Top

Chagrin Falls Alumni Association

Keeping Tiger Pride Alive

by

Jim Hoppel

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Coach

A 1961 NCAA Qualifier from Bowling Green State University would come to Chagrin Falls later that year to teach and coach at Chagrin Falls and establish the Tigers as a dominant wrestling program. While at Chagrin, Mr. Hoppel was also on the coaching staff of the football program. Under Hoppel’s guidance the wrestling team won 4 CVC titles in 5 years (’65 – ’67 & ’69). Four individuals made it to the state tournament (Reed Carpenter, Ray Slaybaugh, Warren Wise & Bob Camarato) during an era when there was only one division in wrestling. Over a dozen of his grapplers would go on to compete at Division I colleges. Also under his leadership, the team had a 25 match unbeaten streak which included 22 straight wins and two 10 – 0 seasons(65 – 66 & 66 – 67). During this streak, the Tigers dual events were so popular that not only would there be sellout crowds against our rivals Solon, Kenston and Twinsburg, several of the matches were also televised. After 1969, Coach Hoppel would go on to coach at his alma mater, BGSU, and other schools before helping to revive the nationally recognized St. Edward’s program. Jim has been inducted into the East Liverpool School and BGSU Athletic Halls of Fame and his family, which includes four brothers, has been recognized by the OHSAA for having the largest influence on wrestling during the 1950s.

by

JOHN THOMAS

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1957

John won multiple letters in Football, Basketball and Track during his career at Chagrin. In 1956 he was named to the All-Cuyahoga Conference Team as both a running back and linebacker and was named the starting Fullback for the Cuyahoga County All Star Team. John also was a strong contributor on the storied 1956 Basketball team that advanced to the Class B Final Four under the leadership of Coach Dale Bruce. John continued his athletic career in college, ending up at Ohio Wesleyan, again under the influence of Coach Bruce. He played cornerback on defense and halfback on offense and was named to All-Ohio Conference Teams both years. John was President of the Senior Class at CFHS and was inducted into the CFHS Achievement Hall of Fame in 2002.

by

ARTHUR JOHN DAVIDSON

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1959

Art moved to Chagrin in the spring of his sophomore year and immediately made his presence known on the track. While he also lettered in football and basketball, it was in track where he made his mark. During his junior year, he was third in the 100 and sixth in the 220. During his senior year, Art was undefeated in the 100 yard dash winning the state title. Art captained that season’s team that went through the 1959 season undefeated and took a 3rd place at the state meet. He went on to compete in track at Ohio Wesleyan University and captained the 1963 team.

by

PETER STEELE VAN NORT

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1955

During his career at Chagrin Falls, Peter earned three letters in football, quarterbacking the team his junior and senior year. He was second in scoring his senior year and first during his junior year on the basketball team amassing 548 points in just those two seasons, while receiving 1st Team All County honors in his junior season. However, it was in track that he really shone, earning letters all four years, placing at the state meet a total five times. As a junior, Peter finished 5th in the State in the 120 High Hurdles, and as a senior he was 4th in the 120-Yard High Hurdles and 2nd in the State in the 180 Low Hurdles. He also ran on the 880 yard relay team that was 4th in his junior year and 2nd his senior year. His efforts helped Chagrin earn a 5th place at the state track meet in 1955. Peter continued his outstanding athletic career at the Naval Academy where he earned a total of 9 athletic letters, more than any other in his class.

by

KENNETH R. WILEY

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1951

Ken was an outstanding all-around athlete at Chagrin Falls High School. He earned nine varsity letters. In football he was a 3-year letterman and co-captain of his team as a senior. During his junior and senior years he was his team’s leading scorer in basketball. Ken was selected as Most Valuable Player of the District Basketball Tournament in 1951. He was also a top performer in track and field, placing in the discus at the District Meet in 1951. He was a successful coach during his long career in education. He coached football, basketball, track and tennis.

by

DENNIS H. BRADLEY

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1956

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.

by

DONALD K. EVANS

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1951

Don was a 4-year letterman in football and track at CFHS. He also earned two letters in basketball. As a senior, he was an All-State Honorable Mention selection in football and won a full scholarship to the University of Michigan. He played varsity football at three universities and for the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. In track and field, he was a member of the 880-yard relay team which qualified for the state meet during his senior year. Don also excelled in the sport of boxing, before it was banned at Chagrin Falls High School in 1952, the year after he graduated.

