Induction Graduation Sport

2022 1977 Football | Wrestling

Cliff played several sports for the Columbia Raiders. He participated in the football and wrestling programs all four years. Teh football team record was 9-1 Cliff's sophomore year. During his Senior year, he was named a team captain and earned Inland Conference 1st Team Lineman honors. As a Junior, Cliff wrestled in the 175lb weight class, winning championships in the Vermilion Invitational and the Columbia Invitational. Named a wrestling captain his Senior year, Cliff won many awards throughout the season. He moved up to the 185lb weight class and again was a Vermilion & Columbia Invitational champion. He also was a sectional tournament champ. Cliff was named Columbia's Most Valuable Wrestler and won the Most Pins Award. He was a Cleveland Plain Dealer Wrestler of the Week and named to teh Cleveland Press Mat All Star Team. Cliff ended his stellar senior season by qualifying for the State tournaments and was the 185lb Class AA runner-up. After graduation, Cliff worked at MTD Shiloh in Valley City for 40 years and was an avid gardener. He was an assistant PeeWee football coach for the Columbia Rough Riders and helped coach the Red Wagon Farm Hot Stove baseball team. For several years, he played. in a baseball league and on slow pich softball teams. Cliff was 61 years old when he passed away in March of 2020.