BUTLER TWP — The Walter A. Cicchiani Spirit Award is hand-picked often times by Butler High School boys tennis coach Dave Hartzell.

This spring, the award seemed destined to find Golden Tornado senior Jake Zangas.

Cicchiani was an avid Butler High School tennis player who lost his life at age 21 on April 30, 1968, while serving his country in Vietnam. His name is on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington D.C.

He graduated from Butler in 1964 and served in the Navy. American Legion Post 117 in Butler began presenting the Cicchiani Spirit Award to a Butler girls tennis player in the fall and boys tennis player in the spring in 2000. It has been an annual award since.

“The award doesn't necessarily go to the best player or our most talented player,” Hartzell said. “It goes to the player who most loves the game, who cares about the matches the most.

“That's the way Walter Cicchiani was. He cared deeply about the game. That's why it's called the Spirit Award. Normally, a player on our team stands out in that sense and that's who gets the award.

“Anyone on our team this year could have gotten it. It wouldn't have mattered to me. We have a bunch of great kids. So I let the players vote to determine the recipient,” Hartzell added.

Butler had nine players on the varsity boys tennis team. All but a couple of them voted for Zangas, who played No. 1 doubles for the team.

“I wasn't surprised, really,” Hartzell said. “He's just a good guy, one of the most likable, popular players on the team.”

Zangas' father, U.S. Marine veteran Robert Zangas, was killed in Iraq in March of 2004. Jake was 3 years old at the time.

“Of course, this award has special meaning to me,” Jake said. “I cherish it. I'll honor it. I know all about commitment and dedication, how that is the standard in the military.”

He has experienced such commitment first-hand. Dan Hempfling, the fiancé' of Jake's mother, Brenda Zangas, has been a father figure in Jake's life for years.

“I know him as my Dad. He's nothing less,” Jake said.

Hempfling and Brenda Zangas are Butler graduates who dated in high school. They reconnected years later through classmates.com.

“After I learned what happened (to Robert) ... I felt badly, obviously, but I didn't develop my relationship with her kids over time out of feeling sorry for them and the situation,” Hempfling said.

“I love Brenda. I love the kids. Once I got involved, I felt responsibility. You learn to stick with it in the military.”

Hempfling is an Army veteran who was wounded in Grenada in 1983.

While the family's military history and bonds are strong — Jake's grandfather served as well — the family's respect for Jake as a person is the source of its pride in him receiving the Spirit Award.

“Jake was in the Junior ROTC program. He's a great kid, a leader,” his mother said. “He deserves this award for who he is.”

Hempfling agreed.

“He's just a fine boy. He helps his family and friends all the time,” he said.

Jake just smiled when asked how he felt about being voted the award, which he will officially receive Monday night during the Butler boys tennis banquet at the Field House Restaurant.

“I'm just glad everybody likes me,” he said.

Jake is headed to Geneva College, where he plans to play tennis and major in criminal justice.

And continue the family's history of serving his country.

“I've witnessed the passion, the strength it takes to love people enough to care about them more than yourself,” Jake said. “Being a good soldier in that sense is what I want to be.

“Whether I wind up joining the military, doing police work, whatever avenue ... Law and order has always been of interest to me.

“My grandfather served. My father served, Dan ... Like all of them, it will always be about commitment for me,” Jake added.