Lakeland Community College is proud to announce its sixth class of inductees into the Athletics Hall of Fame. This year’s class includes Lakeland men’s soccer legend Djuro Peric and the 1983-84 Lakeland women's basketball team.

An induction banquet will be held Friday, Sept. 22, in Lakeland's Athletic and Fitness Center Gymnasium. Dinner will be available at 5:30 p.m. with a ceremony starting at 6 p.m.

Djuro Peric’s impact on Lakeland men's soccer extends far, as he contributed significantly to the program’s growth both as a player and as a coach. Serving as head coach from 1988 to 2018, his legacy is one of unparalleled success and dedication. Over the course of his illustrious 31-year head coaching career, Peric amassed an impressive 282 victories. His leadership propelled the Lakers to seven OCCAC championships and his success did not go unnoticed, as he garnered six OCCAC Coach of the Year awards. During his time as an athlete at Lakeland, he was unanimously voted team captain and led the team in scoring in both 1972 and 1973. He earned conference Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors and was voted as the team’s best forward. His legacy was immortalized when he was named to the Lakeland Men’s Soccer All-20th Century team.

The 1983-84 Lakeland women’s basketball team recorded one of the best seasons in program history, finishing with a 35-5 record and capping the season with a ninth place showing at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national tournament. The team also captured the Ohio Junior College Athletic Conference (OJCAC) title, before securing the Region XII South Division and Region XII tournament championships. Members of the 1983-84 team included, Connie Adams, Bev Blackmore, Kim Cantwell, Joyce Chisar, Joanne Dorow, Sandy Ertter, Deanne Klein, Mary Mueller, Val Parks, Pam Pringle, Diane Rastoka, Amy Rivizzino, Tammy Simmons, Shellie Stanley, Sandy Yokom, Terry Hietanen (head coach), Barb Jaksa (assistant coach), Barb Prots (assistant coach) and Joni Prots (manager).

The Lakeland Athletics Hall of Fame honors individuals and teams who have had significant athletic success at Lakeland Community College or who have made a significant contribution to the athletic program. September’s ceremony is the first since the COVID-19 pandemic.

By: Kerry Ann Jonke, Asst Director Market & Communi