Bandele Adeniyi-Bada

Bandele distinguished himself as a three-sport athlete in football, wrestling, and track & field graduating in 1995. In wrestling, he captured the 1994 state championship in the 189-pound weight class, and the following year was the state runner-up at 215 pounds. He earned three varsity letters in football, along with four in both wrestling and track. Bandele was also a three-time conference champion in wrestling and a conference champion in the shot put. He was coached at Field by Ted Salsburg & Ted Tonn, who are both with us this evening.

Following his outstanding high school career, he continued his education at the University of Pennsylvania in the Ivy League, where he achieved All-American honors twice in wrestling and graduated from the Wharton School of Business. 

Today, Bandele is an Atlanta Police Officer. Before this he was in the financial industry working for Charles Schwab in San Francisco. Ban also had the opportunity to serve veterans while working in finances. After pursuing financial industry, Bandele wanted to pursue a path he felt was more rewarding. This is what has led him to his current career as a police officer.

Bill Atha

Bill was a three-sport athlete, excelling in football, wrestling, and track & field graduating in 1991. On the football field, he played both offensive and defensive line. In wrestling, he competed in the heavyweight division, and in track & field, he specialized in the shot put and discus. He was a three-time letter winner in football, a two-time letter winner in wrestling, and a four-time letter winner in track & field.

In football, Bill earned First Team All-Conference, All-Region, and All-State honors. In track & field, his achievements were equally impressive. As a sophomore, he broke the school shot put record, winning league, district, and regional championships in both shot put and discus. That year, he placed 3rd in the shot put at the state meet. As a junior, he repeated as league, district, and regional champion, again setting the pace in shot put and discus, and placed 4th in the shot put at state. As a senior, he broke the school discus record, won league championships in both events, was district and regional champion in shot put, and ultimately claimed the State Championship in the shot put while also placing in discus.

Bill was coached by Greg Pallante and Mike Harris in football, Dick Sabol in wrestling, and Jim Spear and Mike Harris in track & field.

After high school, Bill earned a football scholarship to Miami University (Ohio). There, he was named MAC Freshman of the Year runner-up and earned First Team All-League honors as a defensive lineman his senior year. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Following college, Bill played one season in the European American Football League as a player/coach for the Limhamn Griffins, where he was named American Player of the Year. He later volunteered as a coach for youth football and for Field Middle School track & field, specializing in shot put and discus.

Outside of athletics, Bill has built a distinguished career in law enforcement, serving for more than 20 years. He is currently an officer at Kent State University. Above all, Bill is a devoted husband and father.

Carlson Family

Marge Carlson

Marge Carlson dedicated 44 years of her life to the Field Local Schools and the Brimfield community. She served in countless roles — from managing baseball teams to pulling weeds on the athletic fields — always willing to do whatever was needed. She was a longtime member of the Brimfield Athletic Association, holding every leadership position including president, and was serving as treasurer at the time of her passing in 2023. She also served 12 years on the Field Board of Education from 1990 to 2001 and was an active member of the Field Athletic Boosters.

Raised on a family farm in Brimfield as one of nine children, Marge carried her strong work ethic into her adult life. After the passing of her husband, Phillip, she raised four children and threw herself into youth sports, coaching baseball and supporting every level of athletics in the district. She was known for her sharp organizational skills, financial stewardship, and her willingness to take on any job — big or small — to keep programs thriving.

Marge’s impact extended far beyond her own family. Her dedication created opportunities for generations of students to compete and grow through athletics, and her legacy of service and commitment continues to inspire all who knew her.

Amy Densevich (Cheney)

Amy was a standout three-sport athlete at Field High School, competing in softball, volleyball, and basketball during her career. She was a graduate of 1994.She excelled as a pitcher in softball, a setter and outside hitter in volleyball, and a forward in basketball. Amy was a seven-time varsity letter winner — four in softball and three in volleyball. She earned All-League and All-Ohio honors four times and was named PCL League Player of the Year twice.

On the softball field, Amy’s achievements were extraordinary. She is the all-time wins leader in Portage County, finishing her career with a record of 90 wins and 12 losses, an ERA of 0.43, 694 innings pitched, 922 strikeouts, and just 107 walks. She was coached by Richard “Whitey” Prunty, with assistant coach Dave Wetzel.

