COMMENTARY: A salute to seniors as they transition into the next realm of life

 COMMENTARY: A salute to seniors as they transition into the next realm of life

By Keno Sultan

Stark County Prep Press writer

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

MASSILLON--It all started at sunrise for young boys as toddlers. 

Mothers and fathers purchased the first set of football equipment for their sons. Or if the young man was not raised by either his mother or father, it was an aunt, uncle, grandfather, grandmother or someone else close in the family that purchased their football equipment and drove them to practices, games and other football related functions.

With a helmet, a jersey, pants, pads, and cleats including the football, the football journey commenced starting with pee wee football. They were taught the nuances of formations, how to execute them, how to celebrate a victory and how to accept defeat. The same young men they grew up with either became their teammates or rival players at other competing schools.

For the next 432 weeks of their lives through 108 months (excluding summer vacation) and 2,160 days of school that started with kindergarten and concluding with their senior year of high school and eventual graduation, young men were immersed in football that also led to them competing in middle school and then the high school. During that time, coaches stressed the imperativeness of academic performance in the classroom and the onus was on the player to make sure they met the requirements needed to be eligible for competition. Educators in their school district worked tirelessly to make sure the student-community-athletes in their classes were meeting not just their expectations but expectations for themselves as well.

During that time as well, young men also witnessed football players on the same high school field who competed before them as inspirations as well. A phenomenal example for one would be former Canton McKinley tailback/defensive back Mike Doss. Many kids in Canton emulated him and with great reason as he went on to capture two consecutive Division I state championships, a national championship at Ohio State, and then a Super Bowl championship with the Indianapolis Colts. Another inspirational example also is Massillon's Ellery Moore, who while defying orders from doctors to sit out the 105th game against McKinley, after suffering a season-ending injury, recorded a staggering 15 first hit tackles playing on just one leg the entire game. Both Doss and Moore are just two of many examples of players that inspired athletes to be Bulldogs, Tigers, or whatever school they are at.

Saturday afternoon at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, high school seniors from Division I all the way to Division VII competed in their final high school football contest. Next month will be graduation ceremonies for those men as they will obtain their diploma, which will be their rite of passage into the next realm of life. And for all 12 years, the road was filled with adversity but it was worth the thrill ride of being admired by classmates, teachers, administrators, coaches, and finally, family members.

Some will transcend into a college or university and continue their football careers (or play another sport) while working toward a degree. Others will attend a college or university and never play football again. There are those who will make the ultimate sacrifice to serve our country in the military, be it the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, or Coast Guard. And finally, a good number of them will enter the workforce. Soon they will eventually become husbands to loving spouses and raise sons or daughters. Eventually they will mature to uncles. And if they are blessed, will reach the peak of life when they become grandparents.

Along this path, there were many ups and downs. Players played through injuries. Players were praised by crowds for making a big play. Players in some cases (and this should NEVER happen) were jeered by fans if they made a mistake. Some went on to become state champions while others fell short of their ultimate goal. Players celebrated their victories while others cried after defeats. 

On that jeering part. That reminded me of what former Dover Avenue Elementary School principal Renee Sattler told me in what was a key life lesson for me in a conversation we had before I went on the air for ESPN 990 as Massillon was preparing for a basketball game against Dover High School: we all were kids once in our lives. I relayed to her about how I was a team manager/sports editor for McKinley High School and as a senior, our fullback Yusef Abdul-Zahir suffered a leg injury when fans cheered his injury during the third quarter of an eventual 46-24 loss as the team eventually finished a painful 3-6. I was a senior at McKinley then. I remember wanting to cry seeing that when Marcus Gravely took me aside and told me not to cry about what was going on and that the Bulldogs would bounce back. After I relayed that anecdote to her, in a moment of love and compassion, she embraced me and told me what I just referenced: we all were kids once in our lives. I felt her love for her hometown of Dover in that embrace. I felt it through my heart and soul.

Let me call that for what it is: in the 18 years since I first met her (she actually knew who I was the first time she saw me when I was seven months removed from graduating from Mount Union) I am proud to say that her presence in my life has been very touching and I can feel the heartbeat of young kids that was in her school and what makes them who they are today.

Now getting back to where this is going. I want to personally commend the seniors who played their final game on the Paul Brown Tiger Stadium turf. It has been a long 12 year ride from the day you started out in kindergarten to now as a high school senior. Once you get that diploma, you will enter the next realm of life. I want to thank the parents and family members of the players for encouraging them through life lessons in times of their ups and downs. I want to commend the coaches who worked tirelessly to help the players under their tutelage prosper on the football field. I want to spread accolades to the educators and administrators who made sure the young men in their classrooms performed successfully and provided them the help they needed in times that called for it.

Some will continue their football career. Others will never play again. Someday they will be in stands watching their sons compete and they will be reminded of where they were as a child having matriculated into adulthood. They will provide life lessons for their sons. They will check in with educators and administrators to make sure their child is prospering. They will make sure they are getting the right coaching necessary.

It all started for them as toddlers. It will now end with them getting a diploma. And what better way to end a career inside the house that Paul Brown built, Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, Home of the Massillon Tigers.

To the seniors who played, the parents and family members who supported them, the educators and administrators who helped them in the classroom, and the coaches who were with them from pee wee, middle school, and up to high school, I say thank you and wish you great fortune as you transition into the next realm of life.

Thank you.

Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, site of the 80th Ohio North-South All-Star Game. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.

