The Exeter Township School District will induct 13 members and the coach of the 1981 Girls’ Cross Country team into its Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, January 26, 2024. The induction will take place at approximately 6:30PM in the main gymnasium of Exeter Township School District during the Exeter Boys’ Basketball game against Wilson. Prior to the game, a reception will be held in the high school cafeteria at 5:30PM to honor the members, who will be joined by their coach, Donald Bickel. 

During their 1981 season, the team was the PIAA state runner-up following their first place District III and Berks County championships. During their dual meets that season, they had a 10-0 record and placed in local, regional and state invitationals, including Twin Valley (1st place); Conrad Weiser (2nd place); Steel City (3rd place); and State College (5th place). Rebecca Lucey was named a District III champion. At the time, Bickel said that the season was a “dream come true” following the cross country league’s creation just four years prior to the 1981 season when Exeter only won one meet and lost the remaining nine. Today, Bickel remembers fondly his time coaching the team: “They were a pleasure to coach and I enjoyed coaching them; they were great girls,” When asked what led his team to achieve success, he said, “You need two things to make it a successful team, you need to have fun and every runner has to give 100 percent; all the girls on this team definitely did this.” 

The team members to be inducted are: Rose (Kane) Cooley, Rochelle (Graffius) Frebel, Michelle (Barron) Gaul, Kathy (Barron) Evans, Stephanie (Klonis) Sarge, Rebecca Lucey, Sue (Enoch) Yatron, Gloria (Garber) Anyan, Selena (Hand) Ehert, Audrey Faber, Rhonda (Johnson) Berry, Steph Butcher and Denise DeRenzo.

The Exeter Township School District has inducted athletes into its Athletic Hall of Fame since 1990, honoring athletes and teams who achieve significant and memorable athletic accomplishments during their time at Exeter Township Senior High school, collegiately, and/or professionally. During the 2022-23 school year, the district inducted the 1971-72 Men’s Basketball team, as well as Michal Menet, a 2016 graduate; Michael Troutman, a 2002 graduate; and Kyle Yocum, a 2013 graduate.