THE PRESS
APRIL 29, 2013
B-1
Sports
Press Second Section Clay, Radabaugh celebrate coach’s latest milestone By Mark Griffin Press Contributing Writer sports@presspublications.com Clay softball coach Brenda Radabaugh knew she was getting close to a career coaching milestone, but sometimes these things get lost in daily routines. On April 20, the Eagles gave Radabaugh the 400th coaching victory of her career with a 14-4, five-inning win over Pickerington North. The win raised Clay’s record to 13-1 on the season. “At the beginning of the season I knew we needed 11 wins to reach 400,” Radabaugh said. “With all of the games that were cancelled or rescheduled because of weather, I lost track and didn’t realize (Pickerington North) was No. 400. I didn’t think anyone other than my assistant coach knew about the milestone.” After the victory, however, the Eagles ran toward their coach shouting “You did it!” “My response was, ‘I did what?’ ” Radabaugh said. “I didn’t believe them. I thought they had counted wrong. I looked at the scorebook and they were correct.” The team celebrated with cookies, and a couple of the players’ parents presented T-shirts they had printed for the team. The shirts read: “Coach Radabaugh. 400th win. 2013” on the front, while every team member’s signature was printed on the back of each shirt. “I didn’t realize that was No. 400,” Radabaugh said, “until it was all over.” Radabaugh’s career record now stands at 402-150 heading into Friday’s Three Rivers Athletic Conference showdown against her former team, Central Catholic. Radabaugh coached the Irish from 1992-2000 and compiled a 153-58 record, with four sectional titles and one district title. She took over at Clay in 2001 and guided the Eagles to a 22-6 record and a Great Lakes League championship in her first season. She was named the GLL Coach of Year. Her record at Clay stands at 249-92, with three GLL titles, four City League titles and seven sectional titles. Her 2009 and ‘10 teams went a combined 49-11 and Radabaugh was named the CL, district, and Metro Press Coach of the Year both years. The 2009 squad reached the regional semifinals. Radabaugh, who played catcher at Edon
Up to
Clay celebrates after Coach Brenda Radabaugh’s 400th career victory. Front Row: Danielle Lorenzen, Courtney Quinlan, Brooke Gyori, Harleigh Isbell, Chelsea Hornyak, Brooke Gallaher, and Haley Dominique. Back Row: Coach Radabaugh, Coach Kimberly Rector, Lindsay Schiavone, Honnah Susor, Emily Sibbersen, Emily Novak, Hanna Cowell, Tessa Rice, Jamie Miller, Hayley Schiavone, and Coach Mollie Berry. High School and at the University of Toledo, said she never had a plan for the number of years she intended to coach. “Coaching was just something I always wanted to do,” she said. “I love going to practice every day. I can’t imagine what I would do if I were not coaching. It’s fun to see the players mature as they progress through high school. I enjoy being able to witness their successes – their first diving catch, first no-hitter, first home run... “Through athletics, the players learn many life lessons (such as) how to work as a team, how to communicate effectively, how to deal with adversity, how to win and lose gracefully, how to set goals and strive to achieve them. I enjoy being a part of that learning experience.” Clay senior second baseman Lindsay Schiavone, a third-year varsity player, has
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known Radabaugh since the fourth grade. “She does a real good job mixing serious with fun,” Schiavone said. “We always want to get the job done at practice, and she always makes it fun. She really loves softball, and she loves her team. If we have a bad inning and have a couple errors, she’s really confident and says, ‘No one tries to make mistakes.’ She teaches you how to keep your head.” Clay senior catcher Emily Novak, who is also a third-year varsity player, said playing for Radabaugh is “definitely interesting.” “She knows what she’s talking about,” Novak said. “She can be scary sometimes, but in a good way. You always learn a lot from her. She was a catcher, so she really helped me grow to be a better catcher behind the plate. She’s made me keep my
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head and made me grow, from being a little eighth-grader in travel ball to almost being a professional softball catcher.” Radabaugh said she doesn’t envision her coaching career coming to an end anytime in the near future. She said she still enjoys going to practice, and the games are always fun. “I’ve been blessed with many very good players over the years and some outstanding assistant coaches,” Radabaugh said. “Without them, none of this would be possible. Many years ago I received some very good advice: Surround yourself with people who know more than you do. “I keep that in mind when I’m filling spots on our coaching staff. I try to find people whose strengths are my weaknesses. Without the support of all of these people, none of this would have been possible.”
