BASKETBALL FOUNDATION Awards Banquet and Hall of Fame Induction

Sunday, April 3rd 2016

OFFICIAL PROGRAM 2 — ACBF Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 Ashtabula County Basketball Foundation 2016 Awards Dinner Sunday, April 3, 2016 Conneuat Human Resources Center Program Board of Directors National Anthem The Late, Great Karl Pearson Brad Ellis President Al Goodwin Director Invocation Rev. Robert M. Lanterman Melody Nowakowski Vince President Becky Olmstead Director John Higgins Secretary Dawn Zappitelli Director Welcoming Remarks Brad Ellis, Foundation President Michael Bartone Exc. Administrator Ed Armstrong Director Banquet Dinner Phil’s Catering Phil Garcia Charter Director Andy Juhola Director Chris Larick Director Ralph Turk Director Introduction of All-County First Teams Chris Larick Doug Hladek Director Tim Mizer Director Introduction of Coaches Bob Hitchcock Director and Foundation Nominees Andy Juhola ACBF HOF Inductees Dave Miller Trustees Presentation of Awards Michael Joslin Nicholas Iarocci Edward Jones/David Flaut Scholarship David Flautt ACBF Coaches’/Referees’ Ashtabula County Coaches Appreciation Scholarship Dawn Zappitelli School Girls Boys ACBF Oficials’ Appreciation Award Phil Garcia Edgewood Paul Stofan John Bolwer Conneaut Tony Pasanen Tim Tallbacka ACBF Coach of the Year (Girls) John Higgins Geneva Nancy Barbo Brad Ellis ACBF Coach of the Year (Boys) Melody Nowakowski Lakeside William Osborne Jim Hood ACBF Player of the Year (Girls) Doug Hladek Grand Valley Kim Triskett Justin Turk ACBF Player of the Year (Boys) Bob Hitchcock Jefferson Steve Locy Steve French Pymatuning Valley Jeff Compan Ryan Schontz Closing Remarks Brad Ellis St. John Nick Iarocci Jon Hall Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 ACBF — 3 ABCF HOF Class of 2016 Pete Candela Page 4 Terrance Hanna Page 8 Brad McNeilly-Anta Page 12

Kenneth Green Page 5 Jemal Harris Page 9 Lou Pavolino Page 13

Boyd Grifith Page 6 Kelly Kapferer Kruse Page 10 Kay Ann Fails Rufin Page 14

Sam Hands Page 7 Lori Korver Page 11 Al Runyan Page 15 ABCF HOF Inductees

Class of 2015 Tiffany Leonard Carl McIlwain Leo Mucci Deora Marsh Al Goodwin Chuck Stevens Tammy Busser Randy Linsted Dan Craft Krystal Henson Angela Miller Marianne Meola Jim Landis Gary Kreilach Don Cannell Richard Scribben Chris Fitting Doug Hitchcock Jennifer Johnston Hiram Safford Kelly Emerine Class of 2010 Denny Berrier Steve McHugh Roberta Cevera Harry Fails John Kampf Bill Kaydo Jim Gilbert Steve Hanek Jim Osborne Heidi Litwiler Chris Larick Kim Triskett John Coleman Melody Holt Kiki McNair Bob Naylor John Higgins Tom Naylor Fred Scruggs David Benton E.J. Kinleyside Shellie Crandall Charles Hirshey Dana Schulte Ron Silvieus Jimmy Henson Mickey Zigmund Phil Miller John Wheelock Class of 2007 Class of 2004 Bob Spencer Dave Tirabasso Carl Stokes Russell Bethel Donna Gregg Bob Fenton Jim Hood Ange Candela Andrew Isco Kelly Easton Zirzow Class of 2012 Ernie Pasqualone Maurice McDonald Dale Arkenburg Tom Henson Chuck Naso Anita Tersigni Gordon Hitchcock Lyle Pepin Class of 2009 Fred Hirsimaki Traci Hozian Matt Zappitelli Andy Juhola Class of 2014 Brad Ellis Charles Watson Kelly Henson Kelly Johnson Paul Freeman Jim Dolan Jim Dodd Anita Jurcenko Jim Adams Jon Freeman Lori Belconis Eugene Miller Scott Humphrey Larry Lattimer Don Marsh Tom Hill Frank Roskovics Bob Walters Eddie Kropf Mike Blauman Jerry Puffer Jon Hall Billy Johnson Bill Brainard Robert Puffer Pat Sheldon Sue Pokelsek Clyde Koski Sean Freeman Dave Sillanpaa Jeff Puffer Marthella Spinneweber Tom Ritari Class of 2006 Class of 2003 Tim Bowler Laura Silvieus Jim Chiacchiero Steve Oman Jim Bradley Bob Miller Jay McHugh Harvey Hunt Bill Koval Ed Batanian Jim Welty Jr. Jim Welty Sr. Dutch Cotton Randy Knowles Bruno Mallone Dan Foster Tonya Tallbacka Al Bailey Jon Hall, Sr. Ray Harriman Heidi French Class of 2011 Ken Smith Karl Pearson Ronnie Hanson Kelly Boggs Dave Golen Nadine Cox Chris Hammon Jeff Cicon Class of 2008 Di Anthony Jim Cordell Diane Davis Flo Carey Phil Garcia Larry Cumpston Tim Richards Tammy Hagstrom Ed Armstrong Ray Peet Beth Helfer Gene Gephart Class of 2013 Bill Brosky Joe Rich Trixie Wolf Ron Richards Class of 2005 Bob Hitchcock Andy Garcia Al Schubert Dick Hill Norm Urcheck Kim Hitchcock Joe Shantz Adam Holman Henry Garvey Frank Zeman Bob Ball ACBF Player of the Year Nominees Conneaut Geneva Jefferson PV

Justin Myers Jessica Thompson Seth Calhoun Lindsey Mayle Sam Hitchcock Emily Smock Morgan Babic Madison Hurst Edgewood GV Lakeside St. John

Marcus Ernst Ashley Evans Matt Larned Abby Triskett Reggie Bryant Alycia Figueroa Tony Massucci Madyson Paradie 4 — ACBF Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 Candela part of “Kardiac Heralds”

BY CHRIS LARICK was not too much older than [email protected] us, probably in his mid-20s or so. Though the Cleveland “He taught us a lot, in- Browns of 1980 became cluding the fundamentals known as the “Kardiac Kids” of the game. The practices for their penchant of win- were intense, but I enjoyed ning or losing heart-wrench- the game so much it didn’t ing games, Pete Candela matter to me. thinks that term could just “On offense, if we got the as well to his St. John Her- ball we liked to run. In the alds basketball teams. last few minutes of a game, “We ended up my junior if we were ahead, he liked to and senior years at about put the ball in a deep freeze .500,” Candela, a 1976 St. (stall). Sometimes it worked, John graduate, said. “We sometimes it backired. were in every game and won Some people didn’t like it.” or lost by three points or “We had exciting games,” less.” Candela said. “When I was a To Candela that was a sophomore, we won our irst pretty good accomplishment Class A sectional. We beat since St. John, which had a Harbor when I was a junior total enrollment of between and as a senior, we beat 400 and 500 students, was Geneva.” so much smaller than its Candela was voted MVP of Northeastern Conference the team and was an All-NEC rivals. and All-Ashtabula County “We played against SUBMITTED PHOTO selection. He is proud that Ashtabula and Harbor, which St. John’s Pette Candela rises up for a shot during his time with the Heralds. his parents and two sisters had players like Osborne, were at all of his games. Bradley and Henton, much system, along with football Bill Boroski, Jack Manyo and playing guard as a junior and After he graduated from St. bigger schools than us, and in grades six through eight. Steve Abraham. senior. John, Candela was encour- hung with all those team,” he In basketball, he began as Between his sophomore “I handled the ball, but aged by his father to attend said. a guard, since he was a good and junior years Candela had against a lot of teams (Ber- Ohio Northern in Ada, Ohio. Candela got his start in ball handler. a growth spurt. By the time it rier) said ‘Get rebounds,’” But, that summer, Candela baskeball in the ifth and “I was smaller at the time,” was over, he was 6-4. Candela said. “I could play went to the unemployment sixth grade, when a group he said. Candela recalls attending defense, too. I guarded the ofice and found a job for of coaches that included Al Candela spent his ninth- summer basketball camps best player on the other the Conrail Railroad as a Goodwin, organized a team grade year on the St. John sponsored by NBA star Pete team. A lot of people didn’t brakeman. Conrail sent him of St. Joseph players to com- freshman team, then moved Maravich at California Col- want to play defense, were to Pittsburgh for a week of pete against squads from up to the junior varsity to lege in Indiana with several offensive-minded. I loved it. training. He went back to parochial schools like Mount start his sophomore season. other St. John players. I’d go to practice, go back work on the railroad, but Carmel, Mother of Sorrows, “A few games into the “Our parents would drop home and then go back to labored there just two days Assumption and Cabrini. season, coach Denny Berrier us off,” he said. “All we did the ‘Y’ and play for the rest before he was allowed a “Billy Johnston, the sher- moved me up to the varsity,” was play basketball. We’d of the night.” leave of absence to go to iff, and Ken Petrocello, were Candela recalls. “I could pass play games at night from Among Candela’s team- Ohio Northern. coaches too,” Candela said. the ball well. I didn’t do a lot Monday to Friday. We got mates were Doug Tulino, There, he played on the “They all took turns.” of scoring.” a lot of basketball in in the Tom Meola and Lenny Vol- junior varsity team. In addition to basketball, The scoring load for the summer.” pone. “Their offense was very Candela also played baseball Heralds of that year was Despite his newfound Of Berrier, his coach, Can- in Ashtabula’s Little League taken on by the seniors — height, Candela continued dela said, “I liked him. He SEE CANDELLA, 16 Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 ACBF — 5 Green got in on the ground loor at GV

