The Chardon Alumni Association and Chardon High School Athletic Department introduced the 2013 Hall of Fame honorees during the pre-game festivities at the football game on Friday, September 13th. The school district hosted a reception for honorees and their friends and family prior to the start of the outdoor festivities.
Check out the great Pastor Photography pics HERE
The CHS Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees were selected based on their accomplishments and overall contributions to their professions and communities. This year’s honorees are Lew Sanborn, class of 1948. A sky diving legend and international champion. A parachuting and sky diving design and manufacturing innovator. Bonnie Perkins Pisching, class of 1959. Pioneer in local and regional school library automation. CHS teacher and librarian for 35 years. Jennings Scholar, OEML Aaward. Bill Jackson, class of 1968. Honored for his strong interest and commitment to preserve the history of the region. Chardon Bi-Centennial chairman. Significant contribution and involvement in regional and local charities. Debbie Lehmann Chuha, class of 1978. A Chardon area advocate. Community involvement in multiple organizations; Chardon Square Association, CHS Alumni Association, Chardon Bi-Centennial.
The 2013 CHS Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
Bobby Sotka’88 Bobby was a standout football and baseball player at Chardon High School. On the football field Bobby was very instrumental in Chardon's first play-off run. In Chardon’s first ever play-off game in 1987 while playing with a broken thumb and cast, Bobby made a key touchdown catch in the last minute to send the game into overtime. Chardon went on to beat the #1 ranked team in the state in overtime. In baseball Bobby was All-CVC, All-Geauga County shortstop in 87 and 88. He had a .career 404 batting average, 81 hits and started 26 double plays. Bobby was the driving force behind the creation of the Alumni Football Team, which raised $10,000 for the families of the Chardon shooting. Bobby attended Hiram College, where he was a member of the football team. After Hiram, Bobby started a very successful painting company. He currently is the manager and co-owner of the Three Palms restaurant in Hudson.
Korey Rice’95 Korey was the anchor of the offensive and defensive lines for the Chardon 1994 State Championship football team. Korey, the offensive center, lead the last second sneak vs rival West Geauga with no time outs to keep the Hilltoppers10-0 season in tact in 1994. He earned All-Ohio honors for the 1994 football season. A leader on and off the field then and now, Korey sends out a State Championship newsletter every year on the date of the State Championship to keep in touch with his teammates. After graduation, Korey continued his playing career at Ashland. Korey currently lives in Eugene, Oregon and teaches at the University of Oregon, helping to assimilate international students to the university, the English language and American culture. Korey is represented tonight by his parents, his mother, Carolyn and father, Larry, who taught and coached at Chardon High School.
The 1978 Girls Cross Country Team earned the first girls state championship in Chardon High School history and captured the first girls state cross country championship in OHSAAhistory. Dominant in both dual meets and large meets, the team earned a 5-0 record in dual meets. Their performance in the OHSAAtournament meets was even more impressive. The team won the Sectional Meet with a score of 34 points, a winning margin of 22. The team won the District Meet with 54 points, and secured the State Championship by a slim 6-point margin, with Juanita Vetter, Nancy Pokorny and Nancy Marusha all finishing in the Top 10.
Team members from the 1978 team are Bonnie Burris, Patty Trepanier, Susan Trepanier, Juanita Vetter, Nancy Pokorny, Nancy Marusha, Sue Marusha, Terry Evans, represented by her brother Jeff Evans and Coach Roger Sweet.
The 1979 Girls Cross Country Team successfully defended their state championship and earned the only back-to-back state championship in Chardon High School history. Featuring many returning runners and an influx of new, young talent, the team earned a 6-0 record in dual meets. The team also won seven invitational titles in 1979, along with Sectional and District championships. The team won the state championship with an impressive 35 points, outdistancing the runner-up by 50 points.
Team members from the 1979 team are Juanita Vetter, Nancy Pokorny, Nancy Marusha, Sue Marusha, Mary Pat Marusha, Polly Chapman, Sharon Shiffler, Tammy Seacrist, represented by her daughter, Stephanie Kumler and Coach Roger Sweet, who coach three state championship teams, the 1972 Boys State Champs, and the two girls teams.