Central Catholic to Hold 41st Athletic Hall of Fame on April 27

Written By Brian DeBenedictis

Central Catholic High School will induct eight new individual members and two new teams into its Athletic Hall of Fame on Monday, April 27, 2026 at Parkway Place, 2592 Parkway Plaza, Maumee, OH 43537.  Social hour and cash bar begin at 5 p.m., and the dinner and induction ceremony will begin at 6 p.m.

Inductees attend the event at no charge, and guests are invited to attend for $65 per person.  Register online at CentralCatholic.org or contact Jim Olsen at (419) 266-4422 or jolsen@centralcatholic.org. 

This is the 41st class to be inducted into the Central Catholic High School Athletic Hall of Fame.  The first inductee was Frank Gilhooley, Class of 1942, in 1981.

“We are inducting a fantastic group whose accomplishments are a huge part of the Fighting Irish sports tradition,” said Greg Dempsey, CCHS Athletic Director and Head Football Coach.  “It will be a great night to honor these deserving individuals and teams.”

Click HERE for complete list on hall of famers.

This year’s inductees:

Alyssa “Byrdy” Galernik - Class of 2016

  • Three-year letterwinner in basketball (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16)

  • Two-time TRAC Player of the Year (2014-15, 2015-16)

  • Two-time Division II District 7 Coaches Association Player of the Year (2014-15, 2015-16)

  • Two-time first-team All-TRAC (2014-15, 2015-16)

  • Associated Press District Player of the Year (2015-16)

  • Associated Press Division II co-Player of the Year (2015-16)

  • Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year (2015-16)

  • Toledo Blade Player of the Year (2015-16)

  • 21-4 record, advancing to district finals (2015-16)

  • Member of TRAC championship basketball team (2015-16)

  • Division II first-team All-Ohio (2015-16)

  • Finalist for Ms. Basketball in Ohio (2015-16)

  • Two-time team captain (2014-15, 2015-16)

  • District 7 Coaches Association All-Academic (2015-16)

  • CYO Outstanding High School Athlete (2015-16)

  • Averaged 18.1 points, 6.3 assists, 3.4 steals, and 5.2 rebounds per game (2015-16)

  • Led Irish to share of TRAC championship (2014-15)

  • Totaled 1,319 career points, second most in school history

  • Played four years for Northwestern University (2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20)

  • Three-time Academic All-Big Ten (2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20)


Robert Hodak - Class of 1961

  • Three-year letterwinner in basketball (1958-59, 1959-60, 1960-61)

  • Led Irish to 14-4 record, finishing third in City League (1960-61)

  • 1st-team All-City (1960-61)

  • Team MVP (1959-60)

  • 1st-team All-City (1959-60)

  • Helped team to a record of 18-1, winning City League title (1958-59)

 

Bill Montrie - Class of 1969

  • Two-year letterwinner in football (1967, 1968)

  • Two-year letterwinner in wrestling (1967-68, 1968-69)

  • 1st-team All-City (1968)

  • Honorable Mention All District (1968)

  • All-Academic (1968)

  • Helped Irish post 8-2 record, finishing as City League runner up (1968)

  • Played Part in Irish capturing City League championship (1967)

  • Awarded full athletic scholarship to BGSU

  

Tim Rybczynski - Class of 1972

  • Three-year letterwinner in basketball (1969-70, 1970-71, 1971-72)

  • Led Irish to 18-2 record during senior year, winning sectional championship (1971-72)

  • First-team All-City as a senior, averaging 19.9 points per game (1971-72)

  • Honorable Mention All-District (1971-72)

  • Team MVP (1971-72)

  

Carl Utz - Class of 1961

  • Two-year letterwinner in basketball (1959-60, 1960-61)

  • Helped Irish post 14-4 record, finishing third in City League (1960-61)

  • 1st-team All-City (1960-61)

  • Team MVP (1960-61)

  • Team Most Improved Player (1959-60)

  

