Thursday, June 15, 2000

Five state champions among LaRosa finalists

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By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        Five male athletes who won state championships, and one who earned All-American football honors, have been named finalists for the Buddy LaRosa High School Athlete of the Year award.

        The winner will be recognized Saturday during ceremonies at the Buddy LaRosa Hall of Fame Banquet.

        For the first time, a brother-sister duo — Michelle and Michael Munoz — were selected as finalists. The girls nominees were announced last week.

        The other boys finalists are Dan Ketchum (Sycamore), Steve Padgett (LaSalle), Andy Seitz (Scott), Steve Sollmann (St.Xavier) and Mason Ward (Colerain).

        • Dan Ketchum: A six-time state swimming champion, Ketchum shattered numerous records during his four-year career. A two-time All-American, Ketchum has qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in six events.

        • Michael Munoz: A 6-foot-7, 285-pound offensive lineman and a three-year starter for the Crusaders, Munoz earned first-team all-state honors three consecutive years.

        Munoz was named Gatorade's Ohio Player of the Year and an All-American by Parade Magazine, USA Today and ESPN.

        • Steve Padgett: Padgett claimed the Division I state cross country (15:19.9) and 3,200-meter (9:00.97) state track championships this past season.

        • Andy Seitz: Seitz excelled at a championship level in three sports — swimming, cross country and track.

        During a four-year swimming career, Seitz claimed six state championshipsˇand was Kentucky's male Swimmer of the Year in 2000.

        • Steve Sollmann: Sollmann was awarded varsity letters as a sophomore, junior and senior in football, basketball and baseball while also earning Greater Catholic League honors.

        As a running back, Sollmann owns several school records.         • Mason Ward: Colerain's first individual male state track champion in 1999, Ward successfully defended his 1,600-meter title. He also qualified to the state cross country meet three times to earn all-state honors.

        The Buddy LaRosa Sports Hall of Fame banquet will be broadcast live on WCET (Channel 48) at 2p.m. Saturday.

       

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