A star-studded day ends with South All-Stars winning the big school game, North winning small school game

 A star-studded day ends with South All-Stars winning the big school game, North winning small school game

By Keno Sultan

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

MASSILLON--Justice Burnam may have come up short four months ago as the Cincinnati Anderson Raptors saw their bid to join the 2017 team as Division II state champions extinguished by another undefeated school, Avon.

He may not have departed Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium with that final triumph but he made sure to leave Paul Brown Tiger Stadium with some hardware.

After spotting the North All-Stars a generous 6-0 lead to commence the 80th annual Ohio North-South All-Star Game at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in the Division I-III contest, it was the South defense that dominated the rest of the contest as they captured a 24-6 victory in what was the final prep game for soon-to-be high school graduates of their respective high schools.

The North team used their opening drive that spanned 11 plays, consuming 6:33 off the clock and ending with Gabe Mansel's 17 yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone to Troy Hazuda. However the extra point was blocked and that was the only scoring of the day for the North.

What turned the contest immediately came near the end of the first quarter. South responded in just six plays with the key play being a Burnam 56-yard catch and run pass to Nate Lyman to set up real estate deep in North territory. Just three plays later, Burnam completed the first of his two touchdown passes to Gracen Goldsmith, handing South a lead that was not challenged the rest of the way. After an interception made by South, they needed just two plays with Burnam tossing another scoring strike, this time to Jackson Davis and in a span of 2:05, the South led 14-6 and cruised from there.

Ethan Thanthanavong had the third touchdown pass and kicker Sean Leonard connected on a 42-yard field goal to complete the scoring.

"We got a bunch of kids from the south that come up to play against the north and we practiced hard all week and I stepped in and got us going," Burnam, who will continue his career at Georgetown College (KY) said. "I am going to miss these guys and the guys from my team (Anderson) and it was a (heck) of a ride."

The North was represented by Stark County standouts Mylen Lenix and Daylan Pringle both of Massillon, who will play at Tiffin and Ashland respectively. Landon Ristoff of Perry, Malcolm Dudley of North Canton Hoover and Noah Colando of Jackson made up the rest of the Stark County players who competed. T.J. Arnold represented Dover in the contest.

For Lenix and Pringle, who caused and recovered a fumble, the end result was not what they wanted but to finish inside Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, where both were contributors on the 2023 Division II state championship winning team, that was the closure on their prep careers.

"I got a chance to enjoy the moment and see all my family members and my friends one last time in this stadium," Lenix said. "Going to college, I want to get better, stay focused and disciplined."

Pringle on the other hand concluded the book on his Massillon chapter, not before he recognized his brother, Dorian, whose knockdown of Akron Hoban quarterback Tylan Boykin's pass to Jackson Callaway preserved the Tigers 7-2 victory in the 2023 Division II state final and securing a state playoff championship for a Tigers program that was long starved for a title, ending a 53-year famine.

"Dorian is my brother, he's my mentor, I learned a lot from him and I look to take that to Ashland University," Pringle said.

The North team was coached by D.J. Dota, who served as Warren Harding head coach for four seasons and West Branch prior to becoming the current Youngstown Boardman head coach. The South was head coached by state title winning head coach John Sansbury, of Olentangy Liberty.

LASER FOCUSED. Massillon linebacker/running back Mylen Lenix awaits a play call during the second quarter of Saturday's North-South All-Star Game at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. Lenix will continue his career at Tiffin University. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

Division IV-VIII: North All-Stars 10, South All-Stars 6

MASSILLON--In what was a defensive tilt, it was the North All-Stars prevailing as they erected a 10-0 lead with Northwest quarterback Chase Badger throwing the lone touchdown pass to Joey Jackson for the North All-Stars.

Badger was one of two Stark County athletes playing in the game with Jonathan Stangl of Canton Central Catholic being the other. Assistant coach Kevin Stacy of Manchester, the son of former Massillon head coach Tom Stacy was on the staff, head coached by Tim Cooper of West Branch.  Armand Tatum of Finneytown was the South head coach.

Stangl, who authored the final page on his Central Catholic career will head to Miami of Ohio to continue his academic and athletic career. Stangl was the offensive player of the game for the North All-Star team.

"It's an honor to be coming out here and playing in this prestigious event. To win it, there are no words," he said. "We were a real family, getting to know each other, rooming together and becoming real brothers. Through hard work, love it."

TALL ANGLE FOR STANGL. Canton Central Catholic offensive lineman Jonathan Stangl poses with his offensive player of the year award after the North's 10-6 victory over the South at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.

Veteran Massillon kicking coaches provide product that proves advantageous to kickers success

 Veteran Massillon kicking coaches provide product that proves advantageous to kickers success

By Keno Sultan

Stark County Prep Press writer

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

MASSILLON--What if former Notre Dame wide receiver Raghib "Rocket" Ismail didn't run back two kickoff returns for touchdowns against Michigan in 1989?

What if Green Bay return specialist Desmond Howard didn't puncture a stake through the hearts of New England Patriots fans with an agonizing 100-yard kickoff return for a decisive third quarter touchdown in Super Bowl XXXI back in 1996?

What if Baltimore and Minnesota didn't have three straight kickoff return touchdowns in the first quarter in a 1998 game won by the Vikings?

What if Ted Ginn Jr. didn't run back two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same quarter in 2009?

What if Massillon didn't kick to Warren Harding savior Mario Manningham in two high school games played five weeks apart in 2002?

For veteran kicking coaches and Massillon natives Bill Shafer and David Abdul Sr., they are well aware of the answers. Bo Schembechler probably captures a national championship in his last season, something his rival coach Woody Hayes accomplished five times in 28 seasons as Buckeyes head coach, Bill Parcells is most likely still coaching the Patriots, the Ravens and Vikings do not score 21 points all on special teams, Miami likely doesn't win without Ginn's scores and the Tigers, not the Raiders will have played for a Division I OHSAA state football title.

