All-Stars to play Harlem Ambassadors

Van Wert independent sports

The Harlem Ambassadors basketball team will be in Van Wert in the S.F. Goedde Building gymnasium on Monday, April 18, at 7 p.m. and will take on a local all-star coed basketball team sponsored by the Van Wert County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Doors will open at 6:20 p.m.

The Harlem Ambassadors will demonstrate a dazzling array of ball handling tricks, highflying slam-dunks, and hilarious family comedy.  After the game, the Harlem Ambassadors will be available to meet the public at the Pitt Stop on 1103 S. Shannon St. in Van Wert. The Pitt Stop has agreed to extend its business hours after the game to host a dinner for the Harlem Ambassadors, and the public is invited.

Members of the Van Wert All Stars include:

Dave Froelich, Van Wert High School assistant principal and head coach of the Cougar boys’ varsity basketball team.

Mark Bagley is Van Wert Middle School principal and assistant coach of the Cougar boys’ varsity basketball team.

Scott Gordon is a local attorney and parent of four children: Michael, Hunter, Conner, and Rachel.

Eliza Dickinson Lichtensteiger is a 2002 graduate of Van Wert High School. She played basketball for four years at Indiana Institute of Technology.  She is married to Kirk Lichtensteiger and they have a 2-year-old son, Kash.

Mitch Price, 2000 graduate of Van Wert High School, played professional basketball in a Turkish league. He is currently coach of Van Wert boys’ and girls’ varsity tennis teams.

Rob Welch is married to the former Jacque Welch and they have four children, with No. 5 on the way. He played basketball at Wayne Trace and for Wright State University.

Darcy Crummey graduated from Van Wert High School  and Kent State University. She married Pat Crummey and they have two children: Meredith, 4, and Zachary, 1½.

Kyle Scheidt graduated from Van Wert High School in 2003 and from the University of Findlay with a master’s degree in physical therapy. He played on the University of Findlay men’s basketball team for two years.

Bill McCoy graduated from Crestview High School and is the owner of MKS Siding. He is married to Nicole.

Lori (Hoffman) McVaigh graduated from Van Wert High School. She is married to Rocky and they have 1 daughter. McVaigh played basketball at Indiana Tech.

Abbie Clifton graduated from Van Wert High School. She played basketball at UNOH and at Central Michigan University.

Destri (Bockey) Long is a graduate of Van Wert High School and played basketball at Belmont University in Tennessee.

John Hunt lives in Anderson, Ind., He is married to Abbie and they have three children.

Allyson Clifton graduated from Van Wert High School and the University of Toledo, where she played basketball all for years. She is currently working on her master’s degree.

Coaches for the Van Wert County All Stars will be Ray Etzler and Al Welch.  Both of these men were inducted into the Ohio High School Basketball Hall of Fame for their success as high school basketball coaches.

Referees will be Jeff Clouse and Brandon Breese

Spectators are in for an evening of family fun and good entertainment. Don’t miss this spectacular event. Cheer for your favorite player(s).