BY GREG GULAS
      Boardman News Sports
      bnews@zoominternet.net
      The 53rd Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame Banquet, sponsored by Briarfield Health Care Center and Ed and Diane Reese, is scheduled for Sunday, May 1 with a dozen new members set for enshrinement during ceremonies at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center, 7440 South Ave., Boardman.
      The class was originally set for installation May 3, 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused cancellation of induction ceremonies in both 2020 and 2021.
      Former Ohio State University and NFL quarterback, and current YSU assistant football coach, Mike Tomczak, will serve as guest speaker.
      This year’s class includes Phil Annarella (football, posthumous), Mike Banks (basketball), Dr. Andrew Bushey (baseball), Sandra DePizzo (bowling), Jim Evans (sports media), Tim Filipovich (basketball), Denise Gorski (contribution to sports), Tim Joyce (basketball), Joe McHenry (all-sports award), Rick Shepas (football), John Turco (football) and John Zebroski (golf).
      A standout receiver at both Cardinal Mooney High School and Youngstown State University, Shepas played for and learned the game from three local coaching icons in Don Bucci at CMHS, and both Bill Narduzzi and Jim Tressel at YSU, head mentors who would shape and mold him into the coach he would become on the scholastic and collegiate level years after his playing days concluded.
      A 1983 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School, he played for Bucci from 1980-82 and as a receiver, wreaked havoc on opponent defenses to the tune of 45 career receptions – ranking second to his brother, Bob, who caught 50 passes from 1967-68 – where he remains third on the Cardinals’ all-time career list.
      He served as game captain during his senior season with his six touchdown receptions still tied for ninth all-time and his 20.4 yards per catch average, also tied for ninth all-time.
      As a senior he caught 32 passes, still fourth all-time for a season while his 596 receiving yards that same year is third in the all-time single season ledger.
      His 130 yards receiving against Howland in 1982 remains fourth all-time while his six receptions against Cleveland St. Joe’s, also during his senior year, is still tied for second in a single game.
      Inducted into the Cardinal Mooney High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998, a little known fact about this year’s inductee is that he is ambidextrous, someone equally adept at throwing a spiral at great length with both arms.
      Upon graduation he accepted a scholarship to Youngstown State University, playing his first three seasons under Narduzzi (1983-85) and his final collegiate campaign under former head coach and current YSU President Jim Tressel.
      During his years as a Penguins’ wide out, he earned four letters and served as team captain his senior year.
      A two-time All-Ohio Valley Conference first-team selection (1985-86), he earned third-team All-American laurels those same two seasons.
      He finished his career with 150 receptions – second all-time at the time of his graduation and currently tied for third overall – and compiled 2,263 career receiving yards, which remains third all-time on the Penguins’ career receiving list.
      He was inducted into the YSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996.
      Upon completion of his collegiate career, he was with the Cleveland Browns (Mini-Camp; May-June, 1987) and Green Bay Packers (Training Camp, 1987), finishing his playing career as a wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner as a member of the Pittsburgh Gladiators of the Arena Football League (1988).
      He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from YSU in 1987, majoring in sports management and minoring in health and physical education, earned his teacher certification from Hiram College in 1989 and Master of Education in Sport Science from Ashland University in 1991.
      He began his successful coaching career at Poland Seminary High School (1990-96) with stops also at Seneca Valley (PA) High School (1996-98) and tradition-rich Massillon Washington High School (1998-2005) scholastically, then at Waynesburg University (2005-17) on the collegiate level.
      Success has followed this year’s inductee at every stop along the way, coaching teams to seven play-off appearances and four league titles while earning seven “Coach of the Year” honors during his high school years.
      He also served as a coach in the Big 33 Football Classic (1996).
      His 97-35 (.734 winning percentage) career record as a high school head coach includes a 12-win season while at Massillon, the first Tigers’ head coach to win that many games in a single season.
      While at Waynesburg he posted a 69-55 overall mark (his 69 wins is most all-time amongst all WU head coaches), going 47-38 in the PAC (President’s Athletic Conference) with one league championship (2012) and five ECAC post-season bowl appearances (2007, 2011-14).
      Most recently, his work with the Youngstown City Schools has been lauded as he helped restore athletic departments at East and Chaney High School while bringing back the Golden Bear at EHS.
      He was instrumental in reforming the Steel Valley Conference – he brought together Cardinal Mooney, Chaney, East and Ursuline as its first members – also serving as its first commissioner.
      He and his wife, the former Christine DiVincenzo, are the parents of three daughters, Maria, Katy and Gina. They reside in Boardman.
      Individual tickets are $60 each, tables of eight $480 and further information can be obtained by calling 330-506-6774, or by visiting the Curbstone Coaches website at www.thecurbstonecoaches.org.