Induction Graduation Sport

2023 1999 Swimming | Volleyball

Susie Celek is a 1999 graduate of Hoover High School, where she competed in swimming, volleyball, and track.  After receiving 2 reconstructed eardrums at the age of 10, Susie began her athletic career in swimming, following in the footsteps of her older brother Matt Johnsen, a 9x All-American swimmer and her mentor. At North Canton Jr. High, she played volleyball and co-captained her 8th grade team that won the Federal League championship. Her mother, Betty Fulton, served as their head coach, and Celek has still remained friends with some of those teammates through the years. During middle school she also ran track, and trained with the high school team during swim season at the North Canton YMCA. Ignited in Viking pride, Celek’s athletic career took off at Hoover where she was a 3 sport athlete in swimming, volleyball, and track. As an underclassman, Susie was the county record holder in girls shot put and lettered 4 years in varsity track under the excellent coaching of Travis Ackerman and Dave Clegg. As a freshman Celek started on the JV Volleyball team coached by Lori Anderson and started varsity thereafter. She earned 3 volleyball letters, was voted co-captain both junior and senior years, and was selected to First Team All-County in 1998. In swimming, Rick Morrison and Dave Clegg coached Celek through high school where she was a state qualifier all 4 years on relays and individually. She was co-captain of the swim team both junior and senior seasons, and graduated with 5x All Ohio honors, 3x All American honors and most importantly, the letter for her most prized possession, her letterman jacket that Logan’s Sporting Goods patched on the next day! Socially, Celek served as Vice President of her Junior and Senior class, and was voted Hoover’s Freshman Homecoming Attendant in 1995 and then Homecoming Queen in 1998, which set-up a grand finale when she was selected to the 1999 Pro-Football Hall of Fame Queen’s Court, where she escorted offensive guard Tom Mack of the Los Angeles Rams.  In college her athletic prowess continued to serve her well, as she earned a scholarship on the Division I Rowing team at the University of Cincinnati, where her boat took 2nd at the Head of the Charles in 2003. As an upperclassman, Celek earned Bearcat Scholar Athlete status and co-captained both her Junior and Senior seasons, as well as winning the Iron Bearcat Award in 2004. After graduating Celek moved to Philadelphia where she started an airbrush tanning business and was a sideline reporter during international MMA pay-per view events. Today, Susie continues to serve the academic field in a Cincinnati school district as head fiscal specialist, while also hosting her YouTube series Fittin2Xplore, and also enjoys being a spokesmodel for both Infinity Sun and HighPi Paddleboards. In her spare time, Celek comes home to spend time with her family and friends, and it’s not unusual to see her running the Weimaraners along the trail that frames Hoover’s beautiful buildings and athletic facilities. Those runs flood her mind with amazing memories and gratitude for those teammates, coaches, and teachers that positively impacted her. Celek is grateful that her nieces will have the same opportunities she did to make a few friends, build character, and instill those Viking values that will last a lifetime.