With dangerous kickoff returners glamorizing their prowess for momentum gaining or stealing kickoff return touchdowns, Shafer and Abdul have both used their expertise to concoct a product that will benefit kickers and most importantly truncate potential kicker injuries but also more importantly, assist in potentially deterring dangerous return specialists from traversing from one end zone to the other for a touchdown.

Currently, the National Football League is using the hardened ground zero tee. But with the soft and safe Launchpad tee, which follows the specifications of all three levels, change is eventually coming and one that is hotly overdue and with excitement.

"When we first invented the Launchpad tee, it was to give people an opportunity to have a forward lean on their kickoffs like many people do and on their field goals. This was the first tee that allowed you to have an aggressive forward lean. But since the rule changes in the NFL, people are looking for a kickoff that has a different kind of trajectory and a different kind of spin," Shafer said. "This tee comes from a one inch platform and the tee the NFL is currently using, the ground zero, when you set the ball sideways, it comes up to over an inch and a half, which is an illegal ball set. All the balls, especially on the Launchpad are the one inch legal NFL limit. And when you kick a helicopter ball to the left or to the right, it creates a horizontal axis that trails off to the left like a curveball or trails off to the right and it's the rotation created by the ball set that enables the Launchpad to do things that no other tee can do."

The Launchpad tee is a tee designed to benefit kickers and cut down on not just kicker injuries but also the threat of returners scoring touchdowns on returns. (Special credit to Bill Shafer and David Abdul Sr; Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

For Shafer, he is adept about kicking power and accuracy. Evidence of that arrived 23 years ago in a Division I regional semifinal as Massillon needed the range of kicker of his son, Max to wrestle away a 23-21 victory in the form of a 35-yard field goal on the final play of their contest at Fawcett Stadium. Before that, Shafer's 21-yard field goal against Canton McKinley in the 110th meeting to end the second quarter quashed the momentum McKinley had and constructed the roadwork for a 34-17 victory eventually leading to their second straight state semifinal.

Abdul Sr. oversaw the prowess of his son, David Jr. After kicking two seasons at Lake, both father and son transcended their repertoire to Massillon and in just two seasons, Abdul Jr. became a very lethal asset to the Tigers and their special teams and during that run from 2000 to 2001, Massillon was 20-5 and Abdul Jr. eventually landed at Pitt, where he successfully conquered the Heinz Field (now Acrisure Stadium) labyrinth as that stadium was known for issuing kickers horrendous nightmares over the years, especially on the closed end of the stadium.

Both kickers were on the Massillon roster under the tutelage of the unitary Rick Shepas with Abdul kicking first and then Shafer.

Both gentlemen recalled the biggest kicks of their respective sons lives.

"I was the stands and before the game I just told Max to relax and be himself because that is the moment you trained for. I was sitting in the stands chewing my fingernails off all the way down to the cuticles waiting for that moment and he absolutely delivered. It was one of the most exhilarating moments of my life and the crowd went crazy and I loved it," Shafer said.

"It was huge, he wasn't getting all the opportunities at Lake and they didn't believe in the system that I was trying to help the coaches understand the process of kicking a football and it was really tough as our whole family lived in Hartville and so, it was 20 miles each way but the end result, he was a two-time All-Ohioan and the number one kicker in the country and the national high school record for 50 plus yard field goals in a high school career and a full ride scholarship," Abdul Sr. said of his son's kicks and vaunted power.

With the NFL kickoff rules stressing for balls to be placed inside the 20 yard line and from the end zone, the Launchpad tee has a major advantage for kickers for it puts the onus on a returner to locate the ball accurately or risk misplaying the ball and either obtaining a minimal return or a turnover in the form of the kicking team recovering the ball. Abdul attested that returners who misplay the ball won't know where it is going and it can be a special teams detriment for them.

Before the ground zero tee, teams kicked off with the traditional orange tee. Had the Launchpad tee come to fruition, football history may have been altered in a variety of cases. Shafer was quick to point out Ismail's two kickoff return touchdowns that was 14 of Notre Dame's 24 points in a five-point win over the Wolverines. Take away one of those scores and the result will have ended up in Michigan's favor as their defense only allowed just 10 points.

"The Rocket (Ismail) was as fast as anyone on the planet and he had moves and he had a football acumen so he understood to field it as soon as he caught the ball. Even back then, the Launchpad offers sets at the one inch level in the NCAA and the NFL levels so a kickoff specialist can make the ball do things that other tees can't do," Shafer said. "So if it's a forward tumbling ball or a ball that trails off to the right or a squib kick, you can use these kicks to limit any dangerous returner like Ismail."

Both gentlemen are still entrenched in the Massillon tradition. For Abdul Sr. he will have a chance to see the namesake at work again as his grandson, Boston will be kicking for Lake High School this upcoming fall.

And the prowess of the Launchpad just won't end at Massillon. This product is poised to find its way not just to Ohio high schools but high schools also around the national scene as well. And it will be the asset that kickers will need especially in a late game situation to put their defense in a more favorable position to stifle an offense needing a mandatory score to either force overtime or win a contest.

The Launchpad isn't there to usurp the opposition. It is there to become the best friend of a kicker with all specifications followed to a tee. And it will also avoid potential foot injuries forbid a kicker's foot comes in contact with the traditional hard tee compared to the comfortable texture and feel of the soft Launchpad.

