Mario Contardi, Gabby Steele ‘09, Steve Contardi, Katie Contardi, Chuck Merzbacher
Ali Steel & Dr. White
MJ Feldhaus, Joy Albi, Gabby Steele
singles tournament her freshman and senior years and led her team to finish as the Division II Ohio state runner-up as a sophomore. Named the team’s Most Valuable Player for four consecutive years, Gabby garnered accolades as the Player of the Year in the Miami Valley Conference her junior year; fourtime Ohio High School Athletic Association state tournament participant; recognized by the Ohio State Senate with resolution No. 145 for state title; twice named Female Tennis Player of the Year by her local Women’s Sports Association, and first team all-state for three years.
time, but the Summit lifer still aces her communication major studies and was named an OSU scholar athlete. The seeds of tennis were sown early when she picked up her first racket at age five “for fun” with her family and began competing seven years later. She was never at a loss for a formidable challenger when older sister Allie was around – big sis had a winning Summit career, was also on the 2006 Summit state finalist team, and is participating in her senior tennis season at Rollins College. Gabby has maintained her personal coach Dan Kronague since she was seven and values home town connections. “Keeping in touch with my high school friends reminds me that there are other things in life besides tennis,” she said. “It helps me keep a healthy balance.”
As a freshman last year at Ohio State, she led the team in singles and double victories and was preparing to better her record as the seasoned kicked into high gear in February. Intensive physical training and practice dominate most of her
LEONARD MARQUEZ ’89 on leadership “I thank my father every day for sending me to The Summit. At 5’8” and 190 lbs., I was a starter on the baseball and wrestling teams and played football for four years (two of them under Coach Ackley). I learned that hard work and resilience pay off. Although the football team was not doing well my senior year, we were persistent with weight-training and running. We believed that good things were going to happen. I will remember my last home game for the rest of my life. We won on the final drive of the game which was 80 yards down the field. I had so many opportunities to excel and be a leader at The Summit, but that experience really opened my eyes to what I could do if I worked hard and trusted my teammates.”
Pictured (clockwise L to R at daughter Caroline’s First Communion) Len holding daughter Abby, Jennifer, Ellie and Caroline
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Len currently serves as the Director of Government Relations with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in Washngton, D.C. providing advocacy and education about hospitals and medical schools to the nation’s leaders. He attributes his tenacity and ability to work with a team to his four years in varsity sports at The Summit.