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Tokash set to join Mercyhurst HOF
By Tom Williams
CANFIElD
Two decades ago when Adam Tokash was a student at Boardman High School, he dabbled in baseball and basketball.
Volleyball was his sport of choice.
Throughout high school, Tokash made trips to Pittsburgh twice a week in the spring to practice with a Junior Olympic volleyball team.
That experience led to a scholarship to Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa., where he became the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer with 1,743 points,
Tonight, Tokash’s success at Mercyhurst is being recognized as he is one of eight inductees for the Mercyhurst Athletics Hall of Fame.
He’s the first men’s volleyball player to be inducted.
“Before the announcement, I had received a call from a former coach that it was a possibility,” Tokash said Friday. “It still was a pleasant surprise.”
Tokash also has the Lakers records for career aces (143) and career digs (679). He ranks second in career kills (1,432) and third in solo blocks (88).
Tokash began playing volleyball when he was 7. His father, John, was a longtime volleyball coach and referee.
“He once coached the women’s team at [Youngstown State University],” Tokash said.
In high school, Tokash eventually dropped his baseball and basketball to concentrate on volleyball.
“I knew I had a better chance for a volleyball scholarship,” said Tokash, who lives in Canfield with and his wife, Christina, and sons Sean and Josh. He’s a territory manager for Bioventus.
“Traveling to Pittsburgh twice a week for practice required a lot of dedication,” Tokash said.
Motivating him was the chance to play against Division I competition.
“I had been playing volleyball for so long, so being able to compete at the highest level was very much what I wanted,” Tokash said.
The memory that stands out came in his senior year when Mercyhurst upset Top 5-ranked Ball State.
Tonight’s banquet is part of Mercyhurst’s fourth annual Reunion Weekend. Tokash estimates that two dozen family, friends and old teammates will be there.
“I’m looking forward to seeing teammates I’ve not seen in about 15 years,” he said.