BY CHRIS LARICK junior, scoring 24 points a [email protected] game. “Bob Yeager and I were Kenneth Green was the co-captains,” Green said. captain or co-captain of “He still lives in Orwell and three athletic teams when is still one of my closest he was at Grand Valley as a friends.” senior in 1968-69. Huntington settled in Just a couple of years Akron, while Zakowski now behind Grand Valley stars resides in the Marietta area. like Tom Henson and Ron In Green’s senior year, he, Chutas, Green stood out Yeager, Pizon, Henry Peck in basketball, football and and Tim Henson (Jim and baseball for the Mustangs. Tom’s younger brother) He began his basketball started. Walter Coleman, a career when one of his natural athlete who rushed teachers, Russ Johnson, put for 1,600 yards and 20 together a sixth-grade team touchdowns and was an that played squads from outstanding track athlete, Rome, Windsor and Cole- transferred in and came off brook. the bench. Tim Henson was He moved on to the Grand the same age as Green’s Valley Junior High team younger brother, Russ. where he played with Dan The Mustangs went 10-8 Nick, Bill Huntington, Don SUBMITTED PHOTO in the regular season of Hendershott, Rick Marrko, Grand Valley’s Kenneth Green (right) pictured with fellow co-captain Bob Yeager. Green’s senior year of 1968- Bob Kassay, Dave Fulop, 69. They beat Lutheran East Bill Puffenbarger, Larry freshmen and sophomores tangs’ coach when Green and later became a Hall of in the tournament, but fell Richman, Phil Mason, Glen on the team.” was a sophomore and Fame track coach. Zakowski to Berkshire in the sectional Gladding and Vince Doll. As a sophomore, Green junior. Fred Stetler took was an all-state fullback who inals, according to Green. When he became a fresh- didn’t start, but was the over the head coaching job led the county in scoring In addition to his skill in man, Grand Valley formed irst player off the bench, a when Green was a senior. as a senior with 158 points. basketball, Green was also its irst freshman team ever. guard who was only about Among his teammates then He went on to play at West a star in football and base- “Back then freshmen 5-foot-7 at that time. Chutas, were Bob Yeager, Bill Hun- Virginia under famed coach ball. He played wide receiver couldn’t play varsity bas- then a senior, was the team’s tington, Tom Zakowski and Bobby Bowden. Pizon be- on the Mustangs gridiron ketball,” Green said. “That leading scorer. Keith Steare, Jeff Pizon, then a junior. came a long-time basketball, squad, well enough to make was back in 1965. We had a Gary Gadley and Fred Stuble Huntington, an outstanding football and track coach at all-state honorable mention. 3-3 record. Though it was a also started. track athlete, would go on Geneva. freshman team, there were Bill Young was the Mus- to West Virginia University Green hit his stride as a SEE GREEN, 16

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BY CHRIS LARICK for the Spartans, was injured excellent free-throw shoot- [email protected] during the season, so Grifith er, hitting 84 percent of his was moved into the starting tries. Playing for Greg Ma- lineup. Grifith averaged just un- son-coached Conneaut High “I didn’t play JV even be- der 22 points per game as a School teams in the late fore I was a starter”, he said. senior, after averaging about 1980s and early 1990s was Grifith also played foot- 12.5 as a junior and 11 as a an offensive player’s dream. ball (as a wide receiver and sophomore. After his senior “It was a lot of fun,” said defensive back) and baseball year, he was selected as Play- 1991 Spartan graduate Boyd during his time at Conneaut. er of the Year in the NEC. Grifith, who will be inducted That meant that he, like so In fact, Spartans were into the Ashtabula County many others of his genera- players of the year for ive Basketball’s Hall of Fame on tion, was involved in sports straight years. Matt Zappi- April 3. “Our practices were year-round. telli achieved that honor like a game. “There was no down time,” as a junior and senior and “When we lost Mo Wofford, he said. “We’d go from Wofford succeeded him in we were not a big team, so American Legion baseball his junior and senior years. we played very uptempo. De- with ARC (Ashtabula Rubber Then Grifith completed the fense was discussed, but our Company) to football. I’d put run. style of basketball was to get down my glove and go play “That was kind of neat,” out and run. Our joke was football. Football overlapped Grifith said. that we would get in trouble with basketball.” In football, he played wide for not shooting the ball. Grifith’s basketball team- receiver and defensive back “We’d often score 35 or 36 mates during most of his for coach Jeff Whittaker. points in a quarter. (Mason) time there included Craig “That helped me become had us run suicide sprints Fails, Steve Wahonick and more assertive and aggres- before a game so people Dusty Kaczoroski. sive,” he said. could see what kind of shape “I was probably our tallest His best sport was prob- we were in. Then we’d always player at 6-3,” Grifith said. ably baseball, however. He be fresh to start the game. “There weren’t many taller in pitched and played the out- “There wasn’t a lot of half- the NEC.” ield, batting .395 his senior court basketball; everything A good outside shooter, year. With an excellent eye, was uptempo.” Grifith, along with Fails, he managed to coax 33 walks Using that system, the excelled at three-pointers. He in 20 games. Spartans scored almost at an estimates he had 40-50 suc- “We won the NEC my NBA pace. Three times they cessful threes, behind Fails, senior year (in baseball),” he SUBMITTED PHOTO passed the 100-point mark who had 60 or 70. said. “That was a big deal for Conneaut’s Boyd Grifith (31) defends against Harbor’s Carey in Grifith’s senior year. “Three-pointers were part Conneaut.” Estock during a Conneaut win. Grifith started his basket- of my success,” Grifith said. He also played for Mike ball career in the seventh “I could always go down low Hayes on Ashtabula’s ARC sity. Bowling Green is that he met and eighth grades. Conneaut and play in the post.” team with players like Ge- “Mike Hayes, our American his wife, Sheri there. High School was only grades He also garnered plenty neva’s Brian Anderson, who Legion coach, had played at He began studies in sports 10-12 at the time, so the of points off Mason’s fast would go on to play in the Bowling Green,” Grifith said. management at irst. freshman year was still at break, a necessary element Major Leagues, including “But I broke my ankle in my “I didn’t know what I want- Rowe. As a result, freshmen for a team averaging as a stint with the Cleveland freshman year. That year ed to do,” he said. “I didn’t didn’t play on the JV team; many points as the Spartans Indians. they only wanted pitchers. I do the leg work to have a they were restricted to the did. Grifith probably could was the wrong place at the game plan. If I had to do it freshman squad. “A large part of our scoring have played baseball at the wrong time. But I don’t have over, maybe I’d choose a dif- When Grifith moved up to was our transitional game,” Division III level, but opted any regrets.” ferent school, maybe at the high school as a sophomore, Grifith said. instead to try to walk on at Most of the reason he Wofford, a three-year starter In addition, he was an Bowling Green State Univer- doesn’t regret attending SEE GRIFFITH, 17 Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 ACBF — 7 Hands part of Geneva’s success