solve her daughter’s murder, the Polish-American boy who survived gruesome medical experiments during WWII and the woman, once a victim of fear, who fought back against crime and founded CrimeStoppers. The
For your copy of John Szozda’s book, send $15 to The Press, Box 169-J Millbury, OH 43447 or call 419-836-2221.
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THE PRESS
APRIL 29, 2013
Oak Harbor off to fast start, but Huron stands in way
“
By Yaneek Smith Press Contributing Writer sports@presspublications.com
It has been really nice (to get off to a good start). We have hit the ball very well, played good, sound defense and pitched well.
“
After struggling to a 9-19 record last season, Oak Harbor second-year manager Chris Rawski says his team would have to commit itself to getting better during the offseason in the hope that things would turn around. So far, so good. The Rockets, which started 14-2 overall and 4-1 in the Sandusky Bay Conference, have seen dedication pay off. During the offseason, a number of players, specifically those not competing in a fall or winter sport, worked on their game in an effort to be better prepared for the 2013 campaign. It doesn’t hurt that Rawski, who was previously the junior varsity coach at Sylvania Southview and an assistant with Genoa for eight seasons, brings with him a winning pedigree. Two years ago, the Cougars advanced to the Division I regional final and the Comets had a great run under Rawski and former manager Tom Kontak, advancing to the D-III state semifinal in 2006 behind the play of Shana Szypka and Abbey Kontak. Szypka went on to a stellar career at the University of Toledo. “It has been really nice (to get off to a good start),” Rawski said. “ We have hit the ball very well, played good, sound defense and pitched well. As a team, we try to put the ball in play with two strikes and make the routine play on defense. (But) the key is (our focus). We are very dangerous when we have confidence in ourselves.” It starts in the pitcher’s circle. The team’s senior ace, Sam Durivage, is 10-2 and had a 2.50 ERA in her first eight starts. She is being looked at by a couple of NCAA D-I colleges. For her efforts, she was featured on Channel 13 ABC’s Athlete of the Week segment earlier this month. (www.13abc. com/category/218298/athlete-of-the-week) “Sam always gives us a chance to win,” Rawski said. “She stays ahead of hitters and doesn’t walk anyone — that’s huge for us.” Catcher Maggie Tyburski, Durivage’s best friend, has been instrumental in helping the pitcher become successful. Rawski says the rapport the two possess has been key in helping Durivage to feel confident and comfortable in the circle. Besides calling the game with the pitchers, Tyburski, a senior, is batting .406 with two doubles, a home run, nine RBIs and 12 runs. Durivage has also done her share of damage at the plate, hitting .513 with five doubles and 22 runs, both second on the team. Durivage proved her importance to
Oak Harbor’s senior ace, Sam Durivage. (Press photo by Harold Hamilton/www. hehphotos.smugmug.com the team when she pitched an 8-inning shutout in a 1-0 victory over SBC foe Edison last Friday, and she even had the gamewinning RBI, scoring Brandy Lachotzki. Durivage and Rebecca Floria also had important sacrifices in the game. The Rockets suffered their first SBC loss Monday, 10-2, to Huron, even though Oak Harbor was outhit just 10 to 6. But
three errors spelled the difference. The Rockets came back the next night to down Sandusky St. Mary 4-1 behind the 2-hit complete game pitching effort by Durivage. Shortstop Rebecca Florio leads the Rockets in hitting with a .585 average and has four doubles, three triples and three home runs. The Rockets are also getting production from first baseman Theresa
Stokes, who is hitting .486 with 23 RBIs, and center fielder Sydney Street, who is batting .552 with 20 runs. But it’s the No. 3 hitter, third baseman Justine Webb, who’s been the most productive, hitting .471 with three home runs, 23 RBIs and 23 runs, all tops on the squad. And sophomore right fielder Allison Wolf, who was an honorable mention all-district selection last year, is hitting .405 with 17 RBIs and 14 runs. These numbers might be somewhat inflated considering that Oak Harbor is just getting into the heart of their conference slate, but the Rockets are out to prove otherwise. “Rebecca, Justine, Theresa and Sam have anchored our lineup,” Rawski said, “but it’s been a complete team effort. Even those kids coming off the bench have been huge in spots.” The batting order is comprised of Florio, Durivage, Webb, Stokes, Wolf, Street, Tyburski, designated hitter Kimmi Wahlers and left fielder Brandy Lochotzki. Erin Bryant regularly plays second base and outfielders Brooke Meyer and Morgan Miller, pitcher Brooke Shanteau, and utility players Kelsey Bodnar and Taylor Weborg also contribute. Shanteau has also pitched this season, going 4-0 with a 0.42 ERA in 16.2 innings of work. Rawski believes it will be the team’s mental toughness and level of focus that determine its fate in the SBC. “(The girls) need to have confidence that they can win each game and go one at a time,” he said. “Every team in the league is good. We have to stay focused and do the little things.”
