BARBERTON SPORTS HALL OF FAME 2024 Lady Magic star helped to build girls basketball program

Carol Gadanac lettered twice in both volleyball and basketball at Barberton. She played four years of both volleyball and basketball and served as team captain in both sports at Ashland College. She and Joan Tonathy, who are both being inducted into the Barberton Sports Hall of Fame, helped to make the Lady Magics basketball program what it is today.

By RANDY FORST
BGNN sports editor

On Nov. 27, the Barberton Sports Hall of Fame will honor its 2024 class at a ceremony at Al’s. This year’s class will feature Mike Lee, Mike Winkler, Jeff Travis, Paul Okolish, Joan Tonathy, Carol Gadanac, Caines Flowers, and Brandon and Monica Cramer.

When we look back at the beginning of girls basketball at BHS it’s important to note some of the obstacles those girls faced in the beginning. Like practicing in the old, outdated girls gym, only having one or two basketballs, buying their own uniforms, and having to provide their own transportation to away games. Despite all these obstacles those young ladies persevered and helped make the Lady Magics program one of the best around. Two of the early Lady Magic stars were Carol Gadanac and Joan Tonathy, both of whom will be inducted into the Barberton Sports Hall of Fame. This week our featured inductee is Carol Gadanac.

Gadanac lettered twice in both volleyball and basketball under head coach Elinor Amshey and served as team captain. During her sophomore year, before statistics were actually kept, Gadanac had 106 points. It was the next two seasons that she made a name for herself.

During her junior and senior years, she tallied 397 points and averaged 15.8 points per game. She hit double figures 22 times in her career, including games of 27 against Canton Central Catholic, 26, against Canton Lincoln, 23 against Canton Lehman, and 25 versus Dover.

After her 1976 graduation from BHS, Carol traveled down to Ashland College. At Ashland she played four years of both volleyball and basketball and served as team captain in both sports in her junior and senior years. In her freshman and sophomore years the Lady Eagles made it into the regional finals in what was then called the AIAW (Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) a pre-NCAA tournament. While at Ashland, Carol also worked in supporting roles for women’s sports, like filming, data collection, and scouting.

After graduation from Ashland, Carol spent a year at Wellington Exempted Village Schools as their physical education teacher. She currently works for McGraw-Hill Education as a workforce manager, with retirement nearby. At home, in Columbus, Carol enjoys gardening, photography, and takes an avid interest in pet adoption.