Stephen F. Blanchette
Stephen F. Blanchette '77 1989 Golf
The didn't swing a golf club any sweeter, nor hit a ball any harder than the 6-4 210 lb. Kid from Cleveland's St. Joseph High, who created tremors of joy around the corner of E. 24th St. and Euclid Ave. when he announced his decision to enroll at Cleveland State University in the Fall of 1972.
The anticipation that greeted his decision proved to be well founded.
In his very first year he led the Viking golf team's charge to 11th place in the NCAA College Division Championships, averaging a school record 75 strokes per round, while being named CSU's "Most Outstanding Golfer."
The following year, he added honorable mention All-American laurels to his list of honors and once again was named the University's "Most Outstanding Golfer."
By the time he was through with his marvelous career at Cleveland State he owned every golf record in the book.
He had shot the best single round and the best tournament round, compiled the lowest season average and the lowest career average in Viking links history.
Nearly a decade and a half after he completed his career as a Viking the records all still stand.
He retained the sweet swing and the ability to drive a ball immense distances long after he graduated from CSU in 1977 - but in a different sport.
He completely abandoned golf in 1979 to concentrate on a new passion, - slow pitch softball.
In time he was to be acclaimed the best softball player in Cleveland, a hotbed of softball talent in the United States.
He played two seasons for the professional Cleveland Competitors, traveled for a year with the renowned Steele Sports and played four years with Non-Ferrous Metals, including the team's national championship season of 1986.
Three times during that period he was named an All-American.
However, it was not until the past year that he achieved what he classifies as his greatest athletic thrill - being chosen as one of 52 players to participate in the U.S. Olympic Festival and playing on the gold medal team.
With his softball career moving to an anticipated close in the near future, he is contemplating a return to the golf links, not necessarily good news to the Cleveland golfing elite.
He is also comfortably ensconsed in his profession as a sales representative for American Vineyards, a position he has held since 1983.
He is presently living in Mentor with his wife of over 11 years, Sandy, and their two sons.