Eastwood grad assumes new gridiron duties at Lake By Mark Griffin Press Contributing Writer sports@presspublications.com Mark Emans knows Wood County and he knows Lake High School’s football background. “The Lake (coaching) job always intrigued me – their facilities, the school’s size,” Emans said. “Being an old Wood County guy, I remember Lake always had tough, physical kids when they played in the Northern Lakes League back in the day.” Emans, 51, who was hired as Lake’s new head football coach on April 20, is a 1980 graduate of Eastwood High School. He is replacing Bob Olwin, who resigned after leading the Flyers to a 4-6 record (3-4 in the Northern Buckeye Conference) in his only season in 2012. Lake Athletic Director Dave Shaffer said the school had approximately 25 applicants for the job. “Mark has a strong background in football, playing at the collegiate level and as an NFL draft pick, and he is experienced as a
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head coach,” Shaffer said. “He is a local guy who has been successful with student-athletes. We look forward to his leadership qualities working with our Flyer football program.” Emans was an assistant coach under Jerry Mark Emans Rutherford for one season (1985) at Eastwood and coached for four years at Arcadia High School (1986-89). He took over at Wauseon in 1990 and put together a 118-99 record there until he resigned in 2011. Emans’ Indians won four Northwest
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Ohio Athletic League championships and made the only three state playoff appearances in school history. The 1993 squad beat Ironton 13-10 to win the Division III state championship and cap a 14-0 season. Emans said he resigned because, basically, nearly 30 years in coaching was taking its toll. “I had been doing it for 27 years,” he said. “I was going back to get my masters degree in education and that was time consuming, and it was time for me to take a step back. If you’re not going to put everything into it — football is a year-round job — it’s time to step back. Emans, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound linebacker, played at Bowling Green State University for four years under coach Denny Stoltz, and he was named a team captain his senior year in 1983. He was a 12thround draft pick by the Green Bay Packers in 1984. “I made it to the last cut,” Emans said. “I played in a couple of preseason games. I played against the Cowboys in Cowboys Stadium. We played the Bears the year before they won the Super Bowl. “That spring, before they had the (NFL)
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combines, all sorts of different scouts came and visited (BGSU). The Jets were there for one weekend, and the Houston Oilers were in for a weekend to watch me run. I got an agent. I thought I might have gotten drafted a little earlier. It was a nice experience for me, a kid from Luckey, Ohio, getting that opportunity.” Emans will teach physical education at Lake. He said he is excited to get back into coaching after taking a year off. “That year, I needed to get away and get out of it,” he said. “This last year, I was looking to get back into it as an assistant. When (Lake) became available — just the facilities, the kids…their baseball program is outstanding. I’ve been a jayvee baseball coach at Wauseon for over 20 years and we’ve always played Lake. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to lead their football program and take the success from baseball and basketball and see if we can put some of that success in the football program.” Emans has three sons, all of whom played for him at Wauseon. Aaron, 25, is a football coach in Naples, Fla.; twins Alex and Andy are 23.
