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Chagrin Falls Alumni Association

Keeping Tiger Pride Alive

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Pete Olah

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Coach

Pete Olah was the Head Varsity Cross Country and Track Coach from 1988 – 2000, a period which saw our women’s program come to be a dominant force in Ohio. The team broke out in 1990 at the OHSAA State Cross Country Championships with a 6th place finish. The following year the runners would easily outdistance the competition and earn Chagrin its first team title in 20 years. In 1992, the Tigers returned to Columbus and finished as Runners-Up. Over his 22 seasons his teams earned 3 district championships, 3 district runner-up finishes, and 4 CVC titles. Individually Pete helped to guide 189 Regional Qualifiers, 36 State qualifiers, and 20 State placers. With the success came many honors including being selected CVC Coach of the Year four times (1991 – 1994), Geauga Times Leader Geauga County Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year (1990), Geauga Times Leader Coach of the Year (1991), Ohio Association Of Track and Cross Country Coaches District 2 Coach of the Year (Girls Cross Country in 1991). Pete was also an integral part of the wrestling program in his role as Assistant Varsity Coach during the 1980s & 1990s. The program produced a Regional Runner-Up team finish, over 20 state qualifiers including 9 placers and 2 runners-up. In addition, Pete had a distinguished career as an industrial arts teacher for 34 years at Chagrin.

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Dr. Mario Gerhardt

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Coach

Dr. Mario Gerhardt began the Varsity Boy’s Soccer Team in 1970 and is now in his 46th season as its Head Coach. He is the winningest boys high school soccer coach in Ohio with 504 wins entering the 2015 soccer season. The teams Mario has coached continue to have success in the postseason with one State Runner-Up finish (2003), 5 Final Four trips, 11 District titles, and 26 Sectional championships. His regular season includes 18 conference titles. He has coached 59 Academic All-Ohioans, 32 All-Ohioans, 11 Regional All-Americans, & 1 All-American. 45 of his players continued on to play varsity college soccer. He has also been recognized by his peers by being selected as the Ohio Coach of the Year 3 times, Greater Cleveland Coach of the Year 6 times, and Conference Coach of the Year 10 times. In 2004, he was selected as a NSCAA Regional Coach and was a finalist for National Coach of the Year. Mario has previously been inducted in the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame (1993) & Ohio North Youth Soccer Hall of Fame (2003). He has also been honored for with the NSCAA Robert W. Robinson High School Long-Time Service Award (2009), OSSCA Pinsenschaum Sportsmanship and Ethics Award (2010), and the OHSAA Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity Award (1997-1998).

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Kristin Clark Reboul

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1988

Even without a girl’s golf program at Chagrin Falls, Kristin excelled on the links on our Boy’s Varsity Golf Team. In the postseason she was the 1987 State Runner-Up at Ohio High School Girls Golf State Championship with a 6th place finish in 1986. Kristin would compete in the summer touring around the country. Highlights from the summer competition were qualifying for the 1987 & 1988 USGA Junior Girls Championship and the 1987 Junior World Golf Championships. Kristin would go on to letter 4 years at Penn State University and was selected Captain by her teammates in both her junior and senior years. She was selected to the Eastern College Athletic Conference All-Conference Team in both 1990 & 1991. She continued competing in the summer and won the Cleveland Women’s Golf Association in both 1991 & 1992; the Cleveland, Greater Cleveland, Akron Tri-League Championship (1988), the Atlantic International Golf Championship in Bermuda (1989), and was Runner-Up at the Ohio Women’s Amateur Championship in 1991. Even with a demanding golf schedule Kristin would continue to carry her leadership role into other avenues from being Student Council Vice-President and OABR Director at CFHS and was a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Board at Penn State.

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Adam Lechman

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1988

Adam was a two-sport star both at Chagrin and later at Allegheny College. He was a 2-way starter (plus special teams) on the 1987 CVC Championship team that made the 1st ever play-off appearance for the Chagrin Falls football program. He earned CVC and Geauga County 1st team awards as an offensive guard and represented Chagrin Falls as a starting guard in the 1988 East-West All Star game. In wrestling, Adam would place 4th in the OHSAA State Championships at 189 lbs. Besides county and conference awards, he could boast that he was never pinned in his high school career and only allowed 3 back points in his senior season. At Allegheny, Adam was the starting offensive center for the #1 ranked Division III football team that recorded the first ever perfect regular season in school history. During his four years, his teams recorded three conference and one NCAA national championship. In his senior season, he earned 1st Team GTE Academic All-America and 2nd Team Offense North Coast Athletic Conference honors. On the collegiate mat, Adam would place 4th (’89) and 5th (’91) in the NCAA Regional Tournaments and be honored as Allegheny College’s Outstanding Freshman (’89) and Outstanding Student-Athlete (‘91).

