Upper Moreland Welcomes Back Five Former Star Athletes

(UMHS) was shining brighter than ever as five former star athletes were welcomed back to their alma mater for the UMHS Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

On the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 18, the Athletic department, in conjunction with the Upper Moreland Booster Club, inducted:

• Dr. Cynthia Breyer
• Michael Desmond
• Christine Wuchter Dunleavy
• Michael Richino
• Todd Kochersperger

into the Upper Moreland High School Athletic Hall of Fame, which took place at the high school. Inductees ranged from Class of 1959 to  1994.

Dr. Cynthia Breyer - 1994

During her four years at Upper Moreland, Breyer excelled at three sports. She  collected 10 varsity letters, one state championship, national all American recognition, first team all league, during her junior and senior year; and was selected to take part on the field hockey national team.

While her time at Upper Moreland came to an end in the spring of 1994, she continued to achieve excellence as she attended Duke University, where she received a full athletic field-hockey scholarship. Breyer was voted division 1 south region All American and first team all-ACC.

Breyer also continued to re-write history and break the record book, as she has the second, all-time leading assist record in a single season. 

Breyer was not only a great athlete but a great student as she earned her doctorate in physical therapy at Arcadia. She finished in the top 10 percent of her class.

During the induction ceremony, Breyer was introduced by her former
coach and teacher Pam Remmey, whom Breyer credits as her motivation as a coach on and off the field.

Breyer said, during the event, that she was extremely surprised and humbled to receive the phone call about the induction ceremony.  

Michael Desmond- 1977

Michael Desmond was a two-sport athlete during his time at Upper Moreand (football, track). Although both sports take place at the same stadium,
Desmond found himself exceeding more on the track surrounding the football field, than on the field itself.

During his Junior year, Desmond had earned the title state champion. He said it was a title he worked very hard for. During the Jan. 18 ceremony, Desmond told the audience, during track practices, Coach Heinz would give him an index card with the day’s work out written on it. He said coach Heinz would always say to him “On your own, on your honor.”

This is a saying that Desmond carried with him his entire life. Desmond would eventually make his way back to the state championship during his senior year, taking first in the 120 yard hurdles.

In 1977 Desmond was selected to the first team All-League and became
Upper Moreland High School track's Most Valuable Player.

When his time at Upper Moreland expired, he was just getting warmed up. He took his cleats to the University of Florida and continued to excel as he earned a varsity letter in track.

Desmond was presented by former Coach John Heinz.

"Michael was one of the greatest athletes and people I have ever coached in my 42 years at Upper Moreland," Heinz said.

It seems as if Desmond and Heinz had a fond relationship, as Heinz presented Desmond with a picture of Desmond at practice during winter track in 1977.

Even though Desmond's high school days are long behind him, he credits Upper Moreland for giving him his foundation that continued through his education and set him up for life. Desmond is currently an employee at IBM Corporation, where he has been for the last 24 years. He resides in Franklin, Tenn.

Christine Wuchter Dunleavy - 1989

Christine Wuchter Dunleavy graduated from Upper Moreland in
1989. During her four years, she was a two-sport athlete (Field hockey,
Track). Now, what makes Wuchter Dunleavy a special athlete is she did not start
playing field hockey until her sophomore year at Upper Moreland.

Her talent didn’t go unnoticed for long, as she immediately started her career on varsity for the Golden bears. Wuchter Dunleavy was fast to achieve excellence as she was named first team all league; she was a member of the Key Stone field hockey team, where she was one of 19 players.

On top of that she was one of two players selected to take part in the Olympic developmental for college field hockey players her junior year at Upper Moreland.

Wuchter Dunleavy had many expectations leading into her senior year and she did not disappoint, as she led Suburban One in scoring, and was named to the first team all league.

She also became the first player in Upper Moreland history to be named National All-American. Wuchter Dunleavy was just 1 of 30 players selected in the nation for this honor.

During the Jan. 18 ceremony, Dunleavy said, over-and-over, how, “Truly blessed she was on the field and off.”

After her days at Upper Moreland, she continued to play field hockey at West Chester University where in 1992 and 1994, she was named to the United States National team. Wuchter Dunleavy eventually graduated from
West Chester University with a Bachelor's in Psychology and also received her
master’s in counseling psychology from Immaculate University where she is
currently enrolled in their doctorate program.

She currently resides in West Chester.  

Michael Richino-1959

Michael Richino was a three-sport athlete during his years as Upper Moreland (football, basketball, baseball). He collected eight Varsity letters.

During his Junior and Senior year, Richino was named all-Bux Mont team as well as most valuable player while earning both all state and all American honorable mention.

During Richino's senior year, he was voted most outstanding football player by the Delaware Valley Football Association. But, as Richino pointed out during his acceptance speech on Wednesday evening, “You are nothing without your teammates”

During the winter months Richinio would be on the basketball team until
the spring where he would play baseball.

It was while playing baseball that Richino was selected to the All Bux –Mont team during his Junior and Senior year. Richino would go on
to play college ball at Temple University before transferring to Lock Haven, where he continued to play three sports of football, baseball and wrestling.

Richino would go on to coach for more than 3 decades in the Centennial School
District. Richino currently resides in Warrington.

Todd Kochersperger-1993

Todd Kochersperger was member of the class of 1993 and one
of the last three sport athletes in Upper Moreland who collected 10 varsity
letters.

Kochersperger began to exceed through basketball as a four-year starter, earning first team all league and all-area first team honors three out of four years.

Kochersperger just doesn’t lead the school in most all time leading points at 1570, but also steals, assists, foul shooting, and three point field goals and three point field goals.

Kochersperger was presented by former coach and current athletic director Richard Gould who said, "Todd would give you 100 percent."

In the spring, Kochersperger could be found on the baseball diamond where his senior year batted an impressive .574. That same year, he was voted Co-MVP of the suburban one freedom Division.

After graduation Kochersperger received a basketball and baseball scholarship
to attend Philadelphia University to play under hall of fame coach Herb Magee
and baseball coach Don Flynn and Mike Feite a former Upper Moreland coach.

At the Jan. 18 induction ceremony, Kochersperger left the audience with an inspirational words of advice.

"Be the best person you can be," he said.

Kochersperger currently resides in Plymouth Meeting as a middle
school teacher in the Colonial School District.

After some closing remarks from UMHS principal Joy Perisho, friends and families in attendence were welcomed to congratulate the new inductees.

The ceremony was followed by some light refreshments. The newest inductees were honored at the Jan. 18 wrestling match vs. Wissahickon.