The individuals are the late Walt Brian (Class of 1945), basketball; Amy Goodballet-Braatz (Class of 1985), basketball; Dustin Matak (Class of 2010), track; coach Todd Huda (2004-2014), track; and Marissa Swindell (Class of 2015), soccer. The 1990 Girls Track team and this year’s Joe Kelley Spirit of Salem Award winner, Fred Leininger and Gary Leininger, also headline the 2025 class.

In commemoration of 20 years of the Salem Athletic Hall of Fame, legacy individuals and teams posthumously inducted include George Leyda (Class of 1914), track; Bill Robusch (Class of 1920), track; Max Fisher (Class of 1926), football; the 1927 Boys Basketball team; Keith Roessler (Class of 1928), track; the 1930 and 1931 Boys Cross Country teams; Wilford Brantingham (Class of 1931), cross country; the 1931 Boys track team; Bill Smith (Class of 1931), track; Harold Walker (Class of 1931), track; Harold Horstman (Class of 1932), cross country; and coach R. Brom Clarke (1930-1935), cross country.

The induction dinner and ceremony will be held Thursday, August 21 at Salem High School. Tickets to the dinner and ceremony are open to the public and will cost $35 for adults and $25 for children aged 2-10. Arrangements and reservations can be made through email at shs.athletichof@gmail.com or by phone at 330-831-7207 and will be accepted through August 15.

Advertisement opportunities for the program of the induction dinner are also available. For more information, contact shs.athletichof@gmail.com..

AMY GOODBALLET-BRAATZ

Members (or family members) of the 1990 girls track team and any family members or connections of any legacy athletes/teams being inducted are especially invited to attend the ceremony and to reach out through the email address or phone number above.

All inductees are displayed in the kiosks of the main lobby of the Salem John A. Cabas gymnasium. There is also a Salem High School Athletic Hall of Fame Facebook page. Nominations for the Hall of Fame are accepted from the public each year and can be submitted via email or through the Facebook page.

The following are the career highlights of the 2025 selections, who will also be recognized at halftime of the home season opening football game on Friday, August 22 against Poland.

Walt Brian – Class of 1945

Basketball

WALT BRYAN

Posthumously Inducted

A nine-time varsity letter winner, Walt Brian especially excelled on the basketball floor. The three-year letterman led the Quakers in scoring both his junior and senior seasons. As a senior, the Quakers went 15-3 and Brain etched his name into the school record books with a 34-point performance against Alliance, a single-game scoring mark at the time. He later went on to set a then single season scoring record with 316 total points. His achievements earned him Third Team All-Ohio honors, placing him among the state’s elite.

Brian’s excellence extended beyond basketball. On the gridiron, he was a three-time All-Columbiana County selection, a two-year letterman, and the captain of the 1944 football team that finished with a 6-3 record. He also lettered four times in track and field, showcasing his remarkable versatility and commitment to Salem athletics.

After high school, Brian continued his basketball journey at Youngstown State University from 1949 to 1952, where he scored 510 career points in 77 games. As a junior, he was ranked in the top five nationally in assists while also averaging over 10 points a game. As a leader on the court, Brian helped guide YSU to a then-school record 16 wins in both his junior and senior seasons. His senior year was highlighted by a historic victory over nationally-ranked LaSalle — still the only win in YSU history over a Division I ranked team. He posted multiple standout performances that season, including 20 points against Akron and 19-point outings against both Kent State and Baldwin-Wallace. For his collegiate accomplishments, Brian was inducted into the Youngstown State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. He graduated from YSU with a degree in Physical Education and later enjoyed a successful career as a dispatcher and manager with Lyons Transportation.

Walt Brian, the lone Salem Athletic Hall of Fame inductee from the class of 1945, died in 2015, leaving behind a legacy of excellence, leadership, and dedication. His beloved wife of over 60 years, Peg, passed away in 2024. They are survived by their only son Michael and his wife Patrice of Mattawan, Michigan, and two grandsons, Matthew and Christian.

TODD HUDA

Amy Goodballet-Braatz – Class of 1985

Basketball

One of the most dominant players in Salem High School girls’ basketball history, Amy Goodballet left a legacy on the court that still stands strong forty years later.

