Santoro joins Bellevue Hall of Fame in first year of eligibility

Jalen Santoro was eligible for induction into the Bellevue High School Sports Hall of Fame for the first time this year, 10 years after he graduated. His resumé made him a no-brainer to join the prestigious list. Santoro was inducted into his alma mater's hall of fame Saturday night, joining Lyle Falknor, Mike DeLuca and Robert King. Santoro was joined by family and friends to mark the occasion. "It wasn't the focus of my thought process with a football game to prepare for, but when you're up there it hits you," Santoro said. "I'm really grateful to the people that helped me get to that place, my parents, friends and former coaches." Santoro is one of the most decorated athletes in Bellevue history, earning a total of 12 varsity letters — four in football, basketball and track. Santoro led Bellevue's football team to a state championship game his senior season and threw three touchdown passes in the game. He was a first-team All-Ohio selection as a senior. The Redmen lost 42-21 to Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in the 2012 Division III title game in Canton. Santoro, the D-III Co-Offensive Player of the Year, finished the game with 237 totals yards and threw three touchdown passes. Santoro accounted for 32 touchdowns as a senior and 66 in his high school career. He holds Bellevue records for most rushing yards in a season (2,249) and career (4,641) and totaled 8,053 all-purpose yards for the Redmen. In basketball, Santoro was first-team All-Northern Ohio League for three seasons. He finished his career with 1,159 points and was a two-time team captain. He was a wide receiver at Tiffin University and was a team captain his final three seasons. Santoro's coach at Tiffin, Steve Gilbert, attended the induction ceremony. Santoro considers both sets of grandparents among his biggest supporters. "You can probably count on one hand how many games they've missed since I started playing football in third grade," Santoro said. "I had a whole bunch of family there (for the ceremony)." Santoro is head football coach at Perkins High School and resides in Sandusky. He is in his fourth year coaching the Pirates and has a 24-12 record. The Big Red Service Award, presented for the 17th year, went to The Bellevue Hospital, a longtime supporter of Bellevue athletics. A quick look at Bellevue's other three hall of fame inductees: Lyle Falknor Falknor was one of the most successful coaches in Bellevue history. He coached boys basketball for 21 seasons, from 1987 to 2008, and compiled a record of 296-180. He had seven 20-win seasons and led the Redmen to seven Northern Ohio League titles, including six straight from 1992-98. Falknor's teams won five district titles. He had a career record of 506-325. Falknor and his wife, Brenda, live in Bellevue. Mike DeLuca ('73) DeLuca earned a total of seven varsity letters in football, basketball and track. As a senior in football, DeLuca was voted first team All-Northern Ohio League and was an all-district selection. DeLuca played football at Ohio University and started for three seasons. DeLuca resides in University Heights, Ohio. Robert King ('76) King earned seven varsity letters, including three in wrestling. He was an honorable mention NOL football player as a senior and helped the Redmen win a conference title. King had a career wrestling record of 56-11 and held the career pins record (29) after the 1975-76 season. He went on to play football and wrestle at Davidson College. He earned two football letters and had a career wrestling record of 38-7. King resides in Toledo and is a partner with Bugbee & Conkle LLP.