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April 2017
Welcome!
Herein are assembled are various records, images, and recollections that I hope can serve as a lasting record of the track & field program Olmsted Falls High School.
I would like to thank the former OFHS track athletes and coaches who have contributed to this effort, including The Alexander Archive (Donald and Rae, Curators), Jeff Chase, Dan Martin, Paula Good Mattei, Trevor Siewnarine, Lee Willett, and Liam Higgins.
A note on records: although most of the marks given here agree with those presently dis- played outside the High School gym, several errors in the official set of records have been noted and corrected. It is hoped this will help to rectify the discrepancies that have arisen.
Additionally, several performances in discontinued events have been retained, as have some hand-timed marks. In relay events, the correct athlete order has been given where- ver possible.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you notice any errors or if I can be of further assistance. And all track & field/cross country alumni (former athletes, coaches, and fans) are welcome to join our Facebook group at https://facebook.com/groups/OF.Track.and.Field.
Sincerely,
Charles Howe OFHS ’76 [email protected]
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TRACK & FIELD RECORDS
Boys – Individual
EVENT ATHLETE MARK YEAR
100 meter Dash Brian Pongallo 11. 03 2011 200 meter Dash (curve) Brian Pongallo 22. 16 2011 200 meter Dash (straight) Howard Burnett 22. 1* 1962 400 meter Dash Rick Radigan 48. 8* 1970 800 meter Run Bryan Blodgett 1:53. 6* 1965 1600 meter Run Rick Bement 4:21. 05 1998 3200 meter Run Kean Lytle 9:38. 7* 1980 110 meter Hurdles (39”) Matt Jurcak 14. 26 2008 300 meter Hurdles (36”) Matt Jurcak 38. 67 2008 Shot Put Guy Decker 56’ 5¾” 1989 Discus Throw Guy Decker 175’ 7” 1989 Pole Vault Matt Stenger 15’ 1” 2010 High Jump Dean Coticchia 7’ 0” 2000 Long Jump Ed Baldado 23’ 0” 1993 Triple Jump Daiton Davis 42’2 ¼” 2017 *conversion factor (0.9942) applied to time achieved on 440 yd. track Discontinued/modified events: 100 yard Dash Jim Burnett 9. 9 1960 Howard Burnett 9. 9 1962 180 yard Hurdles (30”) George Fischer 20. 5 1971 Bill Loepp 20. 5 1976 300 meter Hurdles (30”) Frank Atkins 38. 1 1983 Hand timing 100 meter Dash Adam Harder 10. 8 2009
NOTES 1. The 100 yd. dash records are the equivalent of 10.72 seconds for 100 meters when a conversion factor of 1.083 is applied, and both were run on cinder tracks 2. Both the year (1981) and time (9:39.1) officially listed for Kean Lytle’s 3200 meter record are wrong. As his commemorative plaque correctly notes, Lytle ran 9:42.1 for 2 miles at the 1980 Ohio State Track and Field Championships (both standard and metric distances were used during the 1980 season).
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KYLE LANZER/SUN NEWS Over her junior and senior seasons, Allison Duber lowered Paula Good’s 30-year-old school record of 58.8 seconds in the 400 meters several times, finally to 56.04 at the 2013 SWC championships, a meet record. Duber then went on to place sixth at the 2013 state championships with a time of 56.30.
SUN PHOTO BY KYLE LANZER In 2011, Brian Pongallo took ownership of the boys’ 100 and 200 meter school records with respective marks of 11.03 and 22.16 seconds (fully automatic timing).
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TRACK & FIELD RECORDS
Boys – Relays
EVENT ATHLETES MARK YEAR
4 × 100 meters A. Harder, B. Pongallo, J. Early, R. VanZandt 42. 6 2009
4 × 200 meters A. Harder, B. Pongallo, O. Coughlin, R. VanZandt 1:30. 17 2009
4 × 400 meters C. Eaton, T. Reed, L. Moore, T. Higgins 3:21. 45 1987
4 × 800 meters F. Atkins, E. DeFraine, A. Reed, D.J. Ziehm 7:55. 4 1983
4 × 1600 meters B. Cappabianca, T. Dickinson, R. Henton, R. Bement 18:47. 5 1998
Sprint Medley B. Swanson, M. Miles, B. Meckley, R. Radigan 1:35. 3* 1969 (100-100-200-400)
Distance Medley R. Bement, M. Johnson, J. Weisbarth, T. Dickinson 7:57. 0 1998 (800-400-400-1600)
Distance Medley R. Bement, T. Dickinson, B. Cappabianca, D. Kuzmickas 10:54. 2 1998 (800-400-1200-1600)
Shuttle Hurdle Relay L. Binggeli, B. Loepp, T. Monn, A. Meyer 58. 1** 1976
Shot Put A. Johnson, J. Musa, S. Hulec 148’ 4” 2000
Discus Throw D. Decker, G. White, M. Fetterman 432’ 5” 1979
Pole Vault M. Barr, G. Fischer, G. Franklin 39’ 0” 1971 E. Kelly, K. Jones, M. Gonzalez 39’ 0” 1998
High Jump J. Parsons, D. Trescott, D. Coticchia 18’ 5” 1998
Long Jump H. Burnett, J. Radtke, A. Koehler 63’ 1” 1962
*conversion factor (0.9942) applied to time achieved on 440 yd. track **conversion factor (0.9975) applied to time achieved on 440 yd. track
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1987 OHSAA Boys’ State Championships (Class AA) June 6, 1987
4 x 400 meter relay
1. Dayton Jefferson — 3:21.92 (Richard Price, Bruce Browning, Clifford Clack, Greg Williams)
2. Youngstown Rayen — 3:23.17 (Travis Jones, Darryl Pippin, David Brown, Ervin Sharpe)
3. Olmsted Falls — 3:25.74 (Chris Eaton, Tom Reed, Larry Moore, Tarik Higgins)
4. Painesville Harvey — 3:25.79 (Jessie Spikes, William Cooper, Paul Boyce, Walter Green)
5. Columbus Centennial — 3:26.77 (Greg Hitzhuzen, Troy Johnson, Edmund White, Troy Lopes)
6. Springfield Catholic Central — 3:27.10 (Mike Smith, Tony Shular, Troy Berry, John Woods)
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TRACK & FIELD RECORDS
Girls – Individual
EVENT ATHLETE MARK YEAR
100 meter Dash Abby Jaroscak 12. 33 1998
200 meter Dash (curve) Abby Jaroscak 24. 9 1998
400 meter Dash Allison Duber 56. 04 2013
800 meter Run Angela Inge 2:18. 3 1989
1600 meter Run Michelle Kalikin 4:54. 34 1985
3200 meter Run Kim Haluscsak 10:38. 7 1988
100 meter Hurdles (33”) Danielle Augustin 15. 25 2013
300 meter Hurdles (30”) Chris Wood 45. 97 1988
Shot Put (4 kg) Jackie Griswold 38’ 6¼” 2009
Discus Throw Sue Klembarsky 127’ 0” 1977
Pole Vault Katie Nageotte 13’ 0” 2009
High Jump Jacqueline Mason 5’ 7” 2000
Long Jump Sheri Hladis 18’ 5½” 1975
Triple Jump Mary Piper 34’ ¼” 2014
Discontinued events:
80 yard Hurdles (30”) Sheri Hladis 10. 8 1975
Shot Put (8 lb) Michelle Uhr 42’ 6” 1977
Hand timing:
100 meter Dash Abby Jaroscak 12. 1 1998
100 meter Hurdles (33”) Corissa Thomas 15. 1 1995
NOTE 1. The officially-listed 800 meter record (2:18.9 by Michelle Kalikin in 1985) is incorrect.
