Here are the elite of run-and-kick class of '03

KEN "KIKI" WILLIS
School/grade: Cardinal Mooney, junior.
Statistics and accomplishments: High School All-American for second time by NSCAA/Adidas; All-Ohio Division II player of year, All-Ohio first team, District player of year, District champions, regional finals runner-up. Scored 50 goals in 2003 and 116 career goals.
Name someone who has been a positive influence on your athletic career: Mr. Alex Simon, who has helped me to be a class act on and off the field. He has helped me to gain higher leadership qualities that are needed to carry a team and I would like to thank Mr. Simon for all that he has done in developing me as a player and a person.
Best memory from this season: It may not have been a good memory, but it's one that still tends to linger in my mind and it was losing the regional finals against Chagrin Falls. Seeing the faces of our seniors after the final whistle blew and it showed how much losing tore their hearts apart and the opposing team winning, shows that you need to have a burning desire to accomplish what's most important to you.
Something people don't know about you or would be surprised to learn: I had two opportunities to play against, socialize and become a friend to Freddie Adu.
KYLE ARNOLD
School/grade: Badger, senior.
Statistics and accomplishments: A team record of 13-3-3, with 62 team goals and 12 team shutouts.
Positive influence: Craig Keller because he has pushed me throughout my life to do my best and reach my full potential in everything I do.
Best memory: Joe Meloni throwing the ball into Raymond Gaines, who headed it into the back of the net at Bloomfield.
Surprised to learn: I played the triangle in the school band.
JASON BLACK
School/grade: Champion, senior.
Statistics and accomplishments: Helped team to regional semifinals; Most Valuable Player on 2003 champion team; four-year letterman, two-year varsity captain; 2003 All-TAC-8, first team; 2003 All-District Division III first team; 2003 YDSSCA District Division III player of year; 2003 Division III All-State first team; school records: 14 of 20 games were shutouts, six consecutive shutouts, 20 career shutouts, .27 average in goals against.
Positive influence: Mr. Paul Graham and coach Nate Mailach. Both of these gentlemen always encouraged me to excel and accepted only the best from me. I would also like to thank them for taking time out of their busy schedules to help me.
Best memory: Winning back-to-back TAC-8 championships and the OHSAA Division III district championship.
Surprised to learn: I enjoy both participating in and coaching many different sports.
JOSEPH CAMPESI
School/grade: Boardman, senior.
Statistics and accomplishments: Division I Player of the Year, third team All-State, first team All-District, first team All-County, first team All-Federal League.
Positive influence: All of my coaches and assistant coaches at Boardman H.S. for the last four years, especially Neal Fowler, who exposed me to a higher level of competition with M.V.S., the Mahoning Valley Select Soccer Club.
Best memory: Our team beat a very tough GlenOak team in a shoot-out during sectionals.
Surprised to learn: I have developed into, what others tell me is, a very fine artist. I have done portraits and caricatures of many teachers, friends and family members. I come from a family that is nearly all artists and I plan to pursue further development of my artistic skills.
CHRIS DEPAOLA
School/grade: Ursuline, junior.
Statistics and accomplishments: First team All-County, first team All-District, first team All-Steel Valley Conference; team captain; led team in assists.
Positive influence: My dad for getting me started in soccer and always believing in me. And all of my coaches that I had over the years, for encouraging me.
Best memory: Making it to the district championship game.
Surprised to learn: I am a very good fly fisherman.
JOHN EMERY
School/grade: Champion, junior.
Statistics and accomplishments: One of my main goals was to win the TAC-8 championship again this year and another was to win the district championship. Scored 30 goals this year and 14 last year as a forward. Broke three school records (season scoring, season points, career goals) and tied a fourth (career points).
Positive influence: My coach Nate Mailach has been a very big influence on my high school career. He has helped me become the soccer player I am today. Coach has pushed me hard to become my best and I'm looking forward to my senior season with him.
Best memory: Winning the district championship. It was the biggest game of our lives and we pulled through, defeating Ursuline 2-1 for the championship.
CHRISTO FRANGOPOULOS
School/grade: Cardinal Mooney, senior.
Statistics and accomplishments: Second team All-State, All-SVC, All-State Academic; Captained team to 19-1-1 record and to regional finals; scored 15 goals this year (30 in career), 26 assists (school record), 57 assists for career (school record).
Positive influence: My parents because they push me to become better all the time. Also, all my coaches because they taught me the game.
Best memory: Scoring the winning goal against Canfield in the district finals in overtime.
Surprised to learn: I have a 4.3 grade-point average.
ROBERT GAVAZZI
School/grade: Champion, senior.
Statistics and accomplishments: All-District first team, All-County first team, All-TAC-8 first team, All-State third team; scored two goals.
Positive influence: Paul Graham, who was my coach from age 8 through 12 and is the indoor coach throughout high school. He always challenged me to accomplish bigger goals. Coach Nate Mailach talked me into continuing my high school soccer career and always made the season enjoyable.
Best memory: Winning the district championship.
