Joseph Devlin – Pro Football

Joe Devlin an outstanding athlete at Great Valley High School, Joe received a scholarship to play football at the University of Iowa. In recognition of his incredible college career, in 1974, he was named 2nd Team All-Big Ten and in 1975, 1st Team All-Big Ten and first team All-American by Time Magazine. .

The Buffalo Bills selected Devlin in the 2nd round of their very solid 1976 NFL Draft, with the 52 overall pick. Devlin picked up a couple of starts at right tackle during his rookie season in place of incumbent starter, Donnie Jones. He slid into the starting lineup the next year and was a mainstay for well over a decade.

Devlin currently ranks second in team history among games played by an offensive lineman with 191 games. Playing for the Bills for 13 years, his longevity and consistent play were a testament to his blue-collar attitude and strong work ethic. He was selected as a member of Buffalo Bills 25thAnniversary Team.

Jenny Graap – Field Hockey/ Lacrosse/ Coach

Jenny Graap is being nominated as an exceptional athlete and an outstanding collegiate coach. A graduate of West Chester East High School, Jenny starred on both the field hockey & lacrosse team, captaining both in her senior year.

A scholarship athlete at Cornell, she earned eight varsity letters, was named a regional All-American in lacrosse and 2nd team All-Ivy in field hockey.

Her coaching career began as an assistant lacrosse coach at Penn State, she was the first ever coach at George Mason and head coach at Cornell in 1998. She has been there 29 years, garnering many honors.

Honors include two regular season Ivy League championships, an Ivy League Tournament Championship and 5 NCAA appearances, including the first Final Four appearance of any Cornell women’s team in 2016.

Numerous recognitions for her players include 18 All-Americans, 4 Ivy League Players of the Year, 3 Academic All-Americans and 1 national Player of the Year finalist. She has reached post-season play 11 times.

Jenny was named IWLCA National Coach of the year in 2002, IWLCA Northeast Coach of the year in 2002, 2006 and 2016. Ivy League Coach of the Year in 2017 and Inside Lacrosse Magazine the Northeast Coach of the Year in 2006.

Jenny’s service to the IWLCA (Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Association) is extensive. She has been Vice President, chaired the Northeast Regional Committee, Coach of the Year Committee and Rules & Games Management committee to name a few. She has served on the NCAA selection committee, was NCAA rep for Division III championships and was a clinician for the NCAA’s Youth Education in Sport program for a number of years.

Ginny Martino – Lacrosse/Coach

Ginny Martino is a 1984 graduate of Souderton High School. She was an outstanding student-athlete, which earned her a Souderton High School Female Athlete of the Year Award, as well as being named to the IWLCA First Team All-American for Lacrosse. Ginny was in the inaugural Souderton High School Hall of Fame induction in 2010, and she also had her number 12 jersey retired.

Ginny received a full athletic field hockey and lacrosse scholarship to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She was a member of the New England Regional Lacrosse All-Star team, and the National Lacrosse All-Star Team.

In 1997 Ginny became the Head Women’s lacrosse coach at West Chester University, and 27 years later she has led her team to continued success. She is the all-time winningest coach in Division II history. West Chester University was ranked number one, for the 2025 pre-season and ended their season with a 19-1 record.

Ginny’s overall record is 405 wins and 83 losses with a winning percentage of .824. PSAC record 252-21, PSAC tournament record 34-10 .762, NCAA Division II tournament record 23-16 .595, NCAA Division I tournament record 23-18 in 2 seasons.

Ginny ranks 8th in all time wins among women’s lacrosse coaches at any level. Her WCU teams were National Champions 2002, 2008. In addition, she was named Coach of the Year 2001, 2005, 2018, NCAA South Region Coach of the Year 2006, 2008, 2010, NCAA National Coach of the Year 2002, 2008, named Field Turf Division II Coach of the Year twice, NCAA Division II National Semi-finalist 12 times and has appeared in NCAA Division II National title game 10 times.

She coached several PSAC Conference Players of the Year, IWLCA National Players of the Year and first Team All-Americans. Ginny was named 150 Most Influential of Women West Chester University.

Chas McCormick – Major League Baseball

Chas McCormick began his illustrious athletic career at Henderson High School where he was a four time All Ches-Mont League athlete. At Millersville University he was the first to score 1000 points in basketball and to have 100 career hits in baseball. He became the PSAC all-time hits leader and was named All PSAC East Player four times and an All American. He set records in hits, run, RBI’s and triples as well.

He was selected by the Houston Astros in 2017. In 2021 he made his MLB debut against the Oakland Athletics. He was a member of the 2022 World Series Championship. In 2023 McCormick put together the best month of his career. In July he had six home runs and twenty-three RBI’ s. He was named American League Player of the Week for the first time. He went seven for eleven, batting .636 with three home runs, drove in five runs and scored seven times.

