Pleasant Valley High School volleyball coach John Gesiskie was recently inducted into the Wayne Area Sports Hall of Fame during a ceremony on Oct. 25.

Gesiskie was a standout basketball player during his high school days at Western Wayne High School, playing three years of varsity ball.He went on to play basketball at Division I Western Kentucky University. After an injury brought an early end to his basketball career, Gesiskie transferred to East Stroudsburg University to play Division I volleyball. At ESU, Gesiskie led his teams to third place finishes in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association during both his junior and senior seasons. He captained the ESU team during his senior season in 1981.With his playing career over, Gesiskie joined the coaching ranks.He began his coaching career by enjoying successful stints with East Stroudsburg University, the Royal Saudi Air Force team, and the Bradywine Heights High School boys team.For the past 20 years, Gesiskie has coached the Pleasant Valley girls team, compiling an impressive 388-197 record as the only coach the program has even known. During his tenure, the Bears won nine Mountain Valley Conference championships. They have qualified for the District 11 playoffs 15 times, twice earning third place finishes. In addition, Gesiskie has coached nine league MVPs, over 20 all-conference players, 15 District 11 All-Stars, and two All-State players.Among the outstanding players that have passed through the Bears' program during his tenure have been his three daughters Nikki, Jamie and Jackie. Nikki, a 2003 Pleasant Valley grad, was part of the Bears first championship team in 2002. Jamie, who graduated in '05, played on three championship teams in her career. Jackie, a 2007 PV grad, played on four MVC title teams during her years with the Bears.That hasn't been the only Gesiskie family connection with Pleasant Valley volleyball, however, as John's wife Kathleen has been his assistant during his entire coaching career with the Bears.Gesiskie is a health and physical education teacher in the Pleasant Valley School District and currently resides in Effort, Pa.