A four-year letter winner and force in the paint, Goodballet racked up 962 career rebounds, a record that remains unmatched by any Salem hooper, male or female, to this day. Her 1252 career points, in a time before the three-point shot was introduced at the high school level, ranked second in school history upon her graduation, and currently stands sixth on the all-time scoring list.

During her senior season, the Lady Quakers finished 12-7 as Goodballet averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds per game while shooting over 50% from the field. Her consistency and leadership made her a key player for head coach Craig Readshaw throughout her career and a cornerstone of the program.

1990 Girls Track and Field Team

The four-year standout had a long list of accomplishments. As a freshman, she was named All-Columbiana County and All-Mahoning Valley Conference (MVC) honorable mention while also earning special mention on the All-Area Team. As a sophomore, she earned second team All-County, All-MVC, and All-Area honors. In her junior and senior campaigns, Goodballet was named first team All-MVC, All-County, and All-Area. She also was also named honorable mention on the NEO All-Inland team and participated in the Ohio Female Athletic Foundation all star tournament as a senior.

Goodballet is one of nine Lady Quakers who have scored 1000 points or more in their career. The list includes Valerie Scott (SHS Class of 1994) 1701 points, Tammy Bailey (1981) 1400 points, Kyla Jamison (2021) 1297 points, Amy Scullion (2010) 1265 points, Kelly Paxson (2000) 1258 points, Chole Cheresne (2017) 1180 points, Alyson Cotter (2004) 1175 points, and Rylee Hutton (2024) 1013 points. Scott, Bailey, Scullion, Paxson, and Cotter are also all members of the Salem Athletic Hall of Fame. Furthermore, Goodballet also joins classmate Bob Magyaros (football) and teammate Deb Janofa-Price (1983) in the hall of fame.

Goodballet-Braatz currently resides in Poland with her husband, Roy and their daughter, Sydney.

Dustin Matak – Class of 2010

Track & Field

DUSTIN MATAK

Speed, strength, and championship pedigree defined the high school career of Dustin Matak, one of the most decorated sprinters in Salem High School history. Now, his accomplishments earn a permanent place in Quaker lore with his induction into the Salem High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Matak made his first monumental impact on the track as a sophomore, when he qualified for the OHSAA Division II State Track Meet in the 100-meter dash, setting the stage for a remarkable career that would only accelerate from there.

In 2009, as a junior, he was a key member of two outstanding relay squads. The 4×100 relay team, consisting of Matak, classmate Ben Eisel (SHS Athletic HOF Class of 2022), sophomore Trent Toothman (SHS Athletic HOF Class of 2021), and senior Jason Keniston, set a Columbiana County Meet record (43.10) that still stands strong today. The relay team later qualified for the state meet. Even more historic was his role on the 4×200 relay team that captured a state championship — the first relay state title in Salem High School history, with a then-school record of 1:28.37. That team included Matak, Eisel, freshman Zach Penick, and junior Dustin Huffman. Matak also ran individually in the 100 meters at the state meet for a second consecutive season, failing to finish in the top four of his heat despite running the fifth fastest time overall (10.89) in preliminaries.

Matak’s senior season in 2010 was maybe his most impressive. He tied the school record in the 100 meters at 10.6 seconds and won the event at the FE Cope Invitational. He also set Columbiana County Meet records in both the 100 (10.93) and the 4×200 relay (1:29.92), with teammates Eisel, classmate Tyler Cosma, and Penick. At the 2010 state track meet, Matak became the first athlete in Salem history to reach the awards podium in four events at the state level. He placed 6th in the 100 meters (11.19), 6th in the 200 meters (22.60), 2nd in the 4×200 relay (1:27.88) with Eisel, Cosma, and Penick, and 3rd in the 4×100 relay (42.79) with Eisel, Penick, and Toothman.

After graduation, Matak continued his sprinting success as a member of the University of Mount Union track and field team. As a sophomore, he earned All-OAC honors with a second-place finish in the 60-meter dash (7.03) at the OAC Indoor Championships. He later became the OAC Indoor Champion in the 60 meters during the 2012-13 season with a then conference record time of 6.93.

