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Chagrin Falls Alumni Association

Keeping Tiger Pride Alive

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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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RACHEL FRESHMAN JOHNSON

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1992

Rachel was a great all-around athlete, but was known best at Chagrin for her accomplishments as a gymnast. During her freshman year she qualified for the state meet in four areas and was named the Most Valuable Gymnast in the Chagrin Valley Conference, She also was named Most Valuable Gymnast in the conference her sophomore and senior year. She was injured most of her junior year, but still placed at the state meet with a fourth in the beam. During her senior year she qualified to the state meet in all 5 events and was named the Northeast Ohio District Scholar Athlete of the Year. She was the captain of both the gymnastics team and varsity football cheerleading squad during her senior year.

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TRAVIS PETERSON KRUSE

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1995

Travis earned 12 varsity letters in four sports while at Chagrin. During his four year career in soccer he scored an amazing total of 62 goals, once getting 5 in one game. During his senior year he became one of the top scorers on the football team in his role as the kicker (punter/place-kicker/field goal kicker). Also in that year, he qualified for the OHSAA state track meet in the high jump. Additionally, he was very successful in the long jump. Come winter, he spent three seasons on the varsity basketball team. Travis continued with his soccer at the University of Pittsburgh where he was named captain of his team during his senior year. He also did double duty as the place-kicker/punter for the football team during his sophomore year. Travis played professional soccer with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and the Cleveland Crunch.

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STEVE SHUTTS

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1970

Steve was a great all-around athlete, earning 11 letters during his career at Chagrin. He was a 4 year starter in baseball where he did everything but catch. In football, Steve was a 3 year starter playing defensive back and quarterback. He also excelled in basketball as a 3 year starter at the guard position. He was selected for several all league teams. While in college, Steve played basketball in Iran as an exchange student at American University. Steve joins his brother Bob in the Athletic Hall of Fame, and his father Ken who is a member of the Heritage Hall of Fame.

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SHAWN CONLEY BOTTCHER

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1991

Shawn is one of the best female runners to ever graduate from Chagrin. She was a 3 time letter winner in both cross-country and track and was captain of both teams her senior year. During her senior year she was selected 1st Team All-CVC and All-Ohio in cross country. During her senior year at Baldwin Wallace College, she was named the school’s Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year and earned All-American honors.

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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.

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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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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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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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BRYE GERHARDT

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1997

Brye had an illustrious soccer career at both CFHS and the United States Naval Academy. Playing for veteran coach and father Dr. Mario Gerhardt, Brye earned accolades at all levels. During his junior year he was selected 2nd Team All-Ohio, while his senior season he was tabbed for 1st Team. In his final two seasons, Brye was named Regional All-American. Also during the fall of 1996, he was recognized as the Greater Cleveland Division II Player of the Year and was the first Chagrin boys soccer player to earn All American honors. Gerhardt took a strong academic resume with his soccer skills to the Naval Academy where he played all 4 years. While there Brye was the leading scorer for 3 seasons. He finished his career 9th in points in Navy history (58) and 6th in assists (14). He was also selected to 1st team Patriot League during his senior season and 2nd team the previous year.

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JENNIFER LANKFORD

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1997

During her career at Chagrin, Jenny achieved so many awards that it is impossible to recount them all here. She was the captain of the first girls state championship soccer team, a 2 time All-Ohio selection and won numerous player of the year awards in both her Junior and Senior years. In addition she had the highest GPA in her class and was named the Outstanding Senior in the English Department, Outstanding Student in the Math Department, won the Neal Wheatcraft Senior Science award, was Vice-President of Student Council, President of the National Honor Society and a National Merit Commended Student. Jenny attended Princeton where she was a 4 year varsity starter. During her senior year she was the captain of Princeton’s 2000 Ivy League Co-Champion Team, 1st Team All-Ivy, Academic All-Ivy, Team MVP and was 2nd Team Mid Atlantic Regional All-American.

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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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Trish Kruse

Chagrin Falls Alumni Hall of Fame
Class of 1998

Trish has had success in three sports for the Tigers earning accolades in all three. Her 12 varsity letters were in soccer, basketball and softball. She was a key starter of the 1998 State Championship Team and 1997 State Runner-up Team in basketball and the 1996 State Championship Soccer Team. Her skills earned her 2nd team All-Ohio recognition in soccer and basketball in 1997 and 1st team All-Ohio recognition in soccer and basketball in 1998. She was also selected MVP of the 1998 State Basketball Tournament. She scored 100 goals in soccer and over 1000 points in basketball. Trish continued her basketball career playing collegiately at the College of Charleston. Outside of being a health and physical education teacher, she is the Varsity Girls Basketball Head Coach at Solon High School. She joins brother Travis ’95, a 2005 inductee, in the Athletic Hall of Fame.

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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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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.

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.