2016 HOF Inductees : Boardman Booster Club

Tom Basista

Football (1991)

Tom Basista was a defensive back and standout athlete during his playing days at BHS. He starred on one of Boardman’s all-time best teams that went 9-2 as Co-SVC champions and made the state playoffs for only the second time in school history. Tom led the SVC his Junior year in interceptions, earning First Team All-SVC honors and also was selected as the BHS Defensive Back of the Year. In Tom’s Senior year, he was selected team captain, and was a three-way starter including special team’s returner and holder. His outstanding play earned him First Team All-SVC honors again, as well as BHS Defensive Back of the Year for the second straight season. He had a career-record 9 interceptions, earning All-NEO honors, 1990 All-Valley Playbook Team D1, and the Black Watch Award for consistent excellence on defense. He also played Varsity Basketball for four years and was a key performer on the 1991 SVC Champion team.

Tom went on to play football for the Allegheny College Gators and was a part of their play-off teams in the early 90’s. While at Allegheny, he became an Alden scholar and graduated with a B.A. in Economics and then worked in finance. He returned to college for his 4-9th grade teaching license and earned a Master’s in Education from Ashland Univ. and was hired at Glenwood Middle School in 2002 where he still teaches today. Tom has served as Head Coach of BGMS Football, 7th Grade Boys Basketball, BGMS Track, and currently Glenwood Cross Country. Tom lives in Boardman, and is married to the former Jenefer Cliff, also a BHS graduate and current English teacher at BHS. They have two children, Noah and Julia, who are both students in Boardman schools.

Marissa Bartholomew Davies

Softball (2001)

The top pitcher and co-captain for Boardman’s first officially sanctioned Div. 1 State Championship team in 2001 (not to mention its Runner-up team of 2000), Marissa Bartholomew led her teams by example and then some. A four-year varsity letter winner, Marissa was voted Co-Captain and 1st Team All-Steel Valley Conference in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, compiling a 41-5 pitching record as a Junior and Senior, with an amazing 0.75 ERA and was also one of the team’s top hitters. She was named 1st Team All-NEO as a Junior and Senior, and All-State Honorable Mention in her final year, when she was selected Female Sports Player of the Year by the Youngstown Vindicator.

Marissa went on to Mercyhurst College on an athletic scholarship and proceeded to make the Softball All-Academic Team three times and the All-GLIAC Softball Team in 2003. After earning her B.A. in psychology in 2005, Marissa continued her studies at Kent State, receiving her Masters Degree in Education in 2007 and Educational Specialist Degree in School Psychology in 2009. She is currently a school psychologist in the Warren City School District, and she and her husband, Matt Davies reside in Boardman with their three daughters.

A. H. Davis

Basketball (1999)

The son of BHS Hall of Fame basketball player Fred Davis, A.H. established his own superlative high school career here in the late 1990’s. A three-year letterman, he was the leading rebounder on the team in 11th grade and earned 2nd Team All-Steel Valley Conference honors. As a senior he made 1st Team All-SVC and was named All-NEO honorable mention. He was also the winner of the prestigious Darl V. Dolan Award for dedication, teamwork, and leadership.

Enrolling at Thiel College, A. H. had a phenomenal four-year career there, was selected All-Presidents Athletic Conference four times and establishing school records in career scoring and field goals made. He was also named to the PAC 60th Anniversary All-Star Team and received Thiel’s Chuck Fraroff Award as Student-Athlete of the Year in 2003. Currently A.H. works as a physician assistant with the Cleveland Clinic and lives here in town with his wife Heather.

Jenn Kish

Basketball (2001)

A four-year starter at BHS, Jenn Kish averaged 15 points and 6 rebounds per game during her playing time here. She capped off her playing days here by joining that very select group of Boardman basketball players to score over 1,000 career points. She was named 2nd Team All-Steel Valley Conference in 9th and 10th grades, and was 1st Team All-SVC as a Junior and Senior. As Senior Captain, Jenn was also named 1st Team All-Northeast Ohio and made All-State Honorable Mention.

Going to Ohio Dominican College after graduation, Jenn started for the Panthers in her first year and was the team’s second leading scorer and rebounder. She was selected that same year for the All-AMC team, Honorable Mention. She later earned her undergraduate degree from YSU in Hospitality / Event Management in 2007, and she currently is the Guest Services Specialist and Front Desk Supervisor at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington Pennsylvania, living in nearby Uniontown.

Aaron Massey

Football/Baseball (1999)

Aaron Massey’s Junior and Senior years at BHS were a virtual one-two punch of excellence in varsity football and baseball. After making 2nd Team All-Steel Valley Conference in football in 11th grade, Aaron made 1st Team All-SVC as a defensive back as a Senior, as well as 1st Team All-Northeast Ohio and 2nd Team All-State. He was also voted the Best Team Defensive Back and was nominated for the Ohio North-South All-Star Game.In baseball, Aaron was also 2nd Team All-SVC as a Junior and 1st Team as a Senior on a team that won the SVC and Sectional Championships. In addition to his athletic prowess, he played the violin in the BHS Symphony Orchestra all four years and on the basketball team as well.