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SUN PHOTO BY KYLE LANZER Danielle Augustin placed second at the 2013 Southwest Conference Championships with a time of 15.25 seconds, a performance superior to Corissa Thomas’s hand-timed mark of 15.1 in 1995.
On May 26, 2010, the 4 x 400 relay team of (l-r) Kelsey Snider, Allison Duber, Megan Coughlin, and Dayna Roberts set a record of 3:55.75 at the OHSAA Regional Track and Field Championships in Amherst
One year later, on May 25, 2011, the same team, at the same event, bettered this record by 0.01 seconds, running 3:55.74.
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KYLE LANZER/SUN NEWS
With a jump of 15’ 0”, Matt Stenger placed sixth in the 2010 OHSAA State Champion- ships Division I pole vault in Columbus (above) on June 5. “There’s no tomorrow when you’re a senior,” Stenger said. “You’ve got to leave your legacy.”
Earlier in the same season, on April 17, Stenger set a school record of 15’ 1” compet- ing in the Miele Invitational at Gilmour Academy.
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TRACK & FIELD RECORDS
Girls – Relays
EVENT ATHLETES MARK YEAR 4 × 100 meters D. Roberts, K. Snider, A. Nichols, A. Duber 49. 85 2010 4 × 200 meters D. Roberts, M. Coughlin, K. Snider, A. Duber 1:45. 09 2011 4 × 400 meters D. Roberts, M. Coughlin, K. Snider, A. Duber 3:55. 74 2011 4 × 800 meters L. Moore, M. Kalikin, K. Urry, P. Good 9:26. 6 1983 4 × 1600 meters K. Urry, G. Chubb, L. Bonnell, M. Kalikin 22:33. 4 1982 Sprint Medley F. Klypchak, D. Augustin, K. Ferster, A. Duber 1:50. 4 2013 (100-100-200-400) Distance Medley A. Inge, C. Wood, A. Cumberland, K. Haluscsak 12:58. 6 1988 (800-400-1200-1600) Shuttle Hurdle Relay A Souris, J. Jurcak, K. Stallard, K. Nageotte 1:06. 3 2009 Shot Put (4 kg) B. Martin, K. Grayell, C. Smith 101’ 5” 1980 Discus Throw S. Liptak, A. Hozan, J. Griswold 346’ 0” 2007 Pole Vault K. Nageotte, B. Vedda, S. Radeff 27’ 6” 2009 High Jump S. Klembarsky, I. Bayer, M. Schultz 15’ 4” 1977 Long Jump S. Hladis, I. Bayer, S. Oliver 51’ 1¾” 1977
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The team of (l.–r.) Paula Good, Michelle Kalikan, Laura Moore, and Kathy Urry is shown here after winning the 1983 state championship 4 × 800 meter relay and setting a school record that still stands.
Assistant Coach Don Alexander recounts:
“We weren’t going for time as much as for the win, so we adjusted our order accordingly just for the State Meet; we ran Michelle on the second leg instead of anchor to shock the field and force everyone else to run for second. She was our fastest runner and we knew she would get the baton with the leaders, as Laura Moore, our leadoff runner, always handed off in or near the lead. Laura was a tough kid, a converted 400 meter runner who had no problem handling a fast first lap and then holding her own for another, and she did just as we expected. Then Michelle really tore it up. She gave us an 80 meter lead and the race for first was over.
“Kathy Urry ran third and she was actually our alternate. Laura (Bones) Bonnell broke her collarbone in a handoff mishap at the infamous “Instant Ribbon Relays” the week before. She had her arm in a sling but really wanted to give it a shot anyway. We told her we’d think about it as she had been so solid all year. We took Kathy as an alternate and after much thought decided to pull Laura and put Kathy in. The decision wasn’t made until the night before the race, down in Columbus over dinner. The thinking was that we couldn’t afford to have Laura be in such pain that she couldn’t complete her leg. Kathy ran absolutely scared – so scared she crushed her PR, ran as fast as Laura had been running, and held the 80 meter lead. And when you give Paula Good an 80 meter lead, you can rest assured that in less than 2 and a half minutes your team will own another State Championship. But the story doesn’t end there, as Paula didn’t coast – she brought it home in a Class “AA” State Meet record.