BY CHRIS LARICK was the loss to Mentor, in [email protected] which he didn’t play particu- larly well, leaving him feeling It became clear to Sam guilty. Hands when he was a sopho- Another time Hands, Billy more at Spencer High School Coy, Bobby Legg and Jim that basketball, not football, Prill threw an apple through was his chosen sport. Bailey’s front window. Basketball coach Al Bailey “I was afraid he’d ind out told him so. about who did it,” Hands “Al Bailey wouldn’t let said. “That would have been me (play football),” Hands, the end of my basketball one of the 2016 inductees career. But he never did. He into the Ashtabula County was a tough guy.” Basketball Foundation’s Hall Despite Bailey’s high-hand- of Fame, said. “I went to one ed ways, Geneva’s team was practice. The next day Al the better for his presence, came to my home and said, Hands feels. ‘You’re not going to play “He was deinitely an asset football.’ That was the end to Spencer and Geneva. Once of my football career.” he took us to Ohio State Hands would go on to University and we got to become one of the stars on meet Jerry Lucas and Nate the 1961-1962 Geneva team SUBMITTED PHOTO Thurmond.” after Geneva, Spencer and Geneva’s Sam Hands shown with his 1962 Eagle teammates: (from left) Jim Osborne, Dave Tirabas- It didn’t help the situation Austinburg consolidated in so, Hands, Joel Novak, Bill Coy, Bob Legg and coach Al Bailey. in Geneva denizens’ eyes 1961, a controversial move, when Bailey chose his start- at least for the Spencer was so much competition Al Bailey,” Hands said. “He’d even though it was illegal,” ers — Hands, Legg, Dave athletes. for years. It was pretty bad have you run laps until you Hands said. “But it helped Tirabasso and Coy, all from Geneva and Spencer had the irst year.” threw up. The kids got in us a lot, and I really liked Geneva, and one holdover been bitter rivals for years Bailey was chosen over great condition, but he was a playing basketball.” from the former Eagle team, and many people in the com- Geneva coach Jim Ayers to hard taskmaster.” One time Hands didn’t Jim Osborne (Osborne and munities didn’t care for the lead the combined team, a Bailey ran a 12-month-a- want to go to school and Tirabasso are already in the idea of merging. move some people ques- year basketball program, called in sick. Bailey sent ACBF Hall of Fame). Prill, “We loved playing Geneva tioned. The Spencer players contrary to even that day’s him fruit juices and oranges another Spencer player, was (when I was at Spencer),” were used to Bailey’s intense rules. and a message to stay home often the irst person off the Hands said. “There was a lot practices; Geneva’s were not. “I had a summer job, but all week and get well so bench. of animosity and problems “The poor guys at Geneva I still had to go to practices, he’d be ready to play Friday when we consolidated. There had never seen anything like every night and every day, night. As Hands recalls, that SEE HANDS, 17 No Need to Change Your Lifestyle h is Carpet Is For You! Just Change Your Carpeting $23.99 SQ. YD If You Have Kids • Pets • Friends • Family.. Free upgrade to 1/2” padding with carpet, pad & install purchase 1477 Bridge Street • Ashtabula Barter House Design Center 440-964-7770 “Never Undersold By Anybody Anytime” www.facebook.com/barterhouse 8 — ACBF Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 Hanna worked to star at Ashtabula BY CHRIS LARICK guard, even when I got to zone defenses. [email protected] be 6-foot and over. I give During those years (Han- credit to Coach Rich and na graduated in 1984), the Terence Hanna badly Coach Potts. They helped me Northeastern Conference wanted to play on the West become a better ball-handler was a very competitive Junior High School basket- for a big man. When I got to league. ball team in Ashtabula. college, none of the big men “We played so many good How else was he going to knew how to handle the ball. games,” Hanna said. “(My get a chance to become the When I got to Baldwin-Wal- senior year) we wound up next Dr. J? lace I was the only one who playing Madison for the NEC But Hanna had to pass his knew anything except play- championship. The gym was irst obstacle to make the ing down low.” so packed the court was team, a hurdle devised by The West Junior High roped off. I think we wound coaches Joe Rich and Roby team was not a great one up losing to Madison. Potts. (”We won some and we lost “The Harbor game at Har- Hanna, along with the oth- some,” Hanna said), but it bor I think we wound up los- er candidates for a spot on served as a foundation for ing to them, playing against the West team, had to make Hanna’s success in high Raimo Kangas and (Dana) a left-handed layup. school, where he started Schulte. I also remember “No one could make one, with the junior varsity as a playing Conneaut, which had so (Rich and Potts) said if sophomore, but became a the Stage Crew. When you we couldn’t make one by starter (along with his broth- shot free throws, they’d say the next day, our likelihood er Kevin) as a junior. Those anything and everything to of making the team was not teams were coached by Bob you.” very good,” Hanna said. Walters, already in the ACBF Hanna, the son of Jared “After the tryouts I went Hall of Fame as a player and and Goldie Hanna, averaged home. We had a basketball coach. about 20 points a game as hoop outside and I practiced “I had heard things about a senior and wound up as my left-handed layup.” Coach Walters being a good Co-Player of the Year with He passed the test, but coach,” Hanna said, “that he Juhola. does Hanna think Rich and was demanding and made Baldwin-Wallace, where Potts really would have cut sure the players were physi- Walters had starred many him? cally it, so I got myself men- years earlier, sent coach “Some guys didn’t make tally and physically prepared Steve Bankson to recruit the team,” he said. “I know I for that.” Hanna, attending the Pan- SUBMITTED PHOTO made it.” Among other things, Wal- thers’ game at Madison. Han- Ashtabula’s Terence Hanna shown during his playng days with That anecdote points out ters taught Hanna a facet of na considered John Carroll the Panthers. the determination of Han- the game that few players and BW. na, who made a big enough were proicient at, or even “My brother had looked At 6-foot-3 or 6-foot-4 by sparingly. He played a bit splash in the realm of coun- attempted. at John Carroll and Walsh,” that time, Hanna was usually more varsity as a sopho- ty basketball that he will be “He taught me how to use Hanna said. “When I was a positioned in the 3 spot more, before moving onto inducted in the Ashtabula the backboard on outside sophomore we took a trip to (small forward). the starting team as a junior. County Basketball Founda- shots,” Hanna said. “In high John Carroll to visit.” “Our positions were inter- “We had some very good tion’s Hall of Fame on April school and at Baldwin-Wal- When he was a junior, changeable except for the 4 players there,” he said. “I 3 at the Conneaut Human lace I was able to use the Hanna visited Baldwin-Wal- and 5 (power forward and played with Bernard King, Resources Center. backboard. I used it from all lace and fell in love with the center) though,” he said. “I an unbelievable guard and It also serves as a tribute angles, but deinitely from school. played the 1, 2 or 3, handled ball-handler whose skills to Rich’s and Potts’ ability to the side.” A Division III school, the ball more than normal.” were right up there with mold good players. The Panthers were a run- BW could not give athletic He split time between the Pete Maravich’s. He had “I probably played (junior ning team at the time, pres- scholarships, but he did get JV team and varsity as a some problems with alcohol high basketball) at 5-8 or suring the ball and changing an academic scholarship and freshman, dressing for the 5-9,” Hanna said. “I played between man-to-man and some grant money. varsity games but playing SEE HANNA, 18 Prosecutor Nick Iarocci Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 ACBF — 9 Harris helpd lead Harbor

BY CHRIS LARICK When Harris irst came to [email protected] Ohio from Texas, he admits he was less than awed by the When his family moved talent. from Houston, Texas, to “The Houston school was Ashtabula as a freshman in a powerhouse,” he said. high school, Jemal Harris “When I came up here and was shocked at the brand saw the level of competition, of basketball he found in I kind of had a chip on my Ashtabula. shoulder. Coach Isco said “I played six games for I should just play. He gave (then freshman coach Andy) me my irst opportunity. Juhola and saw there was When I was on the JV team, nothing else he could do for Coach (Dan) Craft taught me me,” Harris said. “I wasn’t a thing or two. I don’t have getting any better. Freshman enough to say about Coach basketball was a joke to me. Isco. He is a great man.” My skill set was far superior Harbor’s best team during to anyone else there.” Harris’ tenure there was Harris was soon moved to probably the (1990-1991) the junior varsity team, then squad his sophomore year. to the varsity, coached by That team lost in a district Andrew Isco, on a full-time title game. basis. “Our chemistry was off If Harris was head and until the second half of that shoulders better than the SUBMITTED PHOTO season,” Harris said. “I led freshmen players he left be- Harbor’s Jemal Harris goes up for a layup against Ashtabula during his time with the Mariners. the team in scoring and was hind, he it right in with the irst-team All-NEC and irst- upperclassmen — Ray and involved, playing guard or high school at Harbor, where I saw a game between the team All-County. Willie Han- Bill Isco, Carey Estok, Mike forward. I didn’t know anybody.” Bulls and Knicks on TV. I na missed the irst half of Johnson and Ryan Mongenel. “(Coach Isco) taught us Harris had grown up in was intrigued by Michael the season with migraines. If “I played guard and teamwork, that no player Texas, and originally had no Jordan, all the stuff he could he’d been healthy, we could forward,” the 1993 Harbor was bigger than the team, no aspirations to play basket- do. I went outdoors with a have made a realistic march graduate said. “I was about matter who you are,” Harris ball. basketball I got for Christ- to the regionals.” 6-3. My handling skills said. “That really helped “When I was a child, I mas. I wanted to do the The Mariners started Har- made my teammates bet- me. My buddy, Willie Hanna, hated basketball,” he said. same moves as the guys on ris’ junior season 1-3, then ter. I could score, rebound who (has since) passed away, “I wanted to play kickball. TV. I found out I enjoyed it won 17 of the next 18 games and pass with anybody. I helped me. I thought it was I started playing basketball and started playing when I liked getting my teammates going to be hard to go to the Christmas of ‘86, when was 11.” SEE HARRIS, 18

Congratulations All Hall Of Fame Inductees And Award Honorees... Prosecutor Nick Iarocci 10 — ACBF Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 It’s all started with the shoes for Kapferer

BY CHRIS LARICK graduated, Kruse and Ham- [email protected] per became the heart of the team, post players who Kelly (Kapferer) Kruse’s dominated opponents. illustrious basketball career “Becky and I were inter- might have never begun ex- changeable,” Kruse said, “the cept for a pair of shoes. Twin Towers. We comple- Yes, Kruse (pronounced mented each other very “Cruisey”) had played bas- well.” ketball with her brother Kurt The other Falcon starters in the family’s driveway at were Herendeen, Shannon an early age, but she wasn’t Mellin and Felicia Coles. sold on playing organized Jefferson had won the NEC basketball. championship Kruse’s fresh- Her dad, Bob wanted her man year, but the Falcons to play in the seventh grade, had to rebuild when she was but she wavered. a sophomore. They were “I had my eye on a brand able to reclaim the title her new pair of Air Jordans,” she junior year and, according said. “My dad said I could to Kruse’s recollection, have them if I played basket- may have inished second ball.” to Conneaut, led by Jessica Kruse, a 2000 Jefferson Olmstead, when Kruse was a graduate, became so pro- senior. icient at the game that During her years at Jef- she was a lock to make the ferson, Kruse accumulated Ashtabula County Basketball 1,588 points and 1,204 Foundation’s Hall of Fame SUBMITTED PHOTO rebounds. She had a unique in her irst year of eligibility. Jefferson’s Kelly (Kapferer) Kruse drives to the basket during a game against Lakeview. trifecta: First-team All-Ohio And she did. in her sophomore, junior “I wasn’t anything great,” used to guarding a post play- to start a career.” their roles. Some resentment and senior years; Player she said of her start on that er who could do that.” Kruse and Hamper had was anticipated. of the Year in the NEC all seventh-grade basketball Kruse and the Falcons had been doing conditioning “It was something we need- three years; and Player of team. “I had some good a great eighth-grade year, with the varsity basketball ed to be prepared for,” Kruse the Year on the Star Beacon friends like Julie Herend- losing just one game. team since the eighth grade, said. “Some of the girls were All-Ashtabula County all een, Mindy Gifin and Becky “(That loss) hit us hard,” which helped them acclimate three or four years older of those three years. In her Hamper playing. It helped us Kruse said. “It was against to the team. than us. It was hard to take senior year she was named develop our friendship.” Riverside’s junior high team, “At irst we were over- their positions. But we were Ohio State Player of the Year At that time, Kruse stood J. R. Williams.” whelmed as any eighth-grad- able to earn a spot in the in Division II. Even in her just 5-foot-7 or 5-8 and Between her freshman and er would be,” Kruse said. starting lineup.” freshman year, she was irst played shooting guard. sophomore years, Kruse “But we were invited to go During Kruse’s freshman team all-league and all-coun- “I wasn’t a post player,” “just shot up” to over 6-feet to camp at Perry and Mount year, she started for the ty and Honorable Mention she said. “I was very coor- tall. Naturally, she was Union. It was a big difference Falcons with Hamper, Kiki All-Ohio. dinated and was part of the moved to the post. all of a sudden, playing with McNair, Kelly Crowell and In volleyball, she was Play- press-breaker. Becky (Ham- “I developed my post sophomores, juniors and Laura Gregg, three seniors er of the Year in both the per) was always the tallest. I skills, starting with vol- seniors.” and two freshmen. NEC and in Ashtabula Coun- didn’t catch up to her until leyball,” she said. “I was a Some of those upperclass- “Becky and I had a good ty her sophomore, junior my freshman year. middle hitter and learned men were less than delight- freshman year,” Kruse said. and senior seasons. “But that worked in my how to use my height to my ed that talented freshmen “But we played in (the upper- Not surprisingly, she was favor. I learned to handle advantage. Being tall and like Kruse and Hamper classmen’s) shadows.” the ball. (Opponents) weren’t athletic are great (attributes) would supplant them in When the three seniors SEE KAPFERER, 20 Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 ACBF — 11 Korver shined from the start

