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Education 1st, athletics 2nd for City chief
By Greg Gulas
BOARDMAN
Youngstown City Schools superintendent Dr. Connie Hathorn played quarterback for Arkansas-Pine Bluff and was good enough to earn a tryout with the Buffalo Bills in 1973.
But when it comes to education versus athletics, there’s no contest. The former football coach and 38-year basketball official knows an education lasts longer than a playing career, although he said athletics can play a big part in a student’s growth process.
“Without my four-year degree, I’d probably still be walking down the streets of Louisville, Miss,” said Hathorn, one of three speakers at Monday’s noon luncheon for the Curbstone Coaches. “I love our many students and I do not want them to go through what I went through back in the 1960’s when I was growing up.”
Hathorn said when he interviewed for the superintendent position, it made no sense to him that the city’s test scores were so low.
“We cannot continue to teach classes like when we were taught,” he. “I am a visual learner and in order to succeed we have to change with the times. I am a very determined person who has been called a very impatient person when wanting to get things done.
“You just have to believe in what you are doing in order to get things done.”
Ed Matey, the city’s director of athletics, gave an update of the Rayen Stadium renovation project, noting that with pledges and monetary commitments, $1.6 million of the $2.7 million has been raised.
“We’ve applied for a lot of trusts and we’ll know more about those after the first of the year, when some of those monies will be released,” said Matey, who added that many local businesses have also made contributions and many of those names have yet to be released.
Matey received a check for $100 on Monday from a former band member who lives in Tucson, Ariz.
“He played on that field throughout his scholastic career [and] wants to see the renovation project come to fruition,” Matey said.
The Curbstoners recognized McDonald coach Chris Rupe and the members of his cross country team, which captured the school’s sixth state title this fall. Team members were Patrick Kunkel and Kyle Joynes, co-captains, Bobby Johnson, Allan Coviello, Tyler Smith, Brian Kelzer, Patrick McCarthy and Josh Bosheff.
“We knew that this team had amazing potential, but it wasn’t a foregone conclusion that we would put it all together and end up as state champions,” said Rupe, whose school trails Caldwell’s seven titles on Ohio’s all-time list. “We were ranked No. 1 all season long and with that ranking came added pressure. This team, however, turned that pressure into a positive as much as possible with that big a target on their backs.”
After missing out on state competition by six points in 1998, the Blue Devils have been to Columbus 13 straight years, averaging a 3.3 finish over that span.
“We missed out in ’98, but that team met at the end of the season to re-dedicate themselves to becoming the best that they could be, and then went out in the spring and won the state track and field championship,” Rupe said.