Cornelia “Nellie” Kyr led the Newman-Stern girls basketball team to a world championship in the 1920’s, topping all scorers in the four-game championship series with 31 points. Considered one of the finest shooters in the game, she held a one-game record of 37 points. In its world championship season, her team won 41 of 43 games.
After a stellar athletic career at Parma High School and Notre Dame, Ron Mottl put his energies into public service and support for many sports programs that have benefitted untold numbers of youngsters. He was elected into the Parma Sports Hall of Fame and the baseball field on the Cuyahoga Community College West Campus bears his name. Ron continues to have a significant influence on the Greater Cleveland sports scene.
Jack March brought big-time tennis to Cleveland by promoting the World Pro Championships from 1959 through 1964. They were staged at the Shaker Racquet Club, Cleveland Skating Club, Lakewood Park and the old Cleveland Arena. John’s tournaments opened the door for Davis Cup matches in Cleveland by proving that Cleveland was a major league tennis town.
A product of Rhodes High School and Ohio State University, Don McCafferty later served as assistant football coach at Kent State and with the Baltimore Colts of the NFL. As rookie head coach of the Colts, he turned around a faltering team and led them to a win in Super Bowl V. From Baltimore, Don moved over to the Detroit Lions but tragically died the following year, cutting short an exceptional coaching career.
A native greater Clevelander, Glenn Mills began participating in competitive swimming even before he went to school. In high school he set a National Record in the 100 yard breastroke. In 1980 he won the Senior National Championship, establishing a new national record, and won the U.S.A. Olympic Trials that year to qualify for the USA Team. In 1983, representing the University of Alabama, he won the NCAA 200 yard breastroke title.
Born and raised in Greater Cleveland, Kris Kirchner rose through the swimming ranks of local and regional competition. A gold medalist in the Pan American and World Student Games, he won the NCAA Sprint title in 1981 representing the University of Texas. He was a member of the 1980 USA Olympic Team and successfully participated in a number of international competitions. Kris currently is head swimming coach at Indiana University.
Joe Krupa bowled his first 300 game in 1926 at the age of 18. A sparkling career followed, included beating World Champion Hank Marino and prevailing over ABC Champion John Stanley in a marathon 50 game match-up. A number of his 300 games were officially sanctioned by the ABC.
Eddie Marotta won the 126 pound national Golden Gloves and AAU crowns in 1947. He was a consistent top-rung fighter in the amateur ranks with over 100 wins before turning professional.
One of the greatest 14-inch softball pitchers in Cleveland history, Bill Miller regularly fanned 21 or more players in nine-inning games and once struck out 27 batters. He seldom lost a game in the 12 years he pitched. Bill led his Comella Sports team to four titles. Ultimately, he quit playing when the 12-inch ball was adopted by local leagues.
Clark Kellogg was an outstanding basketball player at St. Joseph’s High School, leading the team to the state finals in 1978, when he scored 51 points and hauled in 24 rebounds in a losing effort. He went on to star at Ohio State, being twice chosen to All Big-Ten teams and in 1982 selected as the league’s Most Valuable Player. From there he went on to the Indianapolis Pacers of the NBA, where he played five seasons before chronic knee problems forced an early retirement. Clark has gone on to be a featured part of the CBS team covering the NCAA March Madness tournament.