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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

Barkley highlights HOF class

You might want to circle your calendars for Jan. 17 when Whitehall hosts Emmaus on the hardwood.

Not only will it be a key EPC showdown for the boys, but it’ll showcase the newest Hall of Fame class for 2025, highlighted by Saquon Barkley.

Barkley, who is having a career year with the Philadelphia Eagles, leads this year’s inductees, which also includes Maggie (Deichmeister) Fisher, Matt Kacyon, Danielle Smith and the 2012 Whitehall girls’ soccer team.

The ceremony will be prior to the varsity game at approximately 6:45 p.m. with the game starting at 7:30 p.m.

A second ceremony will be held in the fall to honor Barkley on a date to be determined based on the Whitehall football schedule and Saquon’s NFL schedule.

Below is a brief bio on each inductee.

Saquon Barkley, Class of 2015 was a multisport star at Whitehall, who excelled in football and track and field. Barkley was also a member of the boys’ basketball team. Barkley is Whitehall’s all-time leading rusher and touchdown scorer. He holds the WHS 100m record and won a district gold in the long jump in track and field. Saquon excelled at Penn State as a running back and earned numerous accolades. He was the second pick in the 2018 NFL draft and has had a seven-year NFL career with the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. Barkley has rushed for 1,000 yards four times in his career.

Girls Volleyball standout Maggie (Deichmeister) Fisher is a 2011 graduate of Whitehall. Maggie was a four-year letterwinner and two-year captain for the Zephyrs. Deichmeister was twice named to the PVCA All-State Girls Volleyball team. She played college volleyball for Duke University in the ACC where she was named two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll and two-time ACC All-Academic Team. Maggie was named AVCA Honorable Mention All-American and third team All-ACC. She finished her career as the sixth highest player in assists in Duke history.

Cross country and track and field distance runner Matt Kacyon is a member of the Class of 2011. Kacyon was a two-time LVIAC Champion, two-time District 11 cross country champion and two-time LVIAC MVP. Matt twice won the PIAA Foundation Meet and finished 17th (’09) and 8th (’10) in the PIAA championships in cross country. He finished eighth in the 3200m in track and field at the 2011 PIAA Championships. Kacyon was a three-time All-Academic All-Star for USTFCCCA Matt competed in the 1500m, 3000m, 5000m and steeplechase for Temple University.

Danielle Smith, Class of 2011 was an elite sprinter for the track and field team at Whitehall. She currently holds records on the track in the 100m and 200m. She was finished fifth (100m) and seventh (200m) in the PIAA Championship in 2011 and won multiple District 11 championships. As a sprinter at East Stroudsburg University, Smith set 10 school records during her career. Danielle won eight indoor and outdoor track PSAC championships. She was named two-time USTFCCCA All-Academic team and was the ESU Team MVP in 2012, 2013, and 2015.

The 2012 Girls Soccer Team finished as the PIAA runner-up in the last season of spring girls soccer. The team was coached by George Romano. It was the 2012 District 11 champions. Led by LVIAC MVP Kayla Cunningham and a very strong team including Kara Parvel, Laura Gerhard, Cassie Schmidt, Kourtney Cunningham, Natalie Rackus, and Amanda Slotter, among others, the team was named Morning Call Team of the Year. The district title was the first in school history.

The Hall of Fame Committee is also soliciting additional nominees to be considered for the Hall of Fame. A nomination form can be found at the Athletic link of the Whitehall-Coplay School District website, www.zephyrathletics.com or by contacting Athletic Director Bob Hartman at Whitehall High School.

Saquon Barkley will be part of this year’s Whitehall Hall of Fame class.