Chaney HOF 2009 inductees

Chaney High School will induct 18 members into its Athletics Hall of Fame on April 24 at Antone’s Banquet Center. Tickets are $25 each. For details, call Tim Gleason at 330-719-8700 or email twg@oac.org.

Ron Berdis (1970) football, coaching

As a guard, linebacker and place kicker, Berdis helped Chaney to City titles in 1968-69 and earned all-City in 1969. He won the Hatchet Man Award for most tackles at Mount Union. Berdis became the head coach in 1987 and is the winningest coach in City Series history. going 128-72 in 20 seasons with eight playoff appearances, 14 league titles and two undefeated seasons.

Michael Dimoff (1958) football, track

A four-year letterman and two-way starter, Dimoff was an all-City guard and team MVP in 1957.

Mack Gilchrist (1991) football

A four-year starter and letterman, Gilchrist was a three-time all-City selection in football from 1988-1990. Playing both sides of the ball, Gilchrist received all-Ohio and all-district honors, earning first team all-state as a defensive back in 1990. After signing with YSU, Gilchrist became a member of the 1993 and 1994 championship teams as a fullback and special teams player.

Rick Havrilla (1993) baseball, basketball, football

Havrilla received all-City honors in three sports. At quarterback in 91-92, he went 19-4 and led Chaney to its first playoff appearance and first playoff victory in school history. He is the school’s all-time leading scorer in basketball and was a four-year starter in baseball at Chaney and at YSU.

George Hlebak Jr. (1975) football

In 1973, Hlebak earned the Headhunter Award for special teams and in 1974 was named outstanding junior offensive lineman. He earned all-City as a senior on the undefeated 1975 team, then played collegiately at Baldwin-Wallace.

Michael Kernan (1984) baseball, basketball, football

In football and basketball, Kernan started every game for three seasons and was the starting catcher his senior year. Receiving all-City honors in football and basketball, Kernan was also all-district and all-Ohio as a defensive back. Collegiately, he was Hiram’s defensive MVP from 1985-87 earning all-conference honors as a DB.

Ken Kollar (1977) football

A letterman at defensive back for three City Series champions, Kollar played collegiately at Syracuse where he is still ninth on the team’s all-time tackle list. He is currently the coach for the West Catholic Crusaders youth football team.

Steve Krivonak (1964) postgraduate baseball

Krivonak played football for the Cowboys and later was a four-year starter on the sandlot with the Class B Girard Zicard team. He managed the Class B League champions Campbell A.C., winning two National Amateur Baseball Federation championships and three Class B League championships.

Tom Mager (1993) baseball, football

Mager lettered in baseball and football from 1990-93. He earned the Iron Arm most valuable pitcher award and helped the Cowboys to four straight City titles. In football, he played tackle and center and was a captain. He played football and baseball at Case Western Reserve. In 1997, he was awarded the Arthur P. Leary Award as the most outstanding male athlete at Case.

Dan Mancuso (1975) football

Mancuso was part of three straight City Series championship teams as a fullback and wingback, earning all-City honors as a fullback his senior year. He played collegiately at Capital University.

Marco Morgan (1990) track

Morgan was undefeated in the hurdles from his sophomore to his senior years at Chaney, setting new records in the 110 and 330 hurdles. As a senior, Morgan placed first in the state meet in the 330 and posted the fastest time in the nation at the Keebler International high school meet. At Blinn Jr. College in Texas, Morgan was on a relay team that beat Carl Lewis and his team in California. He then excelled at St Augustine College in North Carolina before going on to compete internationally.

Jim Mullally (1974) baseball, basketball coaching

Mullally coached Chaney to City Series titles in three sports. His basketball teams were state-ranked, earning eight sectional titles. He won district coaching honors in 1996 and 1999. He was Chaney’s athletics director from 2000-08.

Sylvester Patton III (1993) football

At tailback, Patton helped lead the Cowboys to three City Series titles from 1990-92. By the time Patton was a senior; he was named all-district, all-conference and all-state, helping Chaney to playoff berths in 1991 and 1992. He played collegiately at Toledo at tailback, free safety and punt and kickoff returner.

Mike Popio (1976) baseball, football coaching

As Chaney’s head baseball coach, Mike Popio recorded a school-record 224 wins, 14 City Series titles and three 20-win seasons. He was a standout football and baseball player in high school and played baseball at YSU.

Chris Sammarone (1990) baseball, football

An All-City linebacker and baseball player, Sammarone won numerous awards including all-district, all-Ohio and all-City honors. He earned national honors as a linebacker at YSU as a member of three national title teams.

Melanie Sklepko (1993) basketball, track, volleyball

Sklepko had a four-year standout track career, eventually placing at the state meet as a senior and placing at several national meets. She continued her track career at Villanova in the pentathlon and heptathlon, helping the team to the Big East title in 1997.

Robert Steinbeck (1980) football, track

Steinback earned eight varsity letters in three years. He was a standout at running back, earning all-City honors in 1979, and set school records in the long jump and 440-yard relay in track. He also lettered twice in basketball. Collegiately, he played in four bowl games at Pitt.

Lou “Chip” Zitello (1968) football, postgraduate baseball

Zitello was a three-year letterman in football (1965-67) as a standout wide receiver. He earned all-City, all-district and all-Ohio honors his senior year. He played baseball at YSU, earning three letters as a left fielder. He was inducted into YSU’s Hall of Fame in 1994.