by

LARRY N. WILEY

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1955

Larry was a splendid all-around athlete at CFHS. A varsity starter for three years in basketball, he earned State Honorable Mention honors his senior year. His team advanced to the District Tournament during his junior and senior years. He also lettered three years in football earning Press Star honors. A hurdler and sprinter in track, he was twice a member of an 880 yard relay team which placed second (1955) and fourth (1954) in the State Track Meet. He captained a lacrosse team to a Brigade Championship at West Point.

by

JON FITZPATRICK

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1954

A superior sprinter in track, Jon’s speed also served him well in football. As a halfback during his senior year, he was one of the leading scorers in Greater Cleveland. He earned three letters in football at CFHS and was a Plain Dealer Dream Team selection. In track, he was among the best in the state. In 1954, he reached the state finals in the 100 and 200 yard dashes and anchored the 880 yard relay team. He also qualified for the state finals in the 220 during his junior year, breaking a school record which had stood for more than 20 years.

by

DAVID A. BANNING

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1957

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.

by

JOHN S. STANTON

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1952

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.

by

JOHN B. HURST

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1952

John began coaching boys cross country at CFHS in 1963. His first three teams went undefeated in dual meet competition. By 1970, the Tiger runners were among the best in Ohio, finishing second in the state meet. The following year, John’s team won the state crown, the first ever in any sport by a Chagrin team. During his 25 years as head coach, the Tigers compiled a 124-68 dual meet record. Along the way to the state title, his teams won five Chagrin Valley Conference championships. John was named CVC Coach of the Year in each of those years. In 1971, he was selected Northeast Ohio Coach of the Year.

by

PETER VAN NORT

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1955

An outstanding student and all-around athlete at Chagrin Falls High School and in college, Peter is currently the president and chief operating officer of H. B. Zachry Company, an $800 million a year construction and maintenance company in San Antonio, Texas. He was graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1959. As a junior there, he completed the year as the top academic performer in a class of 850. As a senior, he was selected to be Brigade Commander, the highest ranking student military position. Peter was the first person in the history of Navy to be commissioned into the Engineering Duty Corp directly from the Naval Academy. Early in his career, he worked with Admiral H. G. Rickover, managing the application of nuclear power in ships.

by

JOEL M. JONES

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1955

Joel’s splendid academic performance at Chagrin Falls High School was but an early chapter in a life replete with scholastic achievement. Since 1988, he has been president of Fort Lewis College, the public liberal arts college for Colorado. For the previous 19 years, he was a professor of American Studies at the University of New Mexico, where he received his Ph.D. in 1966. He earned his B.A. from Yale University in 1960 and his M.A. from Miami of Ohio in 1962. Dr. Jones has published more than 50 scholarly articles, chapters of books, and reviews covering such topics as American social/ intellectual history, environmental studies and cultural diversity. In 1972, he received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Educational Press Association of America.

by

RICHARD W. EVANS

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1951

Owner of Evans Printing Company for 26 years, Dick’s talents and altruistic endeavors have been duly recognized by the communities in which he lived and worked. In 1968, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Chagrin Valley Jaycees. Sun Newspapers selected him as “Citizen of the Year” for Solon in 1992, the same year he was named to the Solon Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame. Numerous paper companies have presented him awards of excellence in printed communication. Dick was president of the Chagrin Valley Chamber of Commerce in 1967 and in 1994. He is a life member of several local organizations including the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, Valley Art Center and the Chagrin Falls Historical Society.

Email Us:

If you have an updated address, phone number, or email, then please include that in the message area below.

    Contact Info:

    alumni@chagrinschools.org

    440.247.4387

     


    CFAA Alumni Director:

    Brian McKenna '88

    Office Manager:

    Jana Young ‘82

    Find Us:

    Chagrin Falls Alumni Association

    400 East Washington Street
    Chagrin Falls, OH 44022

    We invite you to join the growing numbers of volunteers who are helping to ensure a bright future for the CFAA and Chagrin Falls Schools. Whether it is through your time or resources, all of us appreciate your generous gifts. To become more involved, contact the Alumni Association. We look forward to your comments, questions, and suggestions. Don’t forget that we appreciate your help in making the CFAA run successfully with the donation of your annual dues of $20 or more.