Matak not only joins running mates Toothman and Eisel in the Salem Athletic Hall of Fame, but also classmate Amy Scullion (volleyball and basketball) who was inducted in 2021. Moreover, he joins his coach, Todd Huda, in this year’s induction class. A mechanical engineering major at Mount Union, Matak is employed as a plant manager at the AZEK Company and resides in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Coach Todd Huda

Head Boys Track & Field Coach (2004-2014)

Few coaches have shaped and excelled an already successful program, and a legacy, quite like Coach Todd Huda. During his remarkable 11-year tenure as head coach of the Salem High School boys track and field team, Huda built one of the most successful and consistent athletic programs in school history.

Under Huda’s leadership, the Quakers achieved excellence year after year. He guided Salem to an impressive seven league titles, 10 Columbiana County championships, and five district championships — including streaks of three straight titles from 2005 to 2007 and two more in 2010 and 2011.

The highlight of his coaching career came in 2007, when he guided the team to state runner-up finishes in both the indoor and outdoor track seasons, earning him Regional Coach of the Year honors. That remarkable 2007 squad was later inducted into the Salem Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022. His coaching excellence was also recognized throughout his entire career, being named Mahoning Valley Coaches Association Coach of the Year in both 2004 and 2005, and District 1 Coach of the Year in 2010.

Coach Huda’s teams were dominant at all levels. He coached 13 state-qualifying relay teams, including the 2009 4×200 state champions, Salem’s first-ever relay state title. Featuring junior Dustin Matak (SHS Athletic HOF Class of 2025 inductee), junior Ben Eisel (SHS Athletic HOF Class of 2022), junior Dustin Huffman, and freshman Zach Penick, the team ran a then-school record time of 1:28.37. In the next season, he also mentored the 2010 state runner-up 4×200 relay team consisting of seniors Eisel, Matak, Tyler Cosma, and sophomore Penick. That team broke the school record from the previous year with a time of 1:27.88.

Huda also looked after 12 state-qualifying individual runners, including 2007 Ohio Division II state champion and then-state record holder Patrick Gorby (SHS Athletic HOF Class of 2019) in the 800 meters (1:52.76).

Throwers also flourished throughout Huda’s tenure as he helped coach eight state-qualifying throwing athletes, highlighted by two-time state discus champion Anthony Shivers (SHS Athletic HOF Class of 2023) in 2012 (190-7) and 2013 (203-2), and shot-put state runner-up Jeremiah Folger in 2007 (55-10).

And not to be forgotten, Huda had one state-qualifying high jumper, state runner-up Zack Wukotich (SHS Athletic HOF Class of 2024) in 2013 (6-8).

Huda joins a distinguished lineage of legendary coaches from Salem High School’s storied cross country and track & field programs who have been enshrined in the Salem Athletic Hall of Fame. This esteemed group includes Frank Hoopes (Class of 2007), F.E. Cope (2008), Bing Newton (2010), Karl Zellers (2013), Nancy Miller (2023), Frank Parks (2024), and R. Brom Clarke (Legacy Class of 2025).

A long-time educator in Salem, Huda taught at various levels from 2001-2013 before becoming the Quaker athletic director from 2014-18. He is currently the elementary principal at Springfield Elementary in New Middletown, where he also resides.

Marissa Swindell – Class of 2015

Soccer

A record-setter, leader, and fierce competitor, Marissa Swindell redefined excellence in Salem High School girls’ soccer, and in her first year of eligibility, now takes her rightful place in the Salem High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Swindell was a standout from the moment she first stepped out on the field. A four-year varsity starter, the soccer sensation finished her legendary career with still current school records in career goals (104), goals in a season (42 as a junior), and goals in a game (nine as a freshman). She was also a model of consistency and dominance, earning Team Offensive MVP and First Team All-County, All-Conference, and All -District honors all four years of high school. The three-time team captain was also named Second Team All-Ohio as a senior. She further capped her high school career with a selection to the YDSSCA Senior All-Star Game, solidifying her status as one of the most elite players in the area.

