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Second Class Inducted Into Athletics Hall Of Fame

On Friday, November 15, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College held a ceremony to induct the second class into the Black Bear Athletics Hall of Fame.

The six-member class was enshrined in conjunction with the unveiling of the College’s renovated gymnasium at the Richland Campus and before the Men’s Basketball home opener.

“It’s an honor to recognize these former student-athletes and coaches who helped put Penn Highlands athletics on the map,” stated Sue Brugh, Director of Student Activities and Athletics. “They forged a path during the early years, laying the foundation for future success.”

The members of the Class of 2024 include:

• Tim Biakapia (Germantown, MD, 2016-18) – A two-time NJCAA National Player of the Week, Biakapia is the all-time scoring leader at Penn Highlands with 1,202 career points and second all-time in career rebounds with 667. He ranked 2nd in the NJCAA in defensive rebounds (263), third in total rebounds (385), and fourth in points per season (659). After Penn Highlands, Biakapia transferred to NAIA Division I Shawnee State where he had 451 career points, 290 rebounds, 86 assists, and 35 steals in two years. He graduated with a degree in Sports Studies.
• Sarah Fisher Nulton (Johnstown, PA, 2015) – In her lone season at Penn Highlands, Fisher Nulton compiled 163 kills, 168 digs, 62 blocks, and a .360 hitting percentage for the Women’s Volleyball team. She was named to the WPCC All-Academic Team, WPCC All-Conference Team, and the All-Region 20 Team in 2015. After Penn Highlands, she transferred to Mount Aloysius College where she was named First Team All-Conference for the Mounties and graduated with a degree in Nursing.
• Landon Loya (Salisbury, PA, 1999-2000, 2009-21) – Loya played on the first men’s basketball team in school history in 1999-2000 and became a student assistant coach during his second season. He was then hired as the men’s basketball coach in 2010 and also began coaching the women’s volleyball team in 2014. Loya led the men’s basketball team to a WPCC Championship in 2017-18 and a Region 20 runner-up finish in 2020-21.
• Ben Mostoller (Johnstown, PA, 2014-17) – Mostoller was instrumental in creating the Bowling Club at Penn Highlands in 2014-15 that eventually became an official NJCAA sport the next year. He then became the first WPCC Singles Champion in school history in 2016 before service as a volunteer assistant coach in 2017. Mostoller is currently employed at Penn Highlands as a Career Pathways Specialist.
• Maddie Sprankle Dorian (Johnstown, PA, 2017-19) – Sprankle Dorian was the first student-athlete in school history to compete in a national event, finishing 27th out of 136 runners at the NJCAA Cross Country Championships. In basketball, she averaged 15.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in her lone season. She garnered multiple accolades, including All-Region 20 Women’s Cross Country First Team, All Region 20 Women’s Basketball Honorable Mention, and Western Pennsylvania Collegiate All-Conference for both Cross Country and Women’s Basketball. After Penn Highlands, she transferred to Penn State Dubois and played basketball for two seasons before earning a bachelor’s degree.
• 2017-18 Men’s Basketball Team – The 2017-18 Black Bears posted the winningest season in school history, finishing with an 18-9 overall record and claiming Penn Highlands’ first Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference championship. Members of the team included Bryan Acosta, Tyler Bennett, Tim Biakapia, Peyton Brown, Antonio Carter, Anthony Cornetti, Chandler Enos, Jordan Fortson, Prince Griffon, Denzel Mobley, Hunter Thomas, Nathan Thropp, and Von Yoder, as well as Head Coach Landon Loya and Volunteer Assistant Coach Justin Harris.

Black Bear Athletics competes in Region 20 as a member of the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference. At Penn Highlands, NJCAA sports offerings include basketball, bowling, cross country, eSports, golf, softball, volleyball, and wrestling.

Members of the Black Bear Athletics Hall of Fame, Second Class. Inducted on Friday, November 15, 2024. Pictured from left to right: Landon Loya, Jordan Fortson, Justin Harris, Tim Biakapia, Hunter Thomas, Peyton Brown, Denzel Mobley, Chandler Enos, Bryan Acosta, Ben Mostoller, Maddie Sprankle Dorian, Sarah Fisher Nulton