Chagrin Falls Alumni Association
Keeping Tiger Pride Alive
T.J. was named All-Ohio in three sports at CFHS. He was First Team All-State as a kicker in football and Honorable Mention for two years in basketball and baseball. After playing football for a year at Penn State, he transferred to Allegheny College where he earned All-League honors in basketball and football. As a punter, he was invited to tryouts for the Cleveland Browns, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Buffalo Bills. T.J. currently teaches and coaches at Euclid City Schools.
Bob Plzak was an excellent athlete at CFHS, as his nine letters in three sports attest. He was one of very few 4-year lettermen in football, playing tackle on the 1948 undefeated team. He was co-captain of his team in 1949 and an All-County Team selection that same year. He also earned three letters in track and two in basketball. Bob Plzak died in Korea in 1952 while serving as a medic in the United States Army.
A fine all-around athlete at Chagrin Falls High School, Dennis Bradley would reach professional status in golf, not then a school sport at CFHS. In 1954, he was the Cleveland District Jaycee Champion. In 1955 and 1956, he was the Cleveland District Junior Champion. As a professional in the PGA and Senior PGA, he won numerous golf tournaments, including three National championships. In 1986 Dennis was named Golf Professional of the Year in Western New York. In 1988, he was elected to the Western New York PGA Hall of Fame. While at CFHS, he lettered in football, basketball and track.
Joe is the first soccer standout to be named to the Chagrin Falls Schools’ Athletic Hall of Fame. When soccer was in its infancy at CFHS, he was his school’s most outstanding performer. As a senior, he was an All-Ohio selection. Twice an All-League pick, he was co-captain and MVP of his own team. He doubled as a kicker for the Tiger football team. Joe carried his soccer prowess on to Kent State University where he was a Collegiate All-Ohio player and twice named to the All Mid-American Conference team. In 1977, he was drafted by the Cleveland Cobras professional soccer team, but he opted to continue his educational career.
Doug excelled in three sports at Chagrin Falls High School. He lettered four times in baseball and was an All-Ohio selection during his senior year. He was First Team All-Conference in football, basketball and baseball during his senior year. Doug earned a football/baseball scholarship to Bowling Green State University. At BGSU, he lettered three years in baseball and twice in football. After college, he played professional baseball in the Cincinnati Reds organization for two years.
Carol Bartley was a superb all-around gymnast. She was a 4-year varsity letter winner and as a senior placed 5th on the vault individual in State competition. She was a District qualifier all four years at CFHS. During her senior year, she was First Team All-Conference in gymnastics and volleyball. At Ohio State University, Carol earned four more letters in gymnastics. At the Nationals in 1982, she placed 8th on floor exercise. Her college teammates and coaches voted her the Most Dedicated Award that same year.
Anne’s tenure as a female golfer at Chagrin Falls High School was unique and extraordinary. After moving to Chagrin during her sophomore year, she played three years on the boys’ golf team. By the time she had graduated, she had lettered three times, had been co-captain of her team, and named to the All Chagrin Valley Conference golf team. She earned a four-year scholarship to play on the women’s golf team at the College of William and Mary. She captained her team for three years and won numerous collegiate tournaments and regional titles. As a freshman, she was named All-American. Anne is the co-founder of the Ohio Girls’ Golf Foundation, which was instrumental in the development of high school girls’ golf teams.
Ryan Kaye ranks as one of Chagrin’s very best basketball players. At graduation, he held a host of school records including all time leading scorer (1,373 points), most points in a season (559) and highest season scoring average (25.4). He was Second Team All-Ohio during his junior and senior years. He was a First Team Chagrin Valley Conference selection for three years in a row. His teams won two CVC championships, two Sectional titles and one District crown. During his senior year, Ryan quarterbacked the football team into the State playoffs. He was a First Team All District selection in football. He played varsity basketball for two years at Williams College in Massachusetts before an injury ended his career.
