Boardman superintendent’s trip a “labor of love”

It took Youngstown Boardman school superintendent Frank Lazzeri and wife Charleen some five hours, 45 minutes to make the trip to Columbus to watch Boardman’s girls basketball team play in the state tournament at Ohio State.

“We counted as least 20 cars in the ditch,” Charleen said. “It was just awful.”

Frank Lazzeri called the school en route and canceled two buses that were to have transported students to last night’s Division I semifinal against West Chester Lakota West.

“We would have had about 100 more students here, but we had safety in mind,” Mr. Lazzeri said. “The problem mainly was glazed roads. We didn’t see many state trucks out. I think it was because the roads were so crowded with traffic. It wasn’t pretty. It was a labor of love getting here. It was a harrowing experience. I’ll tell you, it’s just a pleasure to be here.’’

The Lazzeris planned to return to Youngstown last night, but decided to stay and wait out the weather.

“I’m proud of our fans who did make it down here,’’ he said.

Approximately 70 fans were in the Boardman cheering section behind one basket.