Sunday, June 18, 2000
Munoz, Sollmann win LaRosa awards
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
After experiencing a letdown last Sunday following basketball tryouts in Colorado Springs, Co., Michelle Munoz's week ended on a high note.
A 17-year-old senior at Mason, Munoz was named LaRosa's Female High School Athlete of the Year during ceremonies Saturday at WCET-TV.
Steve Sollmann, St. Xavier's three-sport standout who rewrote the school's offensive football record books, was named LaRosa's Male High School Athlete of the Year.
“I tried out for the (U.S.) National Junior team this past week in Colorado Springs but I didn't make it,” Munoz said. “Receiving this award is a great honor for me and my family,”
A three-year starter on Mason's girls basketball team, Munoz averaged 20.4 points and 11 rebounds this
season for the Comets' Division I state championship team.
Munoz arrived at the ceremony with her parents (DeeDee and Anthony) about an hour late, unaware that she had won the award.
“We had an AAU basketball game in Columbus today but I left with 10 minutes to play,” Munoz said. “We (Ohio Warriors) were ahead by 30 points and if we win another game (today), we're going to nationals.”
Munoz's brother, Michael, a football standout at Moeller and a finalist for the Male Athlete of the Year Award, accepted the plaque.
Sollmann was not only a leader on the football field but also played an instrumental role for St. Xavier's Division I state basketball team while batting higher than .400 in baseball.
“To take home this award is a great way to cap off a high school career,” Sollmann, who will play baseball at Notre Dame, said.
“Growing up and watching my brother (Scott) taught me a lot. It didn't put a lot of pressure on me but instead gave me something to follow.”
Sollmann's brother, Scott, graduated from St. Xavier in 1994.
Don Brill (Purcell), Carlton Gray (Forest Park), Carol Madsen Miller (Reading), Napoleon McCallum (Milford) and Glenn Terry (Sycamore) were inducted into Buddy LaRosa Hall of Fame.
“When growing up, I idolized a lot of the athletes already in the Hall of Fame,” Miller said.
Former St. Xavier football and basketball coach Tom Ballaban and Mercy athletic director and basketball coach Mary Jo Huismann were inducted into the Hank Zureick Memorial Coaches Hall of Fame.
Ballaban, 72, who recently spent 30 days in the hospital, had the crowd laughing throughout a light-hearted acceptance speech that highlighted the ceremonies.
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