Christine Kluter set American records in the 100-yard backstroke (long course) and the 110-yard backstroke in 1957. She was named to the 1959 U.S. Pan-American Games team and finished third in the 100-meter backstroke. Christine set five national age group records between 1954 and 1957 and finished in the top four in nine races in the national open championships between 1956 and 1960. She set national Masters records (30-34 age group) in the 50-yard and 50-meter backstroke in 1974.
An outstanding diver, Rose Boczek Burke won the national indoor championship for the ten foot (three-meter) board in 1928. A medal winner in Senior Championships from 1926 through 1929, she was also the Indoor and Outdoor Senior AAU State champion in 1926-27-28-30. Rose won numerous regional and inter-sectional titles between 1926 and 1930, and was founder and coach of the Ohio Women’s Swimming Association in 1935.
Helen Perry was the U.S. national AAU 100-yard backstroke champion in 1939 and 1941, setting an American record in 1940 and breaking that record in 1941. She won national junior championships in diving, backstroke, the 150-yard individual medley and the 100-yard freestyle during an illustrious career that stamped her as one of the most successful female athletes to come out of Cleveland. Helen was named the Outstanding Athlete in Northeastern Ohio District by the AAU in 1937 and 1941.
Judy Norton was the U.S. national junior 100-meter backstroke champion in 1961 and a member of the national indoor championship 4 x 100-yard freestyle relay team for the American Swim Team in 1962 and 1963. She was a member of the U.S. Pan-American Games Swim Team, and was named Athlete of the Year by the Cleveland Athletic Club in 1963.
Known as an aggressive team player, a good guard and consistent scorer, Marge Fischlin played for a half dozen of the best amateur teams in Cleveland and also starred for one season with the Chicago Baby Ruths. She was selected to the Tri-State Tournament all tourney team and the National Tournament all-tourney team during her notable career.
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.
Flora Graham Sanders starred for teams which compiled a record of 17 Class A Inter-City or Tri-State championships. Although listed as a forward, she frequently played and was equally effective as a guard. Flora was noted for her consistency as a scorer. A versatile athlete, she also earned titles or played on championship teams in softball, golf, bowling and dance skating.
After graduating from West Tech and Ohio University, where he won three Mid-American Championships, Steve Rudo, Jr. was named an All-American in 1957. He is a member of the Ohio University athletic and Wrestling Hall of Fame. Steve’s twenty years of coaching at Valley Forge High School led to numerous conference titles, two state runner-up titles and the Ohio state Championship in 1973.
Leo Dorsey was an outstanding forward, starring on leading teams in the Muny League from 1922 to 1930. A top scorer in Cleveland for many years, he averaged 19 points a game in the days when teams scored a total of 35 to 40 points. His clubs won six Muny crowns. Leo was a member of the Fairplay team that played the first basketball game ever in Cleveland Public Hall on January 30, 1922.
Sandlot ball has long been a special love for Chuck Rozanski, and in 1991 the Cleveland Baseball Foundation recognized him for more than a quarter century on the sandlots. One of his charges, Brush’s Steve Stone, went on to pitch for the Baltimore Orieles and Chicago White Sox and won the Cy Young Award in 1980. Thirty-seven Rozanski-coached players have signed Major League contracts. When not coaching, Chuck scouts for the Cincinnati Reds.