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Golf benefit scheduled for Terlesky
Girls tournament scheduled Monday at The Lake Club
By Greg Gulas
BOARDMAN
Boardman High School and The Lake Club are teaming up to sponsor a high school girls golf tournament with proceeds benefiting a former teacher battling ALS.
The 16-team tournament is set for Monday at The Lake Club in Poland, with funds raised going to help Christine Terlesky, once a Boardman girls basketball coach.
Boardman, Austintown Fitch, Canfield, Canton GlenOak, Green, Howland, Massillon Jackson and North Canton Hoover will comprise one division of the tournament. The other bracket will consist of Beaver Local, Cardinal Mooney, Champion, Columbiana, Lakeview, Poland, Ursuline and Warren JFK.
The tournament is the brainchild of Boardman High School athletic director Denise Gorski; her husband, Dan; and Lake Club executives Ed Muransky, Dennis Miller and Chris Sammartino.
She said the idea began to form last fall at the state tournament in Columbus when the Boardman boys team and two girls — Jacinta Pikunas and Jenna Vivo — competed. Pikunas finished state runner-up and Vivo was 13th. Terlesky’s son Brian was playing for the boys team.
“Christine was at the practice round watching her son, Brian and niece Jenna, but it was so hard for her and she eventually had to return to her hotel room,” Gorski said. “It was absolutely heartbreaking to see what both Christine and her family were going through back then and continue to go through today.”
That memory inspired Gorski to create a fund-raiser.
“We want this to be a lasting legacy for Christine,” Gorski said. “Secondly, this is a great way to attract young girl golfers, which we are so desperately in need of.
“Finally, we wanted to do this so it would become a yearly event, but needed to do everything correctly and within parameters set by the OHSAA.”
In February, Gorski met with The Lake Club executives.
“After presenting our proposal, Ed Muransky was on board and he made it clear to everyone right from the start that he wanted a first-class tournament, wanting to help the Terlesky family every way possible,” Gorski said. “We went from an 18-hole Monday-only tournament to an 18-hole practice round and buffet dinner on Sunday, and a lunch, 18-hole tournament and food and awards program on Monday.”
Clearing any OHSAA obstacles was paramount so no golfer had to worry about compromising their eligibility.
“Ed, his staff and the OHSAA worked very hard to make this happen,” Gorski said. “Ed’s generosity and heart is simply amazing and I cannot thank him enough for all that he has done.
“He has gone above and beyond to ensure that this tournament becomes a special tournament for many years to come.”
Miller, PGA director of golf for The Lake Club, called the tournament a perfect opportunity to showcase the area’s young golf talent.
“We are excited to host an event that gives high school girls golf an opportunity to play an 18-hole tournament, all the while honoring an amazing individual and family,” Miller said. “The community will come together and raise money for a good cause and that is what makes the Youngstown area so very, very special.”
Individuals and businesses wanting to help should call the Boardman Athletic Department at 330-726-3423 for more information. The Lake Club is the presenting sponsor. Platinum ($1,000), gold ($500), silver ($250) and bronze ($100) sponsorships are available.
Anyone wanting to donate may send checks made out to “Chip in for Chris” to Gorski at Boardman High School, 7777 Glenwood Avenue, Boardman, Ohio, 44512. Her email address is denise.gorski@boardmanschools.org.