By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

HEAD COACH

Bobby Staudt

1st year

0-0 career record

THE TEAM

   • Coaching Staff: Chuck Palmer, assistant; Matt Patrick, assistant; Mike Fillmore, JV.

   • 2022-23 Record: 4-19 overall; 0-10 Portage Trail Conference.

   • Returning Lettermen (3): Joe Weaver, sr.; Aiden Rodstrom, sr.; Cameron Mahone, sr.

   • Lettermen Lost (6): Mason Lisi, Blake Postlethwait, Cole Hostetler, Ryan Piscitani, Kyle Weese, Brady Fillmore.

SEASON OUTLOOK

Bobby Staudt takes over the Rootstown program after it was led by Cody Calhoun the past five seasons. Calhoun is now the head coach at Aurora.

Staudt, like Calhoun, comes from the Green Bulldogs coaching tree and brings a philosophy mapped around maximum effort on defense “100 percent of the time.”

“If we buy into doing our job all the time on both ends of the floor, we can find some success,” Staudt said. “We will need some younger guys to step up and provide us with depth.”

Offensively, the Rovers will be designed to receive balanced scoring.

“We are going to have multiple guys on the floor at a time that can bring the ball up the floor and handle pressure, which will be beneficial to us.

GUARDS

Two seniors, Mahone and Weaver, spotlight the backcourt of the Rovers.

“Joe had a great off-season, and we trust him to handle the ball and get us in stuff offensively.”

Mahone is very athletic and brings some length to the position.

“He is very versatile and can score in a variety of ways. He is capable of having some big nights offensively and has the ability to be a very good defender.”

The only junior on the team’s roster, Zach Hays, is a nice outside shooter and is also a good team player.

A pair of freshmen, Blake Mullaly and Caleb Fillmore, are likely to also see varsity action.

“Blake is one of the hardest workers in the program and is competitive. Caleb is competing for playing time. He plays hard and has improved his offensive game from the summer.”

FORWARDS

Aiden Rodstrom returns to the lineup after missing all of the 2022-23 season with a shoulder injury.

“He is a physical kid and one of our best leaders. We need him to lead both vocally and, most importantly, lead by example, which he has done so far.”

Rodstrom’s younger brother, Landon, a sophomore, will also be a contributing factor.

“He hustles and is a good 3-point shooter.”

Freshman Carson Hayn is also pushing for playing time.

UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH

Landon Rodstrom, soph.; Blake Mullaly, fresh.; Caleb Fillmore, fresh.; Carson Hayn, freshman.

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

“How quickly our freshmen and sophomores can prove they are varsity ready and provide us with depth. The first year in a new system will provide us with some challenges that we will have to adapt to — both from a player perspective and as a staff.”

LEAGUE OUTLOOK

“The league, as a whole, has a lot of experience. JFK is very good. Mogadore and Aquinas are always contending for the league title. Lake Center has two very good guards. Southeast has one of the best players in the league, if not the best.”