Athletic Hall of Fame
Class of 2012

The 6th class of the Wheeling High School Athletic Hall of Fame
was inducted at half-time of the varsity basketball game on Saturday, January 21, 2012.

	Dr. Dean Manus - Athletics Dean was an outstanding gymnast at Wheeling High School from 1976-1979. During his time at Wheeling, Dean won many tournament championships in all the events in men’s gymnastics. He was an MLS all-around champion, an IHSA district champion, and an IHSA sectional champion. Dean also won 5 medals in the IHSA state gymnastics meet. In 1978, Dean was the Illinois State Champion on the parallel bars. Dean was also named a National High School All-American that year.
	Evelyn Mendralla - Athletic Administrative Assistant Ev Mendralla served as the administrative assistant to the athletic director at Wheeling High School for 29 years. She was also the assistant for the Physical Education, Health and Driver Education division. She began her career in the fall of 1966 and retired after the 1996 school year. As the sole assistant in the athletic department, Ev had many responsibilities. She assisted the sports coordinators, tracked athletic eligibility, assisted coaches, and communicated with other area schools regarding contests. Ev also was the face of Wheeling athletics. She always greeted parents, officials, visiting schools and vendors with a smile. For 29 years, Ev was the backbone of the Wheeling athletic program. Her diligence, organizational skills, and outgoing personality helped countless coaches, parents, and student athletes have a positive experience at Wheeling High School.
	Jeff Vanyek - Athletics Jeff was an outstanding gymnast at Wheeling High School. As a gymnast, Jeff was a 4-year varsity letter winner. Jeff was a 12-time medalist at the Mid Suburban League conference gymnastics meet, including being a conference champion in the vault, parallel bars, and all-around competition. Jeff also won I.H.S.A. sectional titles in the pommel horse, parallel bars, and the all-around. In the I.H.S.A. State Gymnastics meet, Jeff was a 5-time medalist. In 1978, Jeff was the Illinois State Champion on the still rings. Jeff’s success in gymnastics earned him the distinction of being the Wheeling male athlete of the year in 1979. That year he was also named a High School All-American in gymnastics.
	Dave Watters - Coaching Dave Watters spent 31 years teaching at Wheeling High School. For 16 of those years, Dave served as the head boy’s gymnastics coach. As the head coach, his teams won 8 division championships, 5 Mid Suburban League championships, 7 I.H.S.A. regional championships, and 5 I.H.S.A. sectional championships. Dave also coached 7 teams to the I.H.S.A. state gymnastics meet. Dave’s 1981 and 1982 teams finished 4th in the state, his 1979 team finished 3rd in the state, and in 1978 he coached the Wildcats to a runner up finish in the I.H.S.A. state gymnastics meet. Dave also had 6 of his teams gain recognition as a National Gymnastics Association All-American Team. He had countless athletes compete in the state meet, with a number of them winning state titles. Dave’s excellence earned him the Mid Suburban League coach of the year three times.