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Chagrin Falls Alumni Association

Keeping Tiger Pride Alive

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Jeff Thompson

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1969

Jeff has maintained his passion for basketball from his days playing in a packed CFHS gym to coaching over 400-plus victories as boys and girls varsity basketball coach in Pennsylvania. Both in high school and at Dickinson College, he was a two-sport standout. At Chagrin, Jeff captained the 1968-69 basketball team to the CVC crown, which would earn him recognition on the prestigious Plain Dealer Dream Team. He earned all-MAC mention in both sports, and was the recipient of the MacAndrew’s trophy, as the outstanding Dickinson athlete in 1972. Jeff was selected the MVP of the 1972 Sun Coast Classic where he tallied 28 points and 22 rebounds in the championship game versus Brandeis. He is one of two players to average a double-double for their career. Jeff still holds the single season rebounding record at the college. He is also the only Dickinson College basketball player to amass 300 points and 300 rebounds in two different seasons. Since his collegiate days, he has been a varsity head coach for both boys and girls in the state of Pennsylvania. In a nearly 40 year coaching career, he has numerous titles and over 400 victories. He has led teams to district playoff wins in all four classifications – A, AA, AAA, & AAAA.

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Dave Quesinberry

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1967

Mr. “Q” not only had a terrific athletic career at CFHS, but he helped to establish the tremendous success of Chagrin athletics over these past 40 years. His passion for children and fitness as a physical education teacher has built the foundation for students to embrace not only sports, but having a strong character. His efforts were not overlooked as he was selected the Teacher of the Year in 1995. Dave took over the girls track program in 1981 and helped build the girls track and field program into the regional and state level program it is today. During Dave’s tenure as coach, school records were set in all 16 girls events, six of which are still on the books. Dave was also the Cross Country Head Coach (1972 – 76) where he took 2 girls’ teams to state. Mr. “Q” has spent his most time in basketball where he has spent 22 years as a coach for teams from 8th Grade to Varsity with 4 undefeated seasons and over 350 wins. As a CFHS student athlete himself, he earned four varsity Letters in his senior year in addition to being named 1st Team All-CVC in Baseball. Dave’s impact on Chagrin students was also made by being a founding member of the Dad’s Club, Co-Commissioner of CAA Softball for 10 years and oversaw Q Sports where over 200 kids would take part every session.

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Class of 1964 Football Squad

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1964

The eleven seniors of the class of 1964 had a four year record of 31-0-2. During this four year streak they scored 977 points to their opponents 184. That’s an average score of 30-6. Bob Shutts (QB-S) and Barry Furst (OE-ILB) were the co-captains for this team during their senior year. The other 9 seniors were John Bourisseau (OT-DT-punter), Pete DeGreen (C), Bill Grubich (G-ILB), Miles McKearney (G), Jim Miles (C), Joel Moorhead (G), Jim Murley (RB), George Reitz (OE), Tom Zeleznik (OT). As freshmen, their Head Coach was John Piai, Sophomore year was Ralph Quesinberry, and then John Piai for their junior and senior years. Assistant coaches were Bill Morgan, Don Chadwick, Jack Stanton and Jim Hoppel. The East County League included Solon and many of the traditional teams that we still play today like Orange, Kenston and West Geauga. The Seniors of ’64 are thankful for the significant contributions of the class of’62, ’63 & ’65 who all own a piece of this remarkable feat.

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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.

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ROBERT DEAN

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Teacher/Coach

Bob taught social studies and served as the Department Chairman during his 25 years at Chagrin Falls High School. During this time he also served as the varsity football team’s defensive coordinator. Our teams were known not only for their tenacious defenses but also for the very innovative schemes, which our teams used. The “Deaner” created these after hours of film study of our opponents from which he created tendency charts. Our 1972 defensive team still holds a school record giving up only 17 points during the entire season while going undefeated. Bob was a former outstanding football player and captain of his team at Thiel College and was a fixture on the Chagrin Falls Varsity Football staff. He was also an assistant coach on one of our state qualifying girls’ basketball teams.

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STEVEN GRUBICH

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1967

Steve was a three-sport athlete competing for four years in football, wrestling and baseball. He received CVC honors for all three sports during his career. His main passion was baseball where he earned CVC honors for three years and his senior team was CVC champs in 1967. He went on to have a very successful four-year wrestling career at Ashland College where the team won 29 straight matches, which was not new to Steve for he was part of the Tiger squads that went unbeaten in 23 straight matches. In addition Steve has been involved in giving back to the school through his leadership in numerous projects including the varsity baseball grass infield and the Piai locker room and track storage project.

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REED CARPENTER

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1962

Wrestling came to Chagrin in the 1958-59 school year and soon followed was the decade of the 60s, where there was great success for our Tiger matmen. The wrestler that set the standard for all those that would don a Chagrin singlet was 3-time state qualifier Reed Carpenter. During that time, the sport only offered one division and only two spots could qualify from northeast Ohio for the State Tournament, which makes Reed’s accomplishments of 3 trips to states even more impressive. By his sophomore year, the 120 pounder had already claimed titles at the Aurora and Hiram Invitationals. He would earn another Aurora title and a remarkable County Invitational Tournament title in his senior year. It is no wonder why Reed earned such a nickname as “Nails.” Carpenter kept busy throughout the year by playing fullback and punter on the football squad and putting on a mitt for the Tiger baseball team. Reed was a part of Coach Quesinberry’s last season as a head coach and the only squad Quiz had that was undefeated.

