Two Clinton County Natives Honored at West Branch Valley Sports Hall of Fame Banquet

WILLIAMSPORT – Two familiar Clinton County faces were among those recognized Sunday night at the 2025 West Branch Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame banquet, held at the Genetti Hotel in Williamsport.

Kooch Chu was named co-Volunteer of the Year, while Shawn Kunes was honored as one of the 12 new inductees into the 2025 Hall of Fame class. Ken Sawyer served as the evening’s master of ceremonies.

Chu has volunteered as an umpire for the past 47 years, working both baseball and softball games throughout the region. He has served as Umpire-in-Chief for both Flemington Little League and the Lock Haven Babe Ruth League, and has umpired at Mid-Atlantic Regional tournaments. Chu has also volunteered for 15 years with Special Olympics and sponsors several community awards, including the Kooch Chu Umpire Award (25th year), the Thomas Hardy Memorial Award (in memory of a Little League player who passed away in a car accident), and the Aiden Fowler Award (in honor of a Woolrich Little Leaguer who passed away from cancer). A 1980 Lock Haven High School graduate, Chu was a three-year basketball letterwinner and hit a half-court shot to win the league title his senior year.

Kunes, a 1985 Lock Haven High School graduate, was a standout football player who went on to become a four-year starter at center for Indiana University of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1990. He helped lead IUP to back-to-back national semifinal appearances and the 1990 NCAA Division II national final. Kunes earned All-PSAC West honors three times and was named an ECAC All-Star in 1990. Over his 50-game college career, he helped the Crimson Hawks record 41 victories and capture two PSAC titles (1987, 1990). He was previously inducted into IUP’s Hall of Fame in 2022.

Ron Bowes and Bob Dwyer, both Clinton County residents, currently serve on the Hall of Fame’s board of directors.

A photo of the full 2025 induction class is included.