By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The Rootstown girls basketball team advancing to the Division VI state championship game has been an absolutely incredible story.

Historic.

The Rovers’ run has been thrilling, to say the least and it has captured attention and support throughout Portage County.

But what if I were to tell you that the team’s on-court success is not even what has been the Rovers’ most impressive part of the season?

Win or lose on Saturday, when Rootstown plays Columbus Grove for the state title at 2 p.m. at the University of Dayton, the team’s lasting legacy will be the impact it has had on the community.

The memories, the moments, the love.

Rootstown has made its games must-see basketball.

And the impact will be felt for many years to come.

That’s because in the sea of fans at the Rovers’ games over the last few weeks has been a growing number of youth girls basketball players, who have fallen in love with the team.

The little eyes are watching the Rovers’ every move.

Their actions show they have had their hearts captured by a group of girls who have become role models.

Not just because of the success they have celebrated, but because of how they play, how they act and how they have brought the community together through the power of sports.

Just sports?

Just a game?

Hardly.

Just ask the large group of youth basketball players who got their shirts filled with autographs by their favorite players before last Friday’s Division VI state semifinal vs. Fort Frye.

Just ask the first- and second-graders, who were joined by senior Nadia Lough and sophomore Bailey Kidd at their Saturday morning game at the Kent Parks and Rec building. 

The photos captured a snapshot in time, but the inspiration will become a permanent impact on their love for the game.

MORE ROOTSTOWN POWER

Another group inspired to come back together, thanks to this year’s Rootstown girls basketball team, has been the 2008 Rovers.

That year’s edition of Rootstown girls basketball was the last team to win a district championship. They advanced to the regional final, where they lost to Regina.

Prior to last Friday’s state semifinal, the multiple members of the 2008 team sent video messages to this year’s team to congratulate the team, as well as to offer inspiration and motivation. All of the video messages were connected together to form a nine-and-a-half-minute video that was played for the Rovers, while 2008 players Monica (Mims) Kommel, Julia Colecchi and Paige (Berger) Byers all came to a practice to talk to the team in person.

Pulling in the 2008 players to connect to this year’s Rovers was coordinated by Brittany Kidd, who was on the coaching staff for the 2008 season. Her daughter Bailey is a sophomore on this year’s Rovers team.

HONORS FOR TRENT JAKACKI

Hiram men’s basketball standout Trent Jakacki, a Crestwood High School graduate (Class of 2021), was recently named Third Team All-North Coast Athletic Conference.

It is the second straight season for Jakacki to earn All-NCAC honors.

Jakacki also topped the 1,000-point milestone this season, becoming just the 30th player in Terriers’ program history to accomplish the feat.

He averaged a team-high 15 points per game this season and also led the team in four other categories: Assists (3.6 per game), steals (1.6), games played (25) and minutes played (763).

MCDOUGAL RETIRES

Kent Roosevelt track and field coach Brad McDougal, who specializes in coaching the Rough Riders’ pole vault athletes, retired from the Kent Fire Department last week.

McDougal, pictured in the center below, spent 36 of his 40 years as a firefighter serving the city of Kent.

COLLEGE SIGNINGS

   • Darya Olefir, Ravenna High School cheerleading, Miami University.

   • Grady Eader, Field High School baseball, University of Mount Union.

JULIA WHEELER WINS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Southeast’s Julia Wheeler won the OATCCC indoor state championship in the 1,600 meters on Friday at the Spire Institute in Geneva. She ran a winning time of 5:04.43.
Wheeler also finished as the runner-up in the 800 meters (2:17.66).
The only other Portage County team to place at the indoor state meet were from Ravenna and Rootstown.

DIVISION III

BOYS 200 METERS: 3. Trey Carter, Ravenna, 22.59; 7. Bryant Thompson, Ravenna, 22.82.

BOYS 4×200 RELAY: 6. Ravenna, 1:33.29.

BOYS LONG JUMP: 3. Trey Carter, 20-11; 14. Bryant Thompson, Ravenna, 18-8.25.

BOYS SHOT PUT: 10. Robert Melzer, Ravenna, 45-1.25.

DIVISION IV

BOYS SHOT PUT: 8. Gianni Damicone, Rootstown, 36-8.5.