The Padua Franciscan High School Athletic Hall of Fame was established to recognize those who have either excelled in one or more sports while at Padua or made a major impact on the school’s athletic program or local sports, leading to the enhancement of Padua’s image.
Please join us in congratulating these incredible Bruins on being named Padua Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees! They will be inducted on Saturday, February 20, 2027 at Padua.
Bryan McGoun ’72
Football-Baseball
Bryan McGoun was a standout on both the football field and the baseball diamond, and his career culminated in the 1972 Mr. Bruin award, the school's highest honor for a senior athlete.
On the gridiron, Bryan was a three-year varsity starter who earned All-Crown recognition in both 1970 and 1971. As a sophomore, he was named Defensive MVP. He returned as a co-captain in 1971, when he was named Team MVP and selected to The Plain Dealer Weekly Dream Team.
Baseball was where Bryan truly excelled. A three-year varsity starter at shortstop, he anchored a Bruins program that posted a 51-13 record and won Crown Championships in 1971 and 1972, along with the 1971 District Championship. He earned All-Crown Conference honors in both 1971 and 1972 and was a Plain Dealer Dream Team selection both years. As a senior, he was named to The Plain Dealer All-Scholastic team and earned All-State honors, and The Plain Dealer named him its 1972 Fielder of the Year.
Bryan continued his baseball career at the collegiate level at Marietta College and Cleveland State University.
Tom Maletic ’76
Hockey
Tom Maletic's love of hockey shaped his life as a player and as a coach. He was named the 1976 Mr. Bruin, the school's highest honor for a senior athlete.
At Padua, Tom was a four-year varsity letterman who helped the Bruins compile a team record of 79-17-7. A defenseman, he was a three-time All-Star and a two-time All-Scholastic selection. He was part of the Baron Cup championship team and the 1974 Ohio-Pennsylvania Champions. As a senior co-captain in 1976, he led Padua to a league championship and a third-place finish in the OHSAA tournament.
Tom continued his career at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he played four seasons and missed only two games. He finished among the program's top ten in career scoring and was its top defenseman in both career scoring and career assists. He also earned a degree in Accountancy and Marketing.
After his playing days, Tom gave back to the game as a coach. He returned to Padua as a junior varsity coach for two seasons and as an assistant varsity coach for two seasons, helping guide the Bruins to the 1988 and 1989 State Championships. His coaching career also took him to the Cleveland Junior Barons, the University of Michigan women's club team, the Michigan State University club team, Parma Hockey, and the Plymouth (Michigan) High School girls' team.
As a player and a mentor, Tom has spent his life advancing the sport.
Greg Coyle ’77
Hockey
Greg Coyle, a three-sport athlete at Padua, went on to dedicate many years to the sport of hockey as a player and a coach.
On the ice, Greg was a three-year starter and letterman who helped the Bruins post a team record of 59-10-7. He was an All-Scholastic selection in all three seasons and a member of the Baron Cup championship team and the 1974 Ohio-Pennsylvania Champions. A prolific scorer, he finished his career with 143 regular-season points, and his 50 goals in the 1976 season remain the most in a single season. He also earned two letters each in Golf and Tennis.
Greg played for the Cleveland Junior Barons his senior year and continued his career at Bowling Green State University. He later played professionally in Dayton.
He has given back to the sport as a coach at every level. Greg served four seasons as head coach at Padua and also coached at Parma Senior High School and Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School. At Padua he also coached JV softball. He was head coach for the Junior Barons organization and has coached in the Parma Youth Hockey organization. His contributions to the game have been recognized with induction into the Parma Hockey Hall of Fame.
Mark Zofka ’82
Baseball
Mark Zofka's baseball career spans four decades, from Padua's diamond to Cleveland Municipal Stadium to the dugout as one of the area's most successful high school coaches.
A two-sport athlete at Padua, Mark played football and baseball. On the gridiron, he rushed for 239 yards before an injury took away most of his season. On the diamond, he put together a standout senior season in 1982, hitting .410 with four home runs. He was named Plain Dealer All-Scholastic and selected to The Plain Dealer Dream Team, and he helped lead the Bruins to a Regional Runner-Up finish.