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WARREN R. WISE

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1967

Warren played guard and linebacker and was co-captain of the 1966 football, but wrestling was, and still is his passion. Warren was a three time District qualifier and was a state semifinalist in his junior year. During his senior year, he was 10-0 in dual meets and named Most Valuable Wrestler on a team that won 22 straight meets. Warren has been a health, physical education and science teacher at North Canyon High School. He has continued with his passion for wrestling by coaching and officiating.

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VERN LOCKEMER

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1963

Vern Lockemer was a splendid all-around athlete at CFHS, lettering in four sports. He was superb in track and field, breaking school records in three events – the high jump, high hurdles, and low hurdles. He was also a member of the 440 relay team which set a school record and the 880 relay team which tied the school record. During his junior and senior years, he played defensive back and offensive end on undefeated football teams. As a senior, he was selected All East County as an end. Vern also played basketball and baseball at CFHS. He attended Hiram College, where he ran indoor and outdoor track. In 1964, while at Hiram, he placed fourth in the high hurdles at the Ohio Conference Indoor Meet.

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RAY SLAYBAUGH

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1964

Ray was one of Chagrin’s finest wrestlers. He qualified for the State Wrestling Meet and was undefeated in dual meet competition during his senior year. After lettering four times at CFHS, he continued to dominate the competition in wrestling at Baldwin Wallace College. In his senior year at BW, he won the Ohio Conference Championship. He was his team’s co-captain and Most Valuable Wrestler. Ray compiled a 33-3-3 dual meet record in college. In 1993, he was inducted into the Baldwin Wallace Athletic Hall of Fame.

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ROBERT B. OHLRICH

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Teacher / Coach

Early in his teaching career at Chagrin Falls High, Bob was a boys basketball coach, but it was with girls basketball that his name became synonymous. Starting the girls basketball program in 1975, this math teacher’s coaching numbers speak for themselves: 304 wins, 73 losses, a State Runner-Up, 3 State Semi finals, 6 District Champs, 12 Sectional Champs, and 9 Chagrin Valley Conference Championships. Twice he was named Associated Press Northeast District Coach of the Year. Seven times, he was selected Coach of the Year in the Chagrin Valley Conference. In 1991, Bob retired from coaching girls basketball. He had also coached golf and baseball at CFHS.

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GLENN WYVILLE

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Basketball and Baseball Coach

Esteemed by his peers for his masterful game preparation, Glenn guided Tiger teams to 352 victories during his long reign (1960-1988) as Head Basketball Coach. His victory total ranks as one of the highest in the history of boys’ basketball in Ohio. Glenn’s teams won three district titles, eight sectional crowns, and seven conference titles. Three of his teams were in regional competition. He was selected Conference Coach of the Year seven times, and in 1987 he received the Greater Cleveland Coach of the Year Award. As head baseball Coach, his teams won two conference championships. He served as Athletic Director at CFHS from 1983 through 1991. Glenn was the Director of the Chagrin Valley Recreation Center from 1964 through 1988.

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DALE W. BRADLEY

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1965

Anytime Dale touched a football, he was a threat to score. The line of scrimmage didn’t matter much. With sprint speed and moves that dazzled, this elusive tailback was an integral part of the Tigers’ 29-game undefeated streak in 1961-1964. During his junior year, he was the Northeastern Ohio District scoring leader in football with 148 points. He remains Chagrin’s all-time rushing and scoring leader. In football, he won All-Conference and Press Star honors. In track, he set a school record in the 220 yard dash with a 22.2 mark. He tied the school record in the 100 yard dash with a 9.9 clocking. Dale also lettered in basketball at CFHS. He was awarded a football scholarship to Kent State University, where he was a 2-year starter and letterman.

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JOHN PIAI

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Football Coach

If a coach’s record speaks for itself, then another word need not be spoken for John Piai. John’s Tiger football teams were the toasts of this town for so many seasons that the electricity they generated still burns brightly in our collective memory. The number “29” flashes before us. John was Head Football Coach at CFHS for 29 seasons (1962-1990). He was an assistant coach for the first season and Head Coach for the next three of a 29-game undefeated streak from 1961 through the first game of the 1964 season. Then, there was the 29-game win streak from 1970 through 1973. All told his teams won 175 games. Included were eight conference championships and four undefeated seasons. He was Conference Coach of the Year eight times, and in 1972 he was selected the Greater Cleveland Coach of the Year. In 1987, his team reached the Division IV State Playoffs, and John received the Lee Tressel Award from the Cleveland Touchdown Club. An all-around athlete at Thiel College, he was elected to that college’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992.

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RALPH QUESINBERRY

Teacher, Coach, AD

The accolades were many for “Quiz” during his career as a teacher, coach, and athletic director at CFHS. In 1972, he was named National Athletic Director of the year. He is a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Directors Hall of Fame, the Ohio High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame, and the Ohio High School Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame. His 1947 and 1961 football teams were undefeated. He also coached basketball, track, golf, baseball, and swimming. During his 35 years in Chagrin Falls Schools, Ralph impacted the lives of just about anyone with whom he came in contact. His gym classes became legendary – the unforgettable voice ordering the seemingly impossible tasks. For many a Chagrin youth, Coach’s “basic training” became a lasting memory. Following his retirement in 1980, Ralph L. Quesinberry Gymnasium was named in his honor.

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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.