"The Launchpad is what I liken to a golf game. Imagine you have one club in the bag and you hit the same ball every time or imagine if you had the Launchpad, you have a full set of clubs and you can use any kind of a hit and that is what the Launchpad allows you to do," Shafer said. "So say you don't have a blue chip kicker who can't reach the end zone with a kickoff. This tee allows that kicker as he develops and learns his skill to do kicks that don't require all that power and it will throw off the return team and make it difficult for them to understand what is coming their way. And at the high school level, it will make it difficult for them to return. It is tailor made for the high school game."

"Depending on where you set the ball, the different leans you put on the ball will dial up the kick you want as you are pulling out different golf clubs out of your bag and that's huge," Abdul said.

There are two games that still stings Shafer to this day. Massillon's two tilts against Warren Harding ended with the Raiders triumphing by scores of 31-27 and 21-20 in an overtime thriller that saw the Raiders pull out an unlikely victory after Massillon captured their only lead of the contest at 14-7 with 1:11 to play in regulation during the 2002 Division I state semifinals.

Manningham ended up public enemy #1 on Tigers fans lists as his two return touchdowns wiped out a 27-17 Massillon advantage in the regular season confrontation. And in the state semifinal, he had a humongous kickoff return that awarded them vital field position leading to their winning score. As much success as the Tigers had going 23-0 against the rest of the opposition from 2001 and 2002, it stings Shafer that Massillon was 0-5 combined against St. Ignatius and Harding, which didn't help matters with grizzled veterans in Chuck Kyle and Thom McDaniels (who coached Canton McKinley for 17 seasons) both piloting their respective teams, the Wildcats and Raiders.

When asked if the Launchpad will have decimated Manningham's ability to score, Shafer pointed out as such.

"That's a great question because we have seen this happen over and over again. Kickoffs returned for touchdowns. When you scout the team you're playing and you have a Mario Manningham back deep, you want to kick away from him and if you are going to kick to him, you want to give him a ball that is difficult to manage and that is what the Launchpad does. It offers a full array of kickoffs that teams don't understand. They are not getting the same ball over and over again. They are getting balls trailing to the left, trailing to the right and had these kicks been allowed, those 14 points will have come off the board."

The 2025 NFL season is only five months away. But with fearless confidence and a cold refusal to abdicate, both Shafer and Abdul believe that the Launchpad tee will eventually become the official tee of not just high school but most importantly the NCAA and the NFL. Having met all the specifications at each level, this is a tee that is the safest friend for any kicker and an asset that will bolster the strength of a team's special teams, something that will prove large in a tight contest, especially come the playoffs adding also to the longevity of kickers for their respective teams.

According to both gentlemen, the time for launching is now.

"So many kickers, their teams can't put the ball in the end zone so they would do a squib kick and it bounces all over the field. Teams are used to that. But with the Launchpad, we can execute different kicks we want and other kicks that they won't be prepared for," Abdul Sr. said. 

"If the NFL will just take a look at it and it will stir up enough dust that they have to look at it and what you saw today, they will have to accept this. It's the only tee that sets the ball at the legal NFL one inch level for all ball sets and safer than any tee in the game today," Shafer said.

The Launchpad is poised for launching and the time for takeoff is now. And with Bill Shafer and David Abdul Sr. at the controls, it's poised to happen.

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.

Random moments of the year

 Random moments of the year

By Keno Sultan

Stark County Prep Press writer

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

CANTON--As another high school basketball season has concluded, there was multiple firsts in what was a riveting season.

The OHSAA state basketball semifinals were held at different venues, with the iconic Canton Memorial Field House hosting four of them with two of them being sellouts in the 4,000-seat colossal coliseum. Also, there were seven state champions that were crowned. Stark County had a boys state champion for the first time in seven years not to mention two finalists from the county. 

For the girls, the county was represented by four district champions with two of the three appearing in regional finals and one capturing a district title for the first time in 31 years.

That said, let's traverse down the road as to what was a moment of a renaissance for Stark County basketball.

LEOPARDS LEAP TO GLORY, PANTHERS PROWL TO FINAL

For the Louisville Leopards boys basketball team, their road to Dayton commenced the previous season as they departed Alliance High School on the other end of a 61-58 upset loss to GlenOak in a thrilling Division I district championship. They were expected to return to the district title game, however with three new divisions being installed, the Leopards were now placed in Division III and installed as an immediate contender for a title.

They survived shades of adversity against Columbus Bishop Hartley in a regional final and then needed a strong defensive fourth quarter to subdue Garfield Heights and their Mr. Basketball winner, Marcus Johnson (the son of 1998 Mr. Basketball winner and Bulldogs head coach Sonny Johnson) to advance to the state title game against #1 Cincinnati Aiken, who many prognosticators said they had almost no weaknesses. However, the Leopards survived an avalanche in the form of a Falcons 15-0 run and recovered in time and captured the school's first state basketball title with a 63-61 win in a battle of the division's #1 and #2 ranked teams. 

For head coach Tom Siegfried, it was 18 years ago he assumed the post from Matt Miglich and has turned the Leopards into a feared contender and it all came to fruition in the form of a state title for a team that Siegfried titles as "The Program." The Leopards are the first state champion since Jackson captured the 2017 Division I title with an upset of undefeated Cincinnati Moeller and you can believe the Leopards will be leaping for years to come under Siegfried's vista.

