Cole Bowersock - Graduated 2001

Cole enjoyed an outstanding wrestling career at Beaver Local High School.  Cole won an impressive 146 matches on the mat during his career.  He won over 30 individual matches each season with an amazing 42 wins his junior year.

Cole’s honors include being a three time OVAC champion.  He was also named first team EOWL three years in a row.  He was a three time sectional champion, a two-time District champ, a three-time State qualifier, and a two-time State placer.  At 119 lbs, Cole finished ranked 3^rd in the State of Ohio in 2000.  He also finished 3^rd in the State at 125 lbs in 2001.

In 2001, Cole earned the distinguished title of the OVAC Most Outstanding Tournament Wrestler.  In 2000 and 2001, he was named All-Area Wrestler of the Year.  In 2001, Cole was named the Eastern District’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.  Cole’s outstanding wrestling career earned him a 3^rd place in the World Championship at the age of 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Cole returned to wrestling after graduating, coaching at East Liverpool High School for 2 years and at Beaver Local High School for 4 years.

Cole is the son of Bill and Debbie Bowersock.  Along with his two brothers (Chad & Casey) and his sister (Cylee), he credits them with their continued support.  Cole resides in East Liverpool and is employed by the Buckeye Online School for Success as a computer technician.

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Bruce Diddle - Graduated 1970

Bruce was an outstanding athlete at Beaver Local High School.  During his four years, he participated in basketball, baseball, track, wrestling, and football.  He lettered three years on the gridiron and also received letters in track and wrestling.

Bruce was awarded the 1970 Most Valuable Player Award, Best Offensive Back Award, and Best Defensive Back Award.  He was named to the 1970 All-County Team as well as the Buckeye Border Conference Squad as a running back.  A very versatile player, Bruce began his senior year as quarterback, and then moved to halfback at midseason.

After graduation in 1970, he accepted a football scholarship to Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio.  Bruce moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he married his wife, Aretta.  They have two children, Brock and Kristina.  An avid golfer, Bruce and Aretta owned and operated the Big Walnut Country Club in Sunbury, Ohio until his untimely death in 2003.  He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Diddle of East Liverpool.

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Mark Hoppel - Graduated 1980

Mark was born in East Liverpool, Ohio.  He is the son of Dave and Bonnie Hoppel of Calcutta.  Mark has two brothers (Randy & John) and one sister (Michelle).

Mark graduated from BLHS in 1980 and has worked in construction with Local 809 for 30 years.  He married Diane Sogan and has one step-son, Paul Voltz.  He and Diane have two daughters, Sabina and Zemfira.

Mark was a three-time Sectional Champion in the 1^st, 3^rd, and 4^th Districts, and a three-time State Qualifier finishing 3^rd in the State his junior year.  Mark won the Everett Hoppel Memorial Tournament twice and was the Most Valuable Wrestler in his senior year.

After high school, Mark attended Muskingum College and won Division III Nationals in wrestling.  Mark and Diane reside in Mingo Junction, Ohio.

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John Stephens - Graduated 1995

The son of John and Cassy Stephens, John was born in East Liverpool. He was active in sports all throughout his childhood. As a young boy, he played football for the Calcutta Bulldogs and was a member of several little league teams at the Old-timers Baseball Complex. In middle school, Beaver Local reinstated the track program John's 8^th grade year. He previously had the middle school county meet record in the discus. In fact, he still holds track records at the middle school. He concentrated mostly on basketball and track.

While at Beaver Local High School, John's athletic ability began to really shine through, as you can see by the enclosed list of achievements. He was a four-year letter winner in track and three-year letter winner in basketball. John he was a state finalist his junior year (1994) placing seventh, being the first male Beaver Local Athlete to compete at the state meet since Bob Bentz did in 1972. He previously held the Beaver Local High School discus record, which he set his junior year (1994), a record that was previously set in 1970. He was unbeaten in the discus for two years in the East Palestine Track League and was the discus champion for those two years in that league (1993 &, 1994), and unbeaten one year in the Indian Track League and was the discus champion for that year in that league (1995). He won three River Valley League Championships, two in the shot put (1993 & 1994), and one in the discus (1995). John was a County Champion, OVAC Champion, and Division II District Champion all in the discus (1995). He was a two-time Brooke High School Invitational champion, one in the shot put (1994), and one in the discus (1994) and still holds the Brooke High School Invitational Meet record in the discus, and previously held the East Liverpool Stadium record in the discus (1994). John placed 3rd in the discus at the Bellaire Relays Meet, which at that time was one of the biggest in the country (1994). He was also named the Columbiana County Track Meet High Points in the Field events his senior year (1995), and was also named two years to the Evening Review All-Area Track Team (1994 & 1995). He was also a member of Beaver Local's two time River Valley League Championship teams (1993 & 1994).

