Athletes Share Memories at Hall of Fame Ceremony

STEUBENVILLE—The J. C. Williams Center spilled over with laughter and excitement Friday evening as some of Franciscan University of Steubenville's most outstanding athletes from the past 50 years gathered to share memories with friends and family for the annual Baron Hall of Fame inductions.

The 1981 women's basketball team was inducted as a whole, in addition to three founding members of the College of Steubenville football team and two members of the men's basketball team.

Before the ceremony, alumni from nearly every year since 1955 mingled in the atrium sharing laughter and memories.  Many had not been back to visit since graduation: Honoree Lisa Frankovitch called the event "divine intervention," allowing her to see friends from her basketball team whom she hadn't seen in 30 years.

Honoree Beverly (Solomon '82) Glenn agreed.  "This was the best idea! It's so good to see the team again, from here maybe we can start some sort of reunion."

The event was rescheduled from February, when a storm dumped 22" of snow and shut down the city of Steubenville.  Most honorees and their families were still able to attend, some coming from as far away as California.

The first inductee was the "distinguished, honored, respected, loved" retired service member who has held the University's record for rebound points—1,195—since he graduated 50 years ago: John Blanda '60.  Blanda told stories of his basketball days, joking with former teammate and Hall of Fame committee member John Nese about why he had never passed him the ball ("Coach said, 'Whatever you do, don't throw the ball to Nese!'") and crediting those who had helped him achieve his dreams.

 "You have to be a good basketball player, but you also have to be lucky," Blanda said.  His "winning hand"?  Blanda's family is his "ace of spades;" the College of Steubenville was his "king;" basketball coach Hank Kuzma his "queen;" his teammates the "jack;" and his wife and college sweetheart Emily his "10."

The Rev. Dr. Dan Rogich '79, the University's fifth all-time high scorer with 1398 points, was inducted next.  Rogich played basketball for the College of Steubenville from 1975-79.  As a freshman, Rogich sunk a 20-foot jump shot.  He credited his achievements to the support of his parents, who traveled to almost all of his games, and dedicated his induction to his father's memory.  Rogich is now the pastor of the Greek Orthodox Church in Canton, Ohio.

"The hall of fame here is also a spiritual hall of fame," Rogich observed after the ceremony.  "It carries a connection to what the University stands for, and makes us [alumni] appreciate what the school is doing and how it is thriving."

The College of Steubenville Saints were only in their fourth season of intercollegiate competition in the fall of 1980, when a collection of remarkable young women gathered for the basketball team.  Those 12 women went on to become the "most outstanding team the University has ever had," according to Hall of Fame committee chairman Joseph Nolan.

It was Michael Garan's first year as coach, and many of the players were only sophomores.  After losing the first three games of the season, Garan remembers standing in front of the team and asking, "Why am I here?"  One girl replied, "Because you have the keys to the gym."

The team went on to win 13 of their next 19 games, winning the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics district 22 championship, winning by 20 points in the first round.  Their remarkable drive finally ended with a loss in the regional championship at Joliet, Illinois.

"That's the game that stands out the most," honoree Ann Koch '83 said.  "Most of the parents drove out too.  It was amazing to be there."

Garan, Koch, Frankovitch, Glenn, Doris (Kanz '82) Buzzard, Cathy (Campanell '83) Kovach, Kathleen Madigan '83, and Lisa Ulrich were present to accept the award.  Not present were assistant coach Ronald Beebe, statistician Philip Rujak '86, Suzanne Blicharski, Colleen O'Brien '83, Periann Powell, Deborah Przepasniak '81, and Tamara (Hoffman '82) Walker.

In 1947, three friends decided that it was time for the College of Steubenville to have a football team.  Within a few months, John Lemal '55, Frank Cortez, Sr., and Paul Carapellotti, Sr. managed to raise over $10,000 to start building a team.  They would go on to become some of the first letter winners in any sport at the College.

The three were members of the "greatest generation," who served their country in World War II before attending college.  After graduation, the three raised their families locally and went on to contribute in civic, educational, and spiritual ways to the community.  Lemel was present to accept the award, although Cortez was unable to attend and Carapellotti was honored posthumously.

Many of the alumni, faculty, and friars who attended the event enjoyed the opportunity to remember some of the past glory days.  Father Michael Scanlan, TOR, summed the evening up very simply:

"Good memories… lots of good memories."