Fairport Harbor AD lauded for his dedication

BOUQUETS >> To Mike Mohner, after he recently stepped down as Fairport Harding High School athletic director, wrapping up an education/coaching career that began in 1981.

Mohner said he is ready to scale things back a bit.

“It was just time,” he said. “I felt there were things I wanted to do with my grandchildren. There’s a real time commitment needed if you want to do the job (of AD) right. I just felt it was time.”

Fairport Principal Tom Fazekas said the school district is going through the final stages of naming a new athletic director and will have one in place in the near future.

Either way, he said replacing Mohner is a tough task.

“It’s one of those things where we may never ‘replace’ him,” Fazekas said.

“We’ll just find someone to do the job. So much of being an AD is building relationships with coaches and other schools. That just doesn’t happen overnight.”

After five years starting in 1981 as an assistant coach under then-Fairport baseball coach Larry Sudbrook, Mohner took over the Fairport baseball team in 1986 and led the team for 15 years.

He then moved over to his alma mater, Harvey High School in Painesville, as an athletic director and principal for 10 years.

He took a one-year break after retiring in 2011, but had been back at Fairport for the past five years coaching baseball with Mike Ondo and as AD for the past two years.

“It’s hard (to step down),” Mohner said. “I’ve been blessed over this period of time.”

We wish Mohner the best as he embarks on the next chapter of his life.

BOUQUETS » To Bill Beard, former hockey coach at University School in Hunting Valley, on his upcoming induction into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame.

The former longtime US bench boss is part of a sevenmember Class of 2017, which also includes Brian Brakeman (wrestling), Dan Coughlin (media), Gordon Gund (basketball), Oliver Luck (football), Rick Manning (baseball) and Tom Slater (golf). They’ll be inducted in a ceremony Sept. 14 at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights.

Beard, a Cleveland Heights native and multi-sport standout for the Tigers who played baseball at Princeton, won 344 games over 16 seasons leading US’ vaunted hockey program, including state titles in 2003 and 2009.

“I got a phone call from (Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame President John Herrick), and I had no idea why he was calling me to be honest with you,” Beard said. “We talked hockey for a while, and then he broke the news to me.

“Believe it or not, I couldn’t even speak. I was silent, and I finally asked him, I said, ‘Are you sure you got the right guy?’ He assured me he did. When that news came, I was humbled to say the least.”

While his humility is an admirable trait, we believe Beard’s induction into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame is well deserved.

BRICKBATS » To Alec J. Steinberger of Highland Heights, after he pleaded guilty Aug. 1 to selling furanyl fentanyl that resulted in the fatal overdose of a Cleveland teen.

Steinberger, 22, is scheduled to be sentenced in U.S. District Court in Cleveland Oct. 31 by Judge Solomon Oliver Jr.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, Steinberger faces a likely sentence of 12 years in prison, Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja said in a news release.

Steinberger pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance that resulted in death, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, attempted possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug offense.

Since Steinberger has admitted to playing a role in exacerbating the opioid epidemic, we feel that a lengthy prison term would be a fitting punishment.

BRICKBATS » To Bridgett White, after she was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for aggravated murder in the death of a badly abused 4-year-old girl.

The Blade reported that White, 25, was sentenced July 27 in a Lucas County court. The Toledo woman entered Alford pleas last month in the Nov. 22 death of Aaliyah Smith. That means she didn’t admit to the charges but acknowledged there was evidence to convict her. She also was found guilty of child endangering.

A coroner says the child’s death was caused by chronic abuse and neglect. Prosecutors say she was covered in injuries and had been burned and struck.

In our opinion, the life prison term without parole handed down by the judge was an appropriate sentence for this heinous crime.