By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Inside every community, there are a group of volunteers that make athletic programs and organizations move.

They are the go-getters.

They are the ones that do it for no pay.

They are the ones passionate about creating opportunities for kids.

They are the ones that usually fall outside of the spotlight.

Today is their day.

Today is the day that the we pull back the curtain and give them the attention they deserve.

With that, I proudly present my 2nd annual Volunteers of the Year winners.

CHRIS EYERMAN

Role: President and co-founder of the Crestwood Gridiron Club.

Special Spotlight: Eyerman has been a coach and board member within Crestwood youth football and cheer for more than 10 years. He co-founded and has been the driving force for the Crestwood Gridiron Club in 2021.

The organization fundraises for Crestwood football for ages Kindergarten through high school.

Eyerman’s plan and vision was evident in the first year, when the Gridiron Club not only upgraded equipment for all levels of Crestwood football, but also was able to offer financial holiday help for four families inside our football community.

What They Are Saying: “When I took the job as head coach at Crestwood, there were two objectives we needed to accomplish immediately, creating a K-12 program and finding a way to keep up financially,” Crestwood football head coach Jack D’Amato said. “Chris was the first person to come to mind as the leader of that group. He is a tireless advocate for Crestwood and the football community. If it weren’t for Chris and his leadership, we wouldn’t be in the position we are as a program. I am grateful for his personal sacrifices to make giving back to the community a priority.”

CHAD COLER

Role: Voice of the Field High School football team.

Special Spotlight: Coler has served as a volunteer announcer on Friday nights for the past two seasons.

AMANDA GRANDIZIO

Role: Garfield athletic Booster Club Treasurer, Football Feed the Team Coordinator, Concessions Purchaser, Ticket-Taker, Night at the Races Coordinator, Team Mom, Garfield Youth Football.

Special Spotlight: Grandizio is involved in several aspects for the Garfield athletic program. Her long list of work has proven her longstanding dedication to the G-Men.

What They Are Saying: “Amanda is always on the front line when it comes to helping with something,” Garfield athletic director Jim Pfleger said. “She is a key piece to the athletic department. For as long as I’ve been here, she has been involved one way or another. She is extremely trustworthy and reliable. She is always one of the first people to volunteer when I ask for help.”

MARCUS WRIGHT

RYAN ANDERSON

Roles: Kent Youth Football Directors.

What They Are Saying: “Marcus and Ryan are two players giving back by reorgnazing our youth football program,” Kent Roosevelt athletic director Ben Dunlap said. “There are not two better role models for the youth of Kent. They are rock stars. Numbers are up across the board at the youth levels and it is going to be good for the future of Rough Riders football. We appreciate the hard work and dedication of these two former Rough Riders.”

BRAD HAGER

Role: Ravenna Youth Football Director.

Special Spotlight: Hager handles all of the responsibilities within the Ravenna youth football program. He has helped build out the organization’s coaching staff and cheer directors, while also coordinating schedules and referees.

What They Are Saying: “Brad is committed to making Ravenna football a top-notch youth football program,” Ravenna athletic director Jim Lunardi said. “He is an alumni of Ravenna and played football for me (2005-08).”

DON BOYLE

Role: Rootstown Sports Booster Club member, football team meal volunteer, sausage sandwich fundraiser committee, wrestling program volunteer.

What They Are Saying: “Don has continued to volunteer countless hours of his team each and every year despite not having kids in high school anymore,” Rootstown athletic director Keith Waesch said. “When an individual donates his or her time without it directly benefitting their own kid(s), that is the definition of a special person in my mind. He will help with any project or fundraiser in a moment’s notice and doesn’t want any fanfare in return.”

LORI SAPP AND S.P.A.C.E.

Role: President of the Southeast non-profit organization.

Special Spotlight: SPACE stands for the Southeast Pirates Athletic and Community Endeavor. The non-profit group was formed to help fund new and improve existing athletic facilities. The group has built a new concession stand and storage building behind the middle school, purchased middle school outdoor scoreboards, a scoreboard for the intermediate school gym, improved the outdoor sand volleyball courts and put up safety nets behind the soccer goals. The group is currently working to raise funds to install a new track at the high school.

What They Are Saying: “They are incredible in our district and are a major force in helping our district install a new track in our high-school stadium,” Southeast athletic director Patrick Youel said. “They have worked tirelessly to enhance and better our facilities. They are an incredible asset to our community. We send many thanks to the current and former members of this outstanding group.”

JOE YONISH

Role: President of Junior Rockets Football and Streetsboro high school football and wrestling program volunteer.

Special Spotlight: Yonish, who is a 2006 Streetsboro graduate, oversees many aspects of the football and wrestling programs. He ensures that the equipment gets to games and matches, acts as the ball person for the officials, supervises the waterboys and attends to any equipment issues players have during the game.

What They Are Saying: “Joe tries to take as much responsibility off our coaches on game day, so they can just coach,” Streetsboro athletic director Randy Tevepaugh said. “He has a great attitude, and he is dedicated to the “Rocket Way.” He takes his responsibilities very seriously. He is popular in the community and well liked by the student-athletes and parents.”

STEPHANIE FOSTER

Role: Waterloo volunteer for team meals, event organization and booster club.

Special Spotlight: Foster’s compassion for people is what makes her special, going above and beyond time after time.

What They Are Saying: “Stephanie’s love of the student-athletes at Waterloo is unheralded. She cares so much about taking care of our kids,” Waterloo athletic director Mike Devies said. “Stephanie does a phenomenal job and pours her heart into whatever job she decides to tackle. I cannot express how thankful I am for people like Stephanie, who look out for our students.”

RENEE TURK

Role: Windham volleyball and basketball ticket-taker, official voice of the Windham Bombers Marching Band, active band booster club member, youth basketball Lil’ Dribblers tournament volunteer, Ski Club volunteer.

What They Are Saying: “Renee has been a huge help over the years. She is a very upbeat and positive person. She always seems to find the positive and good in every situation,” Windham athletic director DJ Gross said. “She always has the best interest of the kids in mind and helps however she can.”

“Speaking from the heart, if I didn’t have Renee, we would not have the band that we do,” Windham Band Director Sydney Dicenso said. “She dedicates so much time, effort and energy into making sure we have everything that we need. She even helps me keep things in order. Our kids love being with her and appreciate everything she does.”