“MVP of the Relay? Laura, who was forced to sit there and watch. That was probably harder to do than it was to run any of the amazing splits run on the relay that day.
“There was never a dull day back then coaching those Lady Bulldogs.”
12 http://rundynamics2.webs.com/OFHStrack1975.pdf
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5abuiF3j38g
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TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
TRACK & FIELD
YEAR LEVEL Boys Girls Conference 1987, 1997 1985, 1995-97 District 1962, 1987, 1997 1975, 1982-88, 1993, 1994 Regional 1987 1988
CROSS COUNTRY
Conference 1997-98 (98-99) 1982-84, 88 (81, 87) District 1998-99 1982, 87, 99 (80, 81, 87) Regional 1997, 1998 1987 State (3rd, 1997) 1980, 1981, 1987
Trevor Siewnarine, 1999
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KIWANIS BULLDOG RELAYS
Meet Records – Boys
EVENT ATHLETE(S) SCHOOL MARK YEAR Shot Put Johnson, Musa, Hulec Olmsted Falls 148’ 4” 2000 Discus Throw Ebersole, Catalano, Pierce Grafton Midview 452’ 7½” 2008 High Jump Bungard, Snider, Rockhold Olmsted Falls 18’ 2” 2007 Long Jump McKinney, Thimke, Traut Elyria Catholic 63’ 11¼” 1985 Pole Vault Botos, Hunkley, Jalowiec LaGrange Keystone 40’ 7” 1991 Triple Jump Daiton Davis Olmsted Falls 42’ 2¼” 2017 Richardson, Brandon, 4 × 200 meter Relay Twinsburg Chamberlin 1:30. 0 1992 Pannel, Lamon Sprint Medley Relay Rieke, Levin, Pongallo, Olmsted Falls 1:35. 9 2011 (100-100-200-400) Binggeli Shuttle Hurdle Relay Fritz, Camel, Estes, Elyria West 58. 0* 1976 (4 × 110 meters, 30”) Woolbright Harder, Pongallo, Early, 4 × 100 meter Relay Olmsted Falls 42. 6 2009 VanZandt House, Mahl, Murphy, 4 × 1600 meter Relay Elyria Catholic 18:36. 6 1975 Kuckucka Stillman, Bement, Ritchie, 4 × 800 meter Relay Olmsted Falls 8:15. 3 1996 Rybicki Garrett, Hoyett, Hudson, 4 × 400 meter Relay Olmsted Falls 3:27. 99 2014 Parlow J.V. Sprint Medley Relay Garcia, Hales, Slack, Lemar Oberlin Firelands 1:40. 0 2007 (100-100-200-400) Distance Medley Relay Pompili, Blasko, Traegner, North Royalton 10:39. 3 2002 (800-400-1200-1600) Biggs 110 meter Hurdles Matt Jurcak Olmsted Falls 14. 2 2008 Gates Mills Gilmour 100 meter Dash Thomas Hallal 10. 6 2008 Academy 1,600 meter Run Brady Jeffers Oberlin Firelands 4:31. 8 2012
*conversion factor (0.9975) applied to time achieved on 440 yd. track
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KIWANIS BULLDOG RELAYS
Meet Records – Girls
EVENT ATHLETE(S) SCHOOL MARK YEAR Shot Put Toth, Allen, Mayer North Royalton 108’ 1” 2006 Discus Throw Liptak, Hozan, Griswold Olmsted Falls 346’ 0” 2007 High Jump Houdek, Bialowas, Fascione North Royalton 16’ 1” 2000 Long Jump Hladis, Bayer, Oliver Olmsted Falls 51’ 1¾” 1977 Denk, Roggeman, Pole Vault North Royalton 31’ 7” 2014 DiFrancisco Triple Jump Nicole Hudec North Royalton 35’ 9½” 2011 Savage, Fenny, Merchant, 4 × 200 meter Relay Orange 1:46. 5 1985 Richards Sprint Medley Relay Kypchak, Augustin, Ferster, Olmsted Falls 1:50. 4 2013 (100-100-200-400) Duber Shuttle Hurdle Relay Hanford, Sevastakis, North Royalton 1:05. 7 2009 (4 × 100 meters, 30”) Albright, Enzell Szabo, Quinones, Walker, 4 × 100 meter Relay North Olmsted 49. 8 2012 Yasenchack Magner, Tomasello, 4 × 1600 meter Relay North Royalton 22:01. 3 2009 Harbart, Lehotsky Harbart, Tomasello, Blasko, 4 × 800 meter Relay North Royalton 9:39. 7 2009 Neczypor Roberts, Duber, Coughlin, 4 × 400 meter Relay Olmsted Falls 3:58. 3 2010 Snider J.V. Sprint Medley Relay Caggiano, Hitts, Giles, North Royalton 1:57. 2 2012 (100-100-200-400) Kukar Distance Medley Relay Albright, Walsh, Simonelli, North Royalton 12:25. 8 2010 (800-400-1200-1600) Herron 100 meter Hurdles Corissa Thomas Olmsted Falls 15. 1 1995 100 meter Dash Nicole Hudec North Royalton 12. 1 2011 1,600 meter Run Hannah Neczypor North Royalton 4:57. 3 2009
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KIWANIS BULLDOG RELAYS
Team Champions 1975-1995
YEAR WINNING SCHOOL (Boys) WINNING SCHOOL (Girls)
1975 Brooklyn Olmsted Falls 1976 Olmsted Falls Olmsted Falls 1977 Olmsted Falls Olmsted Falls 1978 Olmsted Falls Olmsted Falls 1979 Olmsted Falls Olmsted Falls 1980 Elyria Catholic Olmsted Falls 1981 Olmsted Falls Olmsted Falls 1982 Oberlin Firelands Olmsted Falls 1983 Olmsted Falls Olmsted Falls 1984 Olmsted Falls Olmsted Falls 1985 Olmsted Falls Olmsted Falls 1986 Olmsted Falls Olmsted Falls 1987 Olmsted Falls Fairview 1988 Western Reserve Academy Olmsted Falls 1989 Olmsted Falls Parma 1990 Middleburg Heights Midpark Parma Parma Valley Forge (Div. I) Parma (Div. I) 1991 Fairview Park Fairview (Div. II) Fairview Park Fairview (Div. II) North Royalton (Div. I) Middleburg Heights Midpark (Div. I) 1992 Twinsburg Chamberlin (Div. II) Twinsburg Chamberlin (Div. II) North Royalton (Div. I) North Royalton (Div. I) 1993 Olmsted Falls (Div. II) LaGrange Keystone (Div. II) Middleburg Heights Midpark (Div. I) North Royalton (Div. I) 1994 Olmsted Falls (Div. II) Olmsted Falls (Div. II) North Royalton (Div. I) North Royalton (Div. I) 1995 Olmsted Falls (Div. II) Olmsted Falls (Div. II)
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KIWANIS BULLDOG RELAYS
Team Champions 1996-
WINNING SCHOOL WINNING SCHOOL COMBINED YEAR (Boys) (Girls) CHAMPION
