Remembering those we lost in 2023 | High school sports year in review

Dec. 31—While we pause to remember the triumphs within The News-Herald coverage area high school sports scene at the end of the calendar year, it's also time to pause and remember those we lost.

The following, listed in alphabetical order, are some of the familiar faces across that scene who died in 2023. As always, this is not intended to be a "complete" list. But efforts are made to ensure the list is as thorough as possible.

Ken Bolek

The longtime Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin pitching coach and an integral part of the Lions' baseball program for decades died in November. The Lions won state titles in 2001 and 2009 with Bolek as a dependable, consistent voice on the mound.

In a 2009 News-Herald story, as NDCL was making its state title run that year, then-senior catcher Dave Medve lauded Bolek's presence for him and staff aces Billy Turosky and Erik Okleson.

"Coach (Ken) Bolek calls a great game, and I don't have to worry about Billy or Erik because they never cross me up and they always hit their spots," Medve said. "Ever since they were freshmen, they had this aura around them that you knew they were special players. For me, when they pitch, it helps raise my game out there, too."

Pam Crysler

A staple of Mentor sporting events in a variety of capacities, Crysler died in June at the age of 67.

The 1974 Mentor graduate could be seen throughout a high school sports season across several sports, including as a public-address announcer in soccer, game spotter in football, statistician in basketball and wrestling and as a meet worker in track and field, plus much more. Her warmth and regard for Mentor students and anyone visiting Mentor's campus as a guest was embraced across Northeast Ohio.

"Our kids, our students, our athletes were her family," Cardinals athletic director Jeff Cassella told Sports Editor Mark Podolski in August. "Everyone knew her. Pam was Mentor through and through.

"After COVID, I didn't have Pam. Then I realized I hired like seven or eight people to do everything she did. People like her are one in a million."

A personal tribute to a revered constant, Mentor supporter Pam Crysler — Opinion

Jim Emery

An institution as a cross country and track and field coach at Beaumont since his arrival on campus there in 1990, Emery died March 21 at the age of 74.

Under his tutelage, the Blue Streaks captured 11 state track and field team championships between 1991 and 2008, four of which came consecutively between 1996 and 1999. Beaumont secured seven state team crowns in cross country. Of the Blue Streaks' 236 state qualifiers and 81 state champions in individual events or relays in track and field, 158 qualifiers and 58 state champions came with Emery as coach.

"I think for us, the biggest thing is the way that he has relationships with the kids," Beaumont athletic director Tim Ertle said after Emery's death. "You have this 74-year-old guy — we pulled the track and cross country girls out of class and told them. And just seeing how much he meant to them — these are people from all different walks of life. He had such a good way of connecting with the kids."

Longtime Beaumont track and field, cross country coach Jim Emery dies at 74

Jim Grinstead

A constant of the Euclid football and basketball programs as a statistician for decades, "Grinny" as he was widely known died Aug. 14 at the age of 79. The 1962 Euclid graduate was also a bus driver for more than 30 years in his hometown school district.

"He couldn't have been more of a Euclid man than anyone else who ever walked through those doors at that school," legendary Panthers boys basketball coach Doc Daugherty said after Grinstead's death.

Euclid community mourns the loss of longtime scorekeeper/statistician Jim 'Grinny' Grinstead

Dick Kerschbaum

A Hall of Famer whose 50-year career spanned across several stops as a high school football coach and later athletic director, Kerschbaum died Nov. 30 at the age of 75.

One of Kerschbaum's stops came at Mentor, for which he was head football coach from 1985 to 1993, amassing 58 wins including a 10-2 campaign in 1992.

"I learned a lot from him, and I'm very grateful I had the opportunity to coach for him," former Cardinals football coach Steve Trivisonno said.

"(Fifty years in high school sports) is incredible just to say that. We always said all along, when he wasn't at Mentor, before he became an AD that he would be an amazing AD. I bet he was awesome at that when he did that after he retired from teaching and coaching. Just the ability to show people how to be organized and do all that, he was just incredible at all those things. He was pretty special."

Former Mentor football coach Dick Kerschbaum remembered

Chris Payne

Payne, who logged stints as a well-regarded head boys soccer coach at Riverside and Mentor, died in October.

Our hearts are heavy tonight to hear that former MHS soccer coach Chris Payne recently passed. He led the State Runner up team of 2013 & was State Coach of the Year that season. The MHS soccer community & Cardinal nation send our condolences & uplifting thoughts to his family. ❤️

— Mentor Boys Soccer (@CardsBoysSoccer) October 31, 2023

The highlight of his Cardinals' tenure was the side's 2013 Division I state runner-up run, for which he was named D-I state coach of the year that fall. That side went undefeated into the D-I state final, a 1-0 setback to an outstanding Mason side, and finished that campaign 18-1-4.

Tom Schoen

Few presences in the lengthy lore of St. Joseph and, later, Villa Angela-St. Joseph, had the impact of Schoen, who died Feb. 11. He was 77.

After graduating from St. Joseph, he was an All-American at Notre Dame, served in the Army and was drafted by the Browns. He later returned to VASJ as football coach and athletic director.

"That school meant everything to him," his wife Mary said. "He bled blue and red. Trust me. He loved St. Joe's and being a Viking over everything else."

Added Charlie Malta, who coordinated a Schoen remembrance event in March: "There are legends of St. Joe's, and then there's Tom Schoen in a class by himself."

Legend of Tom Schoen lives on after St. Joseph alum's passing in February