Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame

The Curbstone Coaches will induct the following sports figures into its hall of fame on May 2 at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman. Doors open at 5 p.m., with dinner at 6. Tickets cost $40. Call (330) 506-9829.

Rea Buttermore: He is the architect of five 300 games and four 800 sets and a myriad of tournament and individual titles. He won the Ohio Major Tournament in 1969. On June 1, 1969, he scored the highest four-game set in the nation when he rolled 1068, coming on games of 279, 244, 278 and 267. He was elected to the Y.M.B.A. (Youngstown Men’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1989 and in 2005, at 69, won the Senior Masters Tournament by averaging over 230 for 16 games.

Nick Cochran: A native of Girard, he was considered one of the top blue-chip football prospects in the state his senior year and one of the top football prospects to ever come out of the Mahoning Valley. He was an all-state first team pick and the Division II player of the year in both football and basketball his senior year. After one year at Ohio State, he returned to Youngstown State, where his 2,545 career passing yards and 169 completions is 11th all-time at YSU in both categories while his 16 TD passes is 16th.

P.J. Fecko: As a coach at Cardinal Mooney he has compiled a 10-year record of 95-31 with three state championships and two other appearances in the final. As a player for the Cardinals from 1990-92, he was a member of two Steel Valley Conference football championships.

Dominic “Byrd” Gampetro: Was one of the charter members and driving forces behind the establishing of the Curbstone Coaches over a half century ago. He was an avid sportsman and outdoorsman. Softball was his most competitive sport. In 1973, he was honored as the Curbstone Coaches “Man of the Year.”

Pete Mollica: The Niles native worked at The Vindicator from 1977 until his retirement in December. His main beat was Youngstown State, covering five of the Penguins’ six national championship football game appearances. A well-respected golfer, he covered that sport along with high school sports and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

Ron Moschella: Has coached Boardman’s girls basketball team to a record of 564-142, winning 19 Steel Valley Conference titles and two Federal League crowns. His teams advanced to the state final four in 2005 and 2008.

Phil Panno: A Wilson High graduate, he also played for the Campbell A.C. team in the Class B League. His greatest success came in the Class “AA” league where as either a player of player/coach, was a part of 13 overall league championships.

Mark “Bo” Pelini: A Mooney High graduate where he was a three-sport standout. Earned All-Steel Valley Conference and All-NEO honors in both football and basketball. Played at Ohio State from 1987-90, earning Academic All-Big honors. Started coaching after graduation and is currently the head coach at Nebraska.

Vince Pellegrini: An infielder, he played baseball from Little League through American Legion and was a member of the Quips’ diamond squad, also playing for Clarion State College for two seasons. Later coached at Grand Valley High School and McDonald. He posted a 430-283 overall mark, was named the “Trumbull County Coach of the Year” on 10 occasions and in 2001, was named to the Ohio H.S. Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.

Dan Reardon: A graduate of Canfield High School, has led Ursuline’s football team for the past six seasons, posting a 53-23 record and winning back-to-back state championships in 2008-09. His 2007 squad was 12-3 overall and made it to the state finals while his 2008 team posted a perfect 15-0 mark en-route to both the Steel Valley Conference crown and Division V state title. They followed that up with an 11-3 mark last season and their second straight state championship (it was the first time in Valley sports history that an area high school has won back-to-back state crowns) and over the past three seasons his teams have posted a 38-6 (.864) overall ledger.

Ken Sigurani: He was 5-0 in the K.O. Drugs H.S. Boxing tourney in 1989 and as an amateur from 1990-93, posted a 44-4 overall mark; qualifying as a welterweight for the 1992 Olympic Trials. He was a four-time (1991-94) Golden Gloves champion in both Cleveland and Youngstown; was the ‘93 Region 5 champion; the Ohio State Fair champion that same year and prior to turning professional the following year, was the eighth-ranked amateur in the United States. During a five-year professional career (1994-98), he was 22-3 overall with eight KOs and won the ‘96 World Boxing Federation crown and the following year, won the vacant (International Boxing Council) welterweight title as well. He retired after his last fight, that coming on October 23, 1998 when he lost a 10-round, split decision to Hector Camacho.

Melanie Skelpko: A standout track and field athlete at Chaney High School. She earned many state medals in four years at Chaney and earned high honors at national junior meets. Later competed at Villanova where she set five school records. Some of her many honors include being named a Jr. All-American by USA Track & Field (1993).

Myron Stallsmith: A long-time athletic director at Poland High School after a standout prep career at Goshen Union High School. He attended Ohio University where he played both football and baseball. He played a summer of rookie ball in the Philadelphia Phillies organization and began his teaching/coaching career at Poland in 1960.

DeCinda Taylor: A native of New Castle, Pa., she won the City tournament Team Handicap in 1998 while the following year in Division II, her 676 High Series was good enough for first-place overall. She rolled two 700 sets (700 and 719) in 1988-89. In01, she captured the City Tournament Doubles Handicap and the City Tournament Doubles Actual (1379). That year she also rolled her first 300 game and first ever 800 series (805).

John Vicarel: A long-time official working his first varsity game in 1977 between Beaver Local and Leetonia. He has worked several state championship games, and began officiating college football in 1986.

Staff report