ELYRIA - Zach Poling never really had a choice.
Not if he wanted to stay a Poling in good standing, that is. Around the Poling household, you see, achieving isn`t just celebrated, it`s expected.
“It definitely comes from my parents,” Poling, an Elyria Catholic senior, said of the work ethic that inspired his rather impressive high school resume. “They ( mom Mary and dad Ed) taught me at a young age to work hard to achieve your goals.”
Having three older siblings played a part, too.
“They kind of set the path for me,” Poling said of his two older sisters and older brother, all of whom preceded him at EC. “They all did great in high school, and after that, too. I felt I had to live up to that tradition.”
Consider it done — and then some.
On Friday, Poling was named the 50th winner of the Lou Rotunda Award at Elyria Catholic`s senior awards ceremony. The award, the longest-running of its kind in Lorain County, goes to the top senior male student-athlete at EC.
“It`s a great honor for me,” said Poling, who lives in Elyria. “Just knowing what Mr. Rotunda has meant to this school and what this award encompasses. I`m not sure I even grasp it.
“I was pretty shocked. It`s a prestigious award. I`m very honored that people thought I was deserving of this.”
The Lou Rotunda Award is about sports and academics and, somehow, so much more, including extra-curricular activities as well as church and community involvement.
In all of those categories, Poling more than makes the grade.
“He`s well-deserving,” said Rotunda, 83, who made it to this year`s ceremony after missing last year`s due to health problems. “He`s a tremendous young man and he really works hard. He`ll do the award proud.”
A four-year member of the Panthers football team, Poling played outside linebacker and served as captain his senior year. His play was good enough to earn All-Lorain County honorable mention status, as well as the team`s Coaches Award.
“Zach is a dedicated and talented young man,” said Ben Malbasa, EC`s football coach. “His dedication to his teammates and his commitment to team success inspires the best efforts of his peers. Moreover, Zach`s poise and tenacity make him an outstanding competitor.”
Poling also was a varsity swimmer for two years and was named All-North Coast League this season.
Academically, he is an honor roll student with a 3.735 grade-point average, a National Honor Society member and an Elyria Rotary Club Outstanding Student winner.
If that`s not enough, he was also a student ambassador, a peer minister, involved in Christmas on Campus, a Children`s Development Center Camp Progress volunteer and is a eucharistic minister at St. Mary Church.
“Zach is an amazingly hard worker,” said EC swim coach Jack Dibee. “He`s able to set goals and do what it takes to try and achieve them. He also encourages his teammates to do their best and is a great leader by example.”
Poling admits it wasn`t always easy. It took a lot of time, work and dedication to accomplish the things he has.
“You hope all the late nights studying will pay off some day,” he said.
Of course, he knows they already have started paying off for him. He`s been accepted to Ohio State and plans to study medical research, though he`s not sure exactly where he wants that to take him. Could be cancer research. Could be med school.
For the first time in a while, he`s got some time to think about that.
For now, he plans to have a relaxing summer, for him anyway. He`ll continue to work at Subway, but beyond that he`d just like to add some more memories to what has been a productive four years.
“Everybody tells you to appreciate it while you`re in the moment, but that`s almost an impossible thing to do,” Poling said. “You don`t realize all the great memories you`re making. To look back and see them — wow, it`s been a great ride.”
Contact Kevin Aprile at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

Award at 50 … and still going strong

When Lou Rotunda decided to honor Jon J. Mitro, the lone senior to stick it out on an Elyria Catholic basketball team that lost 19 games in 1960, he never expected the award would still be around in 2009.
“Wow,” said Rotunda, now 83, after the 50th Lou Rotunda Award was presented Friday. “I can`t believe it. The man who won it the first year is 68 years old now.”
Rotunda, a former assistant athletic director and longtime freshman basketball coach at EC, is a member of the Elyria Sports Hall of Fame, the Elyria High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, the Elyria Catholic Hall of Fame and the Lorain County Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.

Lou Rotunda winners

1960 - Jon J. Mitro
1961 - Thomas E. Mahl
1962 - Gary J. Basinski
1963 - Robert F. Monchein
1964 - Dennis A. Crozier
1965 - James S. Polen
1966 - Robert J. Fitzpatrick
1967 - William V. Toth
1968 - Timothy J. Wagner
1969 - Patrick J. Mulholland
1970 - Mark A. Straka
1971 - Douglas W. Gerber
1972 - David C. Weitzel
1973 - Paul J. Zemanek
1974 - Bruce D. Yeager
1975 - William C. Stetson
1976 - David J. Diederich
1977 - Eric J. Essenmacher
1978 - Thomas J. Smelko
1979 - Scott L. Miller
1980 - John J. Walker
1981 - James S. Bainbridge
1982 - Chris D. Sito
1983 - Daniel Basinski
1984 - Brian Wolbers
1985 - Alan D. McKinney
1986 - Mark A. Kirsch
1987 - Jeffrey C. Hoagland
1988 - Cory Hodge
1989 - Benjamin P. Basinski, Gary L. Hoagland
1990 - Adam Reichard
1991 - Michael Gandolfo
1992 - David McCoy
1993 - Joseph V. Desimone
1994 - Terrel Dixon, Joel Stuart
1995 - Roopen R. Patel
1996 - Kevin Fritz
1997 - Joseph Conroy
1998 - Mike Jonesco
1999 - Gerald L. Conroy Jr.
2000 - Kenneth Brown
2001 - James Patton IV
2002 - Ross Rybarczyk
2003 - Michael Clapham
2004  - Corey Shepard
2005  - John Grega
2006 - Jock Taylor
2007 - Andrew Kirsch
2008 - Joe Fitch
2009 - Zach Poling

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