Robert and Anita Anger, Brian Claflin, Kim Tuchek, A.J. Hyland and Lou and Joan Perry were inducted into the Diocese of Cleveland CYO Hall of Fame during a luncheon ceremony on Sept. 21.
CYO, which is an important pillar of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, inspires service and compassion among families and children in Northeast Ohio. The Hall of Fame honors the inductees’ combined decades of contributions to the local CYO youth sports program.
For the past 20 years, CYO has recognized individuals for their contributions at the Hall of Fame enshrinement program. Inductees into the CYO Hall of Fame Class of 2025 have contributed to the CYO legacy that represents the best of the CYO mission: inspiring young people to know God, love God and serve God through athletics.
The Angers have been coaches since 1985. They served as CYO leaders and coaches at several parishes, including St. Mary of the Assumption in Collinwood, SS. Robert and William in Euclid and St. Jerome in Cleveland. The couple coached volleyball and softball. Robert Anger also coached youth wrestling and baseball.
Claflin, a certified official in Ohio, Texas, North Carolina and Iowa, has officiated sports since the 1970s. He spent 25 year as a CYO soccer, cross country and track and field official. His wide recognition in that role helped bring more officials into CYO.
Tuchek began volunteering with CYO shortly after converting to Catholicism and joining St. Francis Xavier Parish in Medina. For 33 years, she served as athletic director, using her organizational skills and compassion to foster an environment where everyone is welcome and participates. She has been recognized by CYO in the past for creating a sense of community and welcome.
Hyland grew up playing in CYO and has been an assistant and a head coach in CYO basketball, cross country and track and field. He coached and led CYO programs at St. Christopher Parish in Rocky River, St. Angela Merici Parish in Fairview Park, and Assumption Parish in Broadview Heights. The former president of Hyland software, he was also a member and officer of CYO Boosters. In addition, his five children were all active participants in CYO programs.
The Perrys head a CYO family that spans generations. Lou Perry grew up playing CYO football in the 1950s at St. Mary Parish in Akron. He and Joan, who married in 1965, have four children, all of whom played CYO sports at Sacred Heart Parish in Wadsworth. One of their daughters, Tracey, served on the Akron CYO board in addition to coaching CYO volleyball. The Perrys’ eight grandchildren participated in CYO basketball, volleyball, football, cheerleading and track and field at Sacred Heart. Their grandson Anthony is now a CYO basketball official.
With almost 90 years of athletics programs across the Diocese of Cleveland, CYO Athletics has been recognized as one of the top youth sports programs in the U.S. In the 2024-2025 season, nearly 2,400 teams and 25,000 individuals participated in CYO activities as players, coaches or officials.
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