I was attending Cuyahoga Community College in 1980, working as a student athletic trainer. My supervising athletic trainer, Miss Jan Schmidt, suggested that if I wanted to make athletic training a career, I should transfer to a four year school to finish my education and get better exposure to college athletics. I was all set to go to Ohio University until I met Ralph Tomassi and Carl Gerbasi on my first visit. I took a tour of the campus and felt at home. Mr. Brian Siddall was my head athletic trainer during my four years at Ashland. His mentoring and friendship prepared me for my career that has spanned close to 40 years so far. I’ve worked for St. Vincent Charity Hospital, the Cleveland Force soccer team, the Cleveland Indians, the Kansas City Royals, The Morgan Kalman Clinic and, eventually, I landed my current job for the last 23 years at Caravel Academy. Ashland was and is a home away from home. I have taken my sons to Ashland for visits to show them where Dad spent his college days. Those days back in the early to mid 80s have produced memories that can never be replaced—from lunches and dinners at Convo, to late night munchies from K.D. Pizza at the Sigma Nu house with my fraternity brothers.
