43
Girls golf teams raise money for Christine Terlesky
By ALEXis bartolomucci
POLAND
Seventeen schools helped raised awareness for ALS during Monday’s second annual Christine Terlesky Lake Glub Girls Golf Invitational.
Schools from Mahoning and Trumbull County attended the invitational at The Lake Club, as well as a couple schools from the Canton area. Several of the golf teams are ones who participated in the invitational last year.
Terlesky is a former teacher and coach at Boardman High School who was diagnosed with ALS three and a half years ago. Girls golf was one of the sports she coached.
“It’s an amazing event,” said Boardman senior Jenna Vivo, who is Terlesky’s niece. “We really are lucky to have an athletic director like Mrs. [Denise] Gorski to put something like this together for a wonderful cause.”
Vivo participated in the event last year and is proud that outing was successful enough to happen again this year. She said it helps spread awareness for a disease that many people aren’t informed of.
Gorski, Boardman’s athletic director, spoke with the Lake Club owner Ed Muransky and his staff last year about hosting this invitational. They were more than happy to get on board and help out for a good cause.
“They were so receptive to the idea and so into promoting women’s golf in the area and into helping the Christine Terlesky family,” Gorski said. ”It’s been an incredible experience for myself to be involved in something he and his staff had made very special.”
Last year, the invitational raised $17,000 that was presented to the Terlesky family to help with expenses. This year it raised around $12,000 for the family.
The 17 schools were split into two divisions and played 18 holes. Canfield won Division I with a total score of 332 and Beaver Local won Division II shooting a 374.
There was a 18-hole practice Sunday that included a buffet dinner. Two of the sponsors, Chick-Fil-A and Cocca’s pizza, provided lunch and dinner for the golfers. Sponsorship levels were available for those who wanted to donate to help support the tournament and the Terlesky family.
Jessica Hahn from GlenOak High School shot a 69 and was the low scorer. Hahn has grown up with Terlesky and her family so this invitational was personal for her.
“It means so much to be able to play here for her,” Hahn said. ”I know people look forward to coming.”
The golfers who have competed and those who are involved in the invitational hope this is something that sticks around. It brings awareness and helps out a local family.
“I really hope this continues for as long as it can — this is probably the nicest event we have around here for girls’ golf,” Vivo said.