1996 Olmsted Falls Olmsted Falls O.F. 1997 Olmsted Falls Olmsted Falls O.F. 1998 Olmsted Falls Olmsted Falls O.F. 1999 North Royalton North Royalton N.R. 2000 Olmsted Falls North Royalton N.R. 2001 North Royalton North Royalton N.R. 2002 North Royalton Olmsted Falls ? 2003 North Royalton North Royalton N.R. 2004 Olmsted Falls North Royalton O.F. 2005 Olmsted Falls North Royalton O.F. 2006 Olmsted Falls North Royalton N.R. 2007 Olmsted Falls North Royalton N.R. 2008 North Royalton North Royalton N.R. 2009 Olmsted Falls North Royalton N.R. 2010 Olmsted Falls North Royalton N.R. 2011 North Royalton North Royalton N.R. 2012 North Royalton North Royalton N.R. 2013 North Royalton North Royalton N.R. 2014 North Royalton North Royalton N.R.
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JOHN SANDERS EARLY BIRD INVITATIONAL
Meet Records – Boys (through 2012)
EVENT ATHLETE(S) SCHOOL MARK YEAR
Shot Put Adam Patterson Benedictine 54’ 8” 2010 Discus Throw Ryan Krystowski Avon 162’ 7” 1998 High Jump Dean Coticchia Olmsted Falls 6’ 9” 1998 Long Jump Adrian Anderson Lutheran East 20’ 9¾” 2009 Pole Vault Matt Stenger Olmsted Falls 14’ 6” 2010 110 meter Hurdles (39”) Mike McClelland Olmsted Falls 14. 4 1999 300 meter Hurdles (36”) Weston Lott Berea 41. 4 2005 Matt Frantz Padua 41. 4 2010 100 meter Dash John Barber Midpark 10. 6 2008
200 meter Dash Aaron Fenzel Midview 22. 3 1997
400 meter Dash Connor McKnight Berea 51. 0 2012
800 meter Run Tim Chippy Midpark 1:59. 7 2008 1,600 meter Run Mike Miller Strongsville 4:32. 6 2012 3,200 meter Run Morgan Elliot General McLane 9:51. 7 2010
4 × 100 meter Relay Harder, Pongallo, Early, VanZandt Olmsted Falls 43. 9 2009
4 × 200 meter Relay Blasinsky, Bober, Pastor, Voight Padua 1:31. 5 2006
4 × 400 meter Relay Garrett, Hoyett, Hudson, Partlow Olmsted Falls 3:27. 99 2014
4 × 800 meter Relay Ritz, McKnight, Tyler, Zupan Berea 8:18. 1 2012
Held the last Saturday in March, this event was founded in 1996 by Jeff Chase and Robert Trapp, then was renamed in 1999 to honor the memory of John Sanders, head track and field coach at OFHS from 1954-86.
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JOHN SANDERS EARLY BIRD INVITATIONAL
Meet Records – Girls (through 2012)
EVENT ATHLETE(S) SCHOOL MARK YEAR
Shot Put Chelsea Smalley Midpark 36’ 10” 2002 Discus Throw Kathy McGraw North Ridgeville 116’ 9” 1998 High Jump Kristina Bolterstein Midpark 5’ 7” 2004 Long Jump Janelle Rothacker Midpark 15’ 10¾” 2005 Pole Vault Katie Nageotte Olmsted Falls 12’ 0” 2009 100 meter Hurdles (33”) Jade Barber Midpark 14. 6 2010 300 meter Hurdles (30”) Val Shymske Midpark 48. 7 2010 100 meter Dash Kaila Barber Midpark 11. 8 2008
200 meter Dash Kaila Barber Midpark 24. 7 2008
400 meter Dash Jade Barber Midpark 57. 5 2009
800 meter Run Kate Ferster Olmsted Falls 2:26. 0 2012 1,600 meter Run Hillary Weismiller General McLane 5:29. 0 2008 Shakita Kubicek Midpark 5:29. 0 2012 3,200 meter Run Katie Durisin Holy Name 12:07. 0 2016
4 × 100 meter Relay Nichols, Snider, Bush, Duber Olmsted Falls 51. 2 2011
4 × 200 meter Relay Curran, Silva, Scott, Yandell Olmsted Falls 1:51. 9 2002 Shymske, Young, Lobas, Pasela Midpark 1:51. 9 2010
4 × 400 meter Relay Shymske, Lobas, Pasela, Barber Midpark 4:07. 0 2010
4 × 800 meter Relay Durisin, Schutte, Kalb, Baker Padua 10:17. 4 2016
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OLMSTED FALLS HIGH SCHOOL
Track & Field/Cross Country Inductees
COACH JOHN SANDERS (1928-1998) was an outstanding athlete at Lakewood High School, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He attended Miami University on an athletic scholarship, where he played football and basketball, later earning a master’s degree in physical education from Case Western Reserve University. He began teaching biology and physical education at Olmsted Falls High School in 1952, and became assistant principal in 1960. He was the head track coach at OFHS for 33 seasons, from 1953-86, during which he became known statewide as a coach, official, and promoter of track and field. He was also an early advocate of women’s participation in sports, and in fact, Olmsted Falls had the first co-ed track team in the area. He was elected to the Lakewood High School Hall of Fame in 1989, and was named to the Ohio Cross Country and Track Coaches Hall of Fame in 1992, at which time he was the oldest active track coach in the state. [Inducted 1999]
COACH JEFF CHASE served Olmsted Falls High School as a guidance counselor, football coach, and track coach for a period of twenty-five years. As assistant, and then head football coach from 1979-88, the Bulldogs consistently led the Southwest Conference in defense, won four Southwestern Conference Championships, and two OHSAA Division II playoff games. As head coach of the women’s track team, Jeff developed consistently successful squads that earned 129 dual meet victories, five SWC championships and placed second fourteen times, seven district titles, several regional titles, and placed second in the state in 1985. Jeff introduced the Southwest Conference Scholar- Athlete Award that is still given today, and with Bob Trapp created the John Sanders Invitational Track Meet. Jeff and his wife Tammy live in Avon Lake, and have a son Chris, who lives in Alabama. [Inducted 2003]
COACH RAE HEISNER ALEXANDER served as girls’ track and cross-country at OFHS from 1978-96, during which her athletes earned “All-Ohio” 82 times. In the 1980s, OFHS distance runners won at least one individual or team state championship every year, including three cross country team titles, a state record- setting 4 × 800 relay, 2 individual 3200 meter titles, 3 individual 1600 titles, and 3 individual cross country titles. During her later years at OFHS she also had success coaching the boys in track, including three “All- Ohio” 4 × 800 relay teams and the 1995 state champion- ship squad. Fifteen of her boys earned “All-Ohio” honors, including a state runner-up at 800 and 1600 meters. While at OFHS Rae was honored twice as OHSAA Coach-of-the-Year, nominated for National Coach-of-the-Year, and was named Coach of the Year by the Sports Media Association of Cleveland Ohio (SMACO). Shown above with son Colby in 2010, she currently resides in Strongsville, Ohio. [Inducted 2007]