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THE PRESS
APRIL 29, 2013
B-3
Tim Shaffer opens Fremont Speedway season with win By Brian Liskai Special to The Press liskai2x@roadrunner.com Tim Shaffer iced the field to open Fremont’s Speedway’s 62nd year of racing Saturday. The Aliquippa, Pa. driver waged a great battle the first half of the race with defending track champion Craig Mintz, but pulled away late to capture his 13th career 410 sprint car win at “The Track That Action Built” on JRC Transportation Night. It was also the season opener for the Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title) Championship Series, a separate point fund from both race tracks that will pay the season-ending champion $10,000. In the sports compacts, Delta’s Maverick Wright led all 12 laps to score his first ever Fremont win. Amanda Shammo and McKenzie Biddle brought the sports compacts to the green for their 12 lap main. But, it was fourth place starter Wright who would drive into the lead. Shammo would battle with Erik Paulson for second with Myers, Taylor Holland, Evan Patynko, Kyle Famer and Andrew Schroeder in pursuit. After a lap two caution, Wright would continue to lead while Shammo ran second with Myers moving into third. Shammo would have troubles with an infield tire on lap five, dropping her to the tail and moving Myers into second. Wright and Myers would pull away on the restart with Paulson, Schroeder, Farmer and Patynko following. Myers would mount a challenge the last five laps, but Wright was too strong and took the win. Myers, Shammo, Paulson and Schroeder would round out the top five. In the Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprint feature, Shaffer would race side by side with Mintz from lap 6 through10 before driving under Mintz exiting turn four on lap 11 to take the lead for good. “Hats off to these fans…it’s way too damn cold. Farmer (Rich, track promoter) and the guys did a great job…they gave us a great track. I could move all over the place. I had a great car. The CH Motorsports team has been awesome and it’s good to get a rebound and go for another championship,”
Tim Shaffer in victory lane. (Photo courtesy of Brian Liskai) said Shaffer beside his Aaron Call/Janet Holbrook owned machine in the Engine Pro Victory Lane. “The car was amazing…I could go top bottom through the middle…it makes my job a lot easier,” continued Shaffer about his Kistler Engines/VRP Shocks/J&J Auto/ Weld Wheels/FK Rod Ends/Champion Oil/KSE Steering backed No. 83. “Wish we could get it like that every night. It would be a lot easier to drive.”
In the Surfin’ Sweepstakes Sports Compacts Wright jumped into the lead at the drop of the green. Wright, 13, had to hold off defending track champion Brandon Myers in the closing laps to score his first career Fremont win. “I’ve raced at Oakshade, but I like Fremont. It was kind of bumpy in the third and fourth turns. I want to thank my dad for helping me out,” said Wright. Mintz and Byron Reed would bring the
field to the green in the 30-lap 410 sprint feature. Mintz would grab the lead while third place starter Shaffer shot into second while Reed, Chris Andrews, Stuart Brubaker, Duane Zablocki, Caleb Griffith and Caleb Helms gave chase. After two laps were scored, Brubaker would spin in turn four to bring out the caution with the running order now Mintz, Shaffer, Reed, Andrews, Zablocki, Griffith, Helms and Danny Holtgraver. On the restart Mintz had his hands full with Shaffer who drove to the leader’s inside. Reed ran comfortably in third while Andrews, Griffith, Zablocki, Helms and Holtgraver waged a terrific battle for fourth. With four laps in, Cole Duncan would spin after making contact with Paige Polyak, bringing out the caution. This time on the restart Mintz got a fantastic jump and pulled away slightly from Shaffer who had his hands full with Reed. But with seven laps in the books, Shaffer had regained his lost ground on Mintz and again raced to his inside while Reed was left to battle with Andrews and Griffith for third. Mintz and Shaffer ran side by side until lap 11 when Shaffer drove under Mintz exiting turn four to steal the lead. Shaffer would pull away slightly as Mintz and Reed now battled for second with Griffith, Andrews and Holtgraver mixing it up for fourth. Just as Shaffer was getting into lapped traffic on lap 13, Griffith took a tumble on the front stretch halting the action. Now with a clear track, Shaffer would pull away on the restart as Mintz, Reed, Andrews, Holtgraver, Zablocki, Bryan Sebetto, D.J. Foos and Helms gave chase. The final caution would fly on lap 16 for Helms with the running order Shaffer, Mintz, Reed, Holtgraver, Andrews, Zablocki, Sebetto and Foos. When the green reappeared, Shaffer was gone with Mintz, Reed, Holtgraver and Andrews battling for second. Andrews would retake fourth on lap 18 and would drive into third on lap 20. With seven laps remaining, Shaffer had found lapped traffic, but was able to maneuver the car through to maintain his lead with Mintz comfortably in second. Shaffer would drive to the win over Mintz, Andrews, Holtgraver and Reed.