BY CHRIS LARICK Geneva graduate accrued [email protected] that total before the advent of the 3-point line. It had to be tough for Lori Korver also had to deal Korver to wait patiently with playing a lot fewer while other girls’ numbers games than girls play today, were called to enter the simply because not every Ashtabula County Basketball school had girls basketball Foundation’s Hall of Fame. programs prior to the enact- That’s not meant to quib- ing of Title IX. For example, ble about the qualiications the Eagles played just 10 of those who preceded Kor- games her freshman year, as ver into the hall of fame, but the Northeastern Conference Korver’s qualiications for had just PV, Madison, Perry the honor in the very early and Ledgemont, and that stages of the ACBF should number increased to 12 her have been obvious to those sophomore year as Riverside who witnessed her feats on joined the NEC. the court. Throughout her four years Korver was one of the best, at Geneva, the Eagles won if not the best, players in the NEC every single year, Ashtabula County during the with the tightest race for early years of girls basket- league supremacy coming ball. Perhaps more impor- in her junior year when they tantly, Korver was truly a edged Madison in a deciding pioneer in the development game, 56-48. Korver earned of women’s basketball in the conference’s Most this county. SUBMITTED PHOTO Valuable Player award three While Pymatuning Valley Geneva’s Lori Korver shown palming two basketballs during her playing days. times from her sophomore was the irst county school to her senior seasons. to offer girls basketball as a school team, though. team (in 1973). That was point totals for sophomore Geneva struggled to turn team sport in 1972, Geneva “In the eighth grade my the beginning of the Geneva (234 points), junior (287) that conference dominance followed suit in 1973. Prior physical education teacher High School girls basketball and senior (340) years, but into postseason success, to that, girls like Korver, who was Sally Toukonen,” Korver team.” she doesn’t have all the box however, losing to North will inally be inducted into said. “Every day I badgered Korver took full advan- scores from her freshman in Korver’s sophomore and the ACBF Hall of Fame on her to get a girls basketball tage of the opportunity to season. The ones she has junior campaigns. April 3, grew up playing the team together. play basketball at the high found has her scoring 69 “We always got beat by male version against males “She inally caved in, and school level, inishing her points her freshman cam- Eastlake North,” Korver said. and a few other females. we got a team. We had an career with 934 as far as paign. She wanted to play on a eighth and ninth grade she knows. She has her A long-range shooter, the SEE KORVER, 19 Stillman Auto and Carts LLC.

(440) 964-7080 Car & Golf Cart Batteries on SALE NOW! [email protected] 12 — ACBF Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 Laker’s success led to service

BY CHRIS LARICK Pymatuning Valley played [email protected] in the East Suburban Con- ference. Meanwhile, McNeil- When Brad McNeilly-Anta’s ly-Anta had sprouted to children ask him what he did 6-foot-2 or 6-foot-3. Playing in the wars of his time in the with Freeman, Andy Brown, U.S. Army, his best answer Rod Brown, Paul Hochran, might be, “It’s complicated.” Neil Britton and Mark Pitt- Actually, the United States’ singer, McNeilly-Anta en- involvement in the war in joyed a very productive year. Bosnia had just ended when “We ran a lot of motion McNeilly-Anta graduated and had good ball move- from West Point in 1996. The ment,” he said. “We were war in Somalia was already taking good shots.” in our rear-view mirror, hav- When the seniors gradu- ing ended in 1994, paving ated after McNeilly-Anta’s the way for hostilities to sophomore season, the ex- break out in Bosnia in 1995. perience, talent and victories But peace is never simple, fell off. Hitchcock, the coach, as evidenced by McNeil- compensated by emphasiz- ly-Anta’s role in the post-war ing ball control more. years in Bosnia. “My sophomore and senior “I assisted a French divi- years we worked the ball, sion, part of NATO, as a pla- but if you got a good shot, toon leader for U.S. troops, you’d take it,” McNeilly-Anta supporting a multi-national said. “Any success the pro- division that the French ran,” gram had came from (HItch- McNeilly-Anta, a 1992 grad- cock). He set the conditions uate of Pymatuning Valley so the players could be suc- High School, said of his ini- cessful. I have nothing but tial duties after graduation. SUBMITTED PHOTO positive memories of him.” “It was about enforcing the Former Pymatuning Valley standout Brad McNeily-Anta looks to make a pass while playing basket- That led to McNeilly’s peace accords. My platoon ball at West Point. senior year and a rise in the provided technical support Lakers’ fortunes. to the French divisions.” McNeilly (he added his wife’s and Grand Valley. Among cock, the son of PV coach “The year before our re- McNeilly-Anta’s platoon’s surname when they married) McNeilly-Anta’s teammates Bob Hitchcock and Gordy’s cord wasn’t that hot, but we main responsibility was as he grew up as an athlete then were some of the ones cousin, had graduated a year felt we were competitive,” he monitoring weapons in- in the Pymatuning Valley he would go through his earlier. At the time, McNeil- said. “We had some decent spections to make sure the school system. high school career with — ly-Anta stood just 5-11 and summer camps. We had a lot Bosnians were living up to He started playing basket- Matt Spellman, Rick King played guard. of conidence. At the start their end of the bargain. ball in the fourth, ifth and and Craig Martin. “I was real small and skin- of the summer the papers “We would help (the sixth grades. McNeilly played When he became a fresh- ny then,” he said. were predicting us for ifth French) understand what basketball and football in man, McNeilly-Anta played His sophomore year the or sixth in the league. That they were looking at — junior high, but dropped mostly junior varsity, but Lakers were still a member motivated us to prove every- tanks, rockets, small arms, football after the eighth saw some action on the of the old Grand River Con- body wrong.” grenades. We would advise grade. varsity team late in the year ference, with Grand Valley, With McNeilly-Anta, Spell- them if components were PV played in tournaments and during the tournament, Ledgemont and Fairport. man, Martin, King and Bates missing. Some of them were in Kinsman and Champion, playing with upperclassmen They “probably won 16 or 17 starting, the Lakers went American, but most of them playing against local teams. like Sean Freeman, Bill Bates, games,” according to McNeil- 19-3 and won the GRC cham- were Russian.” In junior high, the Lakers Craig Nemeth and Gordy ly-Anta. Life was a lot simpler for played schools like Jefferson HItchcock. Doug Hitch- For the rest of his career, SEE MCNEILY, 21 Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 ACBF — 13 Pavolino contributes to the game

BY CHRIS LARICK embraced my two sons, [email protected] Matthew and Corey, as his own, calling them ‘My Louis Pavolino, who will be boys.’ Matthew and Corey inducted into the Ashtabula reciprocated by lovingly and County Basketball Foun- affectionately calling him dation on Saturday as an ‘Dad.’ He loved participating oficial and contributor, and sharing in every area of always had a great love for their lives. Lou was espe- sports. The only thing that cially honored when Corey kept him from participating selected him to be the re- in athletics in high school cipient of his irst salute as was his thin physique. a commissioned oficer to a So Pavolino did the veteran in June of 1999 at next best thing, joining the graduating ceremonies the marching band so he of the ROTC at Ohio State could root for the Ashtabu- University.” la teams on, playing the Pavolino worked for Reli- trumpet and French horn at ance Electric as a foreman Ashtabula High School until until his retirement in 1982 his graduation in 1941. at the age of 59 after 36 “His family was all musi- years on the job. cally inclined,” said Pavoli- “Lou was a member of the no’s widow, Jean, of her Reliance basketball team,” husband who died in 2012 Jean Pavolino said. “He at the age of 88. “He joined loved sports, whether par- his brother Cosmos’ band ticipating in them or watch- called ‘The Brigadiers’ and ing them on TV.” continued to perform after Pavolino’s best sport was he graduated.” golf. Pavolino’s selection to SUBMITTED PHOTO “He was an avid golfer, a the ACBF Hall of Fame is a Lou Pavolino (standing on far right) is shown in a Reliance Electric basketball team picture. passion that started at the tribute to his work as a bas- age of 13,” Jean said. “He ketball and football oficial, in England in January, 1944. Citation in recognition of eye,” Jean Pavolino said of achieved the status of club a job he held for 22 years, Pavolino traveled through conspicuously meritorious Jaime’s relationship with champion eight times at the from 1947-1969, when he France, Holland (where he and outstanding perfor- her father. Jaime married former Ashtabula Coun- was forced to give it up was wounded on Dec. 1, mance of military duty. In Ron Donatone in 1976 and try Club. He loved to help after open-heart surgery. 1944, and received a Purple addition, he received a Good they had two daughters, others improve their game. The son of Vincen- Heart) and Belgium. He was Conduct medal, Europe- Julie and Lauren. Julie has People called him ‘The Ma- zo “James” and Rosolia at the Volkswagen plant in an African Middle Eastern three children: Isabella, chine’ because of his control (Adames) Pavolino, Louis Wolfsburg, Germany, when Campaign medal with four Helaina and Addison Behm. and accuracy hitting the grew up with siblings Mary, the war ended. By then he bronze stars and World War Lauren’s children are Giada, ball down the center of the Cosmos and Vincent. World had been promoted to Tech II victory medal. Enzo and Gino Fioritto. fairway. Lou even found a War II was underway when 4 Sergeant. On May 17, 1947, Pavolino Louis married Jean Mat- way to play golf in England he graduated from Ashtabu- Honorably discharged, married Paulyne M. Zappa. thews-McCollum on Sept. during the war. He found a la High School and he was Pavolino arrived back in the The marriage lasted 51 9, 2006 after a seven-year club and some balls, then inducted into the U.S. Army United States on Jan. 20, years, until she died in July, courtship. found a course to play on. in February, 1943. After ba- 1946. He was awarded a 1998. The couple had one “We enjoyed six glorious “Lou also loved oficiating sic training, he was assigned European Theater of Oper- daughter, Jaime Lou, who years together prior to both basketball and foot- to the 633rd Quartermaster ations Certiicate of Oper- died in 1985. his departure on October Laundry Division, arriving ations Certiicate of Merit “She was the apple of his 14, 2012,” Jean said. “He SEE PAVOLINO, 22 14 — ACBF Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 Ruin shot it well for Spartans