In July 2023 McCormick played in 115 games and batted career highs .273, .353, .489 and .842. He had 457 plate appearances, 110 hits, 59 runs scored, 17 doubles, 22 home runs, and 70 RBI’s.

In January 2025 the Astros signed McCormick to a new contract. As a right-handed batter and left-handed thrower McCormick was one of two position players to play in the major leagues in 2023.

In addition to being an outstanding professional baseball player with the Houston Astros Major League Baseball Team, he volunteers every off-season to mentor the Henderson High School Baseball Team.

Matt Ryan – Pro Football

Matthew Thomas Ryan is a former professional football player from Exton, Pennsylvania. He was a quarterback for 15 seasons in the National Football League, primarily with the Atlanta Falcons. Nicknamed “Matty Ice” Ryan ranks among the league’s all-time top ten in pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns.

Ryan went to William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia where he was a three-year starter and earned All-East honors from Larunt Lemming Prep Football Report. He captured All-Southeastern Pennsylvania accolades as a senior quarterback in addition to receiving All-City first-team honors in 2002 and second-team recognition in 2001. A three-time All-league selection, he threw for more than 2000 yards with 19 touchdowns as a senior, finishing his career by completing more than 52 percent of his pass attempts during all three seasons at the helm.

Ryan played football, basketball, and baseball while in high school and was named captain of all three teams his senior year. He was quarterback of the football team in 2002, played small forward on the basketball team, and was a pitcher and shortstop on the baseball team.

Ryan played college football for the Boston College Eagles, winning the Petyon Manning and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Awards as a senior, and was selected by the Falcons third overall in the 2008 NFL draft.

Ryan immediately made an impact by taking the Atlanta Falcons to the playoffs in his first season, earning him Offensive Rookie of the Year. During his tenure, he led the team to six playoff appearances and three division titles, while receiving four Pro Bowl selections. His most successful season was in 2016 when he was named the NFL Most Valuable (MVP) and led the Falcons to an appearance in Super Bowl. In his final season, Ryan played for the Indianapolis Colts.

Since retiring, he has served as an analyst for CBS Sports.

Aamina Thornton - Athlete/Coach

Aamina Thornton was an outstanding athlete in High School, an All-America and National Champion in Lacrosse at Temple University and a coach and mentor to girls for almost 25 years.

She was an outstanding three sport athlete at Phoenixville Area High School, where she excelled in Field Hockey, Basketball, and Lacrosse. She helped lead her teams to a District 1 Basketball Championship and a Ches-Mont League Lacrosse Championship. Her senior year, she was voted top female athlete, and was awarded the Cathy Ranking Award in Basketball.

Her 2010 Induction Bio into Temple University’s Athletics Hall of Fame described Thornton as “a defender during one the most successful stretches in the history of Temple women’s lacrosse”. Aamina was a 4-year starter for Temple 1987-1990. The Owls had a 61-8 combined record during her time as a player. She played a key role in the 1988 Division 1 Championship 19-0, and the team went to the Final Four every year she played. She was also voted Defensive Player of the Year, and a First Team All-American her senior year.

Upon the end of her playing career, Thornton spent time as a Graduate Assistant under Head Coach Tina Sloan Green. She coached at Ursinus College and Coatesville HS before settling back in Phoenixville where she coached Field Hockey and Basketball at the Middle Schools for many years. In 2012, she was elevated to the Head Coach position at the High School. They qualified for the District 1 Playoffs 5 times, won the Frontier Championships from 2022-2024, and made it to League Finals twice (Coach of the year in 2024). In 2024, Thornton became the Head Coach in Field Hockey, and promptly lead them to a 13-4 record and entry into the District 1 Tournament. In 2012, Thornton was named to the Phoenixville Area School District Sports Hall of Fame.

Joe Walsh – Football Coach

Joe Walsh is a 1968 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. He lettered in football, wrestling, and track. He attended West Chester State College where he was a two-time member of its’ PSAC Championship football team.

He began his teaching and coaching career at West Chester Henderson High School from 1972-2008, where he was an assistant football coach for 15 years, assistant wrestling coach for 5 years, and Head wrestling coach for 7 years, as well as coaching the boys and girls’ lacrosse, and tennis teams.

Joe was the Head football coach at Sun Valley for 3 years where he won the Del-Val league in 1990, and was named Coach of the Year. He became the Head football coach at Henderson High School in 1992, and after 19 years his teams earned 3 Ches-Mont titles, several play- off wins and was the District 1 Runner-up in 2007. He was named Ches-Mont Coach of the Year, and Chester County Coach of the Year in 2003, 2007and 2011.

