Central Columbia High School -

Debra Payne-Baker, is a 1986 graduate and was an outstanding four-sport athlete.  Debra excelled in field hockey, basketball, softball and track & field.  She earned 12 varsity letters in four years of athletes here at Central Columbia. During her athletic career she was a four-year starter in basketball as well as field hockey, a member of the 1985 District IV Field Hockey Championship Team, and a member of the 1984 and 1985 District IV Softball Championship Teams. Debra has coached numerous sports her including; junior high field hockey, varsity field hockey, basketball, and track & field. She coached the 2005 and 2006 Mid-Penn Champion Field Hockey Teams. She was also Field Hockey Coach of the Year for 2005, 2006, and 2008.  Debra presently is employed by the Central Columbia School District as part of the District Office staff.

Katie Saloky graduated in 2013 and was very involved in her years at Central Columbia High School.  Katie participated in soccer, cross country, track and field and swimming.  She was a state champion in the 50-meter freestyle, four-time District IV 50-meter freestyle champion, 2013 District IV 100-meter breaststroke champion and was a member of the 2011 and 2012 200 medley swim relay team that captured a gold medal each year.  She was named an All-American swimmer in 2012 and a PIAA State Champion.  Katie continued her academic and swimming career at Penn State University where she was named an Academic All-American, Named to the Dean’s list 6 times, All Big Ten Conference Swimmer, NCAA All-American Swimmer and three time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Athlete.

Dave Sanford, a 2004 graduate of Central Columbia High School, participated in Cross Country and Track and Field for four years where he was a team captain for both sports during his senior year. Dave was a valuable member of the 2002 Boys District IV Championship Track and Field Team. During his cross country career, Dave was a league and district medalist in 2003. His Track and Field career was also a success, in 2004 he was a league and district medalist in the 800 and 1600 meter runs.  He also competed in the PIAA State Championship meet finishing 5th in the 1600 meter run and set a school record of 4:20 during that race. Dave was also the top team point scorer in 2004, second fastest time in the 800 meter run and third fastest time in the 3200 meter run in Central Columbia school history.  In 2003, Dave was named Press Enterprise Cross Country MVP and first team All-Star in Cross Country of the Susquehanna Valley League. In 2004, he was named PIAA District IV Outstanding Male Athlete. In college at Mansfield University, Dave was a four time academic All-American, a three time PSAC All-Star, 800 meter PSAC indoor champion, and national qualifier in the distance medley relay and is the holder of Bloomsburg University’s indoor mile record. Dave completed a two-year mission in Belgium and the Netherlands and is a graduate of Mansfield University with an Elementary Education Degree where he is currently employed by the Cumberland Valley School District as a fourth grade teacher. Dave and his wife Courtney live in the Harrisburg Area.

Dave Stoker graduated in 1991 and participated in two sports - cross country and baseball. In 1991, Dave was the PIAA District IV cross country champion and previous holder of the cross country course record here at Central Columbia.  He finished in 8th place with a time of 14:57 at the PIAA State Cross Country Championships.  Dave was also an ace pitcher on the staff for the 1991 PIAA State Championship Baseball Team.

The Blue Jay Legacy Award is presented to someone who has made a major contribution to the overall Central Columbia Athletic Program, this year’s recipient is Mr. Gerry Devlin.  Gerry began his baseball career at Central Columbia in 1961 where he played shortstop for the late coach Bill Creasy until 1964. Gerry went on to play baseball at Bloomsburg University from 1965 to 1968 where he earned his degrees in Elementary Education and Geography. He returned to Central Columbia in 1968 and began his 35 year teaching and coaching career.  He coached as the assistant with the late Don Engle for 28 years and head coached for 7 years.  During his time, they captured 20 league titles, 12 district titles and one state championship.  Gerry and his wife Jean have a son Kyle, Daughter-In-Law Alicia and have two grandchildren Wyatt and Londyn.

Members of this team were Scott Cole, Tom Church, Tim Karas, Stephen Kriner, Lee Slovick, Rick Shellenberger, Rick Faux, Jeff Brunozzi, Rickie Knorr, Jeff Parcell, Doug Carrathers, John Grabert, Doug Davis, Arley Thrush, Emil Novak, Tony Hirnelsen, Eric Smith, Doug Miller, Mark Campbell, Kelley Young, Greg Sims, Joel Novak, Chris Bankus, Warren Boyer, Ken Musser, Doug Hess-Manager, Tony Creveling, Robert Sweppenheiser, Kevin Knouse, Ken Lorow and Mark Decker.  The 1980 Baseball Team was coached by Head Coach the late Don Engle and his assistant Gerry Devlin.  This team captured numerous championships such as the 1980 Columbia County League Title, District IV and Mid-Penn League Titles.  This team ended their season with a record of 29 wins and only 3 losses with a 4th place finish in the PIAA State Tournament.  This team was comprised of many multiple sport athletes that excelled at each sport they participated in here at Central Columbia.

The following girls comprised the state winning relay team and represented Central Columbia at the District IV and PIAA State Swim Meets.  Katie Saloky, Katie Madden, Beth Grazio and Nicole Brunozzi.  This relay team was a District IV and PIAA State Championship Team earning gold for their efforts as well as aided the entire swim team to a District IV title and a second place overall finish at the state meet in 2012. Their time of 1 minute and 46.89 seconds is a school record for this event as well as held the PIAA State Record for one year. These girls earned All-State honors in swimming, First Team Press Enterprise All-Stars for winter sports, All-American high school swimming honors as well as earning Academic All-American honors while participating in high school swimming.