For the Perry Panthers, a 9-13 end to a regular season might be a form of consternation. However, what ensued became a huge thrill ride under second-year general Matt Voll as the Panthers seized a district title by defeating Solon, stopping highly favored Warren G. Harding on a buzzer-beating three-pointer, eliminating Shaker Heights and topping a one-loss North Royalton team before their season concluded in the state final with a 78-32 loss to #1 ranked Westerville North, who won their first title in 31 years when Dave Hoover piloted them to the title before departing for the Canton McKinley position where he added consecutive titles to the Bulldogs program before retiring. Although the Panthers lost, the pride to Perry basketball has returned in an enormous way and it is only fitting that Voll was the man at the controls. The Panthers finished 14-14 but that is a respectable 14-14. The Perry community has a lot to be proud of in that achievement in it's own right.

Look for the Leopards and Panthers to ascend off their accomplishments and inspire young men who want to compete for them in the years to come. They both represented Stark County greatly and the nascent attendance for the state semifinals at the Field House were a testament of that.

SHARE THE ACCOLADES

Canton McKinley took a vast step in the right direction under second-year head coach and 2005 alumnus Sean Weatherspoon as they seized a district championship for the first time in five years and came within a game of the state semifinals before Cleveland St. Ignatius put a stop sign in front of the Bulldogs season with a 73-47 victory in a Division I regional final. It was also the Wildcats second victory over the Bulldogs in the same season, a 96-69 victory earlier that year.

It wasn't the ending the Bulldogs wanted but Weatherspoon lucidly has his hands on the program that he came to rescue after one season as Alliance head coach. With a 20-6 record and a strong nucleus returning along with depth at the lower levels, this is a legitimate team that has the makings of advancing a round further when the road starts again in eight months.

Weatherspoon, who was a part of the 2005 McKinley team that won the first of two straight titles knows. After his junior year, the Bulldogs were installed as the preseason #1 ranked team in Ohio and held that ranking all the way to a 26-1 record and the eventual title. This team isn't far away from where they want to be and that is horrifying news for the rest of the opposition.

For Central Catholic, the success of the Crusaders continues under head coach Matt Creamer as the Crusaders captured their sixth district title in 12 seasons with another battle-tested schedule. It is safe to say that Creamer found his calling after 15 seasons at Massillon and the evidence of his success is clearly palpable.

Not to be ostracized in all of this is the Massillon boys basketball team. Under the direction of seventh-year general and 1998 graduate Josh Hose, the Tigers have ascended up the ladder the last three seasons as they have matriculated from a sectional-district second round team, to district semifinalists, and recently to district finalists where their season finished 19-5 with a loss to eventual Akron regional runner-up Shaker Heights by a score of 72-67 in the Wooster district championship. 

I saw this Tigers team up front as a color commentator for ESPN 990 with the voice of the Tigers, Ray Jeske and this team was truly Hose's best squad as they were paced by the rapid scoring of senior sharpshooter Chris Knight, who is one of three seniors that will depart the program along with Terrelle Keyes and Jalen Slaughter. Their season turned around back in January as they overcame a six-point chasm with two minutes remaining in regulation to force overtime and clawed out a 71-68 victory over Dover, which is a very arduous gym to win in. It ignited a 13-game winning streak that included a 74-73 win over McKinley at the Field House. Massillon isn't far away from a district title and with ample depth coming up, the Tigers just finally may hoist a title next season for the first time since 2003 and for Hose, it would be a personal achievement for him as he lost a district title game as a player back in 1997. Danny Young, the 17th-year Red Raiders coach graciously paid Massillon a huge compliment when he mentioned that no team went out with class and dignity more than Hose's charges. Have faith Massillon, your title is coming soon.

Shifting to the girls side, it was Jackson, Central Catholic, Canton South and Massillon all winning district titles. Jackson and Canton South came within a game of the state tournament while the Crusaders and Tigers left their mark in the regionals.

However, you have to tip your hat to the Massillon program and it's head coach, Joe Pierce, a 1990 graduate of Massillon. When Pierce inherited the program, the program had fallen on hard times. But rising from those ashes came a winning formula and it all came together in the form of a district title for the first time since the 1994 season when they advanced to the regional finals. The girls also eliminated a 21-year losing streak to Canton McKinley with a running clock victory, a victory that showed the scratch and bite along with the feral roar was now felt within the Tigers regime. This will be a team to be reckoned with in the next several years to come and they will be a fun batch to watch.

A LITTLE TOO EARLY FOR FOOTBALL BUT......

Several months ago, there were some changes in the football hierarchy an they have all taken effect. Perry, Canton McKinley and Minerva all have new football coaches piloting their programs.

The Panthers recently hired Massillon graduate and former defensive coordinator Spencer Leno to be their head coach as he replaced Zach Slates (who replaced Tim Speakman at Minerva) as their new football coach. From all accounts, the reception to Leno has been well received by the Panthers community and you can still believe they will be as hard-nosed as they have always been. Leno, a former Tiger standout and a 2009 graduate was the architect of the 2023 Massillon defense that only yielded an average of seven points as they seized the Division II state title with a 16-0 record. Look for the Panthers to contend for a Federal League title come August.

And speaking of defense, the Bulldogs have turned to former Akron Hoban defensive coordinator Renzy Parnell to be their next head coach as he succeeds Antonio Hall, who stepped down for an administrative position after four years at his alma mater. Parnell knows much about winning championships as he was part of the Knights run that resulted in five state titles in six years, two of those title wins coming over very deep and strong Massillon teams in 2018 and 2020. Not counting Thom McDaniels return to McKinley in 2014, Parnell will be the program's ninth general since 1997 and hopefully he is there to stay and be received with open arms. One asset that will be integral to Parnell's longevity at McKinley will be if the Bulldogs can finally in the 10th week get out of the orange and black quicksand known as Massillon. Parnell will be the fourth straight first-year head coach to have the 10th week at home with Dan Reardon being the only one to win and that was nearly 10 years ago. Marcus Wattley and Hall dropped their respective home contests to the Tigers by scores of 24-14 and 35-13 respectively.

