Recipients – Special Awards

Each year the Hall of Fame board may choose to recognize individuals, organizations or teams for their contributions or accomplishments to Berks County sports. Though they are not officially inductees into the Hall of Fame the board feels it is important to acknowledge them.

Tiffany Cappellano - Inspirational Athlete Award

Tiffany Cappellano, has accomplished much in the world of field hockey, prior to her breast cancer diagnosis on March 6th, of last year, and was awarded the highest honor from the USA Field Hockey as the USA National Coach of the Year following the 2023 fall season. Tiffany began her field hockey career in the 5th grade at the Oley Valley Youth League, continued through Oley Valley high School career earning Regional All-American (97, 98), National All-American (98), and helped her team win the 1997 State Championship. She continued her playing career at University of Iowa where she earned 1999 Big Ten Freshman of the Year winning the Big 10 Championship and making the Final Four. She also earned Regional All-American 3 years, National All-American 2 years, the Big 10 Defensive POY in 2002, and All Big Ten 2001 and 2002. She also was part of the USA Junior National Program with the U16, U18, U21, and U23 Teams, participating in the U21 Pan American Games with a 2nd place finish and the U21 Junior World Cup in Argentina.
Tiffany carried her love for the sport back to the field, coaching at Daniel Boone, Twin Valley, and ultimately back to her alma mater Oley Valley in 2009, where she continues to teach and coach today. She has amassed a record of 319-54-6, twelve straight division Championships, 6 Berks County Championships, 5 District 3 Championships, and 3x state runner up. This past season the Oley Valley field hockey team won the PIAA State Championship, “with” and “for” Tiffany who continued to coach while battling breast cancer. Treatments, and a bi-lateral mastectomy on Sept. 8th, missing one week of coaching, but couldn’t keep her away from watching from the press box. Tiffany will continue with her Bio-Therapy Treatments through June of this year, and reconstructive surgery scheduled for July, which hopefully will lead to a cancer free diagnosis.

1970 Holy Name High School Boys Basketball Team PCIAA State Champions - Team of Distinction
1981 Holy Name High School Field Hockey Team PIAA State Champions - Team of Distinction