Mont Mattocks
Mont Mattocks was one of the top athletes out of Mercer High School and also excelled in the field of coaching at nearby Grove City High.
In cross country and track at Mercer as a senior, he earned several honors, including runner-up in District 10 cross country and 9th in the PIAA state meet. He established a school mark on Mercer?s 2 1/18 mile layout in 11:10. He also ran the 800 and mile events in track, going unbeaten in the regular season.
In basketball, 1965 and 1966, he was a starter on teams that went 42-8. The 1966 squad went 28-0 in winning the state title. Mont made both ends of a 1-and-1 to send the championship game into overtime before the Mustangs prevailed, 55-52, over Darby-Colwyn. He set a school record in single-season assists (375) and in 2007 was inducted into the Mercer High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
From 1967-70, he was a basketball star at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a 3-year starter on teams that went 61-12. He was named to the District 18 all-star teams three times, including 1st team as a senior. He set school records for single-game, single-season and career assists. His single-game (14) and career (450) marks still stand today.
The outstanding point guard scored 742 points in his career and was inducted into the IUP Athletic Hall of Fame.
He began his coaching career as graduate assistant at IUP, coaching the freshman team that included his brother Marty to a 16-4 record in 1971. He was head coach at Grove City High from 1976-1983, with his teams posting a mark of 110-69. His Eagles won the District 10 title in 1979 and he was named Mercer County Athletic Conference coach of the year. His teams also won MCAC titles in 1980 and 1981. He also served as assistant coach for Grove City boys for 8 years and GC girls for 2 years.
He played ASA slow-pitch softball for more than 20 years with Mercer Tire, Old Rudes and Polish Falcons (New Castle). He was a standout in independent basketball in various leagues and tournaments with the Indiana AC's and Old Rudes. He is also an avid golfer and three-time flight champion at Grove City Country Club.
He served as chairman of the Elks Youth Hoop Shoot competition for 10 years and is a selection committee member of the Roger Flynn Scholarship.