21 COACH JOHN WINTERS graduated from Defiance College in 1957. After four years of teaching and coaching in his hometown of Bryan, Ohio, he came to Olmsted Falls in 1961 and remained for 28 years as a math and social studies teacher. John served as an assistant coach for football, basketball (briefly), and track and field. He also kept score for nearly 1,500 boys’ and girls’ basketball games and was selected as the official scorer for the 1988 OHSAA Boys’ State Championship Tournament. It was as field events coach that John truly found his niche, immersing himself in the mechanics of proper technique for each event, then teaching it to the athlete and refining it through repetition. A believer that “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence,” he emphasized the process of improvement over competitive placing, and enjoyed seeing a mediocre athlete achieve a PR as much as winning a championship. Nowhere was this exemplified better than in the case of Bruce Palmer, OFHS ’60, who never scored a point in competition, but achieved his goal of 40’ in the shot put in the last meet of his senior year. More than fifty years on, John could still fondly recall Palmer’s joyful cry of “I did it! I did it!” Even so, his athletes achieved plenty of success at the highest levels of competition:
STATE MEET COMPETITION EVENT Qualifiers Top-8 placings Championships Pole vault 8 5 2* High jump 6 5 2 Shot put 13 6 0 Discus throw 8 7 2 *Includes one win at the now-defunct Ohio Track Classic, a post-season invita- tional competition of top placers at the state meet from each class.
A self-described “stickler” for detail, John provided each athlete with a complete statistical summary of his performance at the end of each season. John’s wife, Caroline, also taught elementary school in the Olmsted Falls system. They have many fond memories of fans, students, and parents. [Inducted 2013]
FRED LOEPP ’54 earned 10 varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball, and track. His football career was highlighted by first-team all-conference and all-district honors, and unanimous selection to the Berea News, Plain Dealer, and Cleveland Press Dream Teams. In 1953 he set school records with 11 touchdowns for the season, and for 5 in a single game, then scored 72 points in his senior season. In basketball, he was sixth man on the 1953 and ’54 West County League and sectional championship teams. On the track, Fred won Knights of Columbus and Suburban II championships, and was a member of OFHS’s 1953 and ’54 West County League and sectional championship teams, as well as the state-qualifying mile relay teams in 1953-54. [Inducted 2013]
BRIAN ROONEY ’55 participated in four varsity sports while in high school: football, basketball, baseball, and track, receiving a total of 12 letters. During his senior year, he was captain of the football and basketball teams and MVP in football. That same year, he also made first team all Southwest Conference in football, baseball, and basketball. In track, he ran in sprints and relays three years at the state meet, winning several medals. He then played football and ran track at Grove City College for a year before transferring to Bowling Green State University and finally to Baldwin-Wallace College for pre-med. He received an osteopathic degree with honors in 1964 from Kansas City College of Osteopathy. He completed a residency in otolaryngology and allergy in 1969. He is presently on staff at St. John-West Shore Hospital. Brian lives in Rocky River with his wife Nancy and is a proud father and grandfather. [Inducted 1999]
BOB REUBLIN ’57 was an outstanding football player and track athlete. In football, he was named to the Plain Dealer Dream Team and was a Cleveland Press Press Star. A four-year state meet qualifier in the shot put, he won the state championship in his senior year and set a school record of 54’7” that stood for more than 30 years. Bob continued his athletic career at Bowling Green State University, where he started at fullback and placed second in the shot put at the Mid-America Conference Championships. Bob went on to a career coaching football at Miami University, Colorado, and Bowling Green. [Inducted 1995]
22 DAVE RENTON ’59 was a three-sport athlete at Olmsted Falls High School, lettering in football, track and basketball, but his most outstanding achievements were in track. He was one of OFHS’s earliest state champions, placing first in both the mile and the half mile at the state meet, after winning the same two events in the district meet as well as coming second in the high jump. Dave continues to run competitively in both 5K and 10K road races; at the Senior Games he has won many events and set several track records. He unselfishly donates his time to various sporting causes, including the Special Olympics and coaching high school runners. He is active in a training group for runners in his home city of Savannah, Georgia, where he lives with his wife, Linda. Dave has two daughters and five grandchildren and works in the aerospace industry. [Inducted 1999]
