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BOE recognizes boys cross-country team
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
BOARDMAN
The board of education recognized the boys varsity cross-country team for its award-winning season.
The seven athletes, coached by John Phillips, were regional qualifiers, Mahoning County champions for the ninth-straight year, Suburban League regular-season champions, also for the ninth-consecutive year, and had the team’s best finish at the Northeast Ohio district championship at Canton.
“I think this is just the beginning,” said Superintendent Frank Lazzeri, at the board meeting Monday. “We have a nucleus of young sophomores on this team. We’re expecting great things in the future.”
Phillips thanked the board for the recognition and for supporting the team’s activities.
“It’s unique for Boardman to have that,” he said. “Most school districts don’t have that kind of support for a sport like ours, so we definitely want to thank you and the community.”
The team hopes to win Federal League, district and state championships in the future.
“That’s the goal of these guys, and I’m glad to be along for the ride,” Phillips said. “They’re outstanding student athletes, and that’s what makes them a great group.”
All have high grade-point averages, he said.
The team members are Jacob Whitford, Samuel Sheronovich, Mark Hadley, Alan Burns, Justin Maroni, Jacob Kelleck and Juan Santiago.
“You guys have shown an amazing accomplishment, and I know the work that had to have gone into it,” said board President Ken Beraduce. “And your commitment to what you’re doing, along with keeping up your grades, that’s just phenomenal.”
The meeting was the last for Beraduce, who lost his bid for re-election in November.
“I think we’ve done a lot of good things in the eight years that I’ve been around. And that’s been a result of the entire board’s commitment, not just me by any stretch of the imagination,” he said.
Niklaus Amstutz will replace Beraduce in January. The board’s organizational meeting will be 6 p.m. Jan. 9 at Boardman Center Middle School.