Aside from the Stark County scene and taking a trip down to Tuscarawas County, for the first time in 30 years, the Dover High School football program will have a new head coach. For three decades, Dan Ifft was the face of Dover Tornadoes football as his legion of Tornadoes were hard-working, hard-hat, lunch pail carrying players who embodied what Tornadoes football was about and were successful in the process.

With Ifft retiring, there were many applicants who applied for the coveted Tornadoes post. Dover City Schools turned the program over to defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Matt Rees, a 2004 graduate of Dover and a 2008 Mount Union graduate to be the program's head coach. Rees, 39, knows a thing about success, being part of a 10-0 Dover team and then seizing two national championships as a linebacker for the Purple Raiders. There won't be a drop off with the talent that is surrounding him especially from the middle school levels as well. He will be a keeper for sure, not to mention that not just him but his wife is also a Dover graduate and are the parents of three outstanding children who all reside in Dover and are a part of the Dover City Schools system. I personally am excited to once again witness the Crater Stadium atmosphere with Rees at the post as a Mount Union alum myself, pleased to extend my full support to him.

On April 26th, the Ohio North-South football game will once again descend on the confines of Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon. The coaches and rosters will be released at a later time. If you have nothing to do, purchase a ticket and enjoy eight quarters and two games of outstanding football as seniors will represent their schools one last time before embarking on their collegiate careers.

THANKFUL FOR EDUCATORS

There is no way this can end without me acknowledging multiple educators that my paths crossed with multiple times. You never forget the people who paved the way for you not to mention others that my paths have crossed to learn life lessons from, especially this year.

That said, here are the people I personally want to thank for being a part of the person I am today. There are so many I can name. But here are some of them:

Butch Hose. For 40 years, Butch Hose was the face of Massillon administration. His tagline, "be the best student you can always be" still holds the test of time even 20 years after his retirement. I would always read about him in the newspaper regarding Massillon administration and he epitomized what it means to be a Tiger. Even though I was not a Massillon City Schools student, you can feel the impact he has on others in his regime. His son, Josh, the current Massillon boys basketball coach is the only Tigers coach in the program history to defeat two undefeated teams on consecutive nights late in the same season.

Theresa Barbato. It's only fitting I would reconnect with my first-grade teacher back in 2017 when I was at Tozzi's during the McKinley boys and girls basketball championship reunion as one of many guest speakers. One thing is for sure, she still is radiant today and making a difference in the lives of students, having done this both as a teacher and a counselor. Her radiance still shines vividly today as a graduate of the McKinley High School class of 1983.

Melissa Marconi. It was 29 years ago she was my seventh-grade teacher at Canton's Lehman Middle School. If you were to tell me my paths were to cross hers again after so long, I probably wouldn't have believed it. She still sparkles today as the superintendent of Tuslaw Local School in her ninth year at the post after being the principal of Tuslaw Local Schools. She has a smile that will still melt anyone's heart, even mine.

Renee Sattler. For 35 years, she was the face of Dover Avenue Elementary School, a post she held till her retirement four years ago. I go back to having been just seven months removed from graduating from Mount Union back in 2006 and I was covering a basketball game between Dover and Massillon at Massillon and much to my surprise, she knew who I was the first time she saw me in my New York Yankees three-piece suit at press row in Massillon (I'm actually an Atlanta Braves fan but let's call it as the Yankees are my second favorite team). Though she is retired, she still has an impact on the students who walked through the halls of Dover Avenue to this day. Not to be forgotten also is her husband, Rob, a former principal at Tuslaw, who, like Renee knew who I was as well the first time he saw me this past season. 

Courtney Rees. The biggest mistake I ever made? Not thinking she would know who I was in my Yankees three-piece suit at press row in the Massillon gym and I still laugh at that to this day. It was like getting robbed of a game-winning grand slam inside Yankee Stadium in the bottom of the ninth inning and two outs with the bases loaded, ha ha, ha. It was like getting robbed of two home runs in my last two at-bats. Only Courtney and her mother could do that to me, ha, ha. If there is anyone who can warm anyone's heart and leave an unforgettable mark on it, it's her. Truly blessed to have her as a lifelong friend always and a fellow Purple Raider. Dover is very proud to have her as an educator and an alumnus not to mention a loving personality and resident of the city she grew up in.

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.

Irish scores knockout of undefeated Knights in Holy War

 Irish scores knockout of undefeated Knights in Holy War

By Keno Sultan

Stark County Prep Press

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

AKRON--Growing up in traditional Catholic families, young men and women are taught to love those as they want to be loved.

There is no love lost between rivals St. Vincent-St. Mary and Hoban in their Holy War.

However, when rivals collide, all forms of respect are put aside and it is about one securing bragging rights over the other. Tonight in front of a vociferous crowd at the JAR arena on the University of Akron campus, in a battle of Summit County powers, it was the Fighting Irish constructing an early 15-0 run to erect an early 16-7 first quarter advantage and didn't allow the Knights to creep no closer than five points as they scored a 51-43 upset of an undefeated Hoban squad who had been winning close contests over the last several weeks. 

The close shaves, one of those included a two point win over Warrensville Heights finally proved to be more than what the undefeated Knights were able to handle as their 10-0 record was extinguished and their early deficit had a lot to do with that.

