North Olmsted Hall of Fame to induct five
By Jim Horvath
Sports
Published April 30, 2008

The North Olmsted High School Athletic Hall of Fame will induct five new members Friday night with its annual banquet to be held at Springvale Ballroom.

The new members are David Ptacek, football, Class of 1990; Thomas O’Rourke, soccer, Class of 1985; Jennie Amodio, softball, Class of 1989; Robert Linn, track/cross country, Class of 1972; and William Fischer, hockey, Class of 1993.

Cocktails will be at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available at the high school athletic office or by calling 779-8797.

Here are the accomplishments of the newest hall of famers:

Jennie Amodio
Amodio was a three-sport athlete at North Olmsted. She was a three-year letter winner in volleyball, a two-year letter winner in basketball and a four-year letter winner in softball.

In softball, she was an All-Southwestern Conference selection three times, honorable mention All-Ohio in 1988 and All-Ohio her senior season. Amodio was an All-District selection for three years and was the SWC’s Most Valuable Player in 1989. She made the conference all-scholastic squad as well that year.

In volleyball, she was named to the conference first team three times as well as being named to the all-district team her senior year. She was an All-SWC selection in basketball her junior and senior years and named to the All-District team her senior year.

After graduating from North Olmsted, Amodio attended Ohio University, where she was a four-year letter winner in softball. She is currently an instructor and head softball coach at Case Western Reserve University.

William Fischer
Along with being an accomplished athlete, Fischer proved to be one of the more well-rounded athletes to attend North Olmsted. He was president of the French Club, a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a member of the Sites Program as well as being a three-sport athlete.

As captain of the Eagle hockey team, Fischer was an outstanding offensive player. His senior year, he was the leading scorer in the state of Ohio. He was named Plain Dealer Player of the Week and the Most Valuable Player of the Trinity tournament.

In his senior year in baseball, Fischer received the All-SWC honors and was one of the leading hitters in the Cleveland area. He also won the prestigious Golden Eagle Award that season.

Fischer took advanced placement classes and learned the important skill of time management as a result of being a multi sport athlete. Those things, along with the lifelong friendships he developed through playing sports, prepared him for his future and remain some of his fondest memories from North Olmsted.

He attended Ohio University as a post graduate. He played club hockey and graduated cum laude in Business Administration.

Robert Linn
In the early 1970s, the short and middle distance events for the North Olmsted boys track team were owned by Linn. In 1970, he was a district qualifier in the 440-yard run. In 1971, he continued to compete in the 440 but also moved up to the middle distance 880-yard run and finished third at the state meet.

His senior year, Linn set the indoor record at the Ashland College All-Ohio Indoor Meet, then in the spring won the state championship in the 880.

Linn also participated in football and cross country. His school records in both the 440 and 880 still stand today.

After graduating from North Olmsted, Linn attended Ashland College, where he was a member of a national championship track and cross country team. He was a four-time All-American.

Linn wished to express his gratitude to all of his coaches at North Olmsted, especially Bruce Peepers. He also had a special thank you to Ron Slater Jr., who as an upper class athlete took his time and went out of his way to help Linn in his early years at North Olmsted.

Thomas O’Rourke
O’Rourke is the fifth all-time leading scorer in the North Olmsted soccer program. His teams won four Southwestern Conference titles. And in 1983 and 1984 he won just about every award possible for boys soccer.

Besides leading the team in scoring, O’Rourke was a first team All-SWC selection, the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1984, an All-Ohio selection in 1983 and 1984, and All-Midwest and All American as well in 1984.

After graduating from North Olmsted, he attended the University of Akron, where he was a four-year starter on the soccer team. During his freshman year, the team played in the national championship game against Duke.

Putting his business and marketing degree to use, O”Rourke is the general manager for Water Resources International. He presently resides in Scottsdale, Ariz.

David Ptacek
A three sport athlete, Ptacek excelled in football, basketball and baseball. As a running back on the football team, he had a reputation as a very physical runner and a fierce blocker. By the end of his football career, he had gained All-Southwestern Conference honors, league Most Valuable Player, All-Northeast Ohio district and All-Ohio honors.

He played on three SWC championship football teams, and was the leading scorer in the Cleveland area his senior year.

Ptacek also participated in basketball for four years and was an All-SWC selection in baseball  his junior and seniors years.

After graduating from North Olmsted, he attended Hillsdale College, where he participated in football and was a four year starter. He played fullback, and his blocking was intrumental in his team’s success.

Ptacek said he felt very fortunate to have played for coaches Tom Watts, Tom Humphrey and Bruce Peepers.