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Derrick Vicars looks to build off championship season By Yaneek Smith Press Contributing Writer sports@presspublications.com Despite having won two national championships, University of Findlay track and field thrower Derrick Vicars (Genoa) has plenty of work to do. Vicars, who won the NCAA Division II shot put championship in 2012 and the discus title in 2010, is hoping for bigger and better things this season. This spring, Vicars set a new school record after placing first in the discus at the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville, Tennessee. His throw 183 feet, 6 inches was good enough for an NCAA automatic qualifying bid and earned him the Tony Wilson Memorial Award as the men’s field athlete of the meet. Just a week earlier, Vicars had a throw of 182-6 in the discus and a heave of 62-5¾ in the shot put, a mark that also earned him a spot in the NCAA championships. In other words, he’s still dominating D-II throwing events. “My season has gotten off to a bit of a slow start in the shot put and hammer but I’ve been doing well in the discus,” Vicars said. “My goals coming into this season were to defend my title and break the Division II record in the shot put. I also wanted to be an All-American in the discus and the hammer.” Vicars, who attended the University of Cincinnati for a quarter before transferring to Findlay, is living and training with his brother, Marcus. Marcus, a 2009 Genoa graduate, recently transferred from Kent State University to compete as a thrower with the Oiler’s track team. In fact, Marcus finished sixth at the D-II National Indoor Championships last month, a feat that earned him All-American honors. “It helps a lot,” Derrick said. “We help each other out throwing and in the weight room. He is highly motivated like me and it is nice to be around other people who want to succeed as much as I do.” While competing for Genoa in ‘08, the Vicars brothers helped pace the Comets to a 10th place finish in the state prep D-II meet. Derrick was third in the discus and shot put and Marcus was fourth in the shot
Derrick Vicars. (Photo by Mark Deckard courtesy of UF SID) put. Derrick also finished third in the shot put as a junior while attending Delta High School and Marcus was fourth in the shot put a year later. Both of them were trained by their aunt, Mary Reighard, who was a three-time state champion in the discus and a twotime champion in the shot put. Derrick and Marcus, who came to Genoa in ‘07 with their father, former Genoa football coach Mike Vicars, helped to turn around the Comet gridiron program and build it into one of the state’s best. Un-
der Coach Vicars, Genoa went 56-7 in five seasons, including 8-5 in the postseason, and advanced to the D-IV state semifinal in 2008. Derrick and Marcus, who earned All-Ohio status in football, also played basketball. However, the Vicars brothers also helped to establish a string of great throwers on the track and field team. Since Derrick and Marcus left Genoa, Brad Syzpka, who is currently on the track and field squad at the University of Kentucky, won the state title in the shot put in ‘11 and Lo-
gan Bryan, a senior, finished second in the discus last spring. Even if Derrick accomplishes nothing else in his athletic career, he’ll always have his two national titles on which to rest his laurels. “Winning the Division II national title in the shot put was a goal of mine since the day I stepped foot on Findlay’s campus, so to accomplish that goal was amazing,” Derrick said. “I put in four hard years of work and to see it pay off like that was extremely exciting.” After finishing 20th in the shot put in the Olympic Trials, Derrick has left the door open for a possible run at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. But that’s far down the road. Right now, Vicars has his sights set on finishing out his career with Findlay. “The Olympics is the highest level that any track and field athlete can get to and I would love to compete in them someday,” he said. “Right now, I’m not at that level yet. I was lucky enough to qualify for the Olympic Trials last year and that was a great experience for me.” Raised by Liberty Center natives Mike and Cecilia, the Vicars boys also have an older brother, Ryan, 26, who now works as a chemotherapy nurse at Toledo Hospital. Ryan, a 2005 graduate of Delta High, led the Panthers to the D-IV state semifinal on the gridiron in ‘03 while serving as the team’s quarterback. “My parents have always been my biggest supporters,” Derrick said, “and encouraged me in whatever I’ve done since the beginning. My dad was always willing to help me in any sport, whether that was rebounding for basketball, pitching in baseball or staying with me at a Sunday throwing session when I kept saying, ‘One more throw.’” Added Mike, “Their mother and I tried to always instill within them to always just do their best. Don’t worry about everyone else, just ‘Be your best.’ Each one of them had their own way (when it came to) ‘competitiveness.’ My wife rarely let them slack on school work or other things in their lives. They were always taught to always try their best, I think, for the most part they always tried to do that.”
