Hall of Fame

Mike Vernillo

  • Class
  • Induction
    2014
  • Sport(s)
    Athlete
Alma Mater: Fort Cherry, 2000 | Sport: Football
 
When Vernillo finished his football career at Fort Cherry High School, there was no running back in WPIAL history who could be like Mike. Vernillo graduated as the WPIAL’s all-time leading rusher with 7,646 yards on 927 carries. His mark stood as the record until Hopewell’s Rushel Shell broke it in 2011. Vernillo wasn’t a big running back, but gained yards in gigantic chunks, earning Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 honors by the time was a sophomore. He burst on the scene as a freshman when he ran for 1,613 yards for coach Jim Garry’s Fort Cherry team. As a sophomore, he gained 424 yards in one game. Vernillo signed with West Virginia University and eventually ended up playing for Slippery Rock University.