Surprised to learn: I have asthma.
BARRY KIMPEL
School/grade: Columbiana, senior.
Statistics and accomplishments: Third team All-Ohio, first team All-District, first team All-County; scored 33 goals and 17 assists.
Positive influence: My family, because they have supported me throughout my soccer career.
Best memory: Scoring the winning penalty kick against Minerva.
Surprised to learn: I missed my whole freshman year of high school due to illness.
NATHAN J. MANG
School/grade: Niles, junior.
Statistics and accomplishments: Scored 20 goals. Named first team All-District, first team All-Trumbull County, first team All-MAC. Received the team's offensive MVP award and third-year letterman award.
Positive influence: My father because he taught me soccer all of my life, and he attends every game, tournament and practice, no matter the state/country I am in at the time.
Best memory: When I scored the only four goals in our game at Salem.
Surprised to learn: The first time I ever walked, I stood up on my infant legs and dribbled my brother Adam's mini ball.
LUCAS MARTORANA
School/year: Howland, senior.
Statistics and accomplishments: Team captain, with 10 goals and eight assists, third team all-Ohio, first team Youngstown District, first team Trumbull County, first team Metro Athletic Conference, MAC champions for the first time in school history, sectional champions for the second year in a row.
Positive influence: My father. He has always given me the flexibility to choose what sports I want to be active in. He has always supported me financially and mentally. He is always there for advice or suggestions.
Best memory: Definitely winning the Metro Athletic Conference. It was a goal of the team and mine from the beginning of the season, and to see our team grow and achieve what we set out to do was incredible.
Surprised to learn: When I was younger, all I did besides play soccer, was draw and dream of being a pilot. I was obsessed and amazed by flight.
STEVE NOVOTNY
School/grade: Ursuline, senior.
Statistics and accomplishments: First team All-Steel Valley Conference, second team All-Mahoning County, Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Academic Team, four-year letter-winner, team's defensive player of the year, senior captain. Helped team advance to the district finals for the third time in school's history.
Positive influence: My parents. They have always supported me in whatever sport I play.
Best memory: Beating JFK in the first round of the Division III playoffs.
Surprised to learn: I played 18 complete games this year.
PAT PASSEWITZ
School/grade: Austintown Fitch, senior.
Statistics and accomplishments: Third team All-State, first team All-District, first team All-County, second team All-Federal League, second team All-Steel Valley, YDSSA All-Star, four-year letter-winner, 2003 Fitch defensive player of the year, 2003 Fitch varsity co-captain. Made 156 saves for the season. Recorded 12 shutouts and a 1.25 goals-against average for his career.
Positive influence: My father always pushed me to strive to get to the top. The drive to push higher and farther was always an influence on the game or practice field.
Best memory: Saving a penalty kick in the last minutes of the game against Boardman to clinch a 2-0 victory.
Surprised to learn: Will attend Slippery Rock University and major in history, with a minor in military science.
MATTHEW PIETRO
School/grade: Canfield, senior.
Statistics and accomplishments: Scored 22 goals. Named to the first team All-MAC, first team All-Mahoning County, first team All-District, first team All-State, NSCAA/Adidas High School Scholar All-American Team.
Positive influence: My brother, Jonathan, because he always focused on doing honest hard work to accomplish a goal. This is the best characteristic he has.
Best memory: Our last game against Mooney in the district final.
KYLE SCHIMLEY
School/grade: Warren John F. Kennedy, junior.
Statistics and accomplishments: Second in goals and assists, JFK Coaches Award, first team All-County, first team All-District.
Positive influence: Phil Accordino and Coach Hartzell were great influences on my athletic strength and ability. Neil Fowler and my JFK coaches greatly contributed to my skill and knowledge of the game.
Best memory: The comeback victory over Ursuline.
Surprised to learn: I carry a 3.9 GPA.
CHRIS STYN
School/grade: Hubbard, senior.
Statistics and accomplishments: First team all-district, first team TAC-8, first team Trumbull County large school, Award of Academic Excellence.
Positive influence: My father because he always supports me in my sports and comes to every game. He tries to help improve my game as much as possible.
Best memory: When my team defeated the undefeated Champion Flashes, 2-0.
Surprised to learn: I have a 4.0 grade-point average and I am ranked first in my class.
COACH NATE MAILACH
School: Champion, second year.
Statistics and accomplishments: 18-2 team record (31-6 in two seasons), including 9-1 in the Trumbull Athletic Conference for first place. Team was ranked fifth in the final Division III state poll, won the district championship. He was also named the Youngstown District Coach of the Year for 2002 and 2003.
Positive influence: My parents have supported me since my first youth soccer game 20 years ago and still continue to come to the games to cheer me on. My father was one of the original Champion High School coaches in the late 1980s. It's an honor for me to continue the tradition he was responsible for creating.
Best memory: Being at the bottom of the pile during our district championship celebration. That night will go down as the greatest victory in Champion soccer history. Beating Lakeview twice was also a plus.
Surprised to learn: I also coach JV boys basketball at Grand Valley High School.