The heralded Lady Quaker continued her playing career at the collegiate level, first at the University of Findlay, where she was a team captain as a sophomore. She was also named team offensive player of the year and an All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection two times. She later transferred to Bowling Green State University, where she played in all 21 matches during her 2017 junior season. In the summer of 2017, Swindell played at the semi-professional level with Toledo Villa in the United Women’s Soccer League (UWSL), where she was honored as the team’s Player of the Year and received the league’s Iron Woman of the Year Award for most minutes played. As a senior, she started 10 games as BGSU won the 2018 MAC Championship and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Swindell, who resides in Newport, Kentucky and is employed by Nestle Purina, is only the third girls’ soccer player in the Salem Athletic Hall of Fame. She joins Class of 1997 teammates Sarah Fennema and Abigail Hill-Berkman who were inducted in 2015 and 2018, respectively.

1990 Girls Track & Field Team

The 1990 Salem High School Girls Track & Field Team delivered a season for the ages — one filled with dominance, record-breaking performances, and a state podium finish that remains the highest in program history. Their achievements earned them a lasting legacy in Quaker athletics, and now, a place in the Salem High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Under the guidance of Coach Nancy Miller (SHS Athletic HOF Class of 2023), the team compiled a perfect 8-0 record in dual meets and won multiple team championships throughout the season. The Lady Quakers were crowned champions at the FE Cope Invitational, Canfield Invitational, East Palestine Invitational, Columbiana County Meet, Mahoning Valley Conference Meet, and the Division II District Meet.

The Lady Quakers qualified for nine events at the Division II Regional Meet, featuring a deep and talented roster of athletes across sprint, distance, relay, and field events. Regional individual qualifiers included junior Theresa Kaine (SHS Athletic HOF Class of 2006) – 1600 & 3200 meters, sophomore Tricia Wilms-Jackson – 1600 meters, sophomore Maureen Kaine – 3200 meters, senior Justine Morain-Burkey – 800 meters, senior Michele Ganslein – Long Jump, and senior Gert Wilms – Discus. Relay teams qualifying for regionals included 4×800 Relay – T. Kaine, T. Wilms, senior Amie Erath-Cochran, and Morain; 4×200 Relay – sophomore Jen Rice-Walter, freshman Jenny McClintock, Ganslein, and junior Kimberly Manning-Weir; 4×100 Relay – senior Jenny Pshsniak, Ganslein, sophomore Amy Coy-Ruple, and Manning; and 4×400 Relay – Rice, Morain, sophomore Amy Heineman, and Erath. Overall, the team finished fifth at the regional level and sent three entries to the state championships. Individually, Kaine qualified with a second-place finish in the 3200 (school record 11:31.16) and a third-place finish in the 1600 (school record 5:14.01). The 4×800 relay team, who had never lost a race throughout the season, finished in second place (school record 9:37) and according to the USA Today, achieved the 21st fastest time in the nation that season.

Theresa Kaine and the 4×800 relay team’s performance the following week at the OHSAA Division II State Championships was historic, as Salem finished fourth overall, still the highest team finish for a girls track team in school history. Kaine finished third place in both the 3200 (new school record 11:23.78) and in the 1600 (new school record 5:09.63) while the 4×800 relay team of Kaine, Tricia Wilms, Erath, and Morain (9:38.66) also finished in third.

In addition to the school records mentioned above, three additional school records were broken throughout the season: Erath in the 400 (60.4), Pshsniak in the 100 hurdles (17.4), and the 4×400 relay team of Morain, Rice, Heineman, Erath (4:11.30).

The sensational season not only brought unprecedented success but also served as a pivotal moment in the continued rise of Salem’s girls track program. It helped solidify the legacy of Coach Nancy Miller, whose career dual meet record of 59-12 reflected a program built over time on discipline, unity, and consistent high performance. Her tenure, which ended in 1991, also included two additional team county championships and three additional conference championships. The success of 1990 also provided springboard for future achievements, more specifically Theresa Kaine’s state championship in the 3200 and state runner-up finish in the 1600 the very next season.

The 1990 girls track and field team takes its place among the most storied Salem running teams now enshrined in the hall of fame. This distinguished group includes the 1993 boys state champion cross country team (SHS Athletic HOF Class of 2005), the 2004 and 2005 boys state champion cross country teams (Class of 2019), the 2005 and 2006 girls state champion cross country teams (Class of 2019), and the state runner-up 2007 boys track team (Class of 2022).

