Marlington inducts 7 into athletics hall of fame

Marlington High School has inducted its Class of 2024 into its Hall of Athletic Excellence. The class, which was honored Oct. 4 during a program at the Dukes’ football stadium before a football game, included seven graduates.

ROBERT POTO – A 1965 graduate, Poto was a member of the first freshman class at Marlington High School in the fall of 1961. During his high school career, he played baseball and was manager for the football team. Following his graduation, he studied accounting at Mount Union College and served his in the U.S. Army. He and his wife, Connie, raised their daughter Tami in the Marlington district, where Poto coached youth softball, freshman girls basketball, and the eighth-grade and JV volleyball teams. He led the Jobs for Ohio Graduates program for four years and taught at the high school for 15 years, retiring in 2009. He was an OHSAA softball umpire for 48 years and was often called state tournament games. He also served 16 years as Marlington ticket sales manager.

SCOTT ROBERTSON – A 1980 graduate, Robertson was All-Federal League as an offensive guard in 1980 while playing football under Coach Bill Coldsnow. Scott has been an active member of the Marlington athletic and alumni communities for many years. He served as the Athletic Booster Club president for six years, spearheading fundraising for the stadium bleachers, including soliciting advertising money for the project, and was instrumental in leading efforts for a new gym floor project at the middle school. He established the Scott and Cheryl Robertson Scholarship in 2010 through the Marlington Alumni Association, which recognized students who have excelled in both academics and athletics. Scott and wife Mary Kay have three children and nine grandchildren.

SGT. JOSH WHITE – The 2022 Marlington graduate was a standout athlete who excelled in football, basketball, and track, earning 11 varsity letters. He was named second team All-Ohio, first team All-Stark County, and first team All-Northeastern Buckeye Conference, while also breaking the school rushing record. He also played basketball for the Dukes. He was MVP of Marlington football's second playoff team in history and went on to play at Alleghany College.

SHAWN KIRK – The2014 graduate won four letters in football and three for basketball and baseball. During his football career at Marlington, he received honorable mention All-Northeastern Buckeye Conference in 2012, first team All-NBC and first team All-Northeast Inland District in 2013 and 2014, first team All-Stark County in 2014, and was voted the Northeastern Buckeye Conference Football Player of the year in 2014. He played football for three years at the University of Akron. Kirk finished his college degree at NCCER school of trades. Kirk and his wife, Jordan, have a daughter named Sloan.

BROCK BEGUE – The2017 graduate was a four-year letter winner in baseball. In 2016, he was named the Northeastern Buckeye Conference Baseball Player of the Year with his 10-0 pitching record. He holds the school record for victories in a season. Begue also had impressive sophomore and junior basketball seasons, earning him team MVP honors, first team All-NBC, first team All-District IV and honorable mention All-AP Northeast Inland District. In his senior year, he became the 17th all-time leading scorer with 765 points. Begue was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019.

ZACH DEZENZO – The2018 graduate was a four-year letter winner in baseball. He was named the 2018 Eastern Buckeye Conference Player of the Year and had a.397 career batting average. He set a school record with a .522 average in his senior year. Dezenzo played baseball at Ohio State, where he earned four varsity letters and tied the single-season home run record with 19. He ranks third on the all-time career list at 38 and received multiple Big Ten Player of the Week honors. Dezenzo is a top prospect in the Houston Astros organization.

BLANE HIMMELHEBER – The 2019graduate became the first athlete to be named Eastern Buckeye Conference Player of the Year in both football and basketball. On the basketball team, he was recognized as first team All-EBC, All-Stark County, All-District IV, and All-NE InlandDistrict, with a special mention All-Ohio. Additionally, he was honored as District IV Player of the Year. He earning first-team honors All-EBC, All-Stark County, All-NE Inland District, and first team All-Ohio. He continued his academic and athletic careers at University of Mount Union, and married his school sweetheart, Sydney, on Sept. 7.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Marlington inducts 7 into athletics hall of fame