Attending Marietta College, Aaron played outfield for the Pioneers on their 2001 NCAA Div. III National Runner-up team. After receiving his undergraduate degree in 2003, he pursued his interests in the arts and traveled extensively. He is currently working as a sales representative and freelance artist in the Columbus, Ohio area.

Jeff McLhinney

Contributor

Coach “Mac” has been a fixture in the Boardman Schools coaching ranks throughout his entire 38-year career in the system. After lettering in track and football at Hickory High School in Hermitage Pennsylvania, Jeff attended Westminster College where he played varsity football for three years before receiving his B.A. and eventually a Masters Degree in Education. Hired as a teacher at Center Middle School, he coached there three years and then one year at Glenwood M.S. before joining Gene Pushic’s BHS varsity staff in 1981, where he remained for 32 years. Over the years, he has assisted six head coaches in a multitude of roles, mostly as a tight end coach, defensive end coach, and special teams coach.

Jeff also coached BCMS boys track for 13 years, winning over 130 dual meets over that time period. After a four-year hiatus, he coached the girls’ team at Center for 12 more years, compiling a 122-11 record, including 6 undefeated seasons, 6 County Championships, and helping to establish 12 BCMS track event records. Besides coaching, Jeff is active in High School and College Basketball officiating in Pennsylvania, a career that has lasted for 43 years. He is a member of the Mercer County Basketball Association and currently serves as one of the Board of Directors. As a teacher, Jeff was inducted into the “Who’s Who of American Teachers” in 1992. Jeff is also a member of the Boardman Lions Club. He and his wife Debi raised three children, David, Julie and Derek, all BHS graduates. Jeff now enjoys spending time with his three grandsons, Max, Grayson, and John.

Shannon McNally-Velasquez

Basketball (1987)

A four-year varsity letter winner in basketball, Shannon McNally was the starting point guard as a Junior and Senior for the BHS girls basketball team. She was named 1st Team All-Steel Valley Conference and 2nd Team All-Northeast Ohio both of those years, and received All-State Honorable Mention during her Senior season. That same year, Shannon was voted Team MVP and selected to play in the Mahoning Valley Coaches Association All-Star game. In addition, she earned a varsity letter in 9th grade as a pitcher on the BHS softball team.

After going to Kent State on a full basketball scholarship, Shannon proceeded to study pre-med courses and earned her B.S. from YSU in 1993 and M.D. from the NEOUCOM in 1997. She is an Internal Medicine Physician and currently is serving as Associate Medical Director for Hospice of the Valley in Boardman, where she resides with her husband, Tom Velasquez, also a BHS graduate, and their son Mickey.

Christopher Peretti

Wrestling (1998)

As a varsity wrestler at BHS in the late 1990’s, Chris Peretti dominated the local scene with his accomplishments. He was a three-time Sectional Champion, two-time District Champ, and three-time State Qualifier, placing 3rd at the State Championships in 1997. Chris won the Eastern-Ohio Wrestling League Championship three times as well. He set school records with 394 career takedowns and 159 takedowns in a single season, and finished in the Top 10 among all Boardman wrestlers with 118 career wins and 39 career pins.

Following graduation, Chris attended Ashland University and continued his stellar wrestling career while attending there. He was a four-time NCAA Qualifier and a two-time NCAA Placer, winning the Regional Tournament three times and was also an Academic All-American for his excellence in the classroom. He was the Regional MVP in 2000 and Male Athlete of the Year Nominee, and was voted Ashland University Team MVP in 2000 and 2002. Chris settled in the Wooster Ohio area after receiving his degree, teaching 8th grade history and coaching High School Wrestling at Loudonville where he lives with his wife Amanda and two sons.

John Yosay

Soccer (2000)

The Yosay name is virtually synonymous with Boardman soccer, and 2000 graduate John Yosay lived up to that reputation during his career at BHS. A three-year letterman and team captain during his Senior year, John also made 1st Team All-Steel Valley Conference and All-District that year, having been a Regional Finalist as a Junior in addition to 2nd Team All-SVC and All-District honors. Besides his success at Soccer, he was a three-time All-SVC pick in Tennis, playing on two SVC Championship teams one of which won the Sectional Tournament in 1998. To top all of that off, John made 1st Team All-SVC as a member of the BHS Varsity Golf team in 1999 and was a Conference Club selection.

Following high school graduation, John attended Miami University (of Ohio), earning his Degree with Cum Laude honors in 2004. He entered medical school at the University of Toledo and received his M.D. in 2008. He is currently a Senior Medical Officer in the U.S. Navy where he holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander where he has had several deployments aboard the USS Iwo Jima and the USS Bataan. He is active in civic medical organizations in Virginia Beach, where he lives with his wife Nora, who is expecting their first child.