 Dara Hosta loved to run.
As an eighth grader on the Olmsted Falls Middle School track
team, she placed first in the SWC 100-meter low hurdles, first
in the 400-meter medley, and second in the 200-meter low hurdles.
Dara was a member of the middle school cross country team in
1998, and was a three-time winner of the President's Physical
Fitness Award. Dara also loved baseball. As a freshman, Dara
earned places on her school's girls' varsity fast pitch softball
team and girls' varsity golf team. She was starting second baseman
on the boys' travel Hotstove hardball team where she led her
team in stolen bases. (Pop Warner League). In 1999, Dara competed
in the Cleveland Indians/FOX Sports Net Baseball Skills Competition
and placed second in the western region. Dara was known throughout
the community for her beautiful singing voice, which many considered
to be mature beyond her years. She was awarded the highest ranking
for her soprano vocal performances at the Falls Music Festivals
in 1999 and 2000, and was the overall winner of the Friday Night
Live PTA Talent Competition in 1999 with her English/Italian
rendition of "Time To Say Goodbye." She returned in
a guest performance at the 2000 competition where she enthralled
the audience with her selections of "Anytime, Anywhere"
and "Phantom of the Opera." Dara was a member of the
Singers Group, and won the Middle School Choir "Student
of the Year" in 1998 - 1999. As a member of the Olmsted
Falls High School Treble Choir, she had secured a position with
The Golden Expressions singing group and had performed in the
Masquers Drama Club's spring musical production. As a choir member
of St. Mary of the Falls Catholic Church, Dara often attended
Mass twice on Sunday so that she could share her vocal gift with
the parish. Her beautiful rendition of "Pie Jesu" brought
many of the parishioners to tears at Good Friday services in
the spring of 2000. She also enjoyed entertaining nursing home
residents. Dara, an honor student, was aspiring to be an opera
singer and planned to study music and vocal performance after
graduating from high school. She collapsed May 26, 2000 for unknown
reasons after winning the 400 meter in her physical education
class at Olmsted Falls High School. She passed away on June 1,
2000. Although Dara's journey on earth has ended, she lives on
through many students receiving scholarships to help them along
on their journeys. The race is also in memory of Moriah Lydon,
Rocky River student and 14-year-old granddaughter of Jesse Bell-our
Bonne Bell sponsor. Moriah passed away on September 12, 2001
while running cross country practice. |
