EAST LIVERPOOL TO INDUCT NEW MEMBERS TO HOF

EAST LIVERPOOL, OH- The East Liverpool High School Athletic Hall of Fame will induct 11 across 2019, 2020 and 2021 classes at its induction ceremony to be held July 1 in conjunction with the East Liverpool Alumni Association All-Class Reunion. The ceremony will be held in Potter Fieldhouse with ticket information being released in the near future.

Class of 2019

-Modern Era-

Andy Durk (Class of 1997) – Andy Durk is widely considered to be one the greatest defensive Potter football players of all time, as he was named First Team All-Ohio (Division I) while also being named the Eastern District Defensive Player of the Year. Andy was also named first-team All-OVAC, All-District, and All-Area while leading the Potters to a 9-1 record and nearly missing the OHSAA playoffs.

Robin Theiss-Henderson (Class of 1982) – Robin Theiss-Henderson is a prominent former multi-sport athlete for the Potters, excelling in volleyball, basketball, and track and field. As a volleyball player, she was first-team All-OVAC, All-County, All-Eastern District, and All-Area. On the basketball court, she was named first-team All-County and All-Eastern District, as well as second-team All-OVAC and special mention All-Ohio. On the track, as a four-year letter winner, she was a member of the school record-setting 1600 meter relay team with a time of 4:11.4, while qualifying for the regional track meet.

Jim “Boddie” White (Class of 1985) – Jim “Boddie” White is a former standout Potter athlete excelling in multiple sports during his time at East Liverpool. On the track, he was a four-year letterman who was team MVP and qualified for the regional meet in six different events each year. He was also a three-year letterman on the football team en route to being named team MVP, as well as being named All-State, All-OVAC, All-District, All-Eastern Buckeye League, All-County, and All-Area. He played in the Ohio vs. PA and Ohio vs. West Virginia All-Star games. He holds the school record for carries in a game (38) for 170 yards, and is ranked fifth for pass receptions in a season (34 for 5 touchdowns and 615 yards) and second for pass receptions in a game (8 for 100 yards). He was also a two-year letterman on the basketball team.

-Special Category-

Robert Shansky – Coach Robert Shansky is the winningest coach in East Liverpool volleyball history where he served as head coach and/or athletic director for 39 years. He led his Potter teams to 10 OVAC championships, 14 sectional championships, 2 championships in the EBL, River Valley League, and Eastern District, as well as 2 appearances in the Final 16 and 1 in the Final 8. He was named the Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association District 1 Coach of the Year eight times, was also given the Lifetime Achievement Award from that organization, and was given the NIAAA State Award of Merit for his work as an athletic director.

Class of 2020

-Senior Era-

Bill Montgomery (Class of 1969) – Bill Montgomery was a standout two-sport athlete for the Potters, excelling on both the basketball court and the baseball field. Most notably, Bill was the pitcher on the 1969 Potter baseball team that placed second in the state championship. His love of Potter sports continued throughout this life in his tenure serving as a radio broadcaster for Potter basketball and as the founder of the Potter Holiday Classic, which brought national talent to the Potter Fieldhouse every year. Bill is widely regarded as one of the greatest fundraisers and community supporters in East Liverpool sports history.

-Modern Era-

Marky Thompkins (Class of 2012) – Marky Thompkins is considered by the Potter faithful to be one of the best talents to ever wear the blue and white as an All-Ohio athlete in both football and basketball. On the hardwood, Marky ranks third in all-time scoring in East Liverpool history, being a member of the elusive 1000 point club while earning first-team All-District and All-Area. He was awarded the annual Hi-Y award his senior season. On the football field, he has the distinction of holding the career yardage record for East Liverpool with a total of 4198 all-purpose yards (1852 rushing, 2346 passing) during his career. He threw for 11 touchdowns and scored a total of 146 points. He was selected to play on the prestigious Ohio-Pennsylvania All-Star Football Game en route to being awarded the Bill Booth award his senior season.

Class of 2021

-Modern Era-

Alicia Copestick-Henderson (Class of 2001) — Alicia Copestick-Henderson is considered to be one of the greatest Potter swimmers of all time, being a four-time OVAC champion in both the 50 Free and 100 Free. Additionally, she was the District and Sectional champion in both events. At the state meet, she placed fourth in the 100 Free and fifth in the 50 Free as a junior, second in the 50 Free, and third in the 100 Free as a senior. Aside from the state meet, she was undefeated in all meets both her junior and senior years and qualified for the nationals where she finished ninth in the 50 Free and eleventh in the 100 Free. She still holds 4 individual school records 20 years post-graduation.

Isaac Davidson (Class of 2016) – Isaac Davidson is recognized as being of the greatest multi-sport athletes in modern Potter history, excelling in four sports. On the basketball court, he was twice named All-State (second team as a senior), and was the 2016 Eastern District Player of the Year. He holds the county record for consecutive free throws made (54) which also places him fourth all-time in the state. He once held the single-game scoring record (48 on three occasions) and is tied for the most three-pointers in a game with nine. On the golf course, he was an OVAC champion who was the number 2 golfer on the first golf team to make it to the state match, while also being the Buckeye 8 individual champion twice. On the tennis court, Isaac was an OVAC champion on a doubles team and led his team to an undefeated regular season. Lastly, on the soccer field, he was an integral member of the best soccer team in East Liverpool history who won the OVAC, Buckeye 8, and Sectional Championships.

Blake Prince (Class of 2014) – Blake Prince is viewed by many as one of the greatest golfers in East Liverpool history, earning first-team All-Ohio while leading his team to a runner-up place at the state match. He was a three-time OVAC individual champion, two-time Eastern District Player of the Year, and two-time District Tournament Medalist. Additionally, he was first-team All-District all four years with the Potters. During his senior year, he finished his outstanding career by tying for third overall individually amongst all golfers in the state. Blake earned four letters in golf while also leading the Potters to a sixth-place finish in the state his junior season.

Chad Hager (Class of 1991) – Chad Hager is one of the most accomplished wrestlers of all time for the Potters, finishing his outstanding career with an overall record of 64-5 in his final two seasons with the Potters. It is noted that Chad was never pinned, but only lost a few matches by points. He was a two-time sectional champion and was ranked the number three wrestler in Ohio for Division 1. Additionally, he was a two-time King of the Hill champion, a two-time winner of the Ohio Top 20 Award, and qualified for the state meet on two occasions. He later became the head coach of the Potter wrestling team.

-Special Category-

Richard “Dick” Wolf — Richard “Dick” Wolf is widely regarded as one of the greatest supporters of Potter sports in East Liverpool history. Richard was the founder of the East Liverpool High School Athletic Hall of Fame, the East Liverpool Pony League, the Pottery Festival Run, and the Matt Salsberry Memorial Scholarship. Additionally, he served East Liverpool as a member of the board of education for 37 years and was a governing member of the OVAC. Richard was well known for being a season ticket holder for many Potter sports, and for creating all of the welcome signs one sees as they travel into East Liverpool that displays Potter sports schedules. He also volunteered countless hours in the construction of the East Liverpool wrestling room, amongst other renovation projects.

*Contributed by Jimmy Joe Savage