Tallmadge High School

Wednesday, 13 November 2019 15:39

Student Athletes of the Week: Danny Kurko and Jill Catalano: Tallmadge High School

This week our 1590 WAKR Male Student Athlete of the Week is Danny Kurko, a senior basketball player from Tallmadge High School.

Danny says that he’s looking forward to his senior season.

“Last year we made the district championship game and we lost, but it was a great experience and we had energy all around the team,” he explained.

A two-sport athlete in both basketball and track, Kurko is a team captain for the Blue Devils team on the hardwood.

He says being that leader on the floor is a responsibility he takes pride in.

“I try to give guys high-fives and tell them they had had a good play whenever they are out there, just encourage my teammates to do better.”

His coach Bill Johnson said that Danny is a true leader on and off the court.

“Danny is the kind of player a coach dreams about. He comes in every day, works as hard as he can and tries to improve. On top of that, he is a great ambassador for our program,” he said.

“He supports all other teams and programs in Tallmadge and truly cares about the school and community.”

In addition to being an athlete for Tallmadge, Danny is a member of the Pep Club as well as a participant in volunteer work for St. Matthew Parish.

Upon graduation in the spring, Kurko plans on attending Kent State University and majoring in Sports Management.

Our next Female Student Athlete of the Week is Jill Catalano, a senior basketball player from Tallmadge High School.

Jill is a three sport athlete in volleyball, basketball, and track and field.

She says that her mother has been the biggest inspiration to her academic and athletic career.

“My mom has been my biggest supporter no matter what,” Catalano explains.

In addition to being a student athlete, she is also a member of the National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Suburban League Leadership among other groups.

She says that that group in particular (the Suburban League Leadership Group) has been instrumental in her growth as a player and as a person.

“Being an athlete is more than just playing sports, it’s getting out in the community, getting involved with people around your neighborhood, and also in the school.”

Her coach Brett Bickar said that she is one of those student athletes any coach would want to have in their program.

"She is a player every coach would love. Always 100% effort in games as well as practice. Very encouraging to players on the team, freshman to senior," he said.

"She is very generous as a person, she will do anything she can to help someone, from working with the youth to taking extra time to give others a ride to or from practice. "

Upon graduation in the spring, she is undecided on where she will attend college, but plans on majoring in something related to the medical field.

We wish Danny and Jill the best in all of their future endeavors.

Published in SAOTW

Friday, 18 January 2019 17:31

Sam and Brad Show Podcast 1.18.19

Sam and Brad caught up with former Tallmadge Head football coach Alan Vanderink to talk about his departure from Tallmadge High School and his arrival to Kent Roosevelt.

They also got into their NFL Picks ahead of the AFC and NFC Championship games.

Published in Sam and Brad

Thursday, 27 December 2018 18:33

1590 WAKR Student Athletes of the Week: Andreana Gotto & Nick Hussing

This week our 1590 WAKR Female Student Athlete of the Week is Andreana Gotto, a senior basketball player from Tallmadge

She says that working with her coaches and teammates is something that she truly enjoys.

“We always have a good time, always having fun, but some moments we have to take things seriously to get ready for the games,” she says.

Her head coach Collin Epstein says she is driven and focused both on and off the court.

“Andreana has a 3.896 GPA, outside of school she has volunteered at the science convention, haven of rest, youth basketball camps, and red cross,” he said.

“On the basketball court she is a two time captain for our team and was honorable mention suburban league last year.”

As a captain, she says she leads both vocally and by example.

“I get the girls going, I talk (on the court), even if we’re just messing around, I say something,” she said with a smile.

Our next Male Student Athlete of the Week is Nick Hussing, a senior basketball player from Tallmadge High School.

Nick says he got the love of basketball from his older brother growing up.

“He would always beat me, never took it easy on me, but he made me better,” Hussing said.

His head coach Bill Johnson said Nick is a quality young man on and off the court.

“Nick volunteers at his church and helps with youth basketball, Johnson explains. “He is a great worker and an even better leader.”

“On the court, Nick is a senior captain for us,” he continued. “He is the kind of kid that will run through a wall for you and never ask questions,” he said.

