Sometimes, it’s the little things that make all the difference.
Who would figure that a case of mistaken identity and a simple act of kindness would lead to a loving relationship and marriage?
But that’s exactly how it began for current Coventry High boys’ soccer coach Kiel Cox and his bride, current Comet girls’ volleyball coach Kristen Barker.
No contrived pickup lines.
No need for eHarmony and trying to match 29 dimensions of personality.
The two CHS coaches were married on July 12, 2008, about three years after having met at their first school board meeting.
“I had been told that he got a job, but I thought he was actually his brother,” admitted Kristen. “It was a misunderstanding with my friend that knows his family. So, I thought he was his brother. So, I just went up and said, ‘Oh, so you’re Cliff.’ And he said, ‘No, I am Kiel.’ And that’s how we started talking.”
Not exactly a textbook icebreaker, but effective nonetheless.
Kristen is beginning her fourth year as head coach of girls’ volleyball, after one season as an assistant. She teaches junior and senior pre-calculus and calculus, having graduated from Mount Union College, where she earned team MVP honors in volleyball. She is a Marlington High School graduate.
Kiel is beginning his third year as head coach of boys’ soccer, after two seasons as an assistant. He teaches English, having graduated from Walsh University, where he played soccer for coach Tim Mead. He is a North Canton Hoover High School graduate.
“He would go out of his way to make sure I had a good day,” Kristen said. “I remember in September, before we started dating, he would bring my mail down from my mailbox and just have it on my desk. He was just being nice. Then I thought, ‘Well, he’s been bringing my mail lately. I wonder if he’s kind of interested?’”
A common interest in athletics and some down time before games provided an opportunity to get to know each other.
“I was driving all the way from Alliance, so any time I had a late game, I would just stay after school, and he always did the same,” she said. “We’d talk about the day and then go to our athletic events. And the next day, we’d talk about how our teams did.”
After they had dated for about 18 months, Kiel popped the question in 2007 on his birthday.
“His sense of humor probably got me first,” Kristen said. “It was definitely his good heart and how he makes me laugh.”
Coventry Volleyball
Fourth-year coach Kristen Cox has high expectations for her team. The Comets return five seniors from last year’s 6-15 squad. “They pretty much don’t come off the court,” she said.
Outside hitters Carly Fazio and Maddi Klemp, middle hitter Tate Daniels, weakside hitter Ashley Angeletti, and libero Amanda Farkas provide Coventry with an experienced nucleus. Cox sees Crestwood and Field as the teams to beat in the Portage Trail Metro Division. “I would love to be among the top four,” she said.
Manchester Panthers
Last Saturday, my “Honey-do List” included running to Manchester Hardware for propane.
We stretch the grilling season out as long as possible.
Anyway, a cat was curled up on the counter sound asleep. And as I stepped forward to pay my bill, it stretched, looked around the store, and went back to sleep.
I thought you know, ‘This is why I enjoy New Franklin and the Manchester school community.’
It’s a slower pace in this part of southern Summit County and I like it. You wouldn’t see a feline nestled next to the scanner at Lowes or Wal-Mart.
Ah, such are the Dog Days of Summer, or in the case the Cat Days. These were the days leading up to the Panthers’ football home opener against Smithville.
It was an uncomfortable winter for the gridiron diehards of New Franklin. Still on their collective minds was the last two minutes of a devastating loss to Tuslaw. It probably kept the Panthers (7-3) out of the playoffs for a third straight year.
These are uncommon times for Manchester football. Under coach Jim France since 1972, the Panthers have been a small-school power and were a perennial playoff squad until this recent lull.
The reality is the PAC-7 is a much stronger football conference than it was in the 1990s. CVCA, thanks in large measure to graduated All-Ohioan John Pettigrew, has evolved into a playoff program. Tuslaw and Tusky Valley have improved programs in recent years. Even basketball power Triway is fielding more competitive grid teams lately.
But at Manchester, where the fundamentals are taught as well as at any high school in the area, blocking and tackling will remain staples and playoff football will return.
And that cat will sleep well through the winter.
Manchester Kickers
Boys’ soccer coach Scott Carpenter picked up his first win at his alma mater when the Panthers doubled up Tuslaw 6-3 last Wednesday in Massillon.
Kyle Daily scored two goals and Elmond Bradley, Josh Gerstenslager, Bryan Daily and Kyle Ferguson each scored one for Manchester, playing on back-to-back nights. …
Four sophomores scored all five goals as Manchester opened its girls’ soccer season last Tuesday with a 5-0 win at Creston Norwayne.
“It's a great first showing,” coach Kris Boss said. “It's very exciting.”
Sophomore Cassie Davis scored a pair of goals, while Taylor Mattioli, Hannah Boss, and Maria Knauf each added one.
Goalkeeper Felicia Sweet made 13 saves for the shutout. Manchester led 2-0 at halftime over the Bobcats.
Green Harriers
Senior distance standout Dylan Papp set a Southgate course record his first time out (16:40 over 5,000 meters) as the Green boys’ cross country team easily won the Bulldog Invitational last Monday.
Senior Kyle Wheeler was next through the chute (16:45) and Green’s brilliant 1-2 punch displayed their summer hard work.
The Bulldogs placed fourth at the Division I OHSAA meet last November and have aspiration of going higher in 2009. Papp was fifth and Wheeler eighth a year ago at the state meet.