Fred and Gary Leininger

2025 Joe Kelley Spirit of

Salem Award Recipients

It’s often said that true spirit doesn’t come from trophies or headlines — it comes from unwavering dedication, quiet support, and lifelong love for a community. For Fred and Gary Leininger, that spirit has defined their relationship with Salem athletics for decades. Honoring individuals who have exemplified enduring commitment and Quaker pride, the father and son duo share this year’s Joe Kelley Spirit of Salem Award.

Fred Leininger, a proud 1952 graduate of Salem High School, has spent countless years in the stands, on the track, and behind the scenes supporting Salem athletes. A former track athlete himself, Fred has spent over three decades working the Salem District Basketball Tournaments, helping ensure one of the area’s premier events runs smoothly each season. Fred’s connection to Quaker sports spans generations. Alongside his late wife Betty, Fred owned the Lisbon Dairy Queen, which has been in the Leininger family (and currently run by Gary) for the last 47 years. Their family’s generosity was often on display when giving back to Salem athletics — including organizing team meals for football, boys’ and girls’ basketball, and soccer teams, as well as treating the Salem band after long practices or big performances with dilly bars.

Carrying on another proud legacy is his son, Gary Leininger, a 1975 graduate of Salem High School, who has become a fixture on the sidelines as one of Salem’s (and the entire Mahoning Valley’s) most dedicated sports photographers. With camera in hand and an eye for unforgettable moments, Gary has covered Salem athletics since the early 1980’s — contributing photos to the Salem News, Morning Journal, and most recently, the online streaming service and website Your Sports Network (YSN Live).

Gary’s photography journey began right after high school, capturing moments at Cleveland Municipal Stadium during Indians and Browns games in the 1980s with encouragement from longtime friend and Salem News editor J.D. Creer. From there, his lens turned to hometown heroes.

Some of his most cherished memories come from recent years. Among them is the 2015 Salem football team, which finished 10-2 and earned a playoff berth under head coach Ron Johnson. He fondly recalls the leadership of senior quarterback Matt Weingart and the defensive prowess of his own son, junior Kobe Leininger. Other unforgettable moments occurred on the track, which include capturing Dustin Matak (SHS Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2025) sprinting at full stride, watching state runner-up Zack Wukotich (SHS Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2024) soar over the high jump bar, and witnessing state champion Anthony Shivers (SHS Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2023) “launch the discus into the next state” at the Columbus state track meet. He also treasures memories of covering the 2021-22 Lady Quakers basketball team, a 20-5 squad coached by Sarah Hamilton-Phillips that advanced to regionals and remains one of his all-time favorites. Among his most beloved photographs is a striking baseline shot of a powerful dunk by former Quaker Drew Weir at John A. Cabas Gymnasium in 2021. Coincidentally, this very spot holds special significance for Gary–it’s where one of his earliest and most cherished memories was made: sitting with his father in the original two rows of seats behind the basket, watching Salem legend George Spack (SHS Athletic HOF Class of 2011) play during his childhood visits to Quaker basketball games in the late 1960’s.

A proud father, Gary’s late daughter, Shannon Leininger (SHS Class of 1998), was inducted into the Salem High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011 in the sport of softball — adding another chapter to the family’s remarkable contributions to Salem athletics. He also fondly remembers Quaker soccer seasons from the early 2010’s when his son, the late Seth Leininger, was a member of some successful teams.

Together, Fred and Gary Leininger embody what it means to be “Quaker Proud.” They speak not just as fans, but as stewards of Salem’s sports legacy. Fred remains active and will turn 91 this year. Gary, and wife Beth, enjoy spending time with their adult children Kobe and Abby (Phil) Bennett and their two grandchildren, Jack and Ellie.

Legacy Class of 2025

Celebrating the 20th Anniversary

of the Salem Athletic Hall of Fame

As the Salem High School Athletic Hall of Fame celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025, it proudly honors a Legacy Class–a remarkable group of early athletes, coaches, and teams whose excellence laid the foundation for Salem’s rich athletic tradition.

These athletes competed in the earliest decades of the 20th century, yet their accomplishments remain among the most impressive in Salem High School history.

