By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

When it comes to offense, the Crestwood boys basketball team has a saying: “Let it rip.”

The three words encompass how the Red Devils like to play the game.

And how the coaching staff, led by head coach Josh Jakacki like to coach the game.

“We don’t have many rules offensively — other than making sure the ball doesn’t stick in a spot,” Jakacki said. “We give ownership to our players to make the right play based on what the defense gives us.”

Judging by Charlie Schweickert’s numbers, the Devils are choosing right a lot.

The senior broke the record for career 3s earlier this season and, as of Feb. 15, had buried 194 3-pointers (68 this season). That equates to 582 career points just on 3-pointers alone.

Let it rip, indeed.

The freedom to launch, though, is something that each Red Devils player earns through hard work.

And that hard work establishes trust amongst their teammates and coaching staff.

It also eliminates one of the toughest layers of the sport: Thinking.

“We share confidence in them and that is specific to the work they have put in to get where they are now as players,” Jakacki said. “So I do think that they play with a high level of freedom because the team knows we have trust in them.”

For Schweickert, the extra work has come often, but also naturally.

Described as a player that “eats, sleeps and thinks” about basketball, he has grown into one of the team’s trusted leaders and has helped the program to a remarkable turnaround.

Just two seasons ago, in 2021-22, the Red Devils were winless in the Chagrin Valley Conference. Zero wins. Ten losses.

Crestwood senior Charlie Schweickert advances the ball up the court during the Devils’ matchup at Kirtland earlier this season. Sheila Mathers/Special to Portage Sports

A year ago, the Devils struggled again at just 1-9.

A summer of relentless work allowed for one of the rarest accomplishments in sports, going from the bottom to the top in successive years.

Crestwood’s 19 wins this season are more than the last three years combined (13) and the Devils’ perfect 10-0 record in league play captured the CVC championship.

On a team filled with talented players, Schweickert, who is averaging 14.8 points per game this season, has been part of the program’s resurgence every step of the way.

“Charlie has put in an incredible amount of work since his freshman year,” Jakacki said. “Each year, he has added another element to his game. He was very receptive to what we needed to improve on each year and has taken a very intentional approach to his improvement. He is a gym rat, who is a tireless worker. His ability to score off the bounce and become more of a playmaker is the most improved element of his game.”

And Crestwood is fortunate to have a number of playmakers to make the game easier on everyone, including Dekota Johnson, Brody Durham, James Durham and Augie Schweickert just to name a few.

Jakacki’s front-row seat to Schweickert’s growth as a player and teammate has been gratifying.

“To say I am proud of him is an understatement,” Jakacki said. “Charlie is a winner, and I’m just happy that he has been given this stage to perform.”

Once on stage, Schweickert confidently knows exactly what to do.

Let it rip.