Blue Devil Mania Brings Well Known Wrestlers To SHS
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
The men in tights, capes, makeup and wigs will reach hero status when they take the ring to raise money for Crissey Elementary School.
Blue Devil Mania, a family-friendly event featuring retired and current professional wrestlers, is coming to Springfield High School on Saturday, November 12 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Crissey Parents’ Club officers hope that the unique event will raise up to $20,000 for the kids, said club officer Lisa Mobley and principal Steve Lee.
“It’s not like on TV. It’s geared more toward schools,” Lee said of the program, produced by Championship International Wrestling.
Yet the professionally produced program includes well known wrestlers from World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action, including Pall Bearer and Abyss.
Tickets are $10.00 for general admission, $20.00 for rows 2 and 3, and $30.00 for ringside seating and one-hour early admission with pictures and autographs. Tickets are on sale now at www.bluedevilmania2011.com.
The event has the potential to raise $20,000 for Crissey Parents’ Club in one night – instead of a year’s worth of carnivals, spirit wear sales and other fund-raisers, Mobley said.
Because of the parent club, every classroom in Crissey has a Smart Board with mounted projector – a project that took six years to fund, Lee said.
“On a daily basis, every child here has a better learning environment because of the parents club. It’s very motivating for students. Because of the parents club, we can stay on the cutting-edge of technology,” Lee said. “It’s a compliment to the parents club that anything a teacher says they need or want, the club is able to fund it.”
New playground equipment, security cameras for the exterior of the building and a new sign have been discussed as needs that the club could fund with proceeds from the wrestling event. Technology and programs for the classroom are also a possibility.
Parents have complained about gravel around the playground, and equipment needs to be updated, but $20,000 is just a start when it comes to new structures, Mobley and Lee said.
Plus, the school has experienced vandalism and the club is considering security cameras to better monitor the playground area on nights and weekends.
Mobley also has her eyes set on getting a new sign with an electronic ticker – which costs $16,000 or more.
An executive board of 12 is doing the planning and preparation for the event, but volunteers are always needed.
On the day of the event, parents are needed to assist with set-up, tear-down and feeding other volunteers. Prior to the event, parents can help sell tickets at football games and promote the event, Mobley said.
Crissey parents are encouraged to attend monthly meetings every third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Crissey Elementary cafeteria. For additional information, e-mail CrisseyParentsClub@yahoo.com.

SMS Principal Honored
Springfield Middle School principal Matt Geha will be inducted into the Sylvania Schools Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a runner.
A 1992 graduate of Southview High School, Geha earned four varsity letters in cross country and two in track.
He was a two-time district cross country champion, two-time regional runner-up and four-time state qualifier. In 1991, he finished eighth in the state while Southview placed first as a team.
In track, he was a two-time league champion and two-time district champion in the two-mile race.
Geha earned a track and cross country scholarship to Siena Heights University, where he was a three-time conference champion and three-time All-American in cross country. In addition, he earned five conference championships and was a national qualifier in outdoor track.
After Geha graduated, he taught for Sylvania City Schools and coached cross country and track at Southview until leaving the district to become a principal at Springfield Local Schools.
“Running and participating in sports allowed me to build lifelong memories that I can share with my students, children and family,” Geha said. “As a runner, I overcame the personal challenge of a speech impediment because I gained the confidence and knowledge that when you give 100 percent, you can accomplish everything.”
The hall of fame inductees will be honored at the Southview vs. Northview football game on Friday, October 28 and at a reception on Saturday, October 29 at Central Park West at 6:00 p.m.
Tickets for the October 29 event are on sale for $40.00 each, and tables of eight are available for $320. Call (419) 824-8656 for more information.