By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

For the first time since 1980, a Mogadore High School graduate is playing in the Big Ten.

That reality became official on Sunday when Mason Williams, who had previously entered the transfer portal after three seasons at Ohio University, announced that he was signing with Ohio State.

The 6-foot-5, 257-pound tight end was named Third Team All-Mid-American Conference this season. He totaled 26 receptions, 276 yards and three touchdowns, while being a strong run blocker. Over his three years, Williams has 48 receptions for 565 yards and six scores.

He will be a junior for the Buckeyes for the 2026 season.

The last Mogadore graduate to be in the Big Ten was Bert Vaughn, who played at Michigan State from 1977 through 1980.

In Vaughn’s four seasons with the Spartans, he completed 97-of-204 passes for 1,331 yards. He had eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

On the Portage Sports Facebook page, Mogadore football head coach Matt Adorni, who coached Williams during his prep career, said: 

“Very proud of Mason. He has worked very hard to get to this opportunity. Buckeyes loved him and came at him hard in the last week. He had a number of other major D1 visits scheduled but the Bucks didn’t let him leave Columbus. They liked him coming out of HS and said they would keep an eye on him and they did not lie. Go Bucks!”

The Ohio State football roster now has two Mogadore natives on its roster.

Williams joins Eli Lee, who is a Mogadore native, but played high school football at Hoban.

Lee is the son of Ben Lee, who played for the Wildcats in the late 1990’s and is the brother of another Mogadore gridiron standout Tommy Lee.

Eli Lee, a linebacker, just completed his freshman season in Columbus.

KENT ROOSEVELT SWIMMING AND DIVING

The Kent Roosevelt boys and girls swimming and diving teams won the Suburban League Tournament championships on Saturday.

It extends the run of titles for the Rough Riders at the event, with the boys program now winners of the last four championships and the girls completing the three-peat.

First-place finishes for the boys included Max Froman (100 Breast) and the 200 Free Relay (Amodoio, Froman, Hanson and Love).

The girls did not have a first-place finish, but captured the championship with balance and consistency.

ALEX ELY WINS 100

Rootstown senior Alex Ely became the 20th wrestler in program history to reach the 100-win milestone. Ely celebrated the achievement on Saturday at the Portage County Tournament hosted at Garfield High School.

The other 100-win wrestlers at Rootstown are:

Luke Sorboro (190 wins), Ryan Boyle (182), Caleb Edwards (180), Chris Langguth (175), Niko Chilson (168), Cody Coontz (165), Travis Linton (162), Brad Trescott (161), Dalton Leightner (160), Tristan McKibben (157), Tony Paolucci (153), Seth Hayes (151), Nick Malek (146), Brian Youngblood (145), Michael Prikryl (144), Garrett Linton (140), Will McEwuen (118), Tyler Paulus (116), Lane McKenzie (112).

LEWIS, MERTZ WIN NO. 1

Two first-year basketball coaches celebrated milestone wins last week.

Crestwood boys coach Andrew Mertz and Waterloo girls coach Nicole Lewis each captured the first wins of their careers.

For Mertz, the Devils delivered the moment in a 60-58 win over Jefferson Area.

For Lewis, the Vikings delivered her moment in a 33-28 win over Akron Springfield. It was the Vikings’ first program win since the 2022-23 season after playing the 2023-24 season as a freshman team and the 2024-25 season as a JV team.

COLLEGE SIGNINGS

     • Averi Weis, Field softball, Slippery Rock University