Harry Shadle calls it a career

It was time for Harry Shadle to head for a warmer climate.The venerable Maple City sports figure announced his retirement as a teacher at Norwalk schools after 35 years in the classroom.Shadle, an inspiration of many over the years, graduated from Norwalk High in 1932. He lettered in football, basketball, track and tennis, the latter sport he would play at a high level until he was near 60 years old.At the junior high school, Shadle was known for teaching fundamentals in many sports.His philosophy was "the junior high is where a boy or girl learns how to play a sport. He or she should not have to worry about learning the basics in high school.""I never could see winning at all costs like some people do," he once said. "Character is not taught with that kind of attitude,"Shadle and wife, Marie, have yet to settle on a Florida community of residence.Pusateri among St. Paul's bestI have always said that St. Paul's most complete athlete was Mike Pusateri. I say this because I remember one afternoon at Whitney Field, and this was before an athlete was limited event competition, Pusateri scored in seven events.In searching through the May, 1972 micro-film, I came across a St. Paul meet against Black River where he equaled the school record in the 100 (10.5), won the long jump (18'2"), won the low hurdles in 22.7 and was third in the discus.Other St. Paul first-place finishes that afternoon were garnered by John Brutsche (discus 103'2" and the shot 42'7 1/2"), Tom Rekart (high jump 5'4" and high hurdles 18.8), Mike Weisenberger (mile 5:01), Val Holz (220), Steve Furey (440), Kurt Smith (pole vault) and Keith Ridge, Brutsche, Brian Pusateri and Holz (880 relay-1:46.5).Bill Lodermeier's club extended it's dual meet record to 5-0 with this 83-44 win.Kevin Newton wins three eventsNorwalk's Kevin Newton was not supposed to compete due to a lingering leg injury. No one told him "no", however. He showed up with his track uniform on against Bucyrus and he not only competed but won three events, the long jump in 18-6 ¾, the high hurdles in a record-setting time of 15.2 and low hurdles in 22.2.Howard Hershey's No. 1 sprinter, Kirk Mason, won the 100 in 10.4 and the 220 in 24.6.Other Norwalk wins came from Scott Twitchell in the high jump (5-8) and Doug White in the discus (139-9 ¼).The Truckers would lose the last two events and the dual against Bucyrus, 68-58.Seven daughters honor momSeven of Irene Schlachter's daughters were on hand for a Mother's Day celebration at the Senior Center. The daughters present were Norma Heyman, Norwalk, Mrs Janet Orlosky, Bucyrus, Mrs. Chet Steele, Norwalk, Mrs. Pat Shuppa, Cleveland, Mrs. Paul (Verna) Riley, Norwalk, Mrs. Mark (Florence) Betschman, Monroeville and Mrs. Joan Gerrity, Norwalk. Unable to make the celebration was Mrs. Ray (Gertrude) Riley, Norwalk..Mrs. Schlachter has 21 grandchildren.Slo-Pitch League opensTom Antrim pitched and Duane White provided three hits as Huron County Bank beat the Furniture No. 2 team, 5-3.Tom Krick and Paul Souslin provided the fire-power as Bennet Electric's No. 2 team, won 10-9 over Culligan.Norwalk Furniture #1 used a big night at the plate from Kyle Jameson to beat Connie's, 16-1.Don Minor, Jim Barett and Mike Hickey led The Nite Life to a 7-5 win over Frankie's Bar.Dale Marker hit the first one of the year over the fence as the Norwalk Merchants upset Bennett's No. 1 team, 14-7.Dauch Concrete got a big game from Ken Butler at the plate and a six-hit pitching performance from John Speer as one of the strongest clubs from last year beat the Monroeville Merchants, 11-1.Kane More wins titleNorwalk High School student Kane More won the title of Miss Firelands over eight other candidates from Huron, Sandusky and Erie counties even though she was anything but perfect as a baton twirler. She dropped the baton three times in her single-baton performance but was perfect in her two-baton exercise."I was not the most graceful on the runway either," she admitted. "I had a bounce in my step. I guess you are supposed to be more graceful".Boys' State delegatesDean Decker and Rand Laycock will represent Norwalk High while Tom Bellamy and Dan Missler will carry the St. Paul colors at the American Legion-sponsored Buckeye Boys State at Ashland College in June.The Western Reserve representative will be Dan Angelo.New coach In townIt was announced that Robert Hart will be the new Norwalk Trucker football coach.Hart, by way of Lancaster Fisher Catholic, Bellevue and Toledo Waite, was a standout performer in college at Syracuse where he played for Ben Schwartzwalder along side All-American Ernie Davis.Hart would go on to fulfill his promise of bringing out the best in Norwalk athletes by winning a state championship.Fire chief namedElmer McGuckin was named by Mayor Wayne Goodsite Norwalk's new fire chief. He succeeds Kenneth Link who retired due to ill health.It was a favor by his fellow captain, Wilbur Spettel, that helped McGuckin to the highest post. Not interested in the job, Spettel still took the test to fulfill the law of civil service competition.Schwan third in national contestLu Ann Schwan didn't expect to win but the EHOVE student from Monroeville honored her school with a third-place finish in junior stenography competition at the Ohio Education Association's national convention in Columbus. She was only the second EHOVE student ever to win honors in a national competition. She competed against 30 others from nine states.Schwan cited the personal attention she received at EHOVE as the reason for her high placement. The skills competition included transcribing a letter and a memo, solving a common office problem and taking dictation by shorthand with many foreign words being used. The timed test lasted 90 minutes.Borgia top vote-getterJohn Borgia racked up 3,477 votes in running unopposed in the May primary. He will face Loren Welch, a New London police sergeant, in November. Welch beat C.J. Allison by 313 votes in the Democratic primary.John M. Arthur, who would go on to defeat Shirley Brown in November, won the Republican primary over two other candidates for the county treasurer position. Arthur beat Mrs. Jack Shupp of North Fairfield and Edward C. Spoerr, Norwalk.In Norwalk politics, the city passed a charter but all was not happy with the outcome. Dr. Russell Fisher for one. He wanted a city manager and was dead set against setting the mayor's salary at $15,000.Long, Clark team upDon Long got the job done on the mound and Jeff Clark did the same at the plate as Monroeville put together back-to-back baseball victories, the first at Edison, 6-2, and the second over Western Reserve, 3-0.Meanwhile, down south, Clyde Honeycutt and Guy Ebinger were setting one batter after another down on strikes as South Central was also in the midst of a banner season. In this game, a 6-2 win over New London, Ebinger blasted a three-run homer and Dave Fidler walloped a solo shot in staking Honeycutt to an early lead and eventual win.Dave Youngless deserved better fate for the Cats as he allowed eight hits, struck out as many and did not allow a free pass.Don Hohler is a longtime Reflector sportswriter.Hohler