2012 HOF Inductees : Boardman Booster Club

Tom Draper

Contributor (1968)

The athletic program at Boardman Center Middle School would not have been the same had Tom Draper not been there for almost 40 years. Hired as a physical education teacher in 1972, Tom went on to coach football and girls track, as well as serve as the Athletic Director for BCMS until his retirement in 2010. As head football coach at Center, he compiled a record of 170-40-8 over a period of more than 30 years at the helm. The consistent preparation, discipline, and character which Tom provided for generations of middle school athletes went far deeper than their athletic accomplishments made in high school and beyond. His contributions at such a critical age over the course of his career were immeasurable.

Tom graduated from BHS in 1968, running track in high school then lettering in swimming at Fairmont State College, receiving his degree in 1972. Throughout his life back here in Boardman, he has been very active in church and civic affairs and a long-time role model for personal fitness. His wife, the former Judy Johnson, is also a Boardman graduate, as are his two daughters Kati and Kari, both married with young daughters of their own.

Rob Geletka

Basketball (1991)

A deadly shooter and all-around hustler on the hardcourt, Rob Geletka led the Spartans in basketball in the early 1990’s. His career at BHS was capped off by a senior season which saw Rob lead his team in foul shooting, rebounding, steals, and assists, receiving the Darl V. Dolan Award for dedication, teamwork, and leadership. He also led the entire Steel Valley Conference in foul shooting, earning 1st Team honors, as well as 2nd Team All-NEO and All-State Hon. Mention. He was also named to the 1991 Boys All-Valley Playbook Division I team.

Rob attended YSU and NEOUCOM, graduating in 1997 with his M.D. Since his residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, he has become a rheumatologist at the Emory Univ. Medical Center in Atlanta, where he currently resides with his wife, Charlotte and son, Nathan.

Jen Lyden

Basketball (1997)

A four-year varsity letter winner, Jen Lyden climaxed her basketball career at BHS with her second All-SVC 1st Team selection, also named 1st Team All-NEO/ Player of the Year and 1st Team All-State as a senior. She played that year in the Ohio North/ South All- Star Game as well. Three of Jen’s high school teams advanced to the Regional Tournament in postseason play. She also excelled at track for four years at BHS, winning the Steel Valley Meet in the high jump and 200 meter relay twice, as well as going to the Regional Finals. She also played varsity soccer as a ninth grader.

Jen went on to play four years of basketball at YSU, including two seasons on Mid-Continent Championship teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament. She was named to the Mid-Con. All-Tournament Team her junior year. After graduation in 2002, Jen made her way to Indianapolis, where she is now a manufacturing operator for the Eli Lilly Company and a part-time personal trainer for Anytime Fitness. Since college, she has successfully run several tri-athalons and is a member of the Indianapolis Road Runners Club.

Dan Mathews

Baseball (1992)

Dan Mathews was actually a two-sport star during his athletic career at BHS — a running back in football and a catcher in baseball. One of the tri-captains his senior year, Dan was named Offensive Back of the Year on a team that won the SVC Championship in 1990 and 1991. In baseball, he lettered for three years and was also selected for All-SVC each of those years. He captured the Youngstown Class “B” batting title in the summer of 1990.

Attending Ohio State after graduation, Dan played on three Big Ten Championship baseball teams, including a squad ranked third in the country by USA Today in 1994. Following his time at OSU, he got into the banking industry, chosen for the Chase Leaders Club in 2006 and awarded the Fifth-Third Bank Rookie of the Year in 2009. Today he is a mortgage advisor living in Powell, OH, where he is active in local government. Dan and his wife Katie have two young children, Maguire and Keegan.

Laurie (Galik) Patton

Track (1984)

Laurie Galik was cited by longtime BHS Girls Track Coach, Denise Gorski, as one of her most unselfish and coachable runners ever. At one time in recent history, she held school records in four different events: 4×200 relay (still standing), 4×100 relay (26 years), 4×400 relay (20 years), and 400 meter dash (11 years). A four-year letter winner, Laurie won the SVC 400 meter dash both her junior and senior years, placing 2nd as a sophomore. Her various relay teams won many SVC, District, and Regional races, placing 9th at State (4×200) her senior year.With one of the ten highest GPA’s in her 1984 graduating class, Laurie enrolled at the University of Cincinnati and continued her academic excellence, graduating magna cum laude in 1988 and other scholastic honors, including membership in Phi Beta Kappa and the coveted C-Ring award honoring the outstanding graduating female student. Today she is working as a Head Start pre-school teacher, after spending many years in a variety of positions in a foster parent-child program. Laurie has also been a volunteer firefighter for 16 years. She and her husband Vance Patton currently reside in Indiana with their daughter and two sons.