DOUG HOAG ’60 was an outstanding athlete in football, basketball, and track, earning a total of 8 varsity letters during his career at OFHS. As an offensive tackle, he was named to the 1959 SWC football team following an undefeated season. He earned 3 varsity letters in basketball and was named most improved player in 1957-58. In track, he earned three varsity letters, set school records in 120 yd. high hurdles (15.9, in 1958) and discus (138 ft., 1960), and qualified for the 1958 state meet in the high and low hurdles. Doug attended Fairmont State College, where he played basketball and ran track, and then served as head football coach at St. Mary of the Falls from 1964-66. He was also a member of the OFHS Athletic Boosters, Music Boosters, and Kiwanis Club. He retired from US Airways in 1993 and he and his wife (Kathy Hirsch, OFHS ’60) currently reside in The Villages, Florida. Their three grown children were all OFHS grads. [Inducted 2005]
RON MOLOSKY ’61 was a three-sport athlete at OFHS, earning seven varsity letters in football, wrestling, and track. Ron played defensive cornerback on the undefeated 1959 Bulldog football team, then in his senior year, he rushed for 1,052 yards, a modern school record, in just eight games, and was first in the Southwestern Conference and sixth in the district in scoring. He was honored as all-conference, Cleveland Press All-Star, and also received honorable mention as a National High School Prep All-American by The Sporting News. In wrestling his senior year, he placed second in the SWC championship tournament. In track he qualified for several relay events at the state meet and was part of the winning 880-yard relay (Class A) in 1959-60. In addition, he set a school records in the quarter mile and as a member of the mile relay team at the Cleveland indoor arena. After graduation Ron served in the U.S. Air Force and worked for NASA, retiring after 43 years of service. He currently resides in Berea, Ohio, with his wife Kaye, OFHS ’63, and has two children and two grandchildren. [Inducted 2011]
GEORGE FISCHER ’71 was the most versatile trackman Olmsted Falls has ever produced. His specialty was the pole vault, in which he registered the best jump in school history by a freshman with a leap of 12’0”, then broke the school record as a sophomore. By his senior year he had set a school and Southwest Conference meet record that would last for 27 years with a jump of 14’5”. Twice he was SWC, Sectional, and District champion. At the state meet he placed 8th his junior year and 6th his senior year, then won the Ohio Track Classic, a post-season meet of Ohio H.S. champions from all classes. George set the individual point record in a season, with a total of 219 points from his performances in the pole vault, high jump, long jump, and low hurdles. He was a 3-year letterman and the team’s MVP his senior year. While attending Baldwin-Wallace College, he suffered a career-ending ankle injury his sophomore year. George and his high-school sweetheart, Ellen (nee Richards) ’73, live in Avon, Ohio, and have three children as well as three grandchildren. [Inducted 2011]
SHERI HLADIS HUGHES ’77 enjoyed a stellar career both on the track and in the field. In each of her four years, she was Southwest Conference champion in 80 yd. low hurdles and long jump. In state meet competition, she was third and second in these same two events her sophomore season, third and third her junior year, and was the 1977 state champion in the hurdles. Her school long jump record of 18’5½” has not been seriously challenged since she set it in her sophomore season of 1975, and it stood as the Southwest Conference meet record until 2010. She is currently employed at PPG Industries as a senior lab technician. Sheri and her husband Ralph have two daughters and currently live in North Ridgeville. [Inducted 2001]
23 SUE KLEMBARSKY ROBERTS ’77 may be the most versatile athlete to ever represent Olmsted Falls High School, excelling in volleyball, basketball, and track. She captained the basketball and track teams and was named MVP of both squads. In track, she was a five-time district champion, eight times a state meet qualifier, and a four time state runner-up: three times in the discus throw, once in the shot put. As a sophomore, she qualified for the state meet in four events and placed in three of them (2nd, discus; 4th, shot; 6th, long jump). Sue participated in track at Bowling Green State University and currently teaches physical education for Midview Schools. She and her husband Dave (OFHS ’77) live in Olmsted Falls with their daughters Calli, ’08, and Dayna, ’11, who has a share of three relay records and was a key player on OFHS’s undefeated 2009 state champion volleyball team. [Inducted 1997]
Placings by Olmsted Falls athletes in Class AA State and District Track Meet Competition, 1975-77.
YEAR TOTAL PTS. ATHLETE (CLASS) 1975 1976 1977 (State Meet Competition) District State District State District State
Sue Klembarsky (’77) 2nd, DT 2nd, DT 1st, DT 2nd, DT 1st, DT 2nd, DT 38 1st, SP 4th, SP 1st, SP 2nd, SP 2nd, SP 6th, SP 5th, LJ 6th, LJ 1st, HJ
Shari Hladis (’77) 2nd, LH 3rd, LH 3rd, LH 3rd, LH 1st, LH 1st, LH 36 2nd, LJ 2nd, LJ 1st, LJ 3rd, LJ 2nd, LJ
Isabelle Bayer (’77) 5th, HJ —— —— —— 1st, HJ 1st, HJ 10
Michelle Uhr (’77) —— —— 4th, SP 6th, SP 1st, SP 5th, SP 3
TOTALS 48 27 40 29 56 31 87
Neal Davis (’76) 5th, PV —— —— —— ——
Andy Meyer (’78) —— —— 4th, HH —— ——
Brad Owen (’78) —— —— 2nd, PV 6th, PV 1
DT – discus throw; SP – shot put; PV – pole vault; LJ – long jump; HJ – high jump; LH – 80 yd. low hurdles; HH – 120 yd. high hurdles.
