Mark Vottero
- Post by: mcalibrary
- January 12, 2024
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INDUCTEE
Mark Vottero’s distinguished athletic career will finally be recognized with his induction into the Ed Romance Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Mark is most remembered for his contributions to the 1991 District XI Boys Basketball Championship team. It was the first of only two in MCA basketball history, both guided by Head Coach John McKay. Mark, along with gentle giant Chris McCarthy, led the Tornadoes to the 41-36 victory over Northwestern Lehigh in the championship game at Martz Hall. With the Tornadoes up by one with 18 seconds left, Vottero grabbed an errant Tiger shot and calmly sank four free throw in the final 16 seconds to seal the win and the championship. Mark also helped the Tornadoes to their first-ever win over Lourdes Regional by a 68-55 score in the season’s opener. Vottero ended the year with 406 points, 129 assists and 44 steals.
He led the 1992 team averaging over 16 points per game and would become the Tornadoes 7th 1000 point scorer, ending with 1096. Even though he was a prolific scorer, Mark was named MCA’s top defensive player in 1989 and 1990. His 1989 and 1990 teams were also District XI Silver and Bronze Medal Teams. He was named to the Knights of Columbus all Tournament Team, the Press Enterprise all star team, and the 1991 and 1992 Reading Eagle All Anthracite Team.
Vottero also excelled on the track at MCA winning 9 Distinct XI medals, including 5 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze. In 1991, Vottero won three gold at the District XI meet in the 100, 200 and 400 meter dashes. He followed that up with a PIAA 6th place medal in the 400 meter dash. That followed his 5th place medal in the state meet in 1990 in the 200 meter dash. He was undefeated in the 100, 200 and 400 in dual meets in the 1990 and 1991 seasons. He owned Regional bests of 11.0 in the 100, 22.7 in the 200 and 50.04 in the 400.Mark is one of only 5 MCA athletes to earn state medals in two different sprint events and one of only 9 to win a PIAA sprint medal.
Mark then attended Albright College where he was a Middle Atlantic Conference qualifier in the 100M and 200M in 1993 and 1994 and still holds the 100M record at 10.9. He then transferred to Susquehanna University where he continued his outstanding track career. He won a MAC Championship in the 4 x 100M in 1995 and was a silver medalist in the 100M. In 1996, he added 4 x 100M and 4 x 400M MAC Championships to go along with 100M and 200M Silver Medals. He ran the 4th fastest 100M time in SU history and the 5th fastest 200M time at SU and both times continue to rank in the Crusaders Top Ten List.
Mark graduated from Susquehanna with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences in 1996. He is currently employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in Harrisburg where he is the Recycling Grants Coordinator. He is currently the Susquehanna Township School District’s Boys and Girls Sprint Coach. He also coaches various levels of basketball and track and field for the Palmyra Area Park and Recreation Commission.
Mark currently resides in Annville, PA with his wife Colleen and their three sons, Markus, Luke and Jake.