Ron Gedrich started as an assistant coach for his son’s Broadview Heights Travel teamand went on to server as The Cleveland Cobras Soccer Club administrator, the scheduler/secretary for Lake Erie Youth premier Soccer League (LEYPSL), then the Vice President and President of LEYPSL. Ron also served as a District Commissioner of OYSAN as well as Vice President (2003-2006) and President (2007-2010) of Ohio Youth Soccer Association North.
Joe Raduka played professional soccer for the Yugoslavian first division (Red Star-Belgrade) as well as for several North American Soccer League (NASL) teams and the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Cleveland Force team. He began the Cleveland United Soccer Club and was instrumental in founding the Lake Erie Youth Soccer League. His honors include being the 1998 OYSAN coach of the year, the LEYSL coach of the year, and the National Youth Coach of the year and an OYSAN ODP coach as well. Ten of his players have gone on to U.S. National teams, and thirteen have become professionals.
Andy Spiranovich came to the U.S. from Croatia in 1951. By 1957 he was playing in the American Croatian Soccer Club. After retiring as a player, Andy took over as Coach and Manager of the Croatian team. In 1972, he started junior program in the club and showed great success, including a U.S. Finals run in St Louis. Andy helped found the U.S. and Canadian Croatian Junior tournament which still exists, and was instrumental in bringing the Lake Erie Premier League into existence. In 2008, Andy was inducted into the Ohio Soccer Hall of Fame. He is currently president and co-coach of Segota Select Soccer Club.
Otto Thuranszky (1936 – 2003) was born in Budapest and came to the U.S. in 1957. His ease with many languages as well as his views on life and soccer made him a friend to many in the Ohio North community. He worked with the City of Cleveland to furnish fields and teams and established a connection with the Athletic Association. He formed the first youth soccer team of the Donauschwaben Club in 1963 and later became co-founder of the Lake Erie Junior League. Otto was instrumental in the creation, growth, and success of soccer in northern Ohio, where he served as Youth Commissioner.
The event, held in conjunction with the OYSAN annual general meeting weekend and workshops, was attended by many past Hall of Fame members and their spouses and families. Mr. Allan Fee, of Cleveland’s Q104 radio station served as Master of Ceremonies for the annual event, and Mr. Paul Emhoff, Doctor Tom Turner, and Mrs. Pamela Menick from OYSAN also oversaw the ceremony. Each inductee received a crystal vase to commemorate their award.
Ohio Youth Soccer Association North (OYSAN) is the State Association for U.S. Youth Soccer, the nation’s largest sports organization and the largest member of the United States Soccer Federation. OYSAN’s mission is to teach both soccer and life skills to children of all levels of interest and skill. To learn more, you may visit www.oysan.org, or call 330-659-0989.
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