CAROL MILLER BINGGELI ’80 graduated from OFHS with nine varsity letters in cross country, basketball, and track. In cross country she placed at each state meet and captained the state runner-up team her senior year. In basketball she was on two SWC Championship teams, two sectional championship teams, and one district runner-up. During her track career she was SWC runner-up, two-time SWC champion, sectional champion, and district champion in the mile. She placed fifth in the state with a time of 5:15. In her senior year she led off the two-mile relay team that won sectionals and districts, then finished fourth at state meet. Carol was voted “Most Athletic” for her senior class and was homecoming queen. She has organized a youth football program for the past six years and coaches fast pitch at the high school. Carol and her husband Larry, OFHS ’76, reside in Olmsted Falls with their children Larry Jr., ’00; twins Adam and Alan, ’11, and daughter Jessica, ’13. [Inducted 2009]
DAN MARTIN ’81 played basketball and high jumped on the track team. After breaking the school record his sophomore year with a mark of 6’2”, he went on to win the Southwest Conference, sectional, and district meets his junior year, and was the state champion with a jump of 6’8”. He set meet records in sectionals, districts and the SWC meets. His senior year, he again won the SWC, sectionals, and districts, and once again set records at each meet, then finished fifth in the state. Dan left the school record at 6’10½ ” and received numerous honors over his high school career, including All Sun-West first team, Plain Dealer First Team, and All-American status. He went on to the University of Akron, where he was a two-time team MVP and remains the school record holder with a jump of 7’¼”. Dan currently resides in Strongsville with his wife and three daughters. His youngest daughter, Cassie, as a freshman, recorded a high jump PR of 5’7½”, and placed 6th at the 2013 OHSAA Division I state championships. [Inducted 2001] 24 FRANK ATKINS ’83 excelled as a member of the OFHS track team. At the time of his graduation he was the school record-holder in both hurdles events and as a member of the 4 × 400 meter relay team; his records still stand for most points scored in a career, season (356), and as a 4 × 800 meter relay team member. He was a three-time MVP and represented OFHS at the state meet as a sophomore (300 meter low hurdles) and in his senior year (300 meter low hurdles, 5th place; and 4 × 800 meter relay, 4th place). He graduated from Bowling Green with a BS in Construction Management and currently works in the engineering department of Premier Manufacturing Corporation, and as a fireman in the Cleveland Fire Department. Frank and his wife Sara (nee French, OFHS ’86) live in the Westpark neighborhood of Cleveland with their daughter Emily. [Inducted 2005]
PAULA GOOD MATTEI ’84 lettered for three years on the OFHS varsity basketball team. As captain and co- MVP her senior year, she led the team in points, steals, and assists. She was also named to the Plain Dealer “Dream Team” and was second team all-conference. In her only year running cross country, Paula earned all-conference honors, and her 19:26 personal best set a new senior record. As a 4-year varsity track athlete, her 725 total points made her one of the leading scorers of all time. Her school record of 58.8 for 400 meters stood for 30 years, while her 800 meter split of 2:15 remains unsurpassed to this day! Additionally, she was a school record holder for the 200 meters, 4 × 400 meter relay, and 4 × 800 meter relay. A three-time state meet qualifier, Paula anchored the state champion and record-breaking 4 × 800 meter relay team in 1983. Paula continued her running career at the University of Akron as a 4-year varsity track and cross country athlete. She and her husband Tony live in McKinney, Texas with their two sons, Matthew and Michael, and dog Boomer. [Inducted 2005]
MICHELLE KALIKIN BROOKS ’85 was a key factor in the early success of the Olmsted Falls girls’ track distance events and cross country. She was a four-time MVP in both cross-country and track, and was on the state champion cross country team in 1981. In track, she won two individual state titles, was All-Ohio a total of eleven times, and participated in OFHS’s 1983 state champion and meet record-setting 4 × 800 meter relay team. Michelle was selected a Kinney All-American in cross country and placed fifth in the 1,500 meters at junior nationals. Michelle received a full athletic scholarship to Clemson University, where she was an integral part of the Tigers’ national-caliber cross country and track teams, and graduated summa cum laude in 1989 with a B.A. in early childhood education. Michelle currently resides in Sylvania, Ohio, with her husband and two children. She has returned to running after a long hiatus, and completed the Boston Marathon in 2013. [Inducted 1997]
KIM HALUSCSAK WISE ’88 distinguished herself in both track and cross country during her high school career. In track she earned six Southwest Conference individual titles, eight district titles, and three regional titles, was SWC MVP, and served as team co-captain her senior year. Competing at the state meet for three years, she won the 1600 and 3200 in 1988, when OFHS was runner-up in the team standings. She placed first at the Midwest Meet of Champions – a four-state competition – and set a meet record in the 3200 meters of 10:38.7 which is still among the top performances there, and which remains the school record. In cross country, she was the individual Class AA State Champion in 1986 and 1987 and led OFHS to the team state championship in 1987. Earning an athletic scholarship to the University of Michigan, whose cross-country squad placed 7th at the NCAA Championships her freshman season, she was team captain and a Big Ten Scholar Athlete. Kim lives in Dayton with her husband Eric and works as a mental health therapist. [Inducted 1999]
GUY DECKER ’89 was an outstanding two-sport athlete. On the track team, he was a two-time state discus champion and is the current record holder in both the shot put and discus. During his high school career he was a two-time MVP in track and served as co-captain of both the track and football teams. In his senior year he received All-Ohio recognition at linebacker by the Associated Press and helped lead the Bulldogs to a conference championship. He was also elected all-conference during both his junior and senior years. He received a total of seven letters during his high school career. He was awarded a full scholarship to Kent State University, where he lettered five times in both track and football. Guy earned a degree in finance and currently lives and works in Lawrenceville, Georgia, with his wife Mindy and his son Jack. [Inducted 1999]