“Since I’m a senior captain, I’ve always led by example, but this year I try to lead with my voice,”Nick explained.

Hussing is a 3.8 student, a member of NHS, the Tallmadge High School Pep Club and the French Club.

We wish Andreana and Nick the best in all of their future endeavors.

Published in SAOTW

Friday, 18 May 2018 14:32

Michael Bluey: Hoover Hoops 'A Diamond In The Rough'

Former Tallmadge head boys basketball coach Michael Bluey spoke with the Sam and Brad Show to talk about his new venture, coaching the boys basketball team at North Canton Hoover.

Bluey served as an an assistant at Jackson High School before becoming the head coach at Tallmadge.

"Opportunities like Hoover don't come around very often," Bluey said.

"It's a diamond in the rough,and I'm certainly excited to get started."

Published in Sam and Brad

Monday, 10 October 2016 12:27

Voters To Decide On Tallmadge School Bond Issues

The Tallmadge City School District is hoping voters say YES on two bond issues on the upcoming ballot to make changes to its buildings and athletic facilities.

Issue 43 is a 3.86 mill bond issue that would consolidate the district's primary, elementary and middle schools into two buildings, a K-5 building and a 6-8 building on the middle school campus.

Issue 44 is a 0.9 mill bond issue that would relocate the high school athletic facilities to its current campus.

"The way we see it, it's just a completion of that original vision when we built that high school is that eventually we would get all the high school athletic facilities over the high school," said Superintendent Jeff Ferguson.

Ferguson said the reason for splitting the issues was to remain transparent.

"The board of education though it was very important to be transparent, so they didn't want any confusion when you look at one number and then say 'how much is the athletics going to cost," said Ferguson.

Published in Local

Friday, 30 September 2016 15:16

AUDIO Copley, Tallmadge AD's Talking Indians & Blue Devils

As Week 6 approaches and Copley and Tallmadge get ready to meet on the gridiron, both of the athletic directors stopped by to talk about the game, their respective schools, and what's been going on this week.

New athletic director of Copley Michael Chuppa joined Sam and Brad live on the road as they broadcast live from Redstone Pub ahead of the game.

Tallmadge Athletic Director Don Seeker also stopped by the show to talk about Homecoming week at Tallmadge and their matchup with the Indians. He also discussed how first-year head coach Alan Vanderink has galvanized the community and the student body.

Published in Sam and Brad

Thursday, 29 September 2016 16:14

AUDIO Copley, Tallmadge Ready To Tussle

As we head into Week 6 of the high school football season, the Copley Indians head to Tallmadge to take on an old Suburban League foe.

Scott Chouinard, the head coach of the Copley Indians spoke with Sam Bourquin about where his team is at after the first five weeks of the season.

For the full interview with Coach Chouinard, listen below.

Alan Vanderink, the head coach of the Tallmadge Blue Devils joined Sam Bourquin and Brad Russell to talk about the game and the family culture he's building over in Tallmadge.

Published in Sam and Brad

Friday, 02 September 2016 15:29

AUDIO Ellet And Tallmadge Prepare For Week 2 Clash

Week 2 of the high school football season is underway and two neighboring communities will be squaring off on the gridiron.

Ellet and Tallmadge will meet on the football field with 1-0 records and will be looking to start the season with two wins.

Joe Yost of Ellet joined Sam Bourquin and Brad Russell as they were live from DeVitis Italian Market.

Alan Vanderink, first year head coach of Tallmadge also joined in to talk about his club heading into the game.

The first-year head man of the Blue Devils says building a family atmosphere around the football program is one of the keys to success for his program.

Published in Sam and Brad

Thursday, 04 August 2016 19:23

MULTIMEDIA Camp Days:Tallmadge High School

First year head football coach at Tallmadge High School Alan Vanderink is excited about the 2016 season, and he says the staff and the players are getting ready to lace up the cleats and get after it in the Suburban League.

Alan spoke with us during Suburban League Media Day and he says the league is a competitive and well-balanced league.

"There's no weeks that you can take off," Vanderink said. "That's good for our coaches and our young people."

He says the community has been behind him 100 percent since he got the job at Tallmadge, coming over from the Copley staff, where he served as an assistant.