The Port Clinton High School Athletic Hall of Fame will induct the 2009 Inductees into the hall of fame. Tim Celek and Ken Gipe will join the high ranks of PCHS Athletes inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, May 30, 2009, 5:00pm at the Port Clinton Elks. Tickets are on sale in the Port Clinton High School Main Office for $20 each.
Tim Celek, PCHS Class of 1977, earned an impressive total of eleven varsity letters (Football – 4; Wrestling – 4; Baseball – 2; Tennis – 1) and numerous honors in football and wrestling. Mr. Celek received the Mr. Football Award in 1976, was named All Ottawa County 1st Team Defense and 1st Team GLL. He was a member of the 1976 GLL Championship Team.
In wrestling, Mr. Celek was voted Most Valuable Wrestler in 1975 and 1976, Captain in 1976, and was a District Qualifier in 1976 and 1977. After graduating from Port Clinton High School he earned a four year scholarship to Marquette University. At Marquette, he earned four varsity letters and was Captain of the 1979-80 and 1980-81 wrestling team.
He graduated from Marquette in 1981 with a Bachelor's of Arts in History Education and a minor in French. He later attended Biola University in LaMirada, CA where he earned is Master’s Degree in Divinity. Mr. Celek is the founding and senior pastor of “The Crossing” church in Costa Mesa, CA where he lives with his wife Susan and two daughters.
Ken Gipe was a teacher and coach in the Port Clinton City School District for 30 years. During his tenure he had 71 coaching contracts, most notable was as the Port Clinton High School Swim Coach. As the Head Swimming Coach at PCHS he had 24 winning seasons and 349 wins. Mr. Gipe continues to be an active member of the community and school district by officiating many of the swimming and diving meets each year. In 2000, the Port Clinton Swim Relays were renamed the “Ken Gipe Relays” where he continues to serve as Meet Manager.
Mr. Gipe was a charter member, founder, and commissioner of the North West Ohio Aquatic Conference. In 1997, he was awarded the OHSAA Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award. He was named to the Ohio High School Swim Coaches Hall of Fame in 2004. The Wurthwein Award, presented by the OHSAA “to an individual who has significantly contributed to high school swimming/diving in the State of Ohio”, was presented to Mr. Gipe in 2005.
Ken Gipe has also served as a swim official for the Big Ten, MAC, and OAC conferences and has officiated the state swim meet in Canton, Ohio for the past sixteen years. Mr. Gipe and his wife of 38 years, Patricia, reside in Port Clinton. Mr. & Mrs. Gipe have two children, Christie and Steven, and three grandchildren.
The Athletic Hall of Fame evening of recognition begins at 5:00pm with a cash bar, dinner at 6;00pm followed by the Induction Ceremony. The event will be held at the Elk’s Lodge on Buckeye Blvd. Any interested community member or alumni are invited and encouraged to attend as the 2009 Inductees are honored. For tickets and more information please contact Port Clinton High School at 419.734.2147
