Family focus of film about SRU graduate
CHARDON, Ohio — Juanita Vetter hated making the trip back to Harner Hall after track practice.
Her dorm at Slippery Rock University, which was torn down in 2008, sat on top of a big hill.
After a tough cross country practice, hiking the hill followed by climbing to the third floor was a grind.
“When I was done with practice, I barely made it to the third floor,” Vetter said. “I wasn't used to running hills. When I picked that college it was because it was pretty, I had no idea it was so hilly.”
That challenge was trivial compared to what Vetter's family faced during her childhood. Her mom died at a young age, forcing her father, John, and six siblings to band together to prevent the family from being broken up during poverty.
The story of the Vetter family was chronicled by filmmakers Anne Bruder and Nancy Pokorny in the documentary “The Vetters: All We Needed” that will be shown at the Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival June 20-22 at the Father Ryan Event Center in McKees Rocks.
The film took about six years to finish. Bruder, who works in video production, and Pokorny, who does human resources work for corporations, worked on the project in their spare time.
This is Bruder's first feature film. Bruder, who owns Wagon Wheel Films in Willoughby, Ohio, previously made a 30-minute film about her hometown of Willoughby.
“We did everything ourselves. All of the filming, editing and scoring of the editing,” Bruder said. “I credit Nancy for pushing us toward the finish line. I was ready to give up several times.”
Pokorny, a 1984 SRU graduate who earned All-American honors in the two-mile relay, went to high school with Vetter in Chardon, Ohio and ran track with her at SRU.
“It was a story that I wanted to share,” Pokorny said. “I spent about eight summers over there, running with the family. The way they pulled together, despite the poverty was incredible.”
The film focuses on how the family banded together and prevented social services from breaking them apart.
John Vetter, Juanita's father, worked as a welder to keep the family afloat.
Juanita's oldest sister, Janice, was in charge of the meal plan.
Living by the lake also helped. The family would fish and garden to help supplement meals in the summer.
They also improvised to make other things.
“Many times we'd just have pancakes because that was what was in the cupboard,” said Juanita, who graduated from SRU in 1984. “We'd make our own maple syrup by mixing sugar, water and food coloring and then boiling it on the stove.”
All six siblings found a connection with sports. Between them, the group racked up 16 state titles, 35 All-American awards, 25 national championships and 10 American records.
Juanita Vetter earned All-American honors twice in cross country, in the 1,500-meter run and in the two-mile relay. An interest in sports developed from Juanita because of her older sisters.
“They were naturally gifted in track and cross country,” she said. “My dad didn't want to separate us, so we all went to track practice.”
Juanita has seen the film several times and enjoyed hearing her family's perspective.
“That was probably the most interesting part at all. We didn't talk a lot about personal stuff,” Juanita said. “To hear everyone's perspective was interesting. It was neat listening to my brother Mark's perspective and what my sister Janice, who took on a leadership role when my mother died.”racked up 16 state titles, 35 All-American awards, 25 national championships and 10 American records.
