place finish. She still ranks second at Knoch in both the shot put and
javelin. Carol was named MVP at both the Butler and Mars invitationals and was the Knights'
MVP in both 2007 and 2008, earning the Fred Bernard Award of Excellence. Carol continued
her career in college at Sacred Heart University for 3 years, and Clarion University for 1 season,
where she still holds the record for the hammer throw. She also was named all-conference in
the shotput 6 times.
Tim McNerney – Tim was a 2009 graduate of Knoch where he earned first-team All-State
honors as a running back in 2007. A backup at the start of the season, Tim got his chance
when the starter was injured early in his junior year and he never looked back. He led the 2007
Knights to a WPIAL Semi-Final berth amassing 1,785 yards, with multiple 200-yard-plus games,
including 296 against New Castle in the first playoff game ever played at Knoch. His 24
touchdowns that season is still a school record. Tim also holds the school record for career
rushing yards at 2,903. Tim would go on to start a terrific career at Washington & Jefferson
College where he was a team captain and the PAC’s leading rusher in 2011, and first team all
PAC in 2012. Tragically, Tim’s life was cut short while at W&J in 2012.
honors as a running back in 2007. A backup at the start of the season, Tim got his chance
when the starter was injured early in his junior year and he never looked back. He led the 2007
Knights to a WPIAL Semi-Final berth amassing 1,785 yards, with multiple 200-yard-plus games,
including 296 against New Castle in the first playoff game ever played at Knoch. His 24
touchdowns that season is still a school record. Tim also holds the school record for career
rushing yards at 2,903. Tim would go on to start a terrific career at Washington & Jefferson
College where he was a team captain and the PAC’s leading rusher in 2011, and first team all
PAC in 2012. Tragically, Tim’s life was cut short while at W&J in 2012.
Nancy Gillman - Nancy, a 1960 Knoch graduate, came back to her alma mater in 1964 after
graduating from Slippery Rock University where she excelled at field hockey – the only sport
offered to women at the time. She would earn her Masters of Education from Colorado State
University over the next few years. Nancy coached just about every girls' sport at Knoch as well
as taught intramural field hockey, archery, and cross country. She was a driving force behind
getting the girl’s soccer program started and was their first coach until her passing in 1995.
Nancy’s passion for getting girls involved in athletics set a legacy that will long be remembered
at Knoch High School.
graduating from Slippery Rock University where she excelled at field hockey – the only sport
offered to women at the time. She would earn her Masters of Education from Colorado State
University over the next few years. Nancy coached just about every girls' sport at Knoch as well
as taught intramural field hockey, archery, and cross country. She was a driving force behind
getting the girl’s soccer program started and was their first coach until her passing in 1995.
Nancy’s passion for getting girls involved in athletics set a legacy that will long be remembered
at Knoch High School.
To be considered for the Knoch High School Sports Hall of Fame, an individual must have made
a significant contribution to Knoch sports through athletic excellence and/or exemplary
leadership contribution in sports activity. Applicants must be at least 30 years of age for
consideration. More information on the Knoch High School Sports Hall of Fame is available
from the Athletic Office at Knoch High School.
The current Hall of Fame Committee is made up of nine members – seven voting members and
two advisory members. The voting members include retired teachers and coaches Ken Elliott,
Dave Bracco, Diane Geist, and Jerry Sefton, along with current teacher Lisa Knappenberger
and 1973 Knoch graduates Dave Bacon and committee chairman Scott Briggs. The non-voting
advisory members are former athletic directors Mike King and Kurt Reiser.
two advisory members. The voting members include retired teachers and coaches Ken Elliott,
Dave Bracco, Diane Geist, and Jerry Sefton, along with current teacher Lisa Knappenberger
and 1973 Knoch graduates Dave Bacon and committee chairman Scott Briggs. The non-voting
advisory members are former athletic directors Mike King and Kurt Reiser.
Pictured: Tim McNerney (represented by his brother and mother), Carol Cress, Nancy Gillman (represented by her daughter), Jordan Shoop, Peter Albert, and Jim Geist.
(Photo credit to Swan Photographic.)