Catching up with … Shelley Bortz
Shelley Bortz was back at her alma mater last month reliving fond memories from her time playing basketball for Geibel Catholic.
Bortz, one of the Lady Gators’ greatest players, set the school record for points in a single game (49) and a career (1,977), led the WPIAL (boys and girls) in scoring (27.2 ppg) her senior season, grabbed over 1,000 rebounds, helped her team reach the WPIAL championship game twice, was named the WPIAL Class AA Player of the Year and was selected to play in the Roundball Classic after accepting a basketball scholarship to Gannon University.
Her resume was impressive enough to earn her induction into the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame as the class’s top vote-getter in 2021. She joined her dad George Bortz as the two became the first father-daughter duo to be enshrined.
Two of Bortz’ records – her single-game and career scoring marks – have been broken by current Geibel senior Emma Larkin, the latter on Dec. 1.
“I’m honored my 1,977-point record lasted 33 years,” Bortz said. “I worked hard for every one of those points so seeing it stand that long means a lot to me. It takes something special to reach that level and I couldn’t be more excited to see Emma’s name at the top of that list.”
Nowadays you can catch Bortz as an anchor/reporter at KDKA, a job that keeps her on her toes as she tracks down a wide range of stories.
“I really do love what I do,” Bortz said. “As a reporter at KDKA-TV, no two days are the same…and that’s one of the things that keeps me passionate about this job after all these years.
“Some stories are tough, and yes, it can be hard to keep my emotions in check. But I try to turn that emotion into empathy and responsible reporting. People trust me, I talk with them often on the worst day of their lives, and I don’t take that lightly.
“Even with that emotion, the tight deadlines, the quick turnarounds every single day, I honestly wouldn’t trade it. I get to meet so many different people, tell meaningful stories, and hopefully make a positive impact in the same community I grew up in.”
Bortz was happy to be back at her old school as she teamed up with Larkin for a photo shoot that included the cover shot of this season’s Herald-Standard basketball preview.
“When I think about my playing days at Geibel, it brings back a flood of emotion,” Bortz said. “That gym became a second home to me. We worked hard, we pushed each other, and took so much pride putting on that uniform. The wins we shared were proof of that. Those were the glory days.
“Breaking the girls scoring record was one of the greatest and meaningful moments of my basketball career. It truly wasn’t about points; it was about proving to myself that hard work pays off and making the people who believed in me proud. Geibel shaped me not only as an athlete, but as a person, and those memories will stay with me forever.”
Bortz had everything going for her when she entered Gannon but tragedy struck on April 1, 1994 when she, her brother George Bortz IV, his friend Larry Renaldi and her teammate and best friend Kerri Welc were in a car that was struck by another vehicle. According to police reports, the 16-year-old driver ran a stop sign at a high rate of speed. All four in Bortz’ car were hospitalized with serious injuries and Welc would not survive.
Bortz came close to succumbing also, suffering life-threatening injuries that required 24 hours of surgery over the next three days. Her injuries included a shattered pelvis, a broken femur along with a broken collarbone and thumb and broken bones in both forearms, and a ruptured bladder, a torn kidney and a torn colon.
Although she did survive, she was confined to a wheelchair for three months as doctors not only doubted Bortz would ever play basketball again but weren’t even sure she’d ever walk again.
She proved them wrong. Working hard and using her memories of Welc and her love of basketball to push her, she worked tirelessly at her rehabilitation and approximately a year and a half later she was amazingly back on the basketball court.
“My competitiveness as an athlete pushed me through the darkest parts of my recovery,” Bortz recalled. “Basketball taught me discipline, grit, and how to fight through pain, and I leaned on all of that. My competitive fire I had on the court kicked in the moment I was told I might not walk again. I treated rehab like training — every day was a challenge I refused to lose.
“That mindset got me back on my feet and on the hardwood 18 months later. The crash definitely changed the trajectory of my basketball career, but I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished and truly believe that’s something to be celebrated.”
Bortz graduated from Gannon on a full basketball scholarship.
“After college, I launched my journalism career at television stations across the country, working in Nebraska, West Virginia, Ohio, Florida, Missouri, and eventually returning home to Pennsylvania,” Bortz said of her journey. “I also served as the Public Address Announcer for the University of Pittsburgh Women’s Basketball Team for several years.”
In addition to her broadcasting career, Bortz was crowned both Mrs. Pennsylvania and Mrs. Ohio and competed in two national pageants.
Bortz’ love for sports led to a memorable moment involving the Olympics.
“One of the greatest honors of my life came in 2002, when I was selected to carry the Olympic torch for the Salt Lake City Winter Games,” Bortz said. “The 65-day relay passed through 300 towns in 46 states, and NBC stations were asked to nominate employees who inspired others. I was chosen as a torchbearer while working as a reporter and anchor at WTAP-TV in Parkersburg, West Virginia.”
Bortz has related her plight from the horrific car accident to others in hopes it will have a positive effect.
“I’m also the host of ‘Taking the Lead: Ford Driving Skills for Life,’ a high school assembly program I present through KDKA-TV,” Bortz explained. “Sharing my story is deeply personal – it’s a way to keep Kerri’s memory alive while hopefully helping save a life.”
Bortz was recognized by her alma mater for all her accomplishments in 2019.
“I received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Geibel Catholic High School,” she said.
“I’m also a proud mom to my daughter, Sydney, who is now 16.”
Even though she was a superstar at Geibel, Bortz has gone on to become even more successful in life after high school.