Joe was inducted into the Ches-Mont League Hall of Fame in 2018. He was a member of the Pennsylvania State Football Coaches Association for 19 years, and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2014. He coached the Valor Bowl for 13 years, and was selected five time as its’ Head Coach.

Joe was a defensive line coach at WCU for 7 years. He was inducted into the West Chester University Killinger Football Hall of Fame in 2001. He has served on their board of directors and was its past President.

Jason Wingard – 3 Sport Athlete

Jason Wingard had a prolific and distinguished athletic career while in attendance at West Chester B. Reed Henderson High School. As a three-sport athlete in Football, Basketball, and Track & Field Wingard distinguished himself immediately at the varsity level. As an incoming ninth grader Jason was a standout wide receiver in football, a forward in basketball and was a member of the track team.

Throughout his high school career, Wingard, received many accolades, tributes and awards culminating in a division one football scholarship to play for Stanford University in the PAC Ten Conference.

Jason received nine varsity letters during his high school career and a plethora of awards denoting his accomplishments. Wingard’s hard work and diligence culminated in the 1989-90 season when he won the Pennsylvania 400-meter hurdles State Championship. During the 1990-91 season, he again won the Ches-Mont League and District one titles to qualify to defend his state title. He finished as the runner up, although running a faster time that season than when he won as a junior. During his senior year Wingard (Jason) received all area and all Ches-Mont selections in three different sports. Having excelled in these activities he was nominated and received the prestigious Daily Local News Butch McDevitt Award as Chester Counties Most Outstanding Athlete. Jason Wingard led his high school to two successive P.I.A.A. team track and field state championships while also contributing as a scholar and leader of his fellow classmates.

Jason has gone on to national prominence and international success as an author of many books and as a college administrator. His successes culminated in him being named the President of Temple University where he was credited with making many positive and welcomed changes during his tenure.

Bill Zwaan – Football Coach

Bill Zwaan served as head coach of West Chester University for 20 seasons. Over the past two decades, Zwaan has put together one of the most impressive coaching resumes in all of Division II history. He is 162-76 in that span. He has won six Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division titles (2004, 2007,2008, 2015, 2017 and 2018) and in 2018 added an outright PSAC Championship crown to his list of accomplishments.

Additionally, he has been named Coach of the Year five times and guided the Golden Rams to NCAA playoffs, a school-record of 10 times. He has steered the institution to the national semifinal twice (2004 and 2013). His 21 years of service to Golden Rams football is the second-longest stint as the head coach of Ram football in school history.

Overall, Zwaan is 216-90, including his six seasons at Division III Widener University. He still owns the highest winning percentage in school history at Widener and led that institution to the Division III national semifinals.

In the fall of 2021, Zwaan surpassed two coaching milestones for victories when he earned his 200th career win at home against Edinboro in the third game of the season and then became West Chester University’s all-time winningest head coach when he topped College Football Hall of Famer, W. Glenn Killinger, with his 148th win at the school against Bloomsburg on Homecoming Weekend.

In the spring of 1991, West Chester Henderson High School’s 4x400 meter relay team, under the expert guidance of Coach Bob Friday, etched their names into the storied history of American high school track and field. Comprised of Chad Black (University of North Carolina), Ron Hatter (The Ohio State University), Steve Miller (University of Maryland Eastern Shore), and Jason Wingard (Stanford University), this exceptional group of young athletes rose to national prominence on one of the sport’s biggest stages—the Penn Relay Carnival at Franklin Field, Philadelphia.

Known as the oldest and most prestigious track and field competition in the United States, the Penn Relays bring together elite athletes from across the country and around the world. That year, West Chester Henderson entered the Suburban One preliminary heat with confidence, poise, and preparation. Dominating their race, the team not only advanced but secured a coveted spot in the Championship of America final—a race reserved for the fastest qualifying teams from the U.S. and top international programs.

Facing off against renowned competitors, including the heavily favored Kingston College of Jamaica, Henderson’s quartet stunned the crowd and the track world by pulling off one of the greatest upsets in Penn Relays history. With unmatched determination, seamless baton exchanges, and raw speed, they captured the 4x400m Championship of America title, earning gold watches, international recognition, and a place in track and field lore.

This extraordinary victory was broadcast on ESPN, where it captivated viewers and became a lasting symbol of how belief, preparation, and teamwork can overcome even the most daunting odds.

Over three decades later, West Chester Henderson’s 1991 relay triumph continues to inspire athletes of all levels. It is a testament to what can be achieved when talent meets trust, and hard work meets heart.