BY CHRIS LARICK team, then coached by Dave Hall of Fame, earned her [email protected] Simpson, was not very good respect. and Rufin made the team as “I enjoyed (playing for From the time she was a freshman. him),” she said. “He pushed small, Kay Ann (Fails) Rufin She admits she wasn’t at us and made us work hard. honed one skill that would all sure she wanted to play He made us better. He was prove invaluable to her ca- organized basketball at that a student of the game and reer — shooting a basketball. point. structured it. He loved Rufin and her brother, “When I look back, I con- basketball and that made it Craig Fails (two years older templated not playing my more enjoyable to me.” than Kay Ann) would spend freshman year,” she said. “I Rufin admits she was just every spring and summer thought I might try some- a shooter as a freshman and shooting the ball from long- thing different, but I ended sophomore. range on the driveway at up playing. I liked being part “But in the last couple of her parents’ (Bill and Lin- of a team. I remember the years I morphed into a point da’s) house. Both of them people and the camarade- guard/shooting guard de- contended in the free-throw rie we had more than the pending on how the defense shooting contests at the scores.” was set up,” she said. “Mar- Knights of Columbus’ tour- The scores weren’t all that tha Cananen played the post naments. good her irst couple of for us. She was probably 5-8, Kay Ann remembers years, anyway. but she could jump. She and watching her brother and “My irst two years of high Gretchen (Showalter) were Boyd Grifith, a teammate school, we were not very underneath the basket. of Craig’s and another 2016 victorious,” Rufin said. “The “Mr. Ritari knew we weren’t inductee into the Ashtabula other freshman (Showalter) tall. He was very good at County Basketball Hall of and I got some playing time teaching us how to take Fame, shoot while young. as freshmen. That helped good shots so we made more Eventually, she joined them. when we became junior and hoops. As a team when we “They shot from far out,” seniors. were juniors and seniors she said.”I don’t remem- “By my junior year, Tom we played well together.We SUBMITTED PHOTO ber our driveway without a Ritari became coach and we were friends on and off the Conneaut’s Kay Ann (Fails) Rufin is shown with her family. 3-point line. We had a little had much more success. court. When you get to know slope in our driveway, so we We had a core of girls who people well, it translates well press in basketball in high year for the Dragons, she shot a little higher. My broth- worked hard, had a winning (to sports).” school and a lot of people hit .406. Before the season, er wasn’t tall, so he shot season and went farther in In addition to basketball, thought that was my best she had listed batting .400 higher to get over people. the tournament.” Rufin played volleyball (as a sport. In high school soft- as one of her goals, so that Sometimes my dad would The Spartans of those days setter) and softball. ball I played the inield and pleased her greatly. come out and challenge us. (Rufin graduated in 1994) “I was so-so in volley- pitched, mostly pitched. Power was not her forte, It seemed like we did more were not a tall team. Ruf- ball,” she said. “In softball The most exciting thing in however. shooting than playing one- in, for example, stood just it depends on who you college was my coach (Steve “I hit one home run in on-one, though we did play a 5-foot-6. ask. I loved softball. I got Warner) switched me to college,” she said. “I still little one-on-one.” “But we made up for it in a (college) basketball offer catcher. I loved it. I could have the ball. I always hit in Kay Ann didn’t join an other ways,” she said. “We and two softball offers as a throw from my knees and I the high .300s and always hit organized team until ju- played hard and ran the senior.” loved the leadership aspect ifth or sixth in the lineup. I nior high school at Rowe in loor. We had quite a few Rufin inally decided to go of being a catcher. made good contact and got a Conneaut, where she teamed come-from-behind victories. to West Virginia Wesleyan, “I tried to lead by exam- lot of RBI.” with classmates Gretchen We never gave up; you could mostly because she would ple. As a catcher, you’re in At West Virginia Wesleyan Showalter and Tammy Wie- never count us out.” get a chance to play softball control. The pitcher thinks Rufin majored in elemen- derman on the seventh and Ritari, whom Rufin now there. he or she is in control, but a tary education. When she eighth grade teams. joins in the Ashtabula Coun- “To me, softball never gets catcher really is.” The Conneaut varsity ty Basketball Foundation’s old,” she said. “I got some In her junior year, her best SEE RUFFIN, 22 Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 ACBF — 15 Runyan was a strong leader at Edgewood

BY CHRIS LARICK kids.” [email protected] He started coaching from the irst year (1977-78) he A good coach requires taught at Braden. By the time intelligence, knowledge of he had inished coaching, he the game and the ability to had served as a basketball teach, understand and moti- coach, mostly at Braden, vate his players. but the inal six years as And he needs a voice. Edgewood’s head basketball High school coaches can coach, for 34 years. be more vulnerable to voice “My winning percentage damage than those at higher coaching the seventh, eighth levels because most of and ninth-grade teams were them teach all day. In-game all above 60 percent,” he situations, that strain is said. “I had a lot of kids exacerbated by the need to who hadn’t played a lot of overcome the noise made by basketball. I tried to teach loud crowds. them basic knowledge and And so it came about that skills. That’s a big challenge Al Runyan, after many years to complete.” of coaching several sports, Runyan also became a found himself unable to baseball coach at Edgewood perform his coaching duties in the early ‘80’s, the irst as well as he’d like to simply three as Dave Melaragno’s because he couldn’t talk loud SUBMITTED PHOTO JV coach, then as head coach enough without great pain. Edgewood coach Al Runyan with two of his players Steve Kray (left) and Scott Runyan (right). for three years. He got out of Runyan, a 1969 Edgewood that to coach his son, Scott, graduate, played basketball most of my sophomore year The coach at Edinboro, “I was playing right ield in Little League, then went and baseball for the War- with mononucleosis.” Gary Conti, had played in and chasing a foul ball,” he back into it when Mike Hayes riors. His bout with that disease the Baltimore Orioles’ minor said. “I ran into a batting started coaching at Edge- Runyan describes those had another unfortunate league system with players cage, mashed up my legs wood. Edgewood teams as “fairly result. like Mike Cuellar and Jim really bad. I didn’t catch the Altogether, Runyan mediocre, not real success- “It got to the point that Palmer. ball either.” coached baseball for 15 ful, under .500.” some of the players called “He made a huge impact on After graduating from years, eight of them as head Runyan played as a soph- me ‘Mono,’” Runyan said. me,” Runyan said of Conti. Ohio State in 1974, Runyan coach. He spent 23 years as a omore when John Higgins, “They got a big kick out of it. “We’d get to play because we obtained a job with the basketball coach, six of them already in the ACBF Hall of I’m not sure I thought it was were better baseball players. Ashtabula City Schools as head varsity coach. That Fame, and Steve Bish were that funny.” It sounds simple, that you teaching physical education. year his son Scott and the seniors. When Rick Korpi, Runyan was actually better always play the best players, The program was discontin- Warriors’ other star, Steve the leading scorer when at baseball than basketball, but it doesn’t always happen. ued after that time, but he Kray, were juniors. He led Runyan was a junior, grad- to a point that he played two Some of us got to play over was able to get a job at Bra- the team to a 15-6 record uated, the Warrior seniors years of college baseball at guys that had played the den Junior High, part of the that year, 14-4 in the North- consisted of Runyan, Don Edinboro in 1969 and 1970. year before.” Edgewood system, teaching eastern Conference, inishing Kidner, Ron Stowell, Gary When he needed to transfer At Edinboro, Runyan bat- science. He spent 33 years second to Riverside. Lago, Norm Gloeckler and to Ohio State as a better it ted .295 as a freshman and there, eventually getting into The next year was even Chuck Braden. Roger Sterling for his major (physical edu- .285 as a sophomore. After physical education in his last better. Led by Kray and Scott and Bob Rebera were juniors cation), he made the team as transferring to Ohio State, few years of teaching after Runyan, the Warriors went that year. a walk-on. he hit .265 in eight games Terry Melaragno retired. 19-5, 15-1 in the NEC in “I scored eight to 10 points “I was a pretty good hit- before getting hurt and miss- “I enjoyed teaching sci- 1996-1997, winning the NEC a game as a junior and se- ter,” he said. “I could always ing the remainder of the year ence,” he said. “I seemed to nior,” Runyan said. “I missed hit the baseball.” after a freak accident. it in well with junior high SEE RUNYAN, 24 16 — ACBF Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 CANDELLA: Herald still enjoys GREEN: Success carried over to college