This esteemed English teacher also distinguished himself as a coach and athletic director at Chagrin Falls High School. As varsity baseball coach for 18 years, Lenny’s teams compiled a 217-152 record. Six times he was named Chagrin Valley Conference Coach of the Year. In 1980 he was Geauga County Coach of the Year. For 20 years he was an assistant football coach, helping develop some of the finest athletes in the school’s history. During his 12-year tenure as athletic director, the athletic program grew to house 24 varsity teams. Four teams won state championships and three were state runners-up. Individual athletes excelled at state and national levels. Lenny has overseen 28 league championships in 11 sports.
This splendid all-around athlete continued to dominate the competition at the collegiate level. While at Chagrin Falls High School, Stacey earned nine varsity letters in volleyball, basketball and track. She was captain of her volleyball and basketball teams. In volleyball she was 1st-team All League, 1st-team All-District and 2nd-team All-County. At Baldwin-Wallace College she starred in volleyball. In 1991 she was named 1st-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference and earned Most Valuable Player honors. Stacey was captain of her team and received the Coach’s Award in 1991. In 1992 she was selected as her college’s Outstanding Senior Female Athlete.
Glenn was an integral part of some of Chagrin’s most successful cross country and track teams. In track he established a new school record (4:27.1) in the mile. He placed 2nd in the mile at the State Meet in 1972. Glenn was the league champ in the mile when his 1971 track team won the Chagrin Valley Conference Championship. He helped spark the cross country team to a state title in 1971 and a state runner-up finish in 1970. He placed 4th in the State Cross Country Meet in 1971. Glenn continued his winning ways at Lakeland Community College. His 1972 team finished 14-0 in dual meets and placed in the top 10 at the National Junior College Championships.
Few persons have coached as many Chagrin athletes as this long-time CFHS teacher and coach. A 1956 graduate of Hiram. College, where he lettered in football and track, Jack became CFHS’s first Jennings Scholar in 1962. He became an assistant football coach at the high school in 1960, a position he was to hold for the next 29 years. He also served a long tenure as head track coach, 1966-1989. As varsity track coach, his teams won Chagrin Valley Conference championships in 1971 and 1977. Jack was named CVC Coach of the Year both years. His track teams were District Runner-up in 1982, Regional Runner-up in 1983, and District Champion in 1984. His track athletes qualified for the state meet in 18 consecutive seasons. Three were state champions.
One of Chagrin ‘s finest all-around athletes, Dave earned state honors in three sports. Co-captain and quarterback of the 1956 Tiger football team, he was an All Ohio selection. During his junior year, he was a member of the basketball team that reached the state finals. In basketball during his senior year, he was an All Ohio selection and Co-captain of a team that won East County and Sectional championships. In track, he was a three-time state qualifier, placing third in the 100 yard dash during his junior year. After graduating from CFHS, Dave lettered in football and track at Ohio Wesleyan University. He was the Ohio Conference broad jump champion in 1959 and a member of the 880 relay team which set an Ohio Wesleyan and Ohio Conference record in 1959.
Bob was the recipient of a full football scholarship to Ohio State University. There, he played for Woody Hayes on the last OSU football team (1973) to win the Rose Bowl. It was also with distinction that he competed in athletics at Chagrin Falls High School. He excelled in both football and wrestling. His dominance as a lineman in football did not go unnoticed by opposing coaches, as he was a unanimous All League selection and the Chagrin Valley Conference’s Most Valuable Player his senior year. The Co-captain of the 1969 Tiger team was also a Northeast Ohio All District football team selection. Bob was a superb wrestler, winning several tournament championships. He was undefeated in dual meet competition during his senior season and ranked as the number one heavyweight in the Greater Cleveland area.
1983 Considered by most to be Chagrin’s premier middle distance runner, Andy became a 4-year letter winner in track at the University of Iowa. In 1984, he placed third in the 800 meters at the Big Ten Championships. While at Chagrin Falls High, he won back-to-back state championships in the 1600 meters. His winning time of 4:13 during his senior year set a new AA state record. For his accomplishments in track, Andy was a 1983 honorable mention All American selection. He was the 1983 Midwest Champion in the 1600 meters and winner of CFHS’s Vern Lockemer Award, 1981-83. Also a fine cross country runner and soccer player, Andy finished his track career at CFHS as its all-time leading scorer.