Boardman’s Vaschak battling brain cancer

October 23, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

Veteran official and

educator battling

form of brain cancer

BOARDMAN

Boardman’s Mike Vaschak has been one of the area’s most respected officials for the past 35 years,

He’s worked 10 boys and seven girls state basketball championship games, as well as a title game and three semifinal contests in football.

His biggest enjoyment, however, was derived from witnessing the many athletes he officiated going all-out, leaving everything they had on the field and fighting until the final gun sounded.

Diagnosed with brain cancer less than two months ago, Vaschak now finds himself in a fight that he vows to win, drawing strength from family, friends and the players he arbitrated over the years.

His son, Jonathon, is a member of the Glenwood Middle School football team.

They have paired up with rival Center Middle to host a “Spirit Exhibition Game,” which will be played on Saturday in Vaschak’s honor at the new Spartan Stadium.

“I truly am humbled by this gesture and while I don’t feel as if I deserve something like this, I cannot tell you how appreciative I am of everyone’s efforts,” Vaschak said. “It’s just a temporary bump in the road as I plan on beating this and sticking around for a long, long time.”

For many years, the two middle schools squared off in what became known as the Spartan Bowl or THE game of each of their seasons.

This year, it was going to transition into a “Spirit Game” for both sides with the intent to look toward the future and taking part at the next level — high school.

When Nick Hewko, the Spartans’ assistant athletic director, heard of Vaschak’s diagnosis, he worked with the two schools, its Booster Club and John Mang, area assigner of officials, to make sure this year’s spirit game was played in honor of one of its own.

“I’ve always respected Mike as an official in both sports, but really came to appreciate him even more when he coached my son, Nicholas, the past two years in basketball at the YMCA’s Main Branch in downtown Youngstown,” Hewko said. “He always took the time to teach the kids, never got flustered and made sure that everyone felt as if they were the most important player on the team. His diagnosis absolutely floored me and I just felt like we had to do something for one of our own.”

Vaschak, a 1972 Campbell Memorial graduate who recently retired after 37 years in education, was working lunch duty at his alma mater when he felt as if something just wasn’t right.

That was Sept. 10, a day that he said he will never forget.

“I didn’t feel well so I told our assistant principal, Brad Yeager. The next thing I know they tell me I’ve had two seizures and I’m at St. Elizabeth Hospital on Belmont Avenue,” he said. “Then, I’m at the Cleveland Clinic and they’re running every test imaginable. I just cannot thank everyone enough for all of the care that they have administered thus far.”

Vaschak is currently undergoing six weeks of extensive treatment, receiving chemotherapy pills once a day and radiation five days a week at the Cleveland Clinic.

He credits his wife, Jennifer, as being his rock throughout his officiating career and now this illness, while his colleagues are all pulling for his quick return to the field and court.

“Mike is the ultimate partner as he is 100-percent professional and someone who always had your back. There’s a reason ‘Vaz’ was selected to go to the state so many times,” former Gateway Conference football official Brian Meenachan said. “We worked basketball games for over 30 years and when he was one of your partners, you just knew that he was going to handle whatever might come up that night. He was a stickler for the rules and always gave both teams a fair chance to win based on the OHSAA rules.”

Rob Luklan, a former Big Ten Conference and current Atlantic Coast Conference football official, called Vaschak one of the best officials in the Mahoning Valley.

“Having known Mike for over 30 years and officiated with him for 25 years, it didn’t take me long to realize that he always put everyone else’s needs before his. He’s a fighter and this is a battle that I just know he is going to win,” Luklan said.

For Mang, to have a referee with impeccable character was very important to his organization.

“Mike had your back in any game that he ever officiated. He was like that from the first game he ever officiated until now,” Mang said. “Not only is he a great official, but he’s an even better husband, father and person.”

A donation of $2 is suggested upon entrance with game time slated for 7 p.m.