FROM PAGE 5 “I think I led the coun- Albany before moving the game of basketball ty in hitting that year.” to Connecticut where he Green reaped several He ranks as just one now lives. awards in his athletic of three Grand Valley “I was with Union FROM PAGE 4 career at Grand Valley. male alumni who have Carbide in Cincinnati in He earned three letters been selected irst- 1973, 1974 and 1975,” slow,” he said. “If you in basketball, scoring team all-county in three he said. “Nineteen-sev- got a rebound, you had 823 points. He was sports (football, basket- enty-ive was the year of to stop and set up the irst-team all-county ball and baseball) in the the Cincinnati Reds’ Big offense. That’s not the his junior year and same year. Red Machine, with guys way I liked to play.” irst-team All-Great After graduation, like Johnny Bench, Peter When the college Lakes Conference and Green wanted to go to Rose and Dave Concep- term was over in May, all-county, along with Wittenberg to play bas- cion. That was a fun Candela went back to honorable mention all- ketball. He was recruited time in Cincinnati. work for the railroad. state as a senior in that there, but that school “I’ve continued in “I worked every day sport after averaging wouldn’t give him inan- sports, playing basket- of the summer on the 19.3 points per game cial aid, so he headed to ball in several leagues railroad and when it as a senior. He had Muskingum, which could and playing softball and came time for school regular-season games give him some inancial lag football. I’ve stayed to start, I said, ‘I’m not of 31 and 32 points and help, to play basketball very active in (sports) for going back,’ “ he said. scored 37 against New- and baseball. a long time.” “Thirty-nine years bury in the sectionals, “I played freshman After his time with later, I’m retired. I where he was selected basketball, but I ended Union Carbide, Green retired last July.” all-tournament. up starting four years was self-employed for Candela started as In football he was as a third baseman. I led about 10 years as a a brakeman, but was honorable mention the team in batting my graphics designer. promoted often, be- SUBMITTED PHOTO all-county and All-Great junior year.” Recently Green worked coming a shift super- St. John’s Pete Candela is shown with his wife Karen. Lakes Conference as a The Fighting Muskies for a company involved visor in 1996. He ran junior and irst-team were in the Ohio Confer- with NASCAR and Indy the coal dock from wood graduate, at and John Bowler and all-county, second team ence and had to bump Car racing with sponsors 1999-206, when he Walnut Beach. Karen against players like All-North East Lake heads against Marietta, like STP, represented by became the Supervisor has worked at Riden+- Ernie Pasqualine, Lou- District and honorable one of the top teams in Richard Petty and Mario of Operations for the Fields for 40 years. ie DeJesus and Andy mention all-state as a the country in Division Andretti. He met his Canadian National The couple has Juhola. Austinburg, senior. III. wife, Kim, at Daytona Railway at the Con- three children: Ju- would like to ind a “I played against “We were competitive while working for STP in neaut Dock. He then lie, 32; Michelle, 30; basketball league in (Edgewood’s) Gary Lago with them, but lost,” 1991 and they married was promoted to the and Pete, 27. Pete Jr. Florida. that year. He became Green said. in 1995. dock manager on the followed Candela into “My wife has always the punter at Ohio Green majored in Kim has had struggles Upper Peninsula in the railroad business been supportive of my State. He just ran me math at Muskingum, with breast cancer and Escanaba, Michigan. and now works for love of basketball,” over, put a cleat mark but had no intention of other health-related When he retired the Canadian National Candela said. “When right on my chest.” becoming an actuary or problems over the past last July he stayed Railroad in Green Bay, the kids were young, As a baseball player, teacqwher. 18 years. in Ashtabula for a Wis. Pete Jr. has a son, I played two nights a he was an inielder and “I wanted something For the past 10 years while, then moved to Pete III. week.” co-captain with Zakow- more lexible and inter- he has worked for Del Boynton Beach, Fla., Candela has con- He also took up ski. esting,” he said. “I went Imaging Systems, selling about 15 miles south tinued to play bas- golf in 1982 and has “My game was speed into sales.” high-speed cameras. of West Palm Beach ketball for many played in leagues in and inesse,” Green said. Union Carbide hired The Greens have two and 30 miles north of years. He played in a Ashtabula and Mich- “Tom hit the ball hard. Green right out of children: daughter Tes- Miami. 35-and-older league igan. Our baseball team went college. When Union Car- sa, a junior at Villanova; “It’s nice all-year in Ashtabula with “I can’t complain,” to regionals at Bridge- bide moved east in 1975, and son Torrie, a senior round,” he said. the Spot Cafe team, he said. “My life has port. Our coach was Green took a job with in high school in Con- Candela met his with teammates like been good and I’m Vince Pelligrini, a great Owens-Corning Fiber- necticut. Kim is a breast wife, Karen, an Edge- Dan Craft, Jim Hood healthy.” coach. glas at Cincinnati, then cancer survivor. Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 ACBF — 17 GRIFFITH: Spartan still HANDS: Eagles hard work paid of

plays game he loves FROM PAGE 7 underneath.” They met in March, got en- Though Hands loved gaged in April and married FROM PAGE 6 But the results are dificult playing high school bas- on May 16, when Hands was to question. The new Eagles ketball (”I had a great time 19. They have been married Division III level. My parents team went on to win its irst doing it,” he said), he had for 52 years. The Hands would have loved to see me 16 games and inished at no thoughts of playing in have eight children and 26 play. 18-2. college, though Kent State grandchildren. “My wife wanted to be a Hands and Legg were the offered him a scholarship. “Ellen runs Sam’s ofice. nurse, but I didn’t know forwards on that 1961-1962 “I was more interested in a Jody, the oldest child, was what I wanted to do. I Eagles team. Both were about new car and girls,” he said. born in 1965. She was fol- changed my majors and 6-foot-4 and looked enough “I thought I could have more lowed by Rebecca in 1967, transferred to Youngstown alike that they could have fun than going to college Samuel in 1969, Kathleen in State, but I didn’t inish been brothers. Their last and playing basketball.” 1971, Michael in 1973, Tim- school.” names provided writers with Hands went to work for othy in 1977, Sara in 1980 Grifith now works at plenty of fodder for head- IRC Fibers in Painesville, and Noah in 1985. The last Mohawk Papers, on Route 45 lines and articles. then moved on to R.W Sid- four of those work with him in Saybrook. That company “Hands and Legg on the ley’s, to Chardon Welding in his sign business, along takes 3,000-pound rolls of same team, they felt that was and a place in Newbury that with a son-in-law. Jody runs paper, cuts it and embosses funny,” Hands said. made signs. His accumulat- a day care center, Rebecca is it. Grifith has worked there About the same size as ed skills at those workplac- a nurse, Samuel has his own 18 years and is now an Op- Hands and Legg, but bulkier, es resulted in his creating sign business in Spokane, erations Associate. was Tirabasso, a junior, who his own sign business. Washington and Kathleen is Boyd and Sheri have been played center. Osborne and In 1990 he visited Maine. a teacher. married since 1987 and SUBMITTED PHOTO Coy were the guards. While there he heard a Hands still remembers have two daughters” Sa- Conneaut’s Boyd Grifith show Hands, who led the Eagles noise, then spotted a bull the day he met Ted Ocepek, mantha, 16; and Sidney, 12. with his daughter Samantha in scoring that year with moose. a videographer with the They both play volleyball (16, right) and Sidney (12, left). about 14 points a game “I love to hunt,” he said. Cleveland Plain Dealer for and softball, Samantha at scored most of his points in “I told my wife, “We need to an interview. Ocepek was in Lakeside. “I have good friendships to the paint. move here.’ We had seven the process of interviewing Grifith himself keeps ac- this day,” he said. “I igured something out children and no home. We noted comedian Red Skelt- tive playing basketball. Grifith remains thank- between my junior and se- moved seven kids to Maine on. The three of them had a “I was never too much into ful to Chuck Guglielmo, nior years,” he said. “It was in a 24-foot U-Haul trailer.” great time. softball,” he said. “I played who recorded some of his move that I later used with In Maine Hands started his Of his basketball career, in a recreational basketball best moments on the high Pruden’s Chicks (a com- own sign business. He has which included a stint with league in Conneaut and school basketball court. munity basketball team). since built it to 16 employ- the Pruden Chicks, Hands broke my wrist. Playing bas- “He would do play-by- I would come under the ees, four of them his chil- said, “I had a great time do- ketball is fun and it’s high play of the games,” Grifith basket and over to the other dren. ing it. I’m tickled to death to impact exercise.” said. “He wanted to get into side (a reverse layup). Bobby Hands met his wife, Ellen, be coming back (for the Hall He remembers his high broadcasting. I’ve looked at and Jim Osborne were better who is from Pittsburgh, at of Fame induction). It’ll make school days fondly. his tapes so many times.” outside shots. I loved to go Geneva-on-the-Lake in 1964. my whole year.” TERRI’S TREASURES GRAND OPENING April 1st & 2nd • 10am - 6pm Retail Home & Decor (Formerly Cellittis Clothing) Resale 440-344-5420 1606 Columbus Ave. Ashtabula, OH 44004 18 — ACBF Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 HANNA: Ashtabula star averaged HARRIS: NEC POY among 20 ppg at Baldwin-Wallace Harris’ accomplishments

