Eight are inducted into Euclid Sports Hall of Fame
Sports fans and sports icons alike filled the Manor Party Center in Euclid on the evening of Sept. 30 to celebrate the latest additions to the Euclid High Schools’ Sports Hall of Fame.
The gathering at the 24th annual Hall of Fame dinner included such celebrities and sports figures as Bob Addis, who coached the Euclid Panthers to a state baseball title in the early 1960s; former head basketball Coach Hal “Doc” Daugherty, for whom the high school gym is now named; former track coaches Bob Ramlow and Ted Theodore; Hall of Fame chairman Chuck Hill, one of the most loyal supporters of Euclid sports teams; and Euclid Alumni Director Joe Mayer, who was an assistant to the late legendary wrestling coach Clarence Eckert during the golden years of the 1950s when the Panther matmen brought home two state championships.
Other notables on hand included Euclid Mayor Bill Cervenik, and serving as emcee for the evening, John Telich Jr., the highly popular TV8 sportscaster who has been appearing on the station’s Friday night high school football wrap-up show. (His dad, John Telich Sr., a long-time Euclid businessman and sports enthusiast, took in the evening’s performances from a front-row seat.)
It was a night for reminiscing and renewing old acquaintances. But the spotlight shone brightest on the eight inductees in the 2010 Hall of Fame class, two of whom were honored posthumously. Six were chosen primarily for their athletic achievements: John M. Arlesic (’92), Steven D. Gebe (’61), Blair P. Jordan (’73). Tim Moriarty (’80), Frank A. Soltesz (’92), and Shawn C. Thompson (’93).
One inductee—Harry King Jr.—was selected for his coaching prowess, and another, Tim Baur, was recognized in the lifetime achievement category for his many years of work with the Euclid Jaycees’ Kid Wrestling program, which became a building block for the Euclid Panther mat teams.
“I absolutely loved coaching,” King told the crowd during his acceptance speech. “We had the most knowledgeable wrestling fans. It was an absolute fun time.” He once took his wrestlers on a canoe trip to the Okefenokee Swamp to help get them into shape. “The canoe tipped over--right next to a huge alligator,” he recalled with a chuckle. Among the matmen he guided at Euclid, was heavyweight Shawn Thompson, who entered the Sports Hall of Fame along with him that evening.
Baur, a long-time Euclid realtor, took over the Kid Wrestling program in 1974 and has been running it ever since. Emcee John Telich noted that more than 8,000 youngsters have participated in the program, which “gives kids a chance to get out on the mat and develop a little self-esteem.” Since its inception, the program has been designed to ensure that all participants finish with a sense of accomplishment.
In high school, Baur wrestled at 120 pounds for the late Clarence Eckert and placed high in the prestigious Brecksville holiday tournament. He paid tribute to several coaches who had been influential in his career, including Bill DeMora, who was an assistant under Eckert.
Baur amused the audience with this anecdote from his high school days: “When I was a sophomore,” he said, “I wasn’t able to make weight before a wrestling meet against St. Joe’s. So I decided to skip school that day.” However, he wanted to watch the mat battle between the Panthers and the Vikings, so he snuck into the gym and huddled with the other spectators. “But Coach DeMora spotted me sitting in the stands and shouted at me---‘Youuuuuu!!!’”
Here, in alphabetical order, are snapshots of the six athletes inducted:
John Arlesic (’92): An All-GCC quarterback as a senior, he played on Coach Tom Banc’s great football teams of the early 1990s. He also played baseball for Hall of Fame Coach Paul Serra and, in his final game for the Panthers, he and his teammates helped Coach Serra secure his 400th win. For the last 13 years, he has been a high school mathematics teacher and football coach, recently taking over the head coaching job at Streetsboro.
Steven D. Gebe (’61): Now deceased, Gebe lettered in football during the era of Coach Don Mohr, earning All-Ohio honors as a fullback. He also wrestled for three years under Coach Eckert and Assistant Coach Mayer, becoming a district champion in his junior year. Later on, he carved out a 43-year career in the industrial world, working at Reliance Electric Co.’s Ivanhoe Road plant and later for Kennametal Corp, in Solon. At the Hall of Fame banquet, his son Eric appeared on his behalf.
Blair P. Jordan, M.D. (’73): At Euclid High, he played basketball for two years under Coach “Doc” Daugherty and lettered for three years on Coach Herb Nold’s tennis teams. In his senior year, he captained the tennis team. He later played tennis and basketball at Denison University and earned his medical degree in surgery from the University of Texas Medical Branch in 1985. For the past 26 years, Blair has served as a vascular surgeon at the Sadler Clinic in Texas. At the dinner, “Doc” Daugherty accepted for “Doc” Jordan, who was unable to attend.
Tim Moriarty (’80): A two-way tackle on Coach Ron Seymour’s football squads, Tim was Euclid High’s first Parade Magazine All-American. At 6-foot-2, 245 pounds, he won All-GCC and All-Scholastic honors in high school and earned a football scholarship to The Ohio State University, starting a trend of outstanding Euclid gridders heading to the Buckeyes in the decades to follow. After two years at OSU, he finished his college football career at Sam Houston State in Texas, before beginning a career as an equipment operator for the city of Cleveland Heights.
Frank A. Soltesz (’92): Honored posthumously, Frank Soltesz is believed by many to have been the greatest hockey player ever to compete for the Panthers. He earned varsity letters in track and field (as a pole vaulter) and in soccer, as well as in hockey, where he played goalie. He later earned four varsity hockey letters at the University of Massachusetts. After college, he spent six years as a professional hockey player, including a stint with the Cleveland Lumberjacks. His father, Frank C. Soltesz and his wife Martha were on hand to accept the honor on his behalf.
Shawn C. Thompson (’93): The 6-1, 265-pounder was a two-way lineman for Coach Tom Banc’s football team and also earned three letters in wrestling—as a heavyweight, naturally—under Coach Tim D’Anna. He also tossed the shot put and discus for Coach Bob Ramlow’s track teams. In football, Shawn earned All-GCC and Second Team All-Ohio honors and was chosen to play in the annual East-West game. As a senior captain of the wrestling team, he qualified for the state tournament by placing fourth in the district. He was named Euclid High’s Most Outstanding Athlete in the Class of 1993. Later, he was a four-year starter in football at Kent State. He has spent the past 12 years as a special education teacher, most recently at Lincoln West High School. He also served as head wrestling coach at East Tech.