St. Vincent-St. Mary longtime general Dru Joyce, always a face of calmness and coolness and never the one to be a yeller or screamer acknowledged his team's fast start that parlayed into their triumph.

"We felt that there were some things that they couldn't do in defending John (Whorton) and we have anyone on the team that can shoot. We scored early and that loosened them up and once we did that, we were able to throw the ball into John," he said. "We went 10 deep on the bench and I felt very good about that."

Two early three pointers by DeCarlo Prince ignited the Irish attack that proved to be the catalyst of the contest after Hoban had their only lead of the contest at 7-3. The 41 points scored by the Knights was their lowest output of the season and their vaunted attack, centered around their giant centers in Sam Greer and Kamron Engley never really got going.

The Irish took their largest lead of the contest early in the third quarter at 30-17 with over five minutes remaining when Prince traveled 94 feet after a steal for a two-handed dunk that brought the Irish cheering section to their feet. It seemed that a rout was on the agenda for LeBron James's alma mater before a James McCarthy three-pointer sliced the Irish advantage to eight points with over three minutes remaining in the quarter.

Hoban made one last stand but were never able to get their deficit under five points and the end result was the termination of their undefeated campaign.

A key to the Irish holding on was handling the late pressure applied by the Knights. It also helped out that Joyce was able to see the calmness of his team on the bench, something he expects his charges to have at all times no matter the situation.

"The main thing is they are kids and if I am out of control, then I can't expect them to be in control so I am trying to be that person when it gets down to adversity and I can give them situations to help them out of it," Joyce said. "We rallied and we are getting better. We have been giving up leads early in the season but tonight when we needed a bucket or two, we got it and that was big."

Prince paced the Irish with 19 points while Whorton had a double-double with 17 points and 10 hard earned rebounds. McCarthy was Hoban's leading scorer with 16.

For the Irish, this is a big win for them as they turn their sights to an affair with Fairfield. Hoban will look to rebound after their first setback. When asked if winning close contests finally caught up to the Knights, with his team having a lot to do with that, Joyce concurred as such, especially with as adept as their defense was on the evening.

"We're an outstanding defensive team. We played great teams as I was telling our guys before the game is that no matter what they do, they are not going to do anything we haven't seen so we just had to go out and be the best version of ourselves, we did that and we are fine."

Statistics from St. Vincent-St. Mary's win over Hoban. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

Growing up in Catholic families, young men and women are taught to love those as they want to be loved. Tonight, St. Vincent-St. Mary got a huge victory worthy of that love.

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.

Massillon native Farrington thriving as Purple Raiders forward

 Massillon native Farrington thriving as Purple Raiders forward

By Keno Sultan

Stark County Prep Press writer

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

ALLIANCE--Accountability is a trait that was ingrained into Elijah Farrington the day he walked onto the floor at Massillon Washington High School as a freshman.

As a freshman, he was inspired by the 2019-2020 Tigers team that compiled a 19-4 record but also defeated two top 5 and undefeated teams very late near the end of the regular season on back-to-back nights, downing Wooster, who was ranked in the top 5 in Division I and then Ridgewood, who was #4 in Division III.

It is a reason why he was able to thrive as a Tigers forward and not only is he one of seven Stark County basketball players on the University of Mount Union roster but after seeing vast time as a freshman, he is now one of three Stark products starting on a Purple Raiders team that is 8-4 on the season and undefeated at 5-0 in OAC competition after a bruising 82-77 victory over a gritty Marietta team, whose 4-8 (1-4 OAC) record belies them in terms of being a quality team, a team that has always pushed the Purple Raiders for years.

The 2023 Massillon graduate thrived under the tutelage of current sixth year floor boss Josh Hose, a 1998 graduate and former football and basketball standout, who was part of the Tigers 1997 Division I district final competing team, spearheaded by 6'9'', 235 lb. shot blocking mammoth, Marco Morgan.

Farrington averaged 19.5 points as a senior on a team that finished 14-10, their season concluding with a loss to eventual state champion Akron Hoban. His production was a reason why 14th year Purple Raiders general Mike Fuline, a state championship winning head coach of the Jackson High School boys basketball team in 2010 was able to lure Farrington to Mount Union, where he has flourished.

SHOOTING STAR. Former Massillon Tigers forward Elijah Farrington takes a jump shot during pregame activity before Mount Union's OAC contest against Marietta. The Purple Raiders remained undefeated in the conference with an 82-77 victory. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

"What brought me to Mount Union was that I knew that there was a lot of people that was coming here and I really liked the culture, the winning culture, it's just a great atmosphere with great academics here and it was really close to home," Farrington said.

It is no secret that Farrington has chosen accounting as his desired major. He has always believed in accountability and it is something that he imposed on his teammates as a high school senior and looks to have a future as an accountant once his playing days conclude.

Last season, Mount Union advanced to the OAC title game where their season concluded with an 88-86 loss to John Carroll, who will be departing for the NCAC conference after this season. Missing an at-large berth was something that gnawed at the Purple Raiders for a full year and with another strong team returning, their goal is to capture the regular season and conference titles at the same time while not leaving anything to chance.

Farrington showed some leadership traits in the closing seconds of the Purple Raiders contest against Marietta. After missing two free throws, the Pioneers had a chance to steal away an unlikely victory when Jayden Bradshaw drove hard for a point blank range layup, however Farrington was able to alter the shot attempt and his defense atoned for the two missed free throws near the end and a reason why they are still undefeated in the conference. Farrington finished with 11 points on the evening.

