HALL OF FAME INDUCTION — Four Brooke High School alumni were inducted to the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame at a dinner Friday and recognized during half-time ceremonies of the Bruins’ game that night. On hand for the induction were: Hannah and Emily Winters, daughters of the late Jerry Winters Jr., who was posthumously inducted; Cliff Sachini, Michelle “Missy” Simonetti O’Connell; and Mechall-Lee Sachini-Clark. (Warren Scott)

WELLSBURG — Four Brooke High School alumni reflected on their experiences as athletes at the school before being inducted to its Athletic Hall of Fame Friday.

The four — Michelle “Missy” Simonetti O’Connell, Class of 1987: Cliff Sachini, Class of 2000; Mechall-Lee Sachini-Clark, Class of 2003; and the late Jerry Winters Jr., Class of 1991 — were honored at a dinner and during half-time ceremonies of Friday’s football game.

Cliff Sachini was a three-year letterer in football and was named to the OVAC First Team and All-State in 1999. He holds the school’s record for single season rushing yards, with 1,639. He also was on the Bruins baseball team for three years.

At the University of Dayton, he was a three-year letterer and running back and helped the team to be named champion or co-champion of the large regional Pioneer Football League each year. While there he ranked in the top 10 all-time for rushing yards and seventh all-time for single season rushing yards, was one 23 all-time in the 1,500 yard club and ranked in the top 30 all-time for career points.

Sacini is a sales representative specializing in intraoperative medical devices for Mid-Atlantic Surgical and lives in Eighty-Four, Pa. with his wife, Kiley.

As a four-year member of Brooke’s cheering squad, Mechall-Lee Sachini-Clark helped the team to win three state championships, place second in one state championship and win four regional championships and was the first to perform five consecutive full maneuvers at the regional and state competitions in 2001.

She also earned four Cheerleaders of America individual and stunt titles.

As a four-year member of Brooke’s track team, she was on three relay teams that won regional titles in two years.

She went on to cheer at the University of Louisville, where she was named a five-time All-American,five-time National Champion and two-time world champion. She appeared with Cirque Du Soleil in the pre-game show of the 2007 Super Bowl and was featured in the United States All-Star Federation’s international magazine.

Following graduation, she was director for 6 years of All About Kids, a private cheering, tumbling and choreography school and trained college-level and other athletes from around the world. She currently is a master cosmetologist in Louisville, where she lives with her husband, Daniel.

Cliff and Mechall are the children of Clifford and Deborah Ann Sachini of Follansbee.

Simonetti was a four-year letterer in softball and volleyball and three-year letterer in cheering. She helped the Bruins softball team to win a sectional championship and was named to the All-Conference First Team.

She went on to play softball at Wheeling Jesuit University, where she was a four-year letterer, played in 105 games and achieved 263 at bats with 60 runs.

The daughter of Ron and Karen Simonetti, she is employed as a senior data analyst for Crown Castle in Canonsburg, Pa. and lives in Washington, Pa. with her husband, Jay;and their two children.

A four-year letterer in football, Winters was a three-year varsity starter for the Bruins and was named All-OVAC in 1990. He also lettered two years in basektball and played on an American Legion basketball team.

He went on to play football for West Liberty State College, where he was a defensive lineman and four-year letterer and received All-Conference honorable mention in 1993 and 1994.

He was employed by Ohio Bricklayers Union Local 14 of Mingo Junction, serving on its district council, prior to his death, from natural causes, at age 28. His daughters, Emily and Hannah, both students living in Moundsville, accepted the honor for him.

Winters was the son of Alecia Winters of Colliers and the late Jerry Winters Sr.

His mother and brother, Jason, said Jerry, who also played football at Follansbee Middle School, had an enduring love for the sport and he shared that enthusiasm with his teammates.

“He got everybody psyched up,” recalled his mother, who added, “And he’d come out on that field pumped.

“He was all about football,” agreed Jason.

Sachini-Clark said she learned the importance of discipline and hard work under the direction of head cheering coach Christine Stucin and while working with fellow squad members and that has served her well in her professional life.

“That was the basis of it all because it works,” she said.

Cliff said Paul “Bud” Billiard, Bill Ewusiak, Dave Reitter and other coaches “pushed for us to always give our best.”

Like his sister,Cliff also credited his parents for his accomplishments.

“I have a great family. They were essentially my best friends growing up. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said.

Simonetti said her background in athletics has served as a good foundation for her adult life.

“There are so many things I’ve taken with me. Sports taught me to be a hard-working, dedicated person,” she said, adding being part of a team taught her the value of working together and supporting co-workers.