Bryer looks to improve on second-place finish at state By Yaneek Smith Press Contributing Writer sports@presspublications.com
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Grinding through the tough times of training usually results in great things.
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Last year, Genoa’s Logan Bryer finished second at the Division II Track & Field Meet in the discus. This year, bigger things could be on the horizon. In 2012, Bryer, the regional champion, was second in the discus with a throw of 177 feet, 4 inches. An impressive feat for anyone, let alone a sophomore, which Bryer was last year. This time around, he’s hoping for bigger and better things. Thus far, Bryer has fared rather well. His longest discus throw of 177-05, came on Apr. 16 in a tri-meet against Woodmore and Old Fort. Bryer’s best heave in the shot put of 53-07.00 came at the same event. He’s finished first in the discus and the shot put in every dual- and tri-meet this season and was first in the shot put and fourth in the discus at the Clyde Invitational earlier this month. (Last year, the winning throw in Div. II in the discus was 190-07; in shot put it was 57-10.50.) Roughly halfway into the season, Bryer spoke about the progress he’s made. “So far, this year I’ve been slowly progressing,” he said. “I have been training really hard on my technique to get a hold on big throws consistently. The weather has not been my friend this year but that is part of becoming a good thrower in Ohio. The discus has felt really smooth so far along with the shot (put). They are both on the way (to becoming) some very big PRs (personal records).” Bryer credits a number of people, among them head coach Randy Grosjean and throwing coach Curt Reeder. “(Reeder) is a very good strength coach,” Bryer said. “He helps a lot with technique and, in the weight room, helps get me in the right physical shape. He also helps remind me of the basics during practice and gets me back to where I need to be when things aren’t going well.” Bryer also credits former teammate Brad Szypka with helping him to progress as a thrower. Szypka is currently a sophomore at the Univ. of Kentucky where he competes for the track and field squad. He was a senior when Bryer was a freshman,
Logan Bryer. (Press photo by Harold Hamilton/ www.hehphotos.smugmug.com) winning the Div. II State Title in the shot put (61-01.25). “All summer before football started I threw and trained with Brad at the high school when he was home,” Bryer said. “I really credit Brad for how far I have come throwing. Brad was always the guy pushing me at practice because he saw the potential
in me when I was young. Brad inspired me to work hard because he is an example of hard work paying off in the long run. “All the great throwers like Derrick and Marcus Vicars are great examples that inspire me to keep working hard. Brad is a great friend that constantly checks up on how I am doing in practice and meets
and gives great advice to keep me going strong.” Bryer comes from a family of athletes. His older brother, Josh, played quarterback for some great Comet football teams before graduating in 2012. Logan, an offensive guard/defensive end, has been a key member of the last two Genoa football teams that went a combined 21-3, won an NBC title and advanced to the Div. IV Regional Semifinals twice. For his efforts this season, Bryer was named to the 2012 Alan Miller Jewelers All-Press Football Team on both offense and defense. “(Football) helped a ton with improving my work ethic,” he said. “It teaches you that sacrifices are necessary to become successful. It has given me a work ethic that transferred into my weight room and dedication to continue to work toward my goals. It also helped to remind me that things don’t always go your way when you are training and not everything is easy. But, grinding through the tough times of training usually results in great things.” Bryer, who took part in some indoor track and field competitions over the winter, is hoping that he gradually improves and has his best showing at the state tournament in Columbus in June. “Going into the season, I really wanted to focus on becoming a consistent thrower,” he said. “I wanted to ‘move the mark’ throughout the year to eventually peak at state. That means to continuously get better throughout the year and throw farther consistently.”