FROM PAGE 8 FROM PAGE 9 ished fourth in the NEC. er of: “The one goal I Harris made irst-team accomplished is I never abuse, though. to inish 18-4 and claim all-league and all-coun- lost to Ashtabula High “I told him to stay away from the Northeastern Con- ty and was third-team School,” he said. alcohol, but he said, ‘It’s got ahold ference championship. all-state. After high school of me.” “We ended up losing “We did have a nice he started at a junior Hanna averaged about 20 points, in the playoffs to the run,” Harris said. “At college, but after a year- 7 rebounds and 5 assists per game eventual champion, the time our JV system and-a-half was injured his inal two years at B-W. One of the St. Joe’s,” Harris said. was a breeding ground, in a car accident. He highlights of his career came when “(The Ohio High School a nice machine.” transferred to Tifin the Cleveland Cavaliers recognized Athletic Association) Isco certainly appre- University and played him as one of the outstanding play- Terence Hanna re-aligned the district. ciated Harris’ contribu- two-and-a-half years for ers around the city of Cleveland. I blame the politics for tions. the Dragons. At Baldwin-Wallace Hanna took wide variety of things, molding parts the seeding. We and “I’ve been very fortu- Harris did well there, a Bachelor of Arts in speech, com- for BMW, Cadillac, Chrysler and Edgewood had better nate here at Harbor,” he too, averaging in dou- munications and theater, with an Jeep.” records (than the top said at the time. “I’ve ble igures in scoring emphasis on television and radio That might seem like quite a de- two seeds, St. Joe’s and had some outstanding and placing in the top broadcasting. He took theater, radio parture from his jobs in education. West Geauga), but we players and Jemal is ive in the country in and television classes and got to “I’m the type of person that likes got the third and fourth as good a player as steals. work with Mark Koontz, Tim Tay- to do a wide variety of things,” Han- seeds.” I’ve ever had. He never After graduating lor and Dick Goddard at Fox 8 and na said. “I had been in academics for After his junior sea- took it easy, he always from Tifin University, sat in on tapings of “Big Chuck and 20 years. That takes a toll on you. I son, Harris was selected worked hard and he got Harris stayed in Tifin, Little John.” He also worked with like a change of pace. I ind (this job) as the NEC’s Player of better every year.” working for a company Wayne Dawson in the mornings. challenging. It’s good experience.” the Year. “Coach Isco believed in Upper Sandusky. Two weeks before he graduated Hanna admits that his desire to Injuries, including a in us,” Harris said in re- After several years he in 1988, Hanna was hired to work play basketball was inluenced by knee injury to Jeff Ag- ciprocating Isco’s prais- switched to a job with in the Baldwin-Wallace admissions the success of Bob Walters’ teams new in the ninth game es. “Our junior year Cleveland All-Dealer ofice. He was there for 13 years, of 1976-1979, particularly the team of the year, took a toll we were killing teams, Tire, working out of working his way up from an admis- that included Tom Hill, Scooby on Harbor in Harris’ but (Isco) wouldn’t let Strongsville, where he sions counselor to Assistant Direc- Brown and others that made a great senior season, but the us run it up. He said, now lives. He has been tor of Admissions. tournament run before being defeat- Mariners still inished ‘Everything comes there for nine years. In 2001 he decided to come home ed by St. Joseph’s Clark Kellogg’s 15-6. around.’ For a 10-game Harris has two sons: to Ashtabula and work as admis- squad. “It was tough, but stretch, our bench was Donovan Walker, 20, sions counselor for Kent State Uni- Hanna’s idol was always Julius Er- overall, it was a good getting more playing who is attending Hei- versity-Ashtabula Branch Campus. ving, Dr. J, though. He was fortunate year,” Harris said. “I time than us (starters).” delberg College as a That might not seem to be much enough to meet that idol. had to be the man Harris’ senior year, communications major; of a change, but Baldwin-Wallace “When the (NBA) All-Star game was with scoring. I had to when injuries forced and Jayon Harris, 13, chooses its admissions selectively. held in Cleveland, I went there with take control and that him to become more of who is in Tifin Colum- KSU-Ashtabula is open to anyone my good friend, John Kazmerski,” meant I couldn’t be as a scorer, he averaged bian’s middle school. with a high school diploma or GED. Hanna said. “We were sitting at a three-dimensional as I 20.7 points per game. “One thing I would “It was an eye-opening experience restaurant talking about the NBA was (my junior year). “I averaged a dou- say is that I had a truly that all anybody had to do was apply when, all of a sudden, Dr. J walked in My steals and assists ble-double (dou- enjoyable high school and get in if they had a high school with Ronnie Lott and Joe Montana. suffered.” ble-digits in points experience,” Harris degree or GED,” Hanna said. He shook my hand and said hello. I’ll The Mariners were and rebounds) in high said. “My teammates He left KSU-Ashtabula in 2008 to never forget that until I die.” ranked in the Asso- school,” he said. “I was made me work hard, work for Educate on Line, part of Hanna lists his coaches — a group ciated Press Division second behind Fred didn’t let me play the No Child Left Behind program. A that includes Rich, Potts, Walters, III Top 10 most of the Scruggs (in Harbor his- as one person. I am year later, he took a job with General Bankson and Don Hughes — as season but after the tory) in scoring.” honored to be in the Aluminum in Conneaut. some of the biggest inluences on injuries lost four of the But there is one thing (Ashtabula County Bas- “I’m a molder,” he said. “I do a his life. last ive games and in- that he is even proud- ketball) Hall of Fame.” Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 ACBF — 19 KORVER: Geneva standout earned All-Ohio honors as a senior

FROM PAGE 11 gone to Thiel. If I could do it all over again, I would “I made the all-tournament have done that. That’s the team (my junior year).” one regret I have. Korver’s senior season, “Instead I got married.” Geneva inally managed to The marriage lasted just get over the hump in the three years. tournament, defeating West Korver attributes her ath- Geuaga for a sectional title. leticism to good genes from Korver had plenty of help in her father, John Henry, who future ACBF hall of famers was a three-star athlete at Anita Tersigni and Nadine Geneva during his school Cox, who was a freshman at days. She also is distant- the time. ly related to the Atlanta Korver inished her inal Hawks’ Kyle Korver, who season by earning hon- widely regarded as one of orable-mention All-Ohio the best 3-point shooters in honors. Geneva Free Press the NBA. sports editor described her “I got my athleticism from as such in a report during my dad,” she said. “He was Korver’s senior season: a superstar athlete at Ge- “Korver is a premier bas- neva in basketball, football ketball player who should and track. Kyle Korver is a be ranked up there with distant cousin.” anybody in the state.... She Along with her father, can shoot, pass, rebound SUBMITTED PHOTO Korver also credited her and defend with anyone in Geneva’s Lori Korver shown now. mother, Helen, for helping the state.” her reach the heights she College scholarships for said they’d pay for it, but two-time MVP. She was After taking her baccalau- did in her athletic career. high school female athletes they didn’t. I was the tall- named a National Junior reate degree at Lakeland, Her mother passed away in were rare in those days, but est one (at the tryouts), but College Athletic Association where she also played vol- 2014 at the age of 93. Korver’s exploits on the they said they wanted 6-foot All-American twice and was leyball and softball and was “She was my number one basketball court caught the guards. And they didn’t like the MVP of the state junior inducted into the college’s fan,” Korver said of her attention the University of the way I shot the ball.” college tournament. hall of fame, Korver was mother. “I dedicate this Florida in try and join the So Korver went to college A picture of her at Lake- offered a half-scholarship to honor (induction into the team. Unfortunately for close to home at Lakeland land shows her palming a Thiel College. ACBF Hall of Fame) to my her, that opportunity never Community College, where basketball (they didn’t used “I was too stubborn (to mother. She supported me panned out. she served as co-captain her to have smaller balls for accept that),” she said. “I 200 percent, didn’t miss a “My mom and I lew to two years there (1979-80 females during that time) in wanted to go as far as I game of mine in high school Florida,” Korver said. “They and 1980-81) and became each hand. could free. I should have or college.” We do all Custom Printed Apparel & Graphics TEAM SPORTS, SCHOOL SPIRIT & MORE 1028 BRIDGE ST. ASHTABULA, OH 44004 (440) 964-9057 20 — ACBF Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016e KAPFERER: Falcon star went on to shine at Bowling Green

FROM PAGE 10 college art professor. “But I decided that’s not heavily recruited starting what I wanted to do,” she in her sophomore years. said. “I didn’t want to go Conneaut’s Jessica Olmstead back (to graduate school).” and Kruse attended the Blue She moved to Cincinna- Star Basketball Camp after ti, and took a job in bank her junior year, and Kruse management. She has spent was chosen as the MVP of the past 10 years in differ- the camp. ent banks. Most recently “I had been a big ish in a she took a job with the little pond (at Jefferson),” Cove Federal Credit Union she said. “That gave me a lot in Edgewood, Kentucky, of conidence that I could near where she now lives. make (college basketball) She met her husband, Da- happen.” vid, when both were mem- Though Kruse visited other bers in a band (the Stray schools like Oral Roberts, Maia), Kelly as a singer and Kent State, Ohio University David as a bass player, in and Southern Florida, Bowl- 2008. ing Green appealed to her David works at Cincinnati more. Bell. The couple was mar- “I don’t know why I picked ried in 2010 and have three Bowling Green, though I’m boys: Adam, 8; Nolan, 7 and glad I did. It was only three Kaleb, 2 1/2. The family hours from my home, so my lives in Kentucky, about 15 parents (Bob and Denise) miles from Cincinnati. could see the games,” she Kelly’s siblings all had said. “Bowling Green played SUBMITTED PHOTO successful athletic careers schools like Kent, which Jefferson’s Kelly (Kapferer) Kruse is shown with her husband, David and kids, Adam, Nolan and at Jefferson, particularly in were closer for them.” Kaleb basketball. Kurt is married Kruse made an early verbal and lives in the Stow area, commitment to Bowling of the game. My role had “They wanted someone she had to prove herself in working for Hyland Soft- Green during volleyball changed (from the one I to come in and win,” Kruse practice. ware. He played baseball season her senior year and had in high school). It was a said. “And he did. “I worked out and tried to for the College of Wooster. signed a letter of intent right different world.” “When he came in, it was a show (Miller) I was commit- Haley is married and lives before Christmas her senior The Falcons weren’t that rebuilding year. Obviously, ted my junior year,” Kruse in Painesville after playing year. good her freshman year and he was inheriting someone said. “I was chosen as a volleyball for Youngstown As a freshman she became the coach, Dee Knoblauch, else’s recruits. I think he starter, but I asked not to State. She works as a nurse. the sixth man for the Fal- was ired. Curt Miller came would have recruited me. He be a starter but to come in Jamie is also now mar- cons, playing power forward in from Colorado and took told me he wanted me, so and play forward or center. ried, residing in the Stow and center, though she was the reins and started to that was in my favor.” We had a young class of area, but she still works in only 6-1 1/2 or 6-2, small for rebuild the team. Still, after her sophomore great players. I was a utility Ashtabula as an Occupa- a center even in those days. “My freshman year we year, Kruse decided she role player who would get tional Therapy assistant. She played in every game, were bad,” Kruse said. needed some time away rebounds and set picks and She played one year of starting about half of them “There was no continuity from organized basketball. be a leader out there.” volleyball at Walsh before her freshman year, a pattern and the team didn’t know So she quit the team, giving At Bowling Green Kruse returning home, transfer- she repeated as a sopho- how to play together. There up her scholarship in the was an art major, taking ring and commuting to more. were things going on outside process. a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Kent State Ashtabula. “I liked (being sixth man),” the realm of basketball and That year revitalized her graduating in 2005, intend- Kelly has become a runner she said. “It gave me a the coaching staff wasn’t and she went back for her ing to be an art teacher, get and participates in two chance to ind the rhythm stable.” junior year. First, though, her master’s and become a half-marathons every year. Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016e Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 ACBF — 21 MCNEILY: PV standout carried his talents to West Point

