2013 HOF Class Features HOF Founder
The third Berkshire Athletic Hall of Fame class was honored at halftime of the Berkshire vs. Cardinal boys basketball game.
If you told those who know Berkshire and Burton athletics that the high school was starting an athletic hall of fame, Jim Kellogg would have been one of the first inducted.
A three-sport athlete who led the Badgers to its first state playoff appearance in football, Kellogg was not eligible to be inducted when the hall of fame started in 2011, a self-imposed restriction.
That’s because, basically, he started it.
But ever humble, Kellogg, a 1976 graduate, relented in 2013 and takes his place amongst the Badger greats in its third induction class.
“Our football team of 1975 put us in the limelight,” Kellogg wrote in an email, “and being the QB, I got the lion’s share of the notoriety. It must be noted that we were the first team to enter the playoffs in either Geauga or Lake counties. I take great pride in being included as one of the best athletes in Burton.”
There were seven inductions this year, and the honorees appeared before the crowd at Berkshire High School during halftime of the boys varsity basketball game against Cardinal.
There was also a reception afterward. Both events, including the game, were taped by G-TV. DVDs can be purchased by visiting geaugatv.org.
Here is a look at this year’s induction class:
• Craig Ronyak accepted the meritorious service award on behalf of his family, who for three generations have supported Berkshire athletics through financial, equipment and labor donations.
Football bleacher foundations, track and field surfaces, and field drainage systems for softball and baseball fields are just some of the donations the Ronyak family have made over the years. Effie and A.J. Ronyak started the string of philanthropy more than 70 years ago, and it continues today.
• Coach Jack Arnold taught biology at Berkshire for 35 years and coached football and wrestling at various levels for 37 years. Arnold-coached teams won eight conference championships and had three state playoff appearances in 1975, 1980 and 1981.
In 1993 he was the Geauga County TD Club Coach of the Year and spent 24 years as a varsity assistant to the football program.
Kellogg, who introduces the honorees during halftime, described Arnold and his legacy to Berkshire with one word: loyal.
• Dave Mullet graduated in 1982 and was a three-sport athlete, a feat that has become increasingly rare even at a small school like Berkshire. “I would have run track if they would have let me,” he said.
Mullet still lives in Burton with his family.
“It’s pretty cool,” Mullet said of staying in his hometown.
Mullet had numerous athletic highlights, including Special Mention All-Ohio as a QB his senior year. His teams reached the state playoffs his junior and senior years.
In basketball, he was a Special Mention All-Ohio his senior year. He was also All-Geauga County in baseball, a sport in which he earned four varsity letters.
“Believe it or not, I can remember a lot of the plays actually,” Mullet said of his varsity career. “It was really great.”
• Kristin Chittle VanderMaas graduated in 1987 and lettered four times in volleyball and basketball. Her long list of awards includes school records and numerous MVP and all-conference selections. She also ran track, played softball and later became a coach at Berkshire.
She still lives in the community.
“I’ve been here my whole life, and I think there is a lot of family here,” she said. “That’s why I chose to stay and raise my family here.”
“It feels so good,” she said after getting her award. VanderMaas serves on the athletic HOF committee, like Kellogg, so she laughed and said she knew right away that she was selected.
• Dale Robert Duns, class of 1991, intended on making the trip from Arizona to receive his award, but a family illness changed those plans.
Duns excelled on the football field, winning three letters and setting numerous school records that stand today, including most yardage in a game (269 yards), most points scored (36), and most TDs in a game (6).
He was first team All-Ohio his junior year.
• Bob Potter played during a different era, as a Burton Maple Leaf. A graduate of 1956, Potter looked back on his time at BHS with nothing but good thoughts, he said.
“This place was used to form my life,” Potter said.
He wrote: “I thank the Lord for each of them and the great times that I remember with my classmates, my fellow athletes in basketball, track and baseball, and even the custodian, Bill Ludlow, who I worked with in custodial work and who shot baskets with me after my regular practices.”
