|
|
|
The junior class of football players at Green High has to be somewhat baffled two games into the 2009 season.
I am writing this before the GlenOak game.
These guys have been big winners in junior high, ninth grade, and junior varsity. In fact, this group had lost one game in the previous three seasons.
OK, so why then do they appear to be struggling as varsity players?
Five of these juniors lettered last season as sophomores. The rest are playing varsity football for the first time this season. And no matter how talented a young person might be, there is a learning curve.
The varsity game is much faster, and the lights are much brighter on Friday nights than the morning sunshine of Saturdays.
I will never forget my first varsity football game. I was a deer in headlights, caught in the middle of an eight-lane LA freeway with no place to hide.
I remember it like it was yesterday. Old Forge had Izzy Diaz, Phil Kresefski, and Vince Tomasetti. They were big and fast. I was, well, medium sized and, well, medium fast. They were very good and I was average, well on that night, well below average.
My point. Those three Old Forge Blue Devils played varsity football as sophomores. They never played on Saturdays. They only ever played on Fridays. So when our JV team beat Old Forge, we must have thought we were pretty good.
Those three all-stars weren’t rolling around with the JVs. They were in street clothes on the sideline watching or sleeping in or in a varsity film session.
Green’s junior class is a good football class. It’s just going to take some time.
LCCS spikers
Jim Noall is the new girls’ volleyball coach at Lake Center Christian. Noall, formerly a coach at Our Lady of the Elms, is a fixture at Firestone Stadium and a guy with all the numbers and knowledge when it comes to area softball.
Evidently he’s a pretty good volleyball coach too.
LCCS is off to a 2-1 start with wins over The Elms and Cornerstone Christian. Amanda Troyer is the team’s only senior.
“Jim’s doing a nice job with the team,” reports Lake Center athletic director Brad Buen. “He’s been very positive with the girls.”
Pam Ritenour, who has coached the LCCS junior high team, is assisting Noall.
More volleyball
The junior class of football players at Green High has to be somewhat baffled two games into the 2009 season.
I am writing this before the GlenOak game.
These guys have been big winners in junior high, ninth grade, and junior varsity. In fact, this group had lost one game in the previous three seasons.
OK, so why then do they appear to be struggling as varsity players?
Five of these juniors lettered last season as sophomores. The rest are playing varsity football for the first time this season. And no matter how talented a young person might be, there is a learning curve.
The varsity game is much faster, and the lights are much brighter on Friday nights than the morning sunshine of Saturdays.
I will never forget my first varsity football game. I was a deer in headlights, caught in the middle of an eight-lane LA freeway with no place to hide.
I remember it like it was yesterday. Old Forge had Izzy Diaz, Phil Kresefski, and Vince Tomasetti. They were big and fast. I was, well, medium sized and, well, medium fast. They were very good and I was average, well on that night, well below average.
My point. Those three Old Forge Blue Devils played varsity football as sophomores. They never played on Saturdays. They only ever played on Fridays. So when our JV team beat Old Forge, we must have thought we were pretty good.
Those three all-stars weren’t rolling around with the JVs. They were in street clothes on the sideline watching or sleeping in or in a varsity film session.
Green’s junior class is a good football class. It’s just going to take some time.
LCCS spikers
Jim Noall is the new girls’ volleyball coach at Lake Center Christian. Noall, formerly a coach at Our Lady of the Elms, is a fixture at Firestone Stadium and a guy with all the numbers and knowledge when it comes to area softball.
Evidently he’s a pretty good volleyball coach too.
LCCS is off to a 2-1 start with wins over The Elms and Cornerstone Christian. Amanda Troyer is the team’s only senior.
“Jim’s doing a nice job with the team,” reports Lake Center athletic director Brad Buen. “He’s been very positive with the girls.”
Pam Ritenour, who has coached the LCCS junior high team, is assisting Noall.
More volleyball
There always seems to be a little added spark when Coventry and Springfield tangle in any sport.
Last week, the two schools went at it in volleyball. Coventry swept the match, but it wasn’t easy. The Comets won the opener 28-26 and captured game three 25-22.
Senior Carly Fazio had 12 kills for Coventry. Amanda Farkas registered 20 digs and Missy Johnson 34 assists.
For Springfield, Jamie Holcomb had eight kills and four blocks. Captain Brooke Hedrick contributed seven digs.
Green had a nice road win last week at Highland. After dropping the first game, coach Alicia Mihelic’s team rallied back for wins of 25-21, 26-24, and 25-11. The Bulldogs recently have struggled on the volleyball court, but there are indications that may be changing. Selena Reale and Logan Pastor each had 11 kills.
Long time no see
I remember Mitch Jendrisak when he was a roly-poly nine-year old, scoring goals almost at will in Green youth soccer.
Now nine years later, he’s a senior at Archbishop Hoban and one of the area’s top players.
I am not surprised.
Jendrisak was and still is relentless. Soccer is all about creating opportunities. Create enough opportunities and eventually you will score. It can become frustrating, but the great ones play on undeterred.
Jendrisak was that way when he was nine and apparently he is that kind of player for the Knights.
“He was the best player on the field,” Hoban coach John Irvine said, after a season-opening 2-1 loss to state power St. Edward. “He had a sweet game.”
Jendrisak attended St. Francis de Sales through eighth grade and is determined to play college soccer.
It makes perfect sense. Any coach would love to have a player with his work rate.
Baseball note
Green graduate David Lough, a prospect in the Kansas City Royals organization, has been invited to play in the Arizona Fall League.
Lough batted .325 in 126 games between Class A Wilmington and Class AA Northwest Arkansas. He also had 14 home runs and 19 stolen bases.
Kicker notes
At last report, the Coventry boys’ soccer team is 4-1-1. The Comets absorbed their first loss of the season last week at Waterloo. Coach Kiel Cox is leaning on three sophomores and the boys are getting the job done. Midfielder Eric Ashley (five goals) and striker James Bergman are the catalysts on offense, while goalkeeper Matt Sacher has been solid.
“When our sophomores are playing well, we’re really tough to beat,” Cox said. …
As of this writing, the Green boys’ soccer team still is undefeated (5-0-1). The Bulldogs battled Wadsworth to a scoreless tie and beat St. V-M, 2-1. Coach Justin Thacker’s team is 16 seniors strong, and that experience, along with some wiser scheduling, has the squad playing with confidence. Copley is the defending Suburban League champion. Revere also appears to be strong, after a 2-1 win at Highland. …
The Green girls recently posted a 3-0 win over Wadsworth and beat one of the SL’s better goalies in Victoria Bathrick. The Bulldogs had scored one goal in four matches prior to the outburst against the Grizzlies.
Collegian
And finally, this note from Ada, Ohio, and Ohio Northern University where former Green All-Ohioan Evan Elliott is playing football for the Polar Bears.
ONU toppled Division III fourth-ranked North Central 28-19 to open the season. Elliott contributed a huge, fourth-quarter 3-yard touchdown catch that gave Northern some breathing room.
The Polar Bears have three wins over top-5 teams in the last six years and they’ll have a chance to make it four when they host No. 1 Mount Union this Saturday.