George Leyda

Class of 1914, Track & Field

A pioneer of Salem athletics, Leyda captured two state championships in 1914–winning the 440-yard dash in 54.0 seconds and the long jump with a leap of 20 feet, ½ inch.

Bill Robusch

Class of 1920, Track & Field

One of the state’s top multi-event athletes, Robusch claimed state titles in the high jump (5-9) and pole vault (11-0) in 1920.

Max Fisher

Class of 1926, Football

A standout center who earned a football scholarship to The Ohio State University, Fisher’s legacy extends far beyond the field. A renowned philanthropist, he established the still thriving Max Fisher Athletic Scholarship in 1973, the first named scholarship in Salem High School Alumni Association history. His generosity continued nationally — in 1992, he gifted $20 million to OSU, helping build the renowned Fisher College of Business.

1927 Boys Basketball Team

State Final Four

Coached by Wilbur Springer, team captured the Northeastern Ohio Championship, Columbiana County title (third straight), and reached the state semifinals, losing a heartbreaking 27-26 game to Toledo Waite. Led by All-Ohio selections seniors Bob Campbell and Mal Rush, they set a school record with 15 straight wins and were regarded as the greatest basketball team in Salem history at that time.

Keith Roessler

Class of 1928, Track & Field

Roessler was a state runner-up in the pole vault (12-3) and finished ranked in the Top Five nationally, helping to raise Salem’s visibility on the track & field scene. He was also the younger brother of three-sport athlete Chris Roessler (1923), who was also inducted into the Salem Athletic Hall of Fame back in 2014.

1930 Boys Cross Country Team

State Champions

Salem dominated the state meet, winning with 45 points — well ahead of second-place Columbus East (102). Led by state champion Wilford Brantingham, the team also featured Harold Horstman (fifth), Harold Walker (sixth), and strong finishes from Irwin Beck, Bruce Shasteen, Frank Theriault, and Don Miller.

Wilford Brantingham

Class of 1931, Cross Country & Track

Brantingham won the 1930 state cross country championship, setting a meet record of 13:11.5 on the 2.5-mile course. He was also a standout miler on the track earning a state-runner up finish in the 1600 in 1931.

Bill Smith

Class of 1931, Track & Field

Smith claimed the 1931 state championship in the discus with a throw of 121 feet, 1 inch.

Harold Walker

Class of 1931, Track & Field & Cross Country

Walker was the 1931 state champion in the 1600 meters (4:36.4) and placed sixth in the 1930 state cross country meet, helping lead his team to a state title.

1931 Boys Track & Field Team

State Runner-Up

The Class A state runner-up, Salem scored 26.5 team points, losing by just half a point to Lakewood. Individual achievements included:

–Harold Walker ’31- State champion, 1600m

–Wilford Brantingham ’31 – Runner-up, 1600m

— Ed Beck ’32 (SHS Athletic HOF Class of 2012) – State champion, pole vault (11-7)

— Bill Smith ’31 – State champion, discus

— Henry Reese ’31 – Fourth place, 220-yard low hurdles

— Donald Lease ’31 – Third place, long jump

— Purn Sidinger ’33 – Tied for fifth place, high jump

1931 Boys Cross Country Team

State Champions

The 1931 team was even more dominant than the 1930 Salem state champion team, scoring just 29 points — with second-place Dayton Roosevelt far behind at 74. Led by state champion Harold Horstman, other top finishers included Bruce Shasteen (fourth), Irwin Beck (fifth), Keith Harris (eighth), and Stan Kamasky (11th).

Harold Horstman

Class of 1932, Cross Country

Horstman dominated the 1931 cross country state meet, winning by 50 yards in a record time of 10:21.5 (2-mile course), leading Salem to its second consecutive state title.

Coach R. Brom Clarke

A legendary figure in early Salem athletics, Clarke coached back-to-back state championship boys cross country teams in 1930 and 1931, earned a third-place finish in 1933, and finished as state runner-up in 1935. On the track, he led the 1931 boys track team to a state runner-up finish, missing the title by just half a point. Clarke’s leadership helped launch a golden era in Salem distance running and track and& field that continues nearly 100 years later.

FRED AND GARY LEININGER