Mark continued his career at Cleveland State University, where he led the team in hitting as a junior. By the time he graduated, he had set two single-season and seven career records, and he still ranks in the top ten in six offensive categories. He was inducted into the Cleveland State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. In 1987, he signed with the Cleveland Indians.
His most memorable moment came in 1984, when the Ohio College All-Stars beat Team USA 2-1 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Mark climbed the outfield fence to rob Will Clark, who went on to a successful career with the San Francisco Giants, of a game-winning home run.
Mark returned to Padua as head Baseball coach from 1999 to 2007. His teams won the Conference Championship in 2002 and District Championships in 2003, 2005, and 2006. In 2005, the Bruins won the Regional Championship and advanced to the Final Four. He was named Greater Cleveland Coach Association Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2005 and was inducted into the Northeast Ohio Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, finishing with a career high school record of 283-145.
Emily (Kocinski) Kantz ’02
Volleyball-Basketball-Softball
Emily Kocinski was a three-sport standout at Padua who starred in Volleyball, Basketball, and Softball. She was named the 2002 Ms. Bruin, the school's highest honor for a senior athlete.
A three-year starter in Volleyball, Emily was named Plain Dealer All-Scholastic in 2001. She ranks 16th all-time in career kills at Padua, a total compiled before the switch to rally scoring. During her career, she was named North Coast League MVP in 2001 along with NCL first team honors in 2000 plus earned All District first team honors and was named to the honorable mention All-Ohio team for her junior and senior seasons.
On the basketball court, Emily was a three-year starter who scored 481 career points and helped the Bruins win a District Championship.
Softball may have been where she left her biggest mark. A three-year starter, she was named Plain Dealer All-Scholastic in 2002 and set four school records: most wins and most strikeouts in a single season, and most wins and most strikeouts in a career. Her career batting average is still one of the best in school history at .455 including her senior season when she hit .506 with three home runs.
Emily continued her athletic career at the University of Akron, where she played volleyball and was team captain for the 2004 season. She totaled 757 kills and 791 digs in her college career and is currently 10th in career points with 956 in program history.
Kurt Gross ’03
Wrestling
Kurt Gross is one of the most accomplished wrestlers in Padua history, a four-year letterman who reached the top of the Ohio podium as a senior and went on to a decorated career at Kent State.
At Padua, Kurt compiled 135 career wins. He qualified for the state tournament in 2001 and 2002 and won the District Championship in 2002. In 2003, he capped his high school career as a State Champion. He also placed seventh at the Senior Nationals, earning All-American honors.
Kurt continued his career at Kent State University, where he was a four-year letter winner and won 107 matches. He was a two-time Mid-American Conference Champion.
Christie (Fritsche) Johnson ’10
Volleyball
Christie Fritsche Johnson was one of the most dominant volleyball players in Padua history, a three-year letterman and starter who helped lead the Bruins to back-to-back State Championships before continuing her career at the Division I level.
At Padua, Christie earned All-League honors in 2008 and 2009 and was a key part of the Bruins' State Championship teams in both seasons. She reached the 1,000-kill milestone for her career, and she saved her best for the biggest stage, recording 27 kills in the 2009 State Championship match.
Christie went on to play at the University at Buffalo, where she appeared in more than 200 games. She finished her collegiate career with 487 kills, 417 digs, and 556 points.
Brent Fickel ’12
Wrestling
Brent Fickel is the one of the more decorated wrestlers in Padua history, a four-year letterman and four-time District Champion who climbed the state podium each year before capturing a State Championship as a senior.
Brent placed third in the state in 2009 with a record of 48-7, then fourth in 2010 at 47-8. He returned to the podium in 2011 with a 52-3 record and a third-place finish. In 2012, he capped his career with a 55-4 season and a State Championship. Brent was also a four time Sectional Champion and four time Conference Champion. He was named Mr. Bruin in 2012 along with earning High School Wrestling All American honors.
His name fills the Padua record book. He holds four school records: most career wins (203), most wins in a season (55), most career pins (102), and most pins in a season (30). He also ranks second all-time in career takedowns with 419.
Brent continued his career at the collegiate level as a four-year letterman and a four-time national qualifier at Ashland University. He earned All-American honors with an eighth-place finish at the NCAA National Tournament in 2015. He was also a four time Academic All-American during his career at Ashland.
