Local Realtor Inducted in Soccer Hall of Fame
Jon Wnoroski, a local Realtor with Geneva Chervenic Realty, Inc. was inducted into the Ohio Youth Soccer Association – North Hall of Fame on November 15, 2008.
Mr. Wnoroski, a former educator/school administrator, retired from the Cuyahoga Falls City School Districtin August 2000. He has been a resident of Green since 1996.
As an educator, Mr. Wnoroski was the Head Soccer Coach for Cuyahoga Falls High School from 1975 – 1985. During that span he became highly involved in community soccer programs and served on a national coaching committee.
According to Mr. Wnoroski, “When I was coaching high school soccer there wasn’t a lot of soccer activity in my early years. It was only natural to get involved and help organize youth programs that would feed our high school program.”
“Getting involved” is an understatement when referring to Jon Wnoroski’s activity in soccer. Some of his accomplishments (1975 – 1992) include:
Head Soccer Coach: Cuyahoga Falls High School
Co-founder: Greater Akron Amateur Soccer Association (GAASA)
Founder: Cuyahoga Falls Soccer Club
Co-founder: Greater Akron Referees’ Association
Co-founder: Greater Akron Scholastic Coaches’ Association
Past President: GAASA
Past Treasurer: Greater Akron Referees’ Association
Former soccer referee
Founder: Men’s Over 30 League (GAASA)
Past Secretary: Ohio Youth Soccer Association-North
Past Secretary: Ohio Soccer Association-North
Former National Coaching Committee – Region II
Former Ohio-North Director of Coaching Schools
Soccer has grown in leaps in bounds over the years. The GAASA started play in the spring of 1977 with 26 teams and slightly less than 500 players. There were no girls’ teams in those days so boys and girls played on the same teams. Today, the Greater Akron Amateur Soccer Association has over 5,000 registered players; a huge increase from those early years.
Mr. Wnoroski scheduled games for the GAASA in the early years and performed that task by hand for 168 teams. Karl Sarver is credited with writing a computer program that handled the scheduling turning a 300 man-hour job into a 4 hour operation (including stuffing envelopes, applying labels, and putting on postage). Mr. Wnoroski credits Karl Sarver with saving the youth soccer program and computerizing the scheduling process. His program today not only schedules games but also referees.
Mr. Wnoroski also emphasizes the fact that the GAASA is one of the largest youth soccer programs in the state.
Soccer has grown in Ohio as well. Back when Mr. Wnoroski was involved with the promotion of the game there were approximately 50,000 players participating in the game throughout Ohio. Today there are over 120,000 kids playing the game between Ohio-North and Ohio-South.
In reflecting on the early years, Mr. Wnoroski comments on two important needs that all organizations had in building their programs. Every league needs referees and coaches. The problem in the early years was that there weren’t enough people who actually had soccer experience and could step forward to officiate games and feel comfortable coaching kids.
Both of those needs were fulfilled by education programs that were designed to train referees and educate coaches. Sandor Reiner and Tony Hitchcox held the early referee classes and were successful in supplying referees to officiate games and keep the league going according to Mr. Wnoroski.
Robert Dowdy and Steve Parker provided instruction and hosted several coaches’ licensing programs in the early years (and beyond) to train parents and anyone else interested in coaching soccer. The “Coaching School Program” was (and still is) essential to developing knowledgeable coaches to meet the needs of growing programs. It also taught a positive philosophy of coaching young players and nurturing their interest as well as their skills in the game.
From local leagues and local clubs, Mr. Wnoroski moved on to become an officer in both youth (OYSA-N) and senior (OSA-N) state associations. As an officer of both governing bodies for soccer in Ohio-North, Mr. Wnoroski represented the state at national meetings and subsequently became a member of the National Coaching Committer under the United States Soccer Federation.
Mr. Wnoroski finished his involvement in soccer as Director of Coaching Schools for Ohio-North. The coaching school program was always viewed as an integral part in the growth and development of soccer in Ohio and he was proud to serve as its director. Tommy Turner, former head soccer coach at Cleveland State University and currently a professor at the school now heads the program. According to Mr. Wnoroski, Tommy Turner is the right man for the job and has influenced significant changes in the program that has had a tremendous impact on player development.
Mr. Wnoroski is presently serving as an agent for Geneva Chervenic Realty, Inc. since retiring from Cuyahoga Falls City Schools. He states that there are similarities in both professions basing his views on the concept that both as educators and Realtors we are helping people achieve their goals.
Mr. Wnoroski is proud of his induction to the OYSA-N Hall of Fame and is pleased to be associated with so many talented and dedicated men and women that he knew and admired during his years of service to the game he loves. He will always hold this recognition close to his heart as the highest honor bestowed upon him in his lifetime.