Chaney grads lament end of sports tradition

By Karl Henkel

khenkel@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

From Heisman-trophy winning halfback Frank Sinkwich, a former first overall pick of the Detroit Lions in 1943, to Brad Smith, current New York Jets receiver, Chaney High School has produced a myriad of big-name athletes.

As much as Chaney was about its athletic success, it was equally about the family atmosphere, even before a student started attending the school, and lingered well after the final seconds expired from an athlete’s playing days.

That fact made Wednesday’s announcement, in which Youngstown School superintendent Connie Hathorn outlined a restructuring of the district, involving the end of athletics at Chaney, more hollowing for those who devoted years to their alma mater.

One it touched was Ron Berdis, longtime football coach, who’s had Chaney in his blood for as long as he could remember; his father played on the first undefeated team in school history in 1929.

“You knew this day was coming,” Berdis said. “But you never really expected the day to be here.”

Read the story in Friday’s Vindicator and vindy.com.