Star tight end among Class of ’24 in Ligonier Valley Athletics Hall of Fame

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Friday, February 2, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Former Connecticut tight end Alec Bloom, who went to training camp with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, is among eight individuals and a team highlighting the 2024 Ligonier Valley Athletics Hall of Fame class.

The group will be inducted April 13 during a banquet at The Barn at Ligonier Valley.

The others to be enshrined include Caleb Hood (track & field), Jason Burkhart (football), William Conrad (football, baseball), Ray Nelson (golf), Brandon Boyd (football), Mike Mannion (contributor), Al Fiorina (coach) and the 2001 boys soccer team.

• Bloom, a 2014 graduate, was a USA Today All-Pennsylvania selection as a senior, when he was an all-state performer. He had 45 receptions for 830 yards and 12 touchdowns that season.

• Hood (Class of 2003) was a PIAA champion in the 300-meter hurdles as a senior and won two District 6 titles in the event, as well as taking district gold in the 400 meters and the 1,600 relay.

• A star running back, Burkhart (1992) ran for a school-record 3,213 yards as a senior, including a 405-yard, seven-touchdown game against Penns Manor. He was a second-team all-state pick.

• Conrad (1983), a quarterback, threw for 882 yards and 16 touchdown as a senior and collected seven interceptions as a defensive back. In baseball, the pitcher went 15-4 with a 2.50 ERA and tossed a pair of no-hitters.

• On the links, Nelson (1978) averaged 76.1 in his senior season when the Ligonier Valley went 11-1. He won a WPIAL title in 1977 and finished inside the top 25 at the state tournament.

• Boyd (2008) played defensive back for the then-Mounties and holds the school record with 17 career interceptions, a total that included 10 in one season. He is the only LV player to earn three all-state nods.

• Mannion coached football for 25 years, track and field for 15 and was athletic director for 14.

• Also a longtime coach, Fiorina has led the track and field and cross country teams at Ligonier Valley and continues to do so. He has been the girls track and field coach for 40 years and has guided the cross country program for 21 years.

• The ‘01 soccer team won a District 6 championship and reached the PIAA quarterfinals, finally losing a game to finish the season with a 22-1 record while outscoring its opponents 117-19.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Ligonier Valley