"My mentality there was next play. I told our guys we're going to pull through and do everything we could to secure the win," Farrington said of the decisive sequence that transpired into a victory.

During his four years at Massillon, Farrington developed into a standout athlete who not only succeeded on the floor but in the classroom as well. Playing under Hose ingrained the ferocity that made him the successful Tiger he was on the floor.

A mantra that longtime revered Massillon administrator Butch Hose (the father of Josh Hose) always told his students in his 40-year administrative journey was to always "be the best student you can always be." That was something Farrington took to heart whenever he was in the halls of Washington High School and on the basketball court whether it was in practice or a game. 

Farrington credited Hose for the tough and fierce practices as they helped prepare him for the collegiate level.

"Coach (Josh) Hose coached us really hard and he loves us all. He got us ready for that next level whether it is on the court or off the court, he really built me as a player and as a character, so a huge shout-out to him," he said.

Mount Union begins a pivotal three-game stretch that will start Saturday afternoon at home against a Heidelberg squad that is 4-1 in the conference with their only setback coming to Muskingum and have responded well in the form of a four-game conference winning streak. Challenges also ensue against Baldwin Wallace and Ohio Northern and it is a stretch that will be portentous as to how the Purple Raiders season will transpire as conference play gets deeper.

RAIDER ON DEFENSE. Elijah Farrington (left) defends against Marietta's Jack Main during the first half of Wednesday's OAC contest. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

Attending Mount Union is not for the faint of heart. It takes strong academic rigors and the ability to manage time and classes at the same time and if one is not ready for the challenge, their time at the university will be woefully short. Farrington left some advice for anyone, especially in his hometown of Massillon that is looking at Mount Union as a school to attend in the near future.

"Get to know people, there are a lot of great people here that are willing to help you," he said.

Accountability is a trait that was ingrained into Elijah Farrington the day he walked the halls of Massillon Washington High School as a freshman. And he is still abiding by those standards as a starting forward for the Mount Union Purple Raiders basketball squad.

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.

Former Jackson state title winning head coach becomes Mount Union's all-time wins leader

 Former Jackson state title winning head coach becomes Mount Union's all-time wins leader

By Keno Sultan

Stark County Prep Press

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

ALLIANCE--14 years ago, Mike Fuline was at the height of his dominance.

In his fifth season atop the Jackson High School boys basketball program, the Polar Bears became unlikely Division I state champions and finished ranked 25th in the nation with a 25-2 record punctuated by a 57-35 pillaging of tradition-laden Cincinnati Moeller in the state final.

14 years later, Fuline experienced another coaching accomplishment, this time at the collegiate level.

Surviving multiple Marietta runs, the Purple Raiders were able to finally close the door on their OAC rival Pioneers and emerge victorious inside the Timken Physical Education Center with a gritty 82-77 victory against a rival they have had a major history with dating back to their 2013 OAC tournament final.

Early on it didn't look like Mount Union would have to sweat out a victory as they led by 10 at halftime and eventually pushed their lead to 13 before the Pioneers rallied to make it a contest. It was Jayden Bradshaw missing a point blank range layup in the closing seconds amid tough defense from sophomore Elijah Farrington that allowed the Purple Raiders to ascend to 5-0 in the conference and 8-4 overall.

The fact Mount survived a testy second half proved advantageous and may do just that down the line.

"This was an impossible game to officiate. There were fouls and it's a rivalry game. They are really good and sometimes emotions get a little rowdy but I am proud of our guys for hanging in there and getting key rebounds when we needed to," Fuline, who became the school's all-time leader in wins with 252 said.

Mount Union and Marietta have met four times in the OAC tournament finals, each school splitting two wins apiece and don't be alarmed if there is a fifth meeting come late February. Although the Pioneers are 1-4 in conference play, that is a deceiving 1-4 and their run may come soon.

COACH' S CONFERENCE. Mount Union head coach Mike Fuline chats with his staff during a media timeout in Wednesday's OAC conference contest with Marietta. Fuline became the school's leader in victories with 252 as the Purple Raiders downed the Pioneers 82-77. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

A Jack Main layup handed the Pioneers their first and only lead of the contest with 50 seconds remaining. However, Purple Raiders freshman Jarrett Taylor converted two free throws after a big offensive rebound following two missed free throws from Farrington.

Mount Union according to Fuline didn't shoot the ball well but were able to get down and dirty on the defensive end to emerge victorious.

"We really didn't shoot it well tonight so that is something we are continuing to work at but I am proud of our guys for continuing to keep fighting and finding a way to get it done," he said.

Mount Union had five players in double figures, led by the 17 points from Christian Parker, the school's all-time leading scorer and the only player to eclipse the 2,000 point plateau. Chance Casenheiser and Jarrett Taylor both had 14, Farrington chipped in with 11 and Marcus Steele had 10.

Frank Waganfeald paced the Pioneers with 18 while Main finished with 16 for the 4-7 Pioneers (1-4 OAC).

It all added up to a seraphic evening that ended with Fuline becoming Mount Union's all-time leader in victories. When asked what was it that brought him to Mount Union after a six-year run as Jackson's floor general, the family atmosphere he preached was the main catalyst.

"The people, the campus and the tradition of winning. If the football team can win, why can't we. That is what it was and now 14 years later, that's a long time. It was also great seeing our former players here too," he said.

14 years ago, Mike Fuline was at the height of his dominance as a state champion head coach at Jackson High School. 14 years later he is at the height of the Mount Union Purple Raiders basketball program as it's all time leader in wins.

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.