2019 HOF Inductees : Boardman Booster Club

Amber Bland

Basketball / Track & Field (2004)

One of the best all-around female athletes to ever pass through BHS, Amber Bland established herself early in her athletic career by winning the State High-jump title as a Freshman! Before she was done in track, Amber ranked in the top 20 in Ohio in the 100 and 200 meter dashes, 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 meter relays, and first in the high jump. A four-year star in Basketball as well, she was named Ohio Co-Player of the Year in 10th and 12th grade, and NEO Player of the Year three years running beginning in her Sophomore year. She was the 2004 Adidas All-American Game MVP, Al Beach Classic MVP, and a Street & Smith honorable mention All-American. Amber still holds the BHS scoring records for a single season and career total points, including a single-game high of 51 points. In college at North Carolina A&T, she continued to set scoring records for points in a single season and points per game (19.6). After graduating in 2009, she went on to play professionally in Puerto Rico, where she was a two-time All-Star Team selection and a WNBA draft prospect. Amber currently lives in Houston where she works as a brand ambassador for Le Meriden and is engaged to be married.

Allison Brager

Track & Field (2003)

A trailblazing 4.0 student-athlete, Allison Brager became the first female pole-vaulter in BHS and Mahoning County history. Allison also ran the 100 and 300 meter hurdles, qualifying for the Regional Track Meet in both 2002 and 2003 in the 300 meter run. She also participated in the long jump and 4 x 400 meter relay. She was a two-time Ohio All-American, having placed 4th in the pole vault in 2002 and 2003, and is the former Indoor State Record Holder in that event.

At Brown University of the Ivy League, Allison lettered all four years before receiving her B.S. in 2007 and went on to earn her Ph.D. in Physiology at Kent State in 2011. After college, she competed in the Reebok CrossFit Games twice on a team and Regionals twice as an individual. She was an 8-time gold medalist in track and field while competing in Paris in 2018. This year she was selected for the Army Warrior CrossFit Team, an Army recruiting initiative. She is presently a Captain in the Army and the Director of Human Performance at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Brittany Durkin Framo

Basketball, Track, & Cross Country (2004)

Brittany Durkin was a four-year athletic force at BHS in the early 2000’s, participating in Cross-Country, Basketball, and Track. On the hardcourt, she was a four-year starter on the Varsity team. She played on a team that won the District Championship in 9th grade, was All-NEO honorable mention as a Sophomore, and was named All-Steel Valley Conference and All-NEO First Team in her Junior year before having her hoops career curtailed by a knee injury her Senior year. She began her cross country career as a Freshman, by earning 1st-Team All-Steel Valley honors and proceeded to qualify for the State Cross Country meet each year thereafter, and was named County and Suburban League 1st-Team. She was an Academic All-American in the 10th grade and named Federal League Runner of the Year as a Senior. In track, Brittany ran the 800 meter and 1600 meter runs, as well as the 4 x 800 and 4 x 400 relays, qualifying for the State Meet all four years, even as a Senior while nursing her injured knee. Winner of the prestigious George Brownlee Award at graduation, Brittany went on to compete in track and cross country at Kent State, receiving her degree in 2008. She currently lives in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania with her husband Tony Framo and their son Anthony.

Denise Gorski

Contributor / Coach

Denise Gorski has had multiple “careers” which has spanned more than 40 years at BHS prior to retiring as the Athletic Director this past June. After receiving her teaching degree at Kent State, Denise was hired at BHS as a Physical Education instructor in 1977, and was soon named as the Head Coach for the girls Basketball team, holding that position until 1980. From 1979 through 1985 she also coached the girls Golf team, and was the Assistant Coach for girls Track in 1978, becoming the Head Coach in 1982, a position she held with distinction for 32 years.

Her teams and individual players include 12 Steel Valley Conference, 16 Mahoning County, and 9 District Championships. She has coached 53 individuals to the State track meet and had 26 athletes earn All-Ohio honors, not to mention the numerous District and Regional winners along the way. Denise herself was named Midwest National Coach of the Year in 1988, was Head Coach of the Ohio All-Star Track Team in 1998, named D-1 Coach of the Year 4 times, and Ohio Career State Coach of the Year in 2001. In 2009 she was elected to the OATCCC Hall of Fame with the Ed Barker Award for Service to Track and Cross Country.

Following a brief retirement in 2013, Denise returned to BHS to serve as the Athletic Director for six more years, overseeing numerous athletic projects, including the new stadium construction. She has served on the Boardman Township Park District Board, and in 2015 was nominated for the Athena Award for leadership in the Youngstown Valley. She and her husband Dan, former BHS teacher and boys Basketball Head Coach, reside in Poland and regularly enjoy their cottage in Myrtle Beach.

Neal Hogan

Soccer (1995)

In the early formative years of the BHS Soccer program, Neal Hogan became one of the players that put BHS’s team in the forefront of the region. A four-year letter winner, Neal was a two-time All-Steel Valley Conference (SVC) selection, was named to the 1993 Greater Akron area All-League Team, and was the 1994 Youngstown District’s Division I Player of the Year. He also was elected as the team Captain for the Spartans during his Senior year. In 1995, Neal made the State and Midwest Regional teams for the Olympic Development Program. After graduating from BHS, he played college soccer at Wooster College and the University of Akron. After transferring to YSU, he received his undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Psychology in 2001, and later attended the University of Cincinnati, where he earned his Master of Arts degree in Philosophy in 2005. He currently teaches philosophy at Harper College in the Chicago area, where he resides with his wife, Kayo and sons, Sheamus and Owen.

