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Trumbull Sports HOF inducts 14
By Greg gulas
warren
The Trumbull County Sports Hall of Fame honored 14 new members on Sunday at DiVieste’s Banquet Center.
They used their speeches to honor the people who helped them get there.
Honorees included Lisa (Kuszmaul) Aldridge (basketball); Len Batcha (sports officiating); Jim Borgen (contribution to sports/boxing); Doug Datish (football); John Gillen (sports administration/football); Reid Lamport (multi-sports); Jan Lendak (baseball); Al Lopez (coach/administrator); Tom Miller (boxing); Steve Potashnik (baseball); Ed Puskas (sports media); Larry Seafert (basketball); Jack Tominey (track and field) and Paul Kopko, who was presented the first ever Pete Prokop Memorial Coaching Award.
“Tonight’s inductees were singled out for their many accomplishments, but they did not get here entirely on their own. They arrived here because of support and encouragement from those around them,” Matt Underwood, Cleveland Indians television voice and guest speaker said. “Also, it’s what you do when no one is watching that counts most. Father Time and Mother Nature remain undefeated so you better enjoy your time when competing.”
Aldridge, one of two basketball players honored and the only woman selected in this year’s class, singled out the efforts of noted Trumbull County basketball Cal Cavalcante.
“There really were no girls’ basketball records kept back then and Cal [Cavalcante] took it upon himself to research those statistics. For him to go through all that trouble made all of the women who have played this sport appreciative of his efforts,” Aldridge stated.
Batcha, a football and basketball official for over 40 years and a volleyball official for two decades as well, was the lone posthumous selection.
His wife, Jean, accepted on his behalf.
“Len always said that there were three positives when it came to officiating. He said they had the best view in the house; that no two plays were ever alike and they could whistle while they work,” she noted.
Borgen called a chance meeting with famed boxing promoter, Don Elbaum, the kick-start of his promotional career.
“[Don] Elbaum was a young promoter and he was doing a show at the Akron Armory. He threw me the keys to his Cadillac and told me to go around town and put up his posters,” he said. “I didn’t use his car, opting instead to walk around town putting up posters only to find out that my pay was six tickets to the fight.”
Datish, a Howland native, is a former Ohio State grid star and the only player in the 124-year history of the sport at the school to start 10 or more games at three different positions.
As a senior he served as center for Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, taking time to thank all Veterans for the many freedoms afforded all athletes so that they can play chosen sport, be it on the scholastic, collegiate or professional level.
“I look at the 11 classes and there are a variety of honorees that have helped me along the way,” Datish said.
Warren JFK director of athletics John Gillen continues a 53-year association with the school and his 43 in the Eagles’ athletic department.
“’I’ve worked for 14 different principals and each one had a different perspective on athletics. Because of that perception, each one has kept me on my toes,” he stated.
OHSAA commissioner Dan Ross singled out Batcha’s work as an official and Lopez, a longtime Northeast District Board member.
“You are going to be around thousands of people over the course of your lifetime and you only hope that a handful will touch you in a meaningful way. As a coach, educator and OHSAA board member, Al Lopez was that person,” Ross said. “He touched many lives and those whose lives he did touch were all the better because of his friendship.”