Field volunteer Ellen Arena holding a collection of yellow roses that were given to her by the Field High School boys basketball seniors last Friday.
Tom Nader/Portage Sports

By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Coaches have come and gone.

Thousands of players have graduated.

Leagues have formed, disbanded and re-aligned.

Ellen Arena has seen it all.

She has been there for it all.

Remarkably, the 2024-25 season is Arena’s 54th season keeping the scorebook and stats for the Field Falcons boys and girls basketball teams.

The retired Field educator is respected inside her own community, but also across Portage County because of her longevity, professionalism and loyalty.

The 1971-72 season was Arena’s first, when her teaching colleague and friend Joanna Francis, who was also the Falcons’ first girls basketball coach, asked her if she would help.

Arena, who grew up 28 miles north of Pittsburgh and made her home in Northeast Ohio after graduating from Kent State University, said, “Yes,” and the simple response began her long career as an irreplaceable volunteer.

She began volunteering for the boys basketball team in 1982-83 and for football in 1988, and has shared in similar statistical roles at various times for volleyball, baseball and softball.

Last Friday night was Senior Night for the Field boys basketball team, but it was also a night to recognize Arena, who was surprised with yellow roses from the Falcons’ five seniors. The quintet of players, after being announced as the night’s starters versus Ravenna, made a special trip back over to the scorer’s table to personally deliver a yellow rose to Arena.

“What an honor. I was very moved by this. Absolutely made my day. Those senior boys are the best,” Arena said.

COLLEGE SIGNINGS

     • Lucas Manderbach, Aurora football, signed with Lehigh University.

     • Matthew Copley, Aurora football, signed with the University of Findlay.

     • Robert Melzer, Ravenna football, signed with Ohio Wesleyan.

     • Jack Muldowney, Southeast football, signed with Tiffin University.

TRISTAN MCKIBBEN’S 150

Rootstown senior Tristan McKibben recently became the 29th wrestler in Portage County history to reach the 150-win milestone.

He is the 12th in Rootstown program history to reach the plateau.

The other 150-winners in Portage County history include:

1. Luke Sorboro, Rootstown, 190

2. Ryan Boyle, Rootstown, 182

3. Caleb Edwards, Rootstown, 180

4. Will Bolanz, Waterloo; Paul Skye, Mogadore, 176

6. Chris Langguth, Rootstown, 175

7. Jarrod Brezovec, Aurora, 172

8. Johnny Papesh, Aurora, 170

9. Logan Kissell, Garfield, 169

10. Matt Reedy, Ravenna; Cory Simpson, Field; Niko Chilson, Rootstown, 168

13. Dylan Kager, Crestwood; Cody Coontz, Rootstown, 165

15. JJ Diven, Waterloo, 163

16. Travis Linton, Rootstown, 162

17. Brad Trescott, Rootstown; JP Wrobel, Crestwood 161

18. Dalton Leightner, Rootstown; Ty Mitch, Aurora; Dominic Carone, Streetsboro, 160

21. Steve Blunk, Streetsboro, 159

22. Hunter Andel, Garfield, 157

23. Tony Paolucci, Rootstown, 153

24. Justin Chew, Mogadore, 152

25. Seth Hayes, Rootstown; Jimmy Holmes, Ravenna; Justin Fox, Waterloo, 151

RECORDS FROM LONG RANGE

Rootstown senior girls basketball standout Addy Germann set the program’s single-season 3-point record last week in a victory over Mogadore.

Shannon Eldreth/Special to Portage Sports

The Rovers’ sharpshooter finished the regular season with 57 made 3s, besting the previous record that was held by Ashley Christani (51), who played from 2003-2007 and is the program’s all-time leading scorer (1,496 points).

The top-10 list for single-season 3s for Rootstown includes:

1. Addy Germann 57

2. Ashley Christani 51

3. Melissa Colecchi, Sara Cook, Madison Hartung, 47

6. Alexis Cramer 40

7. Addy Germann 39

8. Madison Moneypenny 38

9. Kelsey Bittecuffer 32

10. Abby White 27

Germann now ranks third all-time in career 3-pointers with 105, sitting behind Christani (136) and Hartung (128).

In Mantua, the Crestwood boys basketball team’s Senior Night was also a record-setting night.

Sheila Mathers/Special to Portage Sports

Senior Steven Lincoln set a new single-game record for made 3-pointers with 11, while the team’s 19 3-pointers was a new single-game record.

The Red Devils defeated St. John 87-35.

Lincoln finished the game with 33 points and made all 11 of his 3-pointers through three quarters of play, and he did not play the fourth quarter.

RUSS SWARTZ NIGHT

The Mogadore High School cheer program is known for creating some of the more unique theme nights in Portage County for basketball home games.

One of the school’s most popular is the annual “Russ Swartz Night.”

This year’s game, celebrating the Wildcats’ longtime coach and school graduate, was held on Tuesday, Feb. 11, vs. Lake Center Christian.

Complete with custom T-shirts and yet another creative Run Through Spirit Sign, it was another  successful night celebrating 500-plus win head coach.

ONE-OF-ONE IN MARYLAND

Aurora High School graduate Shyanne Sellers (Class of 2021) made history over the weekend by becoming the first University of Maryland women’s basketball player to ever total 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists.

HUFFMAN MAKES WRESTLING HISTORY

Andrew Huffman made history this past weekend by becoming the first Crestwood youth wrestler to ever win a Ohio Youth Wrestling Association state championship.

Huffman was dominant, pinning every opponent on his way to the state title at 64 pounds.

CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS

Many youth basketball teams from Portage County recently celebrated league or tournament titles, including:

     • Kent 5th grade boys basketball won the Northeast Ohio Premier Travel League National Division tournament championship.

     • The 5th grade Field Black boys basketball team won the Northeast Ohio Premier Travel League American Division tournament championship.

     • Rootstown’s 5th grade boys basketball team won the Portage Youth Boys Basketball tournament title.

     • Mogadore’s 5th and 6th grade teams both won the Windham Youth Basketball Tournament championships.

     • The Rootstown 4th grade boys basketball team won the Portage Youth Boys Basketball tournament crown.

     • The Southeast 3rd grade boys basketball team won the Portage Youth Basketball League tournament championship.

     • The Field Red 3rd grade girls basketball team won the Springfield Youth Girls Basketball League tournament championship.

     • The Field Black 5th grade girls basketball team won the Springfield Youth Girls Basketball League tournament championship.