Mark Zofka Inducted into Padua Franciscan Athletic Hall of Fame

Congratulations to Brooklyn High School Athletic Director Mark Zofka on being named an inductee to the Padua Franciscan High School Athletic Hall of Fame! A graduate of the Padua High School Class of 1982, Mark excelled on the baseball diamond both as a player and as a coach. During his senior season, he possessed an impressive .410 batting average with four home runs on a talented Bruins team that achieved a Regional Runner-Up finish. His standout performances earned him recognition from The Plain Dealer which named him to its All-Scholastic and Dream Teams.

As a student-athlete at Cleveland State University, Mark continued to achieve success on the diamond. During his junior year, he led the Vikings in hitting and finished his collegiate career with two single-season and seven career records. His prolific hitting currently ranks him in the top ten in six offensive categories at Cleveland State where he was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992.

While playing for the Ohio College All-Stars in 1984, Mark made a highlight-reel play by scaling the Cleveland Municipal Stadium outfield wall to rob future MLB All-Star Will Clark of a homerun and contributing to a victory over Team USA by a score of 2-1. The Cleveland Indians took notice of his all-around stellar collegiate play and signed Mark in 1987.

From 1999-2007, Mr. Zofka was the head baseball coach at his alma mater and during his tenure, the Bruins won a Conference Championship, three District Championships, and in 2005 secured a Regional Championship and a trip to the State Final Four. For his excellent leadership and coaching success, Mark was twice named the Greater Cleveland Coach Association Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Northeast Ohio Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.

“Congratulations to Mark Zofka on his well-deserved induction into the Padua Franciscan Athletic Hall of Fame. Mark’s dedication to student-athletes, athletics, and the Brooklyn City Schools community is truly exceptional. We are proud to celebrate this outstanding honor and the lasting impact he has made both on and off the field.”
 — Dr. Theodore Caleris, Superintendent, Brooklyn City Schools