As for his basketball accomplishments he previously was Beaver Local High Schools all-time leading rebounder and at one point was 2-all time in scoring (1993-1995). He led the team in scoring for two years (1993 & 1994) and three years in rebounding (1993-1995). He was the first player from Beaver Local to be named to the Division IT Eastern District All-Star. He was 2nd team Division II Eastern District (1994). He was also selected for the OVAC All-Star team, and the River Valley League All-Star Team, and 2nd team All-County (1995).

After graduating from high school in 1995, he continued his academic and athletic career at Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio. He graduated from Mount Union in 2000. While there he earned his bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Health Education. He was a member of the Mount Union track team. He was a four-year letter winner for the Purple Raiders. While there he specialized in the javelin, and won many meet championships, along with setting the school record in the javelin for the heavier weighted javelin which was adopted in the mid 1980's by the NCAA.  Following his college years at Mount Union, Stephens was an assistant at his high school alma mater in 2001. In 2002-2003 he became the head boys track coach at Beaver Local. In 2004­2005 Stephens became an assistant coach at East Palestine High School, and became the EPHS Girls Head Track Coach in 2006 to the present day, while teaching in the East Palestine School District.  He currently resides in Calcutta, Ohio.

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Patrick Woods - Graduated 2004

Pat, a 2004 graduate, was born and raised in East Liverpool, the son of Cynthia Woods and the late Bob Woods.  He began his athletic career playing basketball in the YMCA Church League for the Glenmoor Presbyterian Church and baseball at the Oldtimers' Complex, where he was coached by his dad.  While a BLMS student Pat played basketball and began his promising track career.

At BLHS he earned 11 varsity letters for track, basketball and baseball.  At times he would run from the track to the baseball field, until his coaches said he needed to make a choice.  He chose track!  A few of his many basketball honors include being named to All-Area Teams, the OVAC All-Star Team and the Associated Press Div. IT All-Ohio Boys Team.  Highlights include bringing home the first OVAC Championship Banner in 2004 and tying the school record for most season wins with 17.  He was named All Time Leading Rebounder with 555 rebounds, served as team co-captain and was named MVP his senior year.  Special memories include his dunk during tournament play against Carrollton and placing first in the OVAC Dunk Contest at Ohio University, Belmont County following the Ohio vs. W.Va All-Star game.

Pat excelled as a high jumper and hurdler during his four-year track career.  Honors include being named to the OHSAA Div. IT Regional Championship Team, All Ohio Track/Field Athlete, the Wheeling News Register All-Valley T/F Team Captain, and the Columbiana County Top Senior Male Performer.  In 2003, he helped the team to their first ever Regional Championship. He also set many records during this time: OVAC Shuttle Hurdles, 1st place, meet record - 58.9 sec., East Palestine Bulldog Invitational High Jump, 1st place, meet record- 6'8", Columbiana County Meet High Jump, 1st place, meet record- 6'7 1/2", OVAC Class AAAA High Jump, 1st place, new OVAC, Stadium and BLHS records - 6'11".  He also holds the 110 High Hurdle record- 15.1 sec.  Pat made three trips to the OHSAA Div. IT meets in Dayton and Columbus. As a sophomore he placed 10th at 6' 2", as a junior he placed 2nd at 6' 7", and as a senior he won 1st place with a jump of 6' 10".  He became only the second track athlete in BLHS history to bring home a first place medal from state.

He was recruited by many Div. I colleges and accepted a track scholarship to The Ohio State University. He competed both indoor and outdoor in the high jump, the 110 hurdles, the heptathlon and the decathlon and had multiple top 8 finishes at Big Ten Championships. He served as team co-captain during years 4 and 5. The highlight of his college career came during his final season when he placed first in the Big Ten Decathlon Championship.  This was only his third attempt at the decathlon and he scored a personal best, 7,405 points, the second best score in the history of Ohio State Men's Track, one for the record books.

Pat graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Ecology with a specialty in Family Financial Planning. He resides in Columbus, where he is an assistant track coach at OSU and continues to train for competition. He recently placed fourth at the USA T/F Indoor Meet in Bloomington, Indiana and has his eye on the Olympic Trials in 2012.

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