The Class of 2023 Hall of Fame includes Athletic, Distinguished & Honorary Inductees
The Westlake Alumni Association has announced 9 new members to the Westlake Alumni Hall of Fame.
John Kurokawa and Dr. Mark Deierhoi (posthumously) will be inducted as Distinguished Alumni.
Kalpana Beach, Paul Hanna, Nick Lawrence, Kevin Quigley, Scott Reynolds and the 1983 Football Team comprise the Athletic Category.
Coach Gary Simpson, long time Track and Cross Country Coach is being inducted in the Honorary Category.
This year’s Class will be inducted on Thursday, October 5 as part of the Westlake Homecoming Weekend.
- Gary Simpson
- John Kurokawa
- Kalpana Beach
- Kevin Quigley
- Dr. Mark Deierhoi
- Nick Lawrence
- Paul Hanna
- Scott Reynolds
– John Kurokawa graduated in 1990. John is being recognized for his outstanding achievement in Music. While a student at Westlake High School, Kurokawa was a member of the Symphonic Band, Jazz Band and Pep Band. He earned superior ratings at all of his performances at the State level. John currently is a Lecturer of Clarinet at Wright State University and is the principal clarinetist of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.
– The 2nd Distinguished Alumni Inductee is Dr. Mark Deierhoi. Mark is a 1970 Graduate. Mark was class valedictorian in 1970. Mark attended Northwestern University as an undergraduate for medical school and his residency. Mark joined the faculty of the Department of Surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1986 where he would work for the next 34 years. Dr Deierhoi performed almost 2,500 kidney transplants and impacted countless lives. Dr. Deierhoi unfortunately passed away in 2020. He is truly missed.
– In the Athletic category, Kalpana Beach, 2011 graduate, was an outstanding athlete in 4 sports, earning 11 varsity letters. She is the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in Westlake Girls Basketball. She was Southwest Conference MVP her junior and senior years. In 2011 Kalpana was the Division I Co-Player of the Year. Kalpana played basketball collegiately at Ohio State.
– Paul Hanna, class of 1978, was a 3-sport athlete in football, wrestling and track. In football, Paul was selected for the Plain Dealer All Scholastic team and earned All State recognition. In wrestling, Paul was conference champ in 1978. Paul lettered 4 years in football at Purdue University and later played in professional football in the USFL.
– Nick Lawrence graduated in 2010. He excelled in wrestling winning 3 SWC championships. Nick is the only wrestler in school history to place three times at the State Wrestling Meet. Finishing 5th in 2008 and state runner-up in 2007 and 2009. Nick attended Purdue University where he wrestled for 4 years. He earned all-Big 10 honors and also was a D1 NCAA Championship Qualifier.
– Kevin Quigley, 1972 graduate, is Westlake’s first 3-time SWC Conference Champ in wrestling. Kevin placed twice at the Ohio High School State Wrestling Championship including a state runner-up in 1971. Kevin also was an outstanding football player. Kevin later wrestled for Oklahoma University and then Ohio State University
– Scott Reynolds is Class of 1971. Outstanding student-athlete in football, basketball and track. For the football season in Fall, 1970, Scott was named Most Valuable Player of the SWC. Scott was All-Ohio in football. He was then elected to the All-American High School football team. The only football player at Westlake to ever receive that distinction. Scott played football at Northwestern University.
– The 1983 Football team is being recognized for their perfect 10-0 regular season. Only the 2nd undefeated football season in school history. This team was Southwest Conference Champions. They became the first Westlake Football team and the first Southwest Conference team to qualify for the State Football Playoffs, losing to the eventual state champ, Brecksville Bees. They outscored their opponents in the 10 regular season games, 237 points to 36 points including 5 shutouts.
– Gary Simpson was selected in the Honorary category. Honorary inductees are teachers, coaches, administrators who have dedicated their lives to the betterment of Westlake Schools. Mr. Simpson began teaching and coaching at Westlake in 1972 and retired in 2007. Gary was an outstanding history and government teacher. He also distinguished himself for thirty years as the head Cross Country Coach. The team won 6 SWC titles. In 1986 the boy’s cross country team finished 3 rd in the state. Coach Simpson was also head Track Coach for 17 years. The boys won 3 SWC titles and the girls won 2 titles.
The Alumni Association is looking forward to a wonderful night celebrating all of the inductees. Ceremony will be held at The LaCentre Banquet Facility in Westlake on Thursday October 5th. Cost is $50 per person. The event is open to the public. Tickets can be purchased at www.wlake.org/about-us/alumni. For more details please contact Megan Moutoux (moutoux@wlake.org), Westlake Alumni Coordinator.