Nordonia holds Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony

by Dan Holland

The Nordonia Athletic Department inducted 17 individuals and five Nordonia High School teams into its 2024 Hall of Fame class at an induction ceremony and dinner held Sept. 7 at Gambitta’s Party Center in Northfield. The inductees were also introduced prior to the Sept. 6 varsity football game against Mayfield High School at Boliantz Stadium.

The event is held every five years, according to hall of fame chairperson Ron Gura, who presided over the event for the fifth time. Inductees must have graduated at least five years prior to be eligible.

“We normally try to have 10 to 12 inductees, but this year, this five-year group from 2014-2019 was amazingly good,” he explained. “It’s kind of a bubble class, as there were more than we usually have. But that’s a good problem to have, as there were so many great things that occurred athletically at Nordonia during those five years.”

Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward, a three-time NFL pro-bowler and 2015 Nordonia graduate, is the most notable of the inductees. He will be inducted under multiple categories during the event, as he is included in the 2014 state runner-up football team, the 2014 state champion 4 x 200-meter relay team and the state runner-up 4 x 100-meter relay team. He will also be honored for being named the Ohio High School Division II Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2014.

Ward, who also played varsity basketball, holds school records in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash at Nordonia.

Other inductees include:

Alex Alders—2015 graduate; football, basketball and baseball.

Faith Banks—2018 graduate; track and field.

Monica Batton—2014 graduate; gymnastics.

Tony Codner—1977 graduate; wrestling and coaching.

Rachel Coghill—2016 graduate; cheerleading, gymnastics and track.

Aja DuVall—2018 graduate; track.

Brandon Jefferies—2004 graduate; football and track and field.

Carmen Licht—2018 graduate; track and field.

Mike Martin—Head cross-country coach 2009-2021, assistant cross-country coach 2022, assistant track coach 2009-2022.

Sandy Mauser—1982 graduate; basketball, softball and volleyball.

Christina McFarland—2018 graduate; swimming.

David Murray—2015 graduate; football, basketball and baseball.

Anthony Perrine—2017 graduate; football and wrestling.

Stephen Romanik—2014 graduate; diving.

Alex Woicehovich—2014 graduate; football, wrestling and track.

Additional school teams being inducted include the 1978 state runner-up wrestling team and the 2014 Regional Champion girls’ cross-country team.

All of the inductees went on to compete at a high level in college sports, said Gura. “Everyone on this list played in college for multiple years, and they all played multiple sports while at Nordonia,” he noted.

Gura, who is an assistant track coach and special education teacher in the school district, said the proliferation of outstanding athletes in the district is due in part to grassroots efforts that begin at the youth sports level and continue through high school.

“It’s the dedication of not only the athletes, but the coaches in each sport,” said Gura. “There are so many things that go on behind the scenes with summer sports camps, or you have coaches who go down to the pee-wee divisions and introduce themselves to the kids and parents. It’s just getting these kids to buy into the program.

“Coach Jeff Fox does an amazing job with football, and he’s a good example of a coach who goes down to those lower levels to meet with kids and parents,” he added. “If you come here on a weekend, there may be a thousand kids playing flag football at the stadium.”

Gura said student-athletes are encouraged to compete in multiple sports.

“There’s so much specialization in sports that goes on nowadays, but we still encourage kids to play multiple sports; I think that’s key in avoiding burnout or losing interest over time,” he said. “It also makes for a more well-rounded athlete and person. Denzel Ward is a prime example of the type of inductee who is going in this time as a multi-sport athlete.” ∞

On our cover (photos): There were 17 athletes and five high school teams inducted into the Nordonia Athletic Hall of Fame. Alex Woicehovich (standing with wife Kayle) is an inductee for his time participating in football, wrestling and track. He was recognized before the Sept. 6 Nordonia football game. Seated with her family at the induction dinner and awards ceremony is Faith Banks (middle, silver dress). She was a standout athlete in track and field. Photos by Michael Rankin

Capt. Steve Romanik (l) was a Junior
Olympic, high school, college and Olympic
Trials diver. He now serves in the U.S.
Marine Corps. Athletic Director Robe
Eckenrode gives him his award.

Rachel Coghill ’16 was involved in cheerleading,
gymnastics and track. Her pole
vaulting earned her a scholarship to the
University of Cincinnati. Photos by Michael
Rankin.

Denzel Ward. Photo submitted.