Fred McConnell
Fred McConnell had a tremendous impact in basketball as a player and a coach.
He played basketball for legendary John Swogger at Mercer High from 1962-64. In three seasons, he helped spark the team to records of 25-5, 23-4 and 26-2.
The Mustangs went unbeaten in league games, won District 10 titles three straight years, won three western regional Class B titles and were a PIAA Class B state finalist all three seasons.
In the 1963-64 season, Fred blistered the nets for 528 points, tops in Mercer County that year. He had a high of 31 against Cranberry and was brilliant in the state final game against Montrose, tallying 28. He averaged 18.9 points per game that year and was a standout on the defensive end as well. He averaged 13 rebounds per game and led the team in steals with 5 1/2 per game.
He was named third team on the UPI Little All-State team his senior season.
Fred was a three-year letterman at Westminster College. His junior year as the team's playmaker, he helped the club to a record of 22-6, while the team represented District 18 in the NAIA Basketball Tournament in Kansas City. The Titans won their first game, then lost a heartbreaker, 55-53, to St. Mary's of San Antonio. He was co-captain of the Titans his senior year and helped the squad earn a 22-8 record.
He was an 81 percent foul shooter and known for his superb ball handling. That year the team advanced to the semifinals at the NAIA tourney, defeating three teams before bowing to Central State, 72-51.
Fred was head varsity coach at Lakeview High from 1977-84. His only losing seasons were the first two, with the next six seeing the club average 16 victories per year. He led the Sailors to the playoffs six times, reaching the PIAA inter-district play in 1981-82. He was named Mercer County "Coach of the Year" that season.
He was inducted into the Mercer High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.