Nick Roberts

Football (1995)

One of the best defensive backs in BHS football history, Nick Roberts topped off his career at Boardman with a phenomenal senior year which earned him 1st Team status on both the SVC and NEO All-Star teams. He was also awarded both the Spartan Award and Defensive MVP at the season’s conclusion, as well as receiving All-State Special Mention honors.

After earning two varsity letters at YSU in 1995 and 1996, Nick transferred to Westminster College where he lettered for two more years and enjoyed an outstanding career which included being on the NAIA All-American Team, NAIA Mid-States Football Assoc. 1st Team, and NCAA Div. II Midwest Conference Team, as Defensive Back. Nick was named Team MVP each year he played at Westminster and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2009.

Today Nick teaches science and coaches football at Howland Middle School, and lives in Canfield with his wife, Robin and son, Bryce and daughter, Paige.

Steve Rovnak

Football (1996)

Steve Rovnak was a key player on Boardman’s 1995 State Semi-Finalist football team, anchoring a formidable defensive line at the Defensive End position. A three-year letterman, he was named All-SVC, All-NEO, and All-State both his junior and senior years. He went on to play at YSU where he was a member of the 2000 National Runner-Up team, and elected Team Captain his senior year.

After graduation Steve became a teacher and football coach, spending eight years coaching at Ursuline High School, which included three consecutive State Championship seasons from 2008-2010. He is currently the Assistant Principal at Niles McKinley High School, residing in Boardman with his wife, Hailey and son, Anthony.

Larry Saxton

Contributor

Larry Saxton’s vast contributions to the athletic program at Boardman High School have been both direct and indirect. As a former teacher, coach, and administrator he was involved in many influential developments and decisions in the Boardman School System during a long and successful professional career. As a parent (now grandparent!) and community leader, he continues to help in a variety of ways to this very day.

Growing up in western Pennsylvania, Larry played football at Pitcairn High School for legendary coach Chuck Klausing. Following a four-year stint in the Air Force, he attended Slippery Rock College, earning his degree in 1961 and accepting a position teaching math and coaching football at Rayen High School that fall. Larry came to BHS in 1963 as a math teacher and the 9th grade head football coach and proceeded to move “up the ranks” in both the classroom (Math Dept. Chairman) and in coaching as the Defensive Coordinator then later as Head Coach). After two successful seasons at the football helm — defeating both Mooney and Ursuline their first year in the SVC.

Mr. Saxton devoted the rest of his career to his administrative goals as Assistant Principal at Glenwood Middle School (1976-1979), Director of Curriculum and Personnel (1979-1996), and Superintendent of Schools (1996-2001). During that time he received numerous awards and citations for his outstanding service as an educator and community leader. As head of the school system, he oversaw the completion of the Boardman Performing Arts Center and the building of the fitness center at the site of the future football stadium. To this day, he is active in several ongoing school-related programs.

Larry and his wife Sandy raised two children who are both BHS graduates — daughter Paula Renouf, and son Tim, who was a football standout and is currently principal of BHS.

Troy Wilson

Football (1991)

Troy Wilson was a two-way player of all-around athletic ability who starred for the Spartan football teams of the late 1980’s. A three-year letter-winner, he was a powerful running back as well as a devastating linebacker. His defensive prowess earned him All-SVC and All-NEO 1st Team honors and All-State Special Mention. Troy was also a three-year letterman in wrestling and Eastern Ohio Wrestling League First Team in 1990.

Following graduation in 1991, Troy attended Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, where he lettered all four years before receiving his degree in economics as a two-year Alden Scholar in 1995. He eventually went on to earn his MBA from the University of Pittsburgh in 2007 and was on the Dean’s List. Troy is currently Vice-President and Portfolio Manager for BNY Mellon and resides in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania with his wife, Deirdre and son, Brady and daughter, Blake.