What's Happening in Cougar Country

For more than five decades, generations of student-athletes, coaches, and leaders have helped build the tradition that defines Lake Catholic athletics.

On Saturday evening, seven more remarkable pieces of that history took their permanent place among the very best.

Lake Catholic welcomed five individuals and two teams into its Athletic Hall of Fame during the third annual induction ceremony, celebrating achievements that span decades, sports and generations of Cougar athletics.

The Class of 2026 includes Therese Maher Campolieti ('74), Eric Kettani ('05), Richard Sanders ('11), Mike Sullivan ('85), and Bonnie Zappitelli-Squire ('12), along with the 1991 and 1992 Division III State Championship Football Teams.

"Every championship, every trophy, and every banner has a story that began long before today," Lake Catholic President John Morabeto told those gathered for the ceremony. "Tonight, we celebrate the people and teams who helped write those first chapters and laid the foundation for the success Lake Catholic continues to enjoy."

Those stories took many different paths.

Richard Sanders ('11)

One of the most productive football players in Lake Catholic history, Sanders put together a record-breaking senior season in 2010, rushing for more than 2,100 yards and 30 touchdowns. He finished his Cougar career with multiple school records, including more than 3,300 rushing yards, 55 total touchdowns and 330 points scored.

But his athletic accomplishments extended beyond those Fall nights.

Sanders was also a standout sprinter, winning a district championship in the 100 meters, qualifying for regionals and running on a record-setting 4x200 relay team that placed fifth at the state meet.

His induction also made the evening a family affair. Sanders joined his twin sister, Je'Rica, who entered the Lake Catholic Athletic Hall of Fame in 2025.

Bonnie Zappitelli-Squire ('12)

Zappitelli-Squire established herself as one of the premier pitchers in Northeast Ohio and one of the most accomplished softball players in Lake Catholic history.

Her standout senior season earned her News-Herald Player of the Year honors and All-State recognition, but perhaps her most memorable performance came with a championship on the line.

Zappitelli-Squire threw a no-hitter in the district championship game, leading the Cougars to the title and helping elevate the Lake Catholic softball program to new heights.

Mike Sullivan ('85)

Few athletes have excelled in two sports at Lake Catholic quite like Sullivan.

A defensive leader on the football field, Sullivan helped lead the Cougars to the program's first two state Final Four appearances in 1982 and 1983. His play earned him All-Ohio recognition and back-to-back Cleveland Defensive Player of the Year honors.

At the same time, Sullivan was establishing himself as one of Ohio's best wrestlers. His senior season ended at the top of the podium when he captured the 1985 Class AAA Heavyweight State Championship.

His induction also reunited another Hall of Fame family, as Mike joined his brother Mark, who was inducted in 2024.

Eric Kettani ('05)

For Kettani, a football career that began at Lake Catholic eventually took him to some of the sport's biggest stages — and on a journey defined by much more than football.

One of the most dominant running backs in Cougar history, Kettani continued his career at the United States Naval Academy. Among the defining moments of his collegiate career was scoring the game-winning touchdown in overtime against Notre Dame.

His journey later took him to the NFL, where he played for the New England Patriots, while his service to his country became an equally important part of his story.

A champion, competitor, and leader, Kettani's path from Lake Catholic to Navy and professional football remains an example of where dedication and perseverance can lead.

Therese Maher Campolieti ('74)

Not every Hall of Fame legacy can be measured in points, victories or championships.

For Campolieti, it can be measured in opportunities.

Beginning in the early 1990s, Campolieti served as Lake Catholic's Assistant Athletic Director and played an instrumental role in expanding opportunities for female student-athletes.

During her tenure, Lake Catholic added girls golf, soccer and lacrosse, while the softball program transitioned from slow-pitch to fastpitch.

The opportunities available to generations of young women at Lake Catholic today are part of the legacy she helped create.

Her Hall of Fame induction brought that journey full circle. Campolieti helped create opportunities that did not exist when she herself was a Lake Catholic student before graduating in 1974.

Remembering Coach John Gibbons

Before turning to the final two inductees of the evening, Lake Catholic honored the man whose influence connected them both.

Legendary Head Football Coach John Gibbons passed away earlier this year, leaving behind a legacy that reaches far beyond championships.

Already a member of the Lake Catholic Athletic Hall of Fame, Gibbons built one of Ohio's premier football programs through what Morabeto described during the ceremony as his "passion, preparation, leadership and unwavering belief in his players."

More importantly, he influenced generations of young men who proudly called him "Coach."

Members of the Gibbons family were recognized during an emotional tribute before the focus turned to two teams that forever changed Lake Catholic football.

"Though Coach Gibbons is no longer with us, his legacy lives on — in these teams, in this program, and in every Cougar who has worn the green and gray," Morabeto said.

1991 and 1992 State Championship Football Teams

The early 1990s marked the rise of a powerhouse.

In 1991, Lake Catholic broke through and captured the first football state championship in school history.

Despite facing adversity during the season, including the loss of its starting quarterback, the team powered through the postseason and capped its historic run with a decisive 45-20 victory in the Division III State Championship Game.

One year later, the Cougars did it again — this time without a loss.

The 1992 team finished a perfect 14-0, scoring more than 400 points while allowing just 51. A commanding 31-7 victory in the state championship game completed the undefeated season and secured Lake Catholic's second consecutive state title.

Together, the teams did more than win championships. They established a standard built on toughness, preparation and brotherhood that continues to influence Lake Catholic football more than three decades later.

Current Lake Catholic Head Football Coach Marty Gibbons ('11) accepted the Hall of Fame awards on behalf of his father as members of both championship teams gathered together once again.

A Permanent Home for a Lasting Legacy

The newest Hall of Famers now join generations of Lake Catholic greats whose accomplishments have helped shape the school.

And beginning this year, that history has a new home.

Lake Catholic recently completed its new Honor Wall, located outside the gymnasium across from the school's atrium. The display recognizes the school's most recent Athletic Hall of Fame and Hall of Excellence members and is designed to grow as new classes are honored in the years ahead.

"More than a display of names and plaques, it tells the story of Lake Catholic's most recent Athletic Hall of Famers and Hall of Excellence members, and the people who have shaped our school through excellence, leadership and service," Morabeto said.

For current students, alumni, prospective families and everyone who visits Lake Catholic, the Honor Wall offers a visible reminder of what generations of Cougars have accomplished — and what future generations can aspire to achieve.

As Saturday's ceremony came to a close, current Lake Catholic student-athletes joined the newest Hall of Famers, providing a fitting connection between those who built the school's athletic tradition and those now carrying it forward.

As Morabeto said: "Tonight has reminded us what makes Lake Catholic so special — not just the championships or the trophies, but the people who make them possible,"