Mark Lipinsky

Track & Field (2004)

Mark Lipinsky’s track career at BHS illustrates a devotion and mastery of the specialized event of running the high hurdles. By the time Mark graduated in 2004, he was an All- Ohio team selection and had set the school record in 110 meter hurdles, finished 3rd in the State Meet, 4th at the Regionals, and won the District event. He was a three-time County Champion, two-time Steel Valley Conference Champion, and won the event at the Federal League meet. His Senior year was capped off by being named to the Midwest Meet of Champions and the Adidas Outdoor Nationals. Continuing his education and track career at YSU, Mark won the Horizon League outdoor 110 meter High Hurdle event in 2009 prior to his graduation. He continues his running interests to this day, managing the Second Sole store in Boardman and acting as the CEO of the Youngstown Marathon Foundation and serves as the race director of the Youngstown Marathon annual event. He and his wife, Allison live in Canfield with their daughter, Addison and son, Noah.

Tony Martin

Football (1984)

A defensive standout on some struggling BHS football teams in the early 1980’s, Tony Martin provided a consistent spark that kept the Spartans’ hopes alive. Still holding second position in the BHS record books for tackles in a single season, Tony was a two-time All-Steel Valley selection and honorable mention All-NEO Team his Senior year, during which he captained the team. He was also selected first-team All-SVC in baseball his senior year. At graduation he was named the George Brownlee Scholarship award winner. In college, Tony started on nationally ranked teams at both Case Western Reserve (D-III NCAA) and Westminster (D-II NAIA). While at Case, he was named All- North Coast Athletic Conference honorable mention and was part of the 1984 undefeated team that was inducted into the CWRU Hall of Fame. He also served as Student Government President and received the Scholar Athlete Award at Westminster College. Tony has worked at IBM for over thirty years, earning his M.B.A. at CWRU in 1997. He is an active community volunteer in Chagrin Falls where he lives with his wife, Rosa Anna and three children, Anthony, Giuliana, and Joseph.

Mark McHugh

Football (1985)

A three-year starter and letter winner in the early 1980’s, Mark McHugh helped lead the Spartans’ Football team through some difficult seasons. He capped off his Senior season as a first-team All-Steel Valley Conference selection, was All-NEO honorable mention, and participated in the annual Ohio North/South All-Star Game in Massillon, Ohio. He also was elected a Team Captain and received an athletic scholarship to attend Eastern Michigan. After being “red-shirted” his first year, Mark proceeded to earn a varsity letter in Football all four years that he played there, and within that time frame, the team won the Mid-American Conference Championship and played in the California Bowl in 1987. He earned his degree in 1990, and afterward, worked his way into the construction business in the Columbus area. He was named 1995 Centex Homes’ Field Manager of the Year and in 1998 won Centex Homes’ Dora Award for outstanding job performance and commitment to excellence. He currently owns McHugh Construction, LLC and lives in Dublin, Ohio with his wife, Beth and daughters, Abbey and Alyssa.

Jason Neapolitan

Wrestling (1997)

Jason Neapolitan capped off his individual wrestling career by winning the Eastern Ohio Wrestling League (EOWL) Championship as a Senior and leading his team to the best finish (8th) at the State tournament in the history of Boardman wrestling. That same year, Jason was also named the EOWL Most Outstanding Wrestler. He was a three-time Sectional Champion, two-time District and State Qualifier, reaching the State Semi-Finals in 1997, finishing in 4th place. He was chosen BHS Team Most Valuable Wrestler and recipient of the Intensity Award as well. In 2012, Jason was inducted into the EOWL Hall of Fame.

For 20 years now, Jason has coached wrestling at the middle school and high school levels in both the Boardman and Canfield school systems. He is the Owner/ President of More Options Realty and an Acquisitions Specialist for the Ohio Buyers Group. He and his wife, Kristina live in town with their two daughters, Gia and Bella.

Mark Starkey

Basketball (1999)

Mark Starkey finished a four-year BHS athletic career lettering in both Basketball and Track & Field. With standout performances in both his Junior and Senior years, Starkey was named All-State, All-Region, All-District and All-Conference leading Boardman’s basketball team to the 1999 Steel Valley Conference (SVC) Championship. His Senior year, Mark was the top scorer in the SVC as well as leading the league in free throw percentage and placed second in rebounding and played in the Mahoning Valley Coaches Association All-Star Game. Mark received a full Basketball scholarship to Clarion University where his team played in the 2001 NCAA Division-II Tournament. After being awarded a full scholarship to Division-I, Wright State University, he finished his playing career and graduated from there in 2004. Now residing in Vancouver, British Columbia with his wife, Whitney and daughter, Zezi, Mark is the CEO of Victory, a global advertising agency serving Nike, The NBA, Google and TED Talks.