Shane Nalepa, a 1999 Malone graduate (Physical Education), was a four-year member of the Pioneer football team. He is also a 1993 graduate of Steubenville High School in Steubenville, Ohio.
Nalepa's arrival to Malone in 1993 coincided with the inaugural year of the Pioneer football program. He won the starting quarterback job in preseason camp and held the signal-caller position throughout his four years in a Pioneer uniform.
From 1993-1996, Nalepa led Malone to a 27-12-2 record and back-to-back Mid-States Football Association Mideast League Titles in 1995 and 1996.
During his junior year, Nalepa guided the Pioneers to a 24-23 win over Geneva College in the opening round of the NAIA Playoffs – the first and only NAIA playoff victory in program history. During the dramatic comeback win against the Golden Tornadoes, Nalepa accounted for two fourth-quarter touchdowns, scoring on a 32-yard run and a 22-yard pass to fullback Dan DeGeorge. Following a Geneva kickoff return for a TD, the junior quarterback then engineered a lengthy scoring drive in the final minute, culminating with a game-winning field goal by Scott Bennington as time expired.
Nalepa was a two-time All-MSFA Second Team selection and ranks among the Top 5 in numerous career passing categories in the Pioneer record book. He is fourth all-time in both career passing yards (5,711) and touchdowns (45), fifth in career completions (351) and passing attempts (712) and third all-time in total offense (6,473 yards).
Nalepa worked as a Mortgage Banker with American Midwest Mortgage. He is married to Karla, a first-grade teacher at Lake High School. The couple resides in Hartville, Ohio with their two sons: Gavin (7) and Beau (5).
In Memoriam
Less than a year after being inducted into the Malone Athletics Hall of Fame, Shane passed away on October 1, 2019 at the age of 44. To read his obituary, which includes a link to support his sons' scholarship fund, please
click here.
