By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

We are proud to announce that our shop is now open!

It is filled with some Portage Sports apparel, but there are also some new designs that celebrate the county’s great communities.

You can check everything out by clicking on the “Shop” link on the main website’s menu bar or visit directly at portagesports.com/shop.

Many of the designs also include action from Portage Sports, with pledges for us to donate 10 percent of profits back to schools’ athletic departments.

And new designs will be consistently added to the shop in time. Be sure to keep checking back!

Here is some information about some of the featured shirts that were influenced by the heritage of some area schools.

       • The Doug Mori: Doug Mori (1950-2017) coached the Rootstown High School football team from 1973 to 1988 and finished with 83 career wins, which ranks 12th all-time in Portage County history. Mori was well known for being a great motivator, but also for his larger than life personality and competitive spirit. That competitive spirit infamously led to him designing navy blue “BEAT MOGADORE” shirts for his coaching staff in the early 1980’s. The story is told that Mori knew Mogadore would be the team to beat and if his Rovers were to ascend the Portage County League, they would have to “BEAT MOGADORE.” And while the shirt was influenced by Mori’s Rovers, we have designed this in Field Falcons colors as well to capture the rivalry feel!

       • The Marty Hill: Windham boys basketball owns some of the deepest tradition that Portage County has ever seen on the hardwood. Head coach Marty Hill leading the way for 47 years with his specific brand of basketball that was easy to win over the hearts of even opposing teams. Along the way, Hill collected 694 wins, 13 league champions, three regional titles and many, many, many players that can now they claim, “I PLAYED FOR MARTY HILL.”

       • The John Nemec: Former Kent Roosevelt High School football head coach John Nemec is the winningest coach in Portage County football history. He spent 29 years leading the Rough Riders’ program and earned 231 wins (231-113-3 overall) and is a member of the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Nemec’s Riders won eight Metro League championships, one Western Reserve Conference title and four Portage Trail Conference crowns. Along the way, he influenced thousands that now proudly say, “I PLAYED FOR JOHN NEMEC.”

       • Ravenna vs. Kent Roosevelt: There are few rivalries across the state of Ohio that are deeper than Kent Roosevelt vs. Ravenna. The rivalry crosses all sports, but speaks loudest on the football field, where the Rough Riders and Ravens have met 107 times dating back to 1911. Rivalries like this one are what make high-school athletics so special. These shirts hit hard, but keep it simple: BEAT RAVENNA and BEAT KENT.

       • Suffield Big Red: Field High School, in reality, is a continuation of Suffield High School since Brimfield Township never had its own high school. Field High School was established in 1961. Prior to the creation, Suffield High School’s athletic teams were known as the Big Red — a name that was carried over, along with the school colors of white and red, and adopted by Field High School at its inception. The black school color was added later. Field High School moved to the “Falcons” nickname in the late 1970’s while still holding classes in the Suffield High School building while the current Field High School building was being constructed.

       • Ravenna Township Bulldogs: Ravenna Township High School merged with Ravenna City High School in 1960 to form modern-day Ravenna High School. Prior to the merger, the Ravenna Township athletic teams were known as the Bulldogs. At the time of the merger, the districts agreed to keep the city high school’s nickname of the Ravens, but adopted the township high school’s colors of blue and white. The school color red was added in later. Ravenna City High School’s colors had been maroon and blue.

       • Randolph Tigers: A unanimous school board vote on Sept. 16, 1965 officially approved the merger of Randolph High School and Atwater High School. Before the merger, however, the athletic teams in Randolph were known as the Tigers. The school colors were black and gold. At the time of the merger, the two schools totaled a combined 461 students to what would be named Waterloo High School.

       • Atwater Spartans: A unanimous school board vote on Sept. 16, 1965 officially approved the merger of Randolph High School and Atwater High School. Before the merger, however, the athletic teams in Atwater were known as the Spartans. The school colors were orange and black. At the time of the merger, the two schools totaled a combined 461 students to what would be named Waterloo High School.

       • Bomb•er Bas•ket•ball: As the words would be seen in a dictionary, this shirt provides the definition of the style of basketball played under Marty Hill. Unselfish, hard working and smart players that played the game the right way.

       • Mogadore Against the World: Everybody respects Mogadore. Furthermore, everybody likes to beat Mogadore. The Wildcats, understandably, take it as a sign of flattery. The result, however, leaves Wildcat Country feeling like it is “MOGADORE AGAINST THE WORLD.”