Josh Venia - Class of 2016

  • Four-year letterwinner in wrestling (2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16)

  • Two-time Division II state champion (106 lbs. 2014-15, 106 lbs. 2015-16)

  • Two-time Division II district champion (2014-15, 2015-16)

  • Three-time Division II sectional champion (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16)

  • Two-time Catholic Invitational champion (106 lbs. 2013-14, 106 lbs. 2015-16)

  • Two-time TRAC champion (106 lbs. 2013-14, 113 lbs. 2015-16)

  • First-team All-TRAC (2013-14)

  • Team captain (2015-16)

  • Finished high school career with 132-20 overall record, including 52 pins

  • 38-4 record as senior (2015-16)

  • 41-6 record as junior (2014-15)

  • Finished third in Division II state championship as sophomore (106 lbs. 2013-14)

  

Derich Weiland - Class of 2014

  • Three-year letterwinner in football (2011, 2012, 2013)

  • Three-year letterwinner in baseball (2012, 2013, 2014)

  • First-team All-TRAC (2013 WR and DB)

  • Division III second-team All-Ohio (2013 DB)

  • Division III first-team All-District (2013 DB)

  • First-team All-Blade (2013 DB)

  • Two-time TRAC All-Academic in football (2012, 2013)

  • First-team All-TRAC (2012 DB and PR)

  • Second-team All-TRAC (2012 WR)

  • Member of Division II state championship team (2012)

  • Two-time Division II Honorable Mention All-District (2011, 2012)

  • First-team All-TRAC (2011 PR)

  • Honorable Mention All-TRAC in baseball (2014)

  • First-team All-TRAC in baseball (2013 Infielder)

  • Two-time TRAC All-Academic in baseball (2013, 2014)

  • Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Academic Award honoree (2014)

  • Member of TRAC championship baseball team (2013)

  

2010-11 Boys’ Basketball Team 

  • 20-5 overall record, including 8-2 in City League

  • Advanced to State Final Four for first time in 62 years

  • City League runner-up

  • Team members: Christopher Boles, Jr., Cliff Bussey II, Deontae Cole, Benjamin Dent (C), Tyler Dudley, Nathaniel Harris, Ryan Hanenkrath, Dareon Jones, DeShone Kizer, Drew Lehman (C), Domingo Muniz III, Jay Marquette (C), Keith Towbridge, Danielle Turner II

  • Head Coach: Jim Welling, Assistant Coaches: Don Christie, Peter Latkovic

  • Drew Lehman - First-team All-City League, First-team Division I All-District

  • Dareon Jones - Second-team All-City League, Second-team Division I All-District

  

2015-16 Girls’ Basketball Team

  • First outright TRAC league title

  • 21-4 overall record, including 12-2 in TRAC

  • Advanced to Division II district finals

  • Team Members: Talia Biddle, Grace Crawford, Masyn Eckhart, Alyssa (Byrdy) Galernik, Meghan Hanenkrath, Miranda Hoover, Katherine Kovacs, Alex Matus, Lyndsey Matus, Olivia Morrison, Ann Marie Waslar, Jaylen White

  • Head Coach: Corri Helldobler, Assistant Coach: Terry Murnen

  • Byrdy Galernik - TRAC Player of the Year, First-team All-Ohio, The Blade Player of the Year

  • Alex Matus - First-team All-TRAC

  • Katie Kovacs - Second-team All-TRAC

  • Meghan Hanenkrath, Lyndsey Matus - Honorable Mention All-TRAC

Tom Oess - Class of 1964, Citizens Award

The Citizens Award is presented to an individual who has made significant contributions to the Central Catholic athletic program and who serves as a model for today’s students.  As a founding member of the Shillelagh Club and a driving force behind the opening of the Sullivan Center, Tom’s contributions have permanently shaped the landscape of Central Catholic and its athletic programs.

Brian DeBenedictis
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Boys’ Basketball Set for Division III State Semifinal Showdown vs. Trotwood-Madison on Thursday in Dayton