Amy went on to Kent State University, where she was a four-year letter winner as a pitcher, an NFCA Scholar-Athlete, and remains in the program’s record books for complete games and innings pitched.

Her success continued into her coaching career. At Hudson High School, she guided the varsity softball team to the 2007 OHSAA Division I State Championship and was named OHSAA Coach of the Year. She later served as an assistant and pitching coach at Kent State, helping lead the team to the 2008 MAC Championship.

Amy has been recognized with multiple Hall of Fame honors, including induction into the Summit County Softball Hall of Fame in 2009, the Hudson High School Hall of Fame in 2018, and the Kent State Softball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 as a member of a championship team.

Today, Amy resides in Munroe Falls, Ohio, with her husband, John Densevich, a former Kent State All-American in track and field; their daughter, Cammie, a two-time OHSAA Division I state qualifier in discus who will join Kent State’s track and field team this fall; and their son, AJ, who just earned his first varsity letter in track and field as a freshman at Stow. Amy currently serves as the Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services at Kent State University in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Bill Huntington

Bill Huntington dedicated nearly three decades to coaching cross country and track and field at Field High School from 1976 to 2005.

Under his leadership, the cross country program achieved remarkable success, winning four team state championships, finishing as state runners-up twice, capturing eight regional championships, 14 district championships, and an incredible 26 conference championships.

In track and field, Bill coached two state champion 4x800-meter relay teams and guided athletes to four individual state titles between cross country and track. Over the course of his career, he coached 81 All-State athletes. Among his state champions were Julie Kline in the 3200 meters, Emily Mars in the 5000 meters, and Chris Sinick, a two-time state champion in the 1600 meters.

Beyond coaching, Bill was also a beloved teacher at Field, where he taught high school English for 30 years. His impact in athletics has been recognized with induction into several Halls of Fame, including the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches, the Ashtabula County Track and Cross Country Hall of Fame, the Grand Valley High School Hall of Fame, and this October, the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame.

Bill is married to his wife, April, and they have two children — a son, Jeremy, and a daughter, Leta. This fall, he began his 20th year as a volunteer coach at Malone University in Canton, continuing to share his passion for running and mentoring young athletes.

Julie Meyers (Kline)

Julie Kline Meyers, a 1994 graduate of Field High School, was a standout in both cross country and track. In cross country, she was a four-time state qualifier, a two-time conference champion, and twice placed fourth at the state meet. She set the school 5k record at 19:01. In track, she was a three-time state qualifier, earning a state championship in the 3200 meters in 1992, along with multiple conference and district titles. She set school records in the 800, 1600, and 3200 meters, including a best of 5:07 in the 1600 and 11:11 in the 3200.

At Ohio University, Julie continued her success as a five-time All-Mid-American Conference performer. She was runner-up in the MAC cross country championships in 1997 and also finished second in the 3k and 5k at the 1998 MAC Track & Field Championships. She helped lead Ohio to two team MAC cross country titles, served as captain her senior year, and was named team MVP after scoring 20 points at the MAC Track & Field Championships. She earned both a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s in physical therapy.

Professionally, Julie has worked as a physical therapist in Medina for 25 years, opening her own training and therapy business in 2015. She has also given back to the sport as a coach with Medina Middle School and High School cross country programs.

Julie is the daughter of Joe and Angie Kline. She has been married for 25 years to Seth Meyers, a former MAC champion high jumper, and together they have two sons, Derek and Benny, who are pursuing business degrees at the University of Cincinnati and Ohio University.

Lohr Family

Kenneth Lohr

Kenny Lohr was a tireless supporter of the Field community whose legacy continues to inspire. A Ravenna native, he graduated from Ravenna High School before entering Goodyear’s apprentice program, where he graduated at the top of his class and earned the prestigious Litchfield Award. He went on to a 30-year career as an engineer with Goodyear.

After moving to Suffield with his wife, Mary, Kenny dedicated his life to youth athletics and community service. He founded the Suffield Little League, served on the Field Board of Education and the Maplewood Board of Education, and was active in the Suffield Jaycees and Lions Club. He was also president of the Field Athletic Booster Club, where his leadership and hands-on efforts were instrumental in raising funds and helping build the Falcons’ football stadium.

