The Chester County Sports Hall of Fame celebrated Unionville High School’s outstanding lacrosse teams through the years as they honored a longtime Unionville lacrosse coach and one of the team's nationally acclaimed players.

This year they highlighted the sports careers of former Unionville High School lacrosse coach Lee Krug and former Unionville lacrosse player Michelle Doyle at the banquet in Kennett Square’s Red Clay Room on Nov. 11. Board President Michael Peich was the master of ceremonies.

The county Sports Hall of Fame is a volunteer organization that for the past 15 years has recognized excellent and accomplished athletes from the local area at its annual banquet.  During that time they have honored greats like Dallas Green, Dick Vermeil, Cathy Rush and Vonnie Gros.

In addition to the two with Unionville connections, Vince Berlnome, Rick Daniels, David Lapp, Kristin Luckenbill, Matt Schaub, Sandy Thielz and the Devon Horse Show earned recognition during this year’s event. Mention was also made of two scholar athletes from Unionville High School Class of 2023 who were named earlier in the year: Riley Angstadt and Tucker Opdahl.

While teaching chemistry at Unionville, Krug created the girls’ lacrosse program in the mid-1970s. In the course of his leadership there, he coached 1 league championships and had only one losing season. His career record at Unionville was 474-115-15. Following his tenure at Unionville he coached at Octorara, Downingtown and, most recently at Avon Grove since 2018.

While at Unionville he also coached boy’s soccer, winning six league titles.

At the presentation of his award, he said he was grateful for the fine players he has coached as well as the support of his friends and family, especially his wife. He said his success would not have been possible without her significant role in caring for the family while he was busy with the teams. Several of his relatives from far away attended the ceremony.

Krug, in a short acceptance speech, said he learned a lot from the quirky quotes of Yankees baseball great Yogi Berra. 

Doyle excelled at lacrosse at Unionville High School in the late 1970s, where she was also co-captain of the cheerleading squad. At West Chester University, where majored in physical education, her lacrosse team won the College Conference and Collegiate National championships.

She also played on the national and international lacrosse teams, which won the World Cup in 1982.

Doyle taught at Penncrest High School and eventually became the first female athletic director there. She has coordinated lacrosse programs and taught lacrosse internationally. She also organized the first girls’ lacrosse tournament for the Keystone Games.

As she received her award, she gave credit to great players she has coached as well as outstanding coaches that came before her, including Gros and Krug.

“He was my coach,” Doyle said of Krug.

The other recipients of awards at the banquet excelled in a variety of sports.

Belnome played college, minor league and major league baseball. He graduated from West Virginia University and Coatesville High School. He lives in Coatesville.

Daniels is the former football coach at West Chester University, where his team won 86 games. He is a graduate as well of Springfield High School and West Chester University.

Lapp won championships in track and field as a student at Coatesville High School. At the University of Tennessee, he was a track All-American selection.

Following college, Lapp qualified for the U.S. Olympic team. He coached at Coatesville for 14 years, where his team won numerous medals. He lives in Coatesville.

Luickenbill, a soccer team graduate of Conestoga High School, was named All-Conference, All-County, All-Region, Regional All American and Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year. She was a member of he 2004 United States National Team that won an Olympic Gold Medal. While at  Dartmouh College she was an NCAA All-American along with many other honors.

Shaub, who received his honor remotely, sent a video stating his gratitude. He is a graduate of West Chester East High School, where he played football. At University of Virginia, he was selected ACC first team in football. In his post-football career, he and his wife have supported medically challenged individuals. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Thielz was an outstanding gymnast a Southern Connecticut State College and was a member of the U.S. Training Squad for the Pan Am Games and the 1968 Olympics. She was also a national and international judge for elite competitions. She spent 32 years on the faculty of West Chester University.

The Sports Hall of Fame added a new category of recognition this year. It is called the “Chester County Sports Hall of Fame Legacy Award.” It is dedicated to groups or individuals who promote sports in the county. This year they honored the Devon Horse Show.

Recent horse show board member Bunny Meister told his audience that there is no more deserving group than the show that is associated with its contribution to Chester County.