Waitt, Walter

Walter Waitt – (2001)

 

Walter (Brud) Waitt spent more than 50 years of his life playing, guiding or supporting athletics. His most memorable feats were recorded at Lorain High School when it faced a major schedule in all sports.

Lorain Journal Sports editor Vince Sikora described Waitt in a 1949 column: “At 135 pounds and 5 feet 6 inches, he (Waitt) is pound-for-pound one of the finest athletes to perform at Lorain High School. In football he was one of the teams offensive threats on the quarterback sneak, bootleg play or as a passer. On the hardwood, his speed and accuracy have earned him a spot on one of the Steelmens best clubs.”

His playing days included being a two-year starter and letter winner at Lorain High School in football and basketball. As a gridiron quarterback/halfback/safetyman, “Mitey Mite” Walt led the 1950 Steelmen (5-2-2) in total yards gained and interceptions. This versatility helped earn Walt a spot on the All-Lake Erie grid all-star team. Brud was recruited by Toledo, Kent State and Case Tech for his football talents; however, he chose to work instead. In addition to Waitt being all over the field, he scored two vital touchdowns to help erase a 26-7 deficit in a thrilling 33-26 comeback victory over Cleveland Heights before 5,100 drained fans at old Lorain Recreation Stadium in 1950.

With Walt as its southpaw handyman, the 1949-50 Steeler squad recorded the schools best cage record (13-8) since the 1931-32 season and placed second in the Lake Erie League. Walt was voted to the all league team as the LELs second leading scorer and was named the schools co-Most Valuable Player with Dick Rybarczyk.

Brud was also a letterman-outfielder on the 1949 Lorain High baseball team. During the 1949 summer season, he played with the outstanding American Legion team that swept city Class “C” league honors undefeated and won the American Legion County and District #5 titles. The Legionnaires also earned a spot in the State Legion Tournament.

Akron University offered Walt a cage scholarship after his graduation in January 1951. When his days of playing for LHS were over, Walt participated in Lorain City and YMCA Leagues. He set a single game scoring record of 67 points in the Y league. After a work transfer from Lorain to Youngstown, Ohio in 1957, Brud played with the GMAC team in the Youngstown City League.

Waitts softball career spanned 37 years, from the youngest player (at 14 years of age) in 1947 Class “B” Fast Pitch to being the oldest (51 years old) in 1984 Lorain Four Star Slow Pitch League. Walt was voted to the City All-League Team as an outfielder.

He was a member of the 1946 Junior Olympics track team that competed in Cleveland Municipal Stadium against 1,200 athletes representing 25 cities, six states and Canada. His relay team finished in third place overall.