In recognition of his dedication, the stadium was named in his honor on August 29, 1980, becoming Kenneth W. Lohr Field. Though he passed away earlier that year at just 48 years old, his impact on Field athletics and the community has endured for decades.

Kenny and Mary raised five children — Linda, Sue, Gayle, Tim, and Tom — and his greatest legacy lives on through his family and the countless lives he touched through his service.

Emily Raymond (Mars)

Emily was an outstanding distance runner at Field High School, competing in cross country and track. She graduated from Field in 2000. She earned eight varsity letters, four in each sport. In cross country, she was a four-time All-Ohio selection, a three-time PCL champion, and a key member of the 1997 and 1998 state championship teams, as well as the 1999 state runner-up team. She also set multiple school and course records. In track, Emily was a three-time All-Ohio performer in the 3200 meters, a three-time PCL champion, and the PCL record-holder in that event. Her excellence was recognized with numerous honors, including Beacon Journal Girls Cross Country Player of the Year twice, Plain Dealer Runner of the Year twice, Record-Courier Female Athlete of the Year, and the Ralph Quesinberry Award as Female Track Athlete of the Year. She was coached by Bill Huntington.

Emily continued her career at Brigham Young University from 2000–2004, where she was part of back-to-back NCAA National Championship cross country teams in 2001 and 2002, and the national runner-up team in 2003. She was also the Mountain West Conference 10k champion in 2004, and her 2001 BYU team was later inducted into the BYU Athletic Hall of Fame.

After college, Emily competed with elite running clubs in Boston and Vermont, winning multiple USATF New England titles and posting personal bests of 17:01 in the 5k and 34:58 in the 10k. She has run 18 marathons, with a personal best of 2:52, and has won two. She continues to compete, most recently training for the Best of the West Marathon and the Canal Corridor 100-mile race.

Emily and her husband, Scott, live in the Cleveland area with their three children, one dog, and 13 chickens. She works as a geriatric social worker at University Hospitals, remains active in her church, and still has a passion for running and hopes to coach in the future.

Chris Sinick

Chris was an exceptional multi-sport athlete at Field High School, competing in cross country, track, and soccer. He was a 2006 graduate. In track, he ran the 4x800, 800, 1600, and 3200 meters. He earned 10 varsity letters — four in cross country, four in track, and two in soccer. Chris was a two-time State Champion in the 1600 meters, a two-time state qualifier in cross country, and a three-time state qualifier in track. Along the way, he set multiple school records and captured numerous conference and regional titles in both sports. He was coached by Bill Huntington.

Following high school, Chris continued his running career at Malone University, where he became a 10-time All-American, including a national runner-up finish in track. He was also part of a cross country team that won three consecutive NAIA National Championships. His accomplishments have since earned him a place in Malone University’s Hall of Fame.

Today, Chris and his wife, Jessica — who are both dentists — own and operate their own dental practice in Medina. They are the proud parents of four children: Chase, age 8; Vivian, age 7; Evelyn, age 5; and Isaiah, age 1. Chris now enjoys introducing his kids to sports, especially the basics of soccer, and helping them develop a love for athletics.

Larry Wiles

Larry Wiles had a remarkable coaching career at Field High School, leading both baseball and football teams for more than three decades. He coached baseball from 1968–1980 and again from 1988–2000, and football from 1965–1996. On the diamond, he recorded 474 wins — the most by any coach in Portage County — against 225 losses, for a .678 winning percentage. He was named Portage County League Coach of the Year nine times and coached the league All-Star team four times.

His teams produced four All-State players and eight PCL Players of the Year, with many athletes going on to play in college, including one season when four of his former players were on the roster at the University of Akron. Six of his former players or assistant coaches went on to become head high school baseball coaches, and four advanced to the college ranks. In football, one of his highlights was guiding the ninth-grade program to four consecutive unbeaten seasons.

Beyond coaching, Larry taught social studies at Field High School for 35 years and has been inducted into both the Greater Akron Baseball Hall of Fame and the Northeast Ohio Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Larry and his wife, Marty, have two daughters, Angela and Wendy. Angela, a former Little League World Series player, is now a nurse, while Wendy is a paralegal in real estate. They are also proud grandparents to three granddaughters — Samantha, Lillie, and Ashley.