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Bob Dahl

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1987

Bob was a key player during the 1980s for the Tiger football team. He was selected All-Ohio in 1986 and earned a scholarship at the University of Notre Dame. He was a 2 year starter and was named Honorable Mention All-American at Right Tackle in 1990. Bob was selected in the 3rd round of the 1991 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He would later get a starting position for his hometown Cleveland Browns starting 47 games over a 3-year span. He spent his final 2 seasons as an offensive lineman for the Washington Redskins.

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Jocelyn Bernard Jablonski

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1987

Jocelyn was a successful 3 sport athlete for the Tigers in track, swimming and volleyball. A 3 year state qualifier in track, she was a 1986 State Qualifier in the 400, 800 & 1600 meter relays & 300 low hurdles. Her time in the 300 low hurdles still stands as the CFHS record. In the pool, Jocelyn qualified for the state swim meet her junior and senior years. She also earned 2 varsity letters in volleyball.

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JIM BUCAR

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Teacher/Coach

Jim’s entire 39 year teaching career was spent as physical education and health teacher at Chagrin Falls Middle School. He was the 1st Athletic Director at Chagrin Falls Middle School holding the position for 23 years. He started many of the athletic teams at CFMS, including being the first coach for track, wrestling and gymnastics. He spent over 30 years coaching football holding the positions from Head Varsity to Middle School coach. For 17 years, Jim was also the Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach. Jim continues his dedication to Chagrin athletes by currently serving in the athletic department.

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VANESSA BELLO WHITTAKER

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1989

During the 1980s Chagrin was graced with tremendous speed and athleticism from the Bello sisters. When Lolita ’85 graduated, middle sister Alexandra ’87 didn’t have to look far for a replacement on the relay teams. The baton was now passed to Vanessa, which resulted in State Track Meet finishes of a 4th in the 4 by 100 Meter Relay in 1986 and a 6th in the 4 by 200 Meter Relay in 1987. Vanessa would eventually become the first Chagrin athlete to be a four time state placer when she earned a 5th in 1988 and a 4th in 1989, both in the 200 Meter sprint. Additionally, she holds the most amount of CFHS Track & Field records, 4. She still claims the 100 Meter (12. 5 seconds) and 200 Meter sprints (25.75) and was on the 4 by 100 Meter (50.27) and 4 by 200 Meter relays (1:44.97). Bello also earned varsity letters with success in both volleyball and basketball as well as in track. Vanessa was twice selected 1st Team CVC in Volleyball.

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ERIC HARSH

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1988

Eric won many races and awards as a track and cross country standout at Chagrin Falls High School. His last race was his best. As a senior in track he won a state championship in the 1600 meters. Earlier that season he established new Chagrin Valley Conference records in the 1600 meters and the 3200 meters. In his final cross country season Eric was selected as the CVC’s Most Valuable Player. He placed 12th in the State Cross Country Meet. At Indiana University he ran three years varsity cross country and three years indoor/outdoor track and field.

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JON GROTH

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1980

Jon’s leadership and athletic skills helped his teams win several championships during his years at Chagrin Falls High School. He excelled in baseball, football and basketball, and was a team captain in each sport. In baseball he was 1st-team All-Conference during his junior and senior years. He was selected to the Plain Dealer’s All-Greater Cleveland Team and Dream Team. Leading his team to a Chagrin Valley Conference Championship as a senior, he won the league’s Most Valuable Player Award. In football he was All-Conference and won the Golden Helmet Award for the Greater Cleveland Area. In 1980 Jon’s basketball team won league, sectional and district titles. He was chosen for the All-District Tourney Team. He played professional baseball for two years in the Cincinnati Reds organization.

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ERIK SPEED

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1986

Erik Speed will always be remembered as one of Chagrin’s finest wrestlers. Possessed with superior strength, quickness and all-around skills, he often made a tough sport look effortless. He earned four varsity letters, qualifying three times for the Division II State Meet. As a senior he placed 2nd in the state. As a junior he finished 5th. Erik’s high school career record was 96-23-1. In 1985 he was named to Mat Magazine’s High School All-American 2nd-team. He was on the magazine’s Academic All-American 1st team. He won two regional championships and twice he was his team’s MVP. As a senior he was All Chagrin Valley Conference 1st-team. He was a winner at the East-West All Star Meet. Erik earned a scholarship to Cornell University where he became a varsity letterman.

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STACEY EHRENBEIT BLAIR

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1988

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.

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LENNY MAY

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Teacher, Coach, Athletic Director

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.

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RYAN D. KAYE

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1988

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.

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ANNE BIERMAN-CAJA

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1981

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.

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.