By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The 2022 Rootstown High School boys soccer game, which is played as the primary fundraiser for the Ryan Streem Memorial Scholarship, was played on July 30 at Robert Dunn Field at Rootstown High School.

This year’s event also was played in honor of Michael Boland, a 2005 graduate who died unexpectedly in his sleep on Aug. 13, 2021.

Boland is Rootstown’s all-time leader in points (258), goals (106) and is second in assists (46). He also holds multiple school records in basketball and baseball.

In honor of Boland, there was a ceremonial kickoff for the game between Boland’s older brother Russell and Boland’s nephew Dillon.

Also, all players in the game wore shirts with Boland’s signature No. 8 on the back.

All proceeds from the game, including player registration, raffles and donations, go to the Ryan Streem Memorial Scholarship, which has more than $45,000 to graduating Rootstown seniors.

It was the 21st alumni game for the program and it was preceded by a Kids Game that showcased the children of the Rootstown alumni players.

The alumni game was set up as “Evens vs. Odds,” with even-year graduation players versus odd-year graduation players, while current high-school players also joined in.

It was the “evens” that won the game, 5-3, behind goals from Adam Gharky (2), Tom Nader (2) and current high school player Brady Fillmore. Goals for the “odds” were by Russell Boland, Dillon Boland and Owen Burrell.