FROM PAGE 12 systems and developed mission command pionship. software.” “Our whole starting The McNeilly-Antas ive was 6-foot to 6-3,” have three children in McNeilly-Anta said. New Jersey schools — At PV McNeilly-An- Kennedy, 14; Isabela, ta was a three-year 10; and Sebastian, 8. letter-winner, scored “I work out and try 1,150 points, averaging to stay in shape,” Brad 22.3 points, 7.2 re- said. “A month ago I bounds and 6.2 assists started playing going per game as a senior, to a pick-up basket- while shooting .454 ball game with a team from the ield and .737 of old guys. I hadn’t from the line. played in 10 years or As a junior, McNeil- so. I do coach. My older ly-Anta was irst-team son is playing for the All-ESC and all-county recreation team in the and was Division III township and I coach All-Ohio Honorable him. I also coach my Mention. His senior SUBMITTED PHOTO kids’ soccer teams.” year he was selected as Pymatuning Valley’s Brad McNeilly-Anta is shown with his wife, Maria Teresa San Pedro Anta. McNeilly-Anta cred- the league’s, county’s its his parents for his and All-Northeastern would be accepted and game. His statistics in Portugese, with a Anta, whom he had success. Lakes Division III Player play basketball there. were similar his sopho- systems engineering met while he was at “My parents were big of the Year and All- Both senators (Howard more season. discipline. West Point and she at supporters,” he said. Ohio irst team. Metzenbaum and John But he wasn’t doing When he graduated Vassar. “They went everywhere. In addition to Glenn) recommended as well academically as in 1996, he faced a After his discharge I used to play pick-up basketball, McNeil- him. he’d like and decided six-year commitment in from the army, McNeil- games against my dad ly-Anta competed in His freshman and to quit the basketball the U.S. Army. ly-Anta took a job with in the driveway. I used cross-country and sophomore years at team and focus on his He spent two tours in DHL as an operations to play in my driveway track for Pymatuning Army he played both academics. Bosnia. Between 2001 manager, working in with my younger broth- Valley. He qualiied guards and small for- “At West Point there and 2002 he spent part northern New Jersey er (Jared). He turned for the state meet ward off the bench. is a core curriculum of a year in Kosovo and New York City. In out to be a pretty good in cross-country his “I was a role play- of 80 credits,” he said. with the 10th Moun- 2005, he hooked up basketball player, too, junior year and ran er who played when “You don’t work on a tain Division as a staff with a friend to become scored more than 1,000 the distance events someone was injured major as a freshman intelligence operations a federal contractor points and played for in track, making it to or people fell out of and sophomore. Ev- oficer for the U.S. task (BM Consulting), sup- Allegheny.” regionals. favor with the coaches. eryone takes the same force there, providing porting the U.S. Army. He had been in I got spot starts,” he courses, proscribed near-term analysis and They’ve been working GLOEKLER correspondence with said. courses. Chemistry was recommendations. together for 11 years CHIROPRACTIC West Point and an As a freshman at always a tough course In 2002 he came now. Celebrating 35 Years Army assistant coach West Point, he averaged for me.” back to America, to “For the past year had seen him play at 2.4 points, 1.6 re- Giving up basketball Fort Drum in upstate and a half we’ve been • Gentle Adjustments camps. After a fall bounds and 0.7 assists, improved his grades New York, serving as working on future • SHAPE ReClaimed visit his senior year, seeing action in 14 tremendously. From Brigade Intelligence Of- technology and prod- • Licensed Massage Therapy he was told if he could games with four starts. a 2.5 to 2.7 GPA, he icer. He left the service ucts for the army on • Nutritional Consults get an appointment to Over the last four jumped to a 3.5 when in 2003. projects (including www.gloeklerchiropractic.com West Point (requiring a games of that season, he graduated. He Meanwhile, in 1998, robotics and drones),” 440-992-3112 recommendation from he averaged 6.5 points majored in foreign he had married Ma- McNeilly-Anta said. 4239 Lake Ave. Ohio congressmen) he and 4.5 rebounds a language, specializing ria Teresa San Pedro “We’ve done computer 22 — ACBF Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 PAVOLINO: Oicial enjoyed RUFFIN: Former Conneaut a variety of sports standout moved on to education

FROM PAGE 13 and usher and was always active in graduated, Adrian Powell, a good moved back to Ohio after she obtained the church.” friend of hers, recommended her for a teaching job in Wadsworth. ball.” Jean still lives in Ashtabula. Of a job in Loudoun County in Virginia, “It was great to be back in Ohio,” Bowling was another sport Pavoli- her sons, Matthew is a software near Washington, D.C. she said. “We had two more kids, no was adept at. engineer who lives in Florida. Corey “I felt comfortable there,” she said. then, in 2013, my husband (Scott But the aspect of life that meant is still in the U.S. Navy, where he “Adrian and I still keep in touch.” Rufin) took a job in Seattle with most to him was his family. has gone through six deployments She taught seven years in Virginia, Amazon. He works in logistics. We “His family meant everything to in 17 years. He is currently Landing during which she married and had her live 20 miles outside of Seattle (in him,” Jean said. “The only thing that Craft Oficer at Assault Craft Unit 1 irst child. She met her husband, Scott, Snoqualme). exceeded that was his love for God in San Diego. while she was teaching in Virginia and The Rufins have three children: and his Lord Jesus. He was a devout Corey has two children, Gwenev- he was in the U.S. Marine Corps in sons Nathan, 12, and Ryan, 9; and a Catholic who served as an altar boy ere and Alexander McCollum. Quantico. In 2005 she and her family daughter, Morgan, 7. Star Beacon All-Ashtabula County Basketball Teams BOYS GIRLS Player of the Year Player of the Year Sam Hitchcock Jefferson Jr. Lindsey Mayle Geneva Jr.

Coach of the Year Coach of the Year Steve French Jefferson Nancy Barbo Geneva

First Team First Team Morgan Babic Pymatuning Valley Jr. Carly Aponte Lakeside Sr. Reggie Bryant Lakeside Sr. Kat Hall Pyamtuning Valley Sr. Marcus Ernst Edgewood Jr. Hailey Peoples Geneva So. Noah Glavickas Grand Valley Jr. Emily Smock Jefferson Sr. Blake Payne Jefferson Sr. Abby Triskett Grand Valley So.

Second Team Second Team Seth Calhoun Geneva Sr. Maddy Bean Jefferson So. Sage Cantini Jefferson Sr. Emily Harriman Geneva So. Mitchell Dragon Edgewood Sr. Madison Hurst Pymatuning Valley Sr. Tony Massucci St. John Jr. Iesha Niciu Edgewood Jr. Justin Myers Conneaut Sr. Madyson Paradie St. John So.

Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Jacob Adams Jefferson Sr. Amanda Amsdell Edgewood Jr. Matt DiDonato Edgewood Jr. Cheyanna Bosse St. John So. Alex Gerdes Conneaut Sr. Lexie Campbell Conneaut Sr. Matt Larned Grand Valley Sr. Alycia Figueroa Lakeside Sr. Matt Lunghofer Lakeside Jr. Kristin Keasling Geneva Sr. Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 ACBF — 23 24 — ACBF Star Beacon, Friday, April 1, 2016 RUNYAN: Coach had plenty of success with Warriors

FROM PAGE 15 In addition to his teaching and coaching, Runyan spent by three games while suf- ive years oficiating basket- fering their lone loss at the ball. hands of Harvey by a narrow “I had a ball doing that,” he margin. said. “And I think it helped “Those were some of me as a coach. In most cases the most exciting nights,” I was tolerant of oficials Runyan said. “The gyms because I had been in that were packed at Edgewood, position.” Jefferson, Conneaut and Runyan’s wife, Kathleen Geneva. It was such an (Leonard) was a year behind atmosphere. Now the gyms him at Edgewood. They mar- are bigger and spread out. ried in 1972 and have two I loved the excitement of children, Heather and Scott. smaller gyms and wall-to- Kathleen worked at Tim wall people.” Brown Chevrolet for 10 years In 1997-98 the Warriors before moving to Premix in went 14-6, 12-4 in the league North Kingsville, where she while inishing second to worked as an account clerk Conneaut, which had Tom for 31 years before retiring Church and beat the War- recently. riors in both games between Heather is a physical thera- the teams by narrow mar- pist assistant in Willoughby, gins, once in overtime. Edge- and with her husband, Jon wood started Lencl, Colby, Moon, a physical therapy Weagraff, Eric Bibler and a assistant in Lyndhurst, has sophomore, Jason Reed. two daughters, Grace, 11, So young it had two fresh- and Maggie 9. Scott was a men starting (Josh Roberts physical therapist in Wil- and Matt Krause) and a third, loughby until recently, when Adam Schumann, coming off he took a job building cabins the bench, Edgewood slipped SUBMITTED PHOTO in Harperield that will be to 7-7 in the league in 1998- Edgewood’s Al Runayn shown during his playing days with the Warriors. used for tourism. Scott lives 99. with his wife, the former Ka- Despite its 11-10 record in beside (assistant coaches) my last year,” he said. “I had have to make yourself heard tie Kauppila, in Geneva, with 1999-2000, that season was Kevin Andrejack and Dave issues with my throat after above the noise in the gym. their sons, Noah, 9, and A.J., one of Runyan’s most satis- McCoy and saying, ‘Can we coaching basketball and Vocal chords do not regen- 7, in Geneva. Katie teaches fying. The Warriors started be this bad?’ But we got it baseball for so many years, erate.” fourth grade in the Mentor 2-8 the irst half of the sea- back and were almost un- plus seven years of junior During his years of coach- School System. son, but hit their stride and beatable the second half of high football, two years of ing, Runyan compiled an Al himself retired in 2010. went 9-1 the second half. the season. JV softball, eight years of admirable record. In all the He and Kathleen keep them- “We lost to Madison in “They kept on working and summer baseball and six basketball games he was selves busy tending to their overtime the second half turned things around, never years of YMCA soccer. That head coach at any level, he 10 acres of land, though Al of the season and to Lake gave up.” doesn’t count all the years of posted a 221-145 won-loss did help Steve Kray with the Catholic at the buzzer in the Runyan’s inal year as head teaching mark (.603). As a varsity Edgewood girls basketball tournament,” Runyan said. coach, 2000-2001, proved to “So many years of project- basketball coach he was 77- team in 2014-15. “With Josh and Adam and be his worst, and not only ing my voice wore it out,” 49 (.611) overall, 62-30 in the “A lot of it I miss,” he said Brian Gowday we were using because of the Warriors’ Runyan said. “I didn’t feel NEC (.674). Those numbers of coaching. “I truly enjoyed three sophomores. When I record (6-8 in the NEC). that I could coach in a gym include a 9-3 record against teaching the game of basket- look back on our horrible “I had decided before the like I use to. It’s not that Harbor, 5-1 against Riverside ball. I always found it enjoy- start, I remember sitting season that that would be I yelled so much, but you and 8-5 against Jefferson. able working with kids.”