By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Southeast High School girls golf coach Cindy Fesemyer received the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity award for girls golf last Monday.

The award speaks to Fesemyer’s character as one of Portage County’s best leaders and coaches for the last 41 years.

I wrote a story about Cindy’s retirement from teaching back in 2018, and the story’s introduction words still hold true to this day:

“Cindy Fesemyer believes in you.

She believes you can achieve your immediate goals and that you can accomplish more than you even know is possible.

She believes you will choose right more than wrong and she believes that every student is another opportunity to make a precious impact.

Fesemyer’s belief is part of an art form that she has perfected. A natural ability to transform her belief in you into you believing in yourself.

It brings a smile to her face.

There is no fancy formula – just Fesemyer’s unmatched enthusiasm, energy and positive perspective.”

Congratulations on the well-deserved honor!

BRAYLON HAWTHORNE

Kent Roosevelt’s Braylon Hawthorne set the school record in the 800 meters last week.

Hawthorne finished the race in 1:54.85 to break the previous record of 1:55.41 that was set in 1999 by Ofer Barniv.

Hawthorne’s time is now the third-fastest in Portage County history in the 800, trailing only Field’s Chris Sinick (1:52.78 in 2006) and Aurora’s Jake Baechle (1:52.90 in 2006).

MORE KENT ROOSEVELT TRACK

For the third time this season, the Roosevelt boys 4×200 relay team set a new school record. This time the group of Jaiden Portis, Simon Hassler, Ke’Shan Talbert and Tyler Ellington broke the mark in a meet against Tallmadge.

The quartet ran the record-breaking time of 1:29.73.

In the previous two record-setting efforts, Hasim White was part of the relay.

The new mark breaks the school record of 1:31.10 that was set in 2016.

ADRIANNA BERRY

Field softball junior Adrianna Berry reached the 100 strikeouts milestone for the season earlier this week.

She is the first pitcher in Portage County to achieve the mark this year.

Berry is currently 12-2 overall and has 106 strikeouts and a 1.85 ERA.

She is the first Falcons pitcher to eclipse 100 strikeouts since Alexsa Hurd had 203 in the 2021 season.

TALI BARTHOLOMEW

Mogadore sophomore pitcher Tali Bartholomew was the second Portage County pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts and she did it during an 11-11 stalemate at Rootstown.

Bartholomew totaled 10 strikeouts in the tie to celebrate the achievement.

It wasn’t her only milestone moment of the week.

Bartholomew then threw a no-hitter in the team’s 13-1 victory over Lake Center Christian.

It is the first no-no of her high-school career.

JAYDEN COFFIE

Streetsboro baseball senior Jayden Coffie set the program’s new career record for RBI on Monday during the Rockets’ victory over Field.

Coffie now has 60 career RBI, eclipsing the previous record-holder Jack Batten, who graduated in 2025 and had 59.

MORE STREETSBORO BASEBALL

Congratulations to Streetsboro baseball’s Jake Szczecinski and Graham Jonas for combining to throw a 5-inning no-hitter on Thursday in the team’s win over Coventry.

EVEN MORE STREETSBORO BASEBALL

Streetsboro baseball senior standout Scott Wilson recently set the career hits record for the Rockets with 87.

The record was previously held by Ricky DeLambo.

Graphic courtesy of Streetsboro baseball.