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Deiter getting look at the big time The Toledo area is well represented on the Ohio State football team because of players like Ben St. John (Woodmore) and Jack Mewhort (St. John’s Jesuit). Starting in 2014 there may be another area athlete wearing the scarlet and gray. Michael Deiter, an offensive lineman from Genoa who is considering OSU, was invited to visit the Buckeyes spring practice last week at the Woody Hayes Center and then to the spring game at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. With a “recruit” pass in hand, Deiter was able to see the big boys practice big time, up close. Deiter, a junior with one season on the prep gridiron remaining, last fall was voted second team All-Ohio defensive tackle and received Genoa’s “Top Defensive Lineman” award. “Prior to arriving at Genoa, the two best linemen I ever coached were three-year starters in college. One of them “started for Urban Meyer at Bowling Green State University as a 17-year old nose tackle,” Genoa football coach Tim Spiess said. “The other was a three-year starter at Wake Forest and was an outstanding lineman in their bowl victory over Oregon. “Michael Deiter has an opportunity to surpass everything those two players accomplished in college” Spiess added. “Michael is bigger (6-foot-5, 301 pounds), faster and stronger than both of those great players. His background in hockey, our weight room and the way we conduct our practices will give him an advantage over other incoming freshmen”. Coach Spiess said that he has received phone calls and text messages from several other large BCS schools about Deiter. Deiter was invited to visit the University of Wisconsin soon after. Spiess said that despite all of the attention, “What I am really proud of is how humble Michael has remained. No matter the number of offers; Michael has assured me his decision will come down to whichever BCS schools he likes as well as BGSU and the University of Toledo. “Coach Campbell (UT) and Coach Clawson (BGSU) are such good outstanding coaches and they run top notch collegiate programs. Having these outstanding programs in our backyard is a real bonus. I have had a few MAC schools tell me they
The Press Box may not recruit Michael because they are not certain they can compete against the BCS powerhouses. Coach (Dave) Clawson and Coach (Matt) Campbell have taken the other road and the Deiters (family) really appreciate their efforts.” (— submitted by Harold Hamilton)
Reynolds wins International Cup Woodmore junior Kathy Reynolds won a Gold Medal at the International Junior Cup karate tournament and finished third at the USA Open in Las Vegas, Nevada. Reynolds competed in the -55 kilogram weight class at the International Junior Cup on March 29. She defeated her opponent in the finals by a score of 9-1. During five rounds of matches, Reynolds outscored her opponents, 28-2. The International Junior Cup and USA Open are held back to back to give the athletes traveling to Las Vegas two of the largest karate competitions in North America in one weekend. The events were attended by elite karate competitors from 50 countries. Reynolds also competed on Easter Sunday in the USA Open in the -59 KG division. After dominating the first three rounds, she lost a tough match to a Mexican competitor in the semifinal. Reynolds went on to win the bronze medal match with a score of 8-1. Reynolds next competition will be at the Rocky Mountain State Championships in Louisville, Colorado.
Sports announcements Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio will hold the 10th annual Golf Event May 13 at Stone Ridge Golf Club in Bowling Green. The event will include lunch, a round of golf, a free drink and a silent auction with awards. Entry fee is $100 per golfer, due by April 29. Contact Melva Powers at 419-354-2113 or bbbs2@wcnet. org.
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3,000 Kazoos given away for Star Wars music Kazoo-Along Dress as your favorite Star Wars character The First Intergalactic Fireworks show of the Season Special Star Wars fan photo booth Star Wars themed face painting
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