The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
New Broadmoor coach excited for game
For the first 10 years of the Bobcats vs. area coaches charity basketball game, Ann Vespa was the coach at Broadmoor.
The 11th edition of the game will be different. Vespa is enjoying her retirement. Her replacement is Sara Jones, 37, who with her husband moved from San Diego to Mentor five years ago. She’s been at Broadmoor for the last two years.
“What a huge legacy Ann has left at Broadmoor,” said Jones, who recently gave birth to the couple’s first child, 7-month-old Catherine. “It’s an honor to carry on what she started.”
One thing Jones intends to continue to build on is her passion for the students at Broadmoor and her role as coach. Broadmoor is a school that assists those diagnosed with disabilities and/or developmental delays.
Vespa created the Bobcats basketball team more than 20 years ago, and invited area high school and college teams to enjoy a day at Broadmoor with the team.
With the urging of Charlie Malta of WELWAM 1330, the coaches’ game — held annually at Mentor High School — was created in 2008.
The 2019 game is set for March 18 at Mentor. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., and Jones, while a bit nervous, is excited. This school season has been a bit of a whirlwind, as she didn’t return from her maternity leave until November.
Since then, it’s been a game of catch-up, but the rewards along the way to March 18 have been what she imagined and then some.
“The support from the community for the Bobcats has been just wonderful,” said Jones. “It’s been great to see the team improve. Watching them make a basketball, their smile, it’s touching and so rewarding.”
The Bobcats have enjoyed plenty of visits from area teams this season. It began with the Lake Erie men’s basketball team. Other schools hosted by the Bobcats include Eastlake North, Madison, Mentor, Fairport, Kirtland, Chardon and others.
Broadmoor also played games on the road at VASJ and Lake Catholic.
The game itself is more of a celebration of the Bobcats season. It annually includes the likes of coaches Bob Krizancic of Mentor, VASJ’s Babe Kwasniak and others.
“Ann was so great introducing me to all the coaches,” said Jones. “I didn’t know any of them, so it’s been a lot of work, a lot of networking. It was a little tough, but the coaches have been more than willing to support the Bobcats, and it’s been wonderful getting to know everyone.”
Expected to play alongside the Bobcats are Riverside standout Andrew Keller, who scored 49 points in a game this season for the Beavers, and LEC basketball player Jackson Burdyshaw of Perry.
Also expected at the event are the Eastlake North jazz band, the Mentor High sparkle cheerleaders, Captains mascot Skipper, plus players from the Mentor Ice Breakers.
There will also be T-shirt and bake sales, a 50/50 raffle and concessions. Malta and John O’Donnell will broadcast the game live via WELW-AM 1330 and wintradio.com.
Admission to the game is free but donations are accepted at the door.