By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Garfield boys basketball coach Andrew Olesky is not someone who spends a lot of time on social media.

His recent resignation announcement, however, forced him into action to share out a public appreciation post on X on Friday morning.

Olesky, in his post, said:

“If you know me, I am not one to make social media posts. I don’t do the Facebook or anything else. However, the amount of messages, emails, texts, posts and kind words I have received the last two days has been absolutely incredible and so beyond appreciated. It means more to me than you will ever know. It even made me make this social media post! So to everyone who has made the gesture of saying something kind, THANK YOU so much! My time at JAG was, is and will continue to be incredible! Thank you to everyone!!”

Olesky spent 14 years as the Garfield boys basketball coach and resigned as the program’s winningest coach with 164 wins.

He will remain at Garfield as a 5th Grade Social Studies and Reading teacher at JAG Elementary.

WATERLOO’S MIKE DEVIES NEARS RETIREMENT

Waterloo’s Mike Devies is in his final weeks of a 34-career as an educator. Devies will retire at the end of June.

He has spent the last 11 years as the athletic director, dean of students and football coach for the Vikings. Prior to his time at Waterloo, Devies worked at Marlington.

Devies will be featured in the June edition of the Portage Sports magazine.

Enjoy your deserved retirement and thank you for the friendship!

RUNNING TO A RECORD

Mogadore senior Emma Quillen set a new school record on Friday at the Dwight Schar Invitational hosted by Norwayne High School.

Quillen’s new program-best time in the event is 11:43.89.

The time is also good for 21st all-time in Portage County history:

1. Bridget Franek, Crestwood, 10:16.0 (2006)

2. Bridget Franek, Crestwood, 10:43.86 (2006)

3. Cassandra Schenck, Crestwood, 10:50.45 (2006)

4. Julie Dias, Southeast, 10:51 (1985)

5. Joanna Dias, Southeast, 10:58 (1985)

6. Cassandra Schenck, Crestwood, 11:01.86 (2005)

7. S. Craig, Field, 11:05.2 (2000)

8. Morgan Schmitt, Aurora, 11:07.68 (2022)

9. Emily Mars, Field, 11:08.0 (2000)

10. Sarah Hensley, Kent Roosevelt, 11:08.47 (1999)

11. J. Kline, Field, 11:11.44 (1994)

12. Cassandra Schenck, Crestwood, 11:19.90 (2007)

13. Sherri Davis, Rootstown, 11:20.20

14. Emily Grad, Field, 11:20.33 (2005)

15. Julia Wheeler, Southeast, 11:25.30 (2024)

16. Sammi Vaughan, Crestwood, 11:27.41 (2011)

17. Olivia Chinn, Ravenna, 11:29 (2014)

18. Sydney Langell, Aurora, 11:37.55 (2024)

19. Sabrina Bee, Rootstown, 11:39.7

20. Wendy Schlarb, Waterloo, 11:41.6

21. Emma Quillen, Mogadore, 11:43.89

22. Staci Stockard, Streetsboro, 11:44.0 (2004)

100 MORE FOR ALEX SIMMS

It has been a busy, and successful, few weeks for Kent Roosevelt senior Alex Simms.

After finishing his ice hockey career with 172 points (82 goals, 90 assists), Simms hit another scoring milestone this week as a member of the Rough Riders’ lacrosse program.

Simms collected the 100th point of his career, reaching the achievement on the strength of 51 goals and 49 assists.

Fittingly, Simms’ 100th point came on a goal he scored coming off an assist from lifelong teammate Max Kenworthy.

RECORD-SETTING ROCKETS

The Streetsboro softball program has emerged as one of the top teams in the Metro Athletic Conference this season.

Behind a core group of underclassmen, mixed in with important upperclassmen, merged with the coaching of veteran LeRoy Moore, the Rockets have ascended to the top-half of the MAC standings.

The season of positives continued on Thursday, Senior Night, which turned into a record-setting night for the Streetsboro softball team.

The Rockets’ 12-1 victory over Western Reserve Academy — a celebration of seniors Nevaeh Monroe, Sydney Burfield, Hailey Miller and Audriana Wert — was the team’s 15th of the season, which sets a new single-season win record for the program.

Streetsboro is now 15-5 overall this spring and 9-3 in the MAC. The Rockets are in third place in the league behind Field (15-6, 11-1) and Springfield (15-5, 10-2).

COLLEGE SIGNINGS

Brooke Binder, Kent Roosevelt ice hockey, Bowling Green State University

Norah Redfern, Kent Roosvelt volleyball, John Carroll University

Mckayla Miller, Field softball, University of Mount Union

BASEBALL PARK RENOVATIONS

Mogadore’s new all-turf infield.

The baseball fields for Mogadore and Kent Roosevelt recently both received renovations.

In Kent, Roosevelt Park received a new memorial backstop and concourse that includes a set of special chair-back seating and a new set of bleachers that sit behind the backstop. The project was funded with donations from JBL Roofing and Construction, Cardinal Cement and Excavating and the Rough Riders Athletic Sports Booster Club.

In Mogadore, the Wildcats’ baseball field received a complete makeover to now include an all-turf infield.

The first game played on the new field will be on Monday vs. St. Thomas Aquinas.

The ceremonial first pitch is set for 5 p.m.

Mogadore’s project was funded by the Mogadore Athletic Booster Club.