Wolfpack Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From Wilkes-Barre Area High School

Sports run deep in Wilkes-Barre, and Wilkes-Barre Area High School (formerly James M. Coughlin High School, G. A. R. Memorial Junior/Senior High School and Elmer L. Meyers Junior/Senior High School) has long been at the heart of it. It’s no surprise some standout talent once wore the Wolfpack uniform. Today we're celebrating five unforgettable athletes from Wilkes-Barre’s high schools who made a name for themselves well beyond the hometown field.

Maurice Peoples – Olympic Sprinter With Record-Breaking Speed

A two-time U.S. Olympian and world-class 400-meter specialist, Maurice Peoples began his ascent at GAR Memorial High School, where he won state titles in the triple jump and set a Pennsylvania record that stood for 19 years. He went on to win NCAA and AAU national championships at Arizona State and earned a place on multiple U.S. national teams throughout the 1970s. Peoples still holds the world’s fastest 400-meter relay split (43.11). (Sources: Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame, Citizens Voice)

Ron Solt – NFL Pro Bowl Lineman

A standout lineman from Coughlin High School, Ron Solt was drafted in the first round of the 1984 NFL Draft after an All-American career at the University of Maryland. Solt played nearly a decade in the NFL, suiting up for the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles, and earned Pro Bowl honors in 1987. Known for his powerful blocking and gritty play, Solt was one of the top offensive guards of his era. (Sources: Pro Football Reference, NFL.com)

Rebecca Mack McGraw – Distance Running Trailblazer

Rebecca “Becky” McGraw was a pioneer for girls’ cross country and track at GAR Memorial, winning three state titles and setting a course record at the 1995 PIAA Cross Country Championship. She later competed at the University of Maryland and became a fixture in the running community, coaching youth programs and directing races in Virginia. A Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame inductee, McGraw continues to inspire a new generation of runners with her coaching and advocacy. (Source: Happenings Magazine)

Bruce Kozerski – NFL Center & Hall Of Famer

Known for his toughness and intelligence, Bruce Kozerski starred at Coughlin High School before playing 12 seasons as a center for the Cincinnati Bengals. A physics major from Holy Cross, Kozerski was a three-time Pro Bowl alternate and later transitioned into coaching, leading Holy Cross High School in Kentucky to a state title. He was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017 and remains a respected educator and mentor. (Sources: WNEP)

Ashlee Ward – NCAA High Jump Champion and Record Holder

Ashlee Ward made history at Meyers High School as a high jump and discus phenom, winning multiple district titles and setting school records. At Misericordia University, she became a two-time NCAA Division III high jump champion and set several Middle Atlantic Conference records. She is an inductee of the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame (2021) and Misericordia Athletic Hall of Fame (2025). (Source: Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame)

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