25 ABBY JAROSCAK LATRA ’98 started her athletic career at a very young age, participating in gymnastics and soccer, and in middle school began cheerleading while also competing in basketball and track, which she continued (along with soccer) throughout high school in all twelve athletic seasons. Captain for all three sports, she earned nine varsity letters and continues to hold school records for track in the 100 and 200 meter dashes, and as anchor for the 4 × 800 meter relay team. In her sophomore year, Abby was undefeated in the 100 meters, was SWC MVP, and lost only one race in four years over 200 meters. She was Division I district and regional champion in the 100 meter dash, and the first girl in OFHS history to score points at the state level in Division I, where she placed fourth in the 100 meters her senior year. She continued her education at Central Michigan University on a track scholarship and graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a minor in Sports Management. Currently she is a Director of Operations for Quicken Loans and resides in Farmington Hills, Michigan, with her husband Nick, daughter Aubrey, and son William. [Inducted 2011]
JACKIE MASON ’00 competed in soccer, basketball, and track, was elected captain and honored as MVP each sport. In basketball, she led the Bulldogs to three Southwest Conference championships and 35 straight conference wins. Jackie led the SWC in scoring, was conference MVP, first team all-district, and second team All-Ohio in both 1999 and 2000. Currently she ranks first and second in field goal percentage for a season, first in career field goal percentage, and third in career scoring with 1,264 points. In track, Jackie set the present school record for the high jump (5’7”) and was three times conference and district champion in this event, but her prowess did not come easily; initially she had to be fitted with a large foam back pad due to having landed on the bar after numerous missed attempts! She also ran middle distances and relay events on the track, and was the team’s leading scorer with 233 points. Jackie continued her basketball career at Ashland University on a full athletic scholarship, where she set school records for blocked shots and field goal percentage in a season, as well as for rebounds, blocked shots, and field goal percentage in a career. She was the first Ashland player to average double figures in scoring and rebound- ing for a season, and was named AU’s Female Athlete of the year in 2005. Jackie graduated with a degree in early childhood education (3.97 GPA) and now works as a teacher for the Brunswick School District, where she was named Teacher of the Year in 2012. [Inducted 2013]
1980 GIRLS’ STATE CHAMPIONSHIP CROSS COUNTRY TEAM In 1978, first year head coach 1979 OHSAA State Cross Country Runners-Up, Class AA and recent BW graduate, Rae (Heisner) Alexander, recruited six girls who would form the first girls’ cross country team in OFHS history. That season Carol Miller qualified as an individual for the State Champ- ionships and ran well enough to bring home the first cross country All-Ohio honor in school history. The 1979 saw the team start the season with the goal of winning the State Championship, and nearly pulled it off, finishing second.
The 1978 and 1979 teams only fielded 6 girls on the roster. State rules allow 7 girls on a varsity team so when the girls placed 2nd at State in ’79, they Standing: Lisa Dewillie, Erin Owen, Gretchen Chubb, Debbie Lloyd, Coach Rae Heisner. hadn’t even fielded a full team! Kneeling: Allison Chubb, Mary Bartock, Carol Miller. There was no margin for error.
26 In 1980 the squad nearly doubled to 11, and featured a combination of youth and experience. Junior co- captain Gretchen Chubb had been with the team since its inaugural season. Gretchen set the school record that year and would be the team’s #1 runner all season long. Senior co-captain Mary Bartok had also been with the program since its inception. Mary would later graduate as the fastest senior cross country runner in program history. Junior Lisa “Dew” DeWillie 1980 OHSAA State Cross Country Champions, Class AA would make her mark on this historic team, bettering her PR by 58 seconds at the State Meet. Senior Sally Wood, the school record holder for the 400 meter dash, was a rare athlete that could run fast and also long. Anyone remotely close to her within 200 meters of the finish of a cross country race didn’t stand a chance against her kick. Sophomore Debbie Lloyd, in her 2nd year of running cross country for OFHS in this season. By the time she graduated two years later, she had been a varsity member of OFHS cross country teams that placed 2nd, 1st, 1st, and 2nd at the State Championships. Two Fantastic Freshmen rounded out the team. Standing: Coach Rae Heisner, Sally Wood, Lisa DeWillie, Lisa Moore, Debbie Lloyd, Laura Lisa Moore was one of the most Bonnell. Kneeling: Mary Bartock, Gretchen Chubb. promising ninth-graders in the Greater Cleveland area. She typified what it took to excel in the grueling sport of cross country that fall: despite a painful muscle strain in her leg heading into the State Meet, Lisa still managed to run her fastest time of the year by 50 seconds that day. She finished as our #4 scorer. Had she decided not to run or dropped out due to her injury, we would have finished second that day. Laura “Bones” Bonnell would prove to be a pleasant surprise as she stepped in to make a huge impact immediately. She wound up #2 runner on the squad, made All-SWC, and was one of Ohio’s fastest freshmen. To this day, Laura is still the 4th fastest female cross country runner in OFHS history.
The season began modestly, with 3rd, 6th, and 3rd place finishes in early-season invitationals, but the Lady Bulldogs “found their stride” by mid-season and never finished worse than second the rest of the way. After runner-up finishes at the Lorain Classic and the SWC Championships, they captured the Sectional title handily over Elyria Catholic.
The following week at the District Championships, the Lady Bulldogs faced the defending State Champion, #1 state-ranked Chardon Hilltoppers, who threw a wrench into our hopes and dreams for a State Championship by winning, 65-80. The silver lining, though, was that earlier in the year Chardon had beaten the Bulldogs by 38 points. We now had only one week left to shave another 16 points off that deficit.
One week later at the Ohio State North Campus Athletic Facility, seven young ladies from Olmsted Falls High School accomplished something no boys or girls’ athletic team in the long and proud history of Olmsted Falls High School had ever done. Gretchen Chubb, Laura Bonnell, Mary Bartok, Lisa Moore, Lisa DeWillie, Debbie Lloyd, and Sally Wood brought home the first OHSAA State Championship trophy in school history. The win was never in question. Right from the gun the team ran with amazing power, poise and grace. It was their moment to shine and they were not to be denied as all seven girls ran seasonal best times. They had turned the tables on #1 ranked Chardon and defeated them by a resounding 29 points. [Inducted 2015]
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