By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The oldest-living former Kent State University athlete, John Collver, was recognized last week on campus for his Celtic Club Green Man Project.

Collver, who is 98, was part of the Golden Flashes’ men’s basketball team from 1948 through 1950, where he played alongside lifelong friend Bill Cox.

Cox was the third black athlete at Kent State and during World War II, he was a flight mechanic for the Tuskegee Airmen in Ala.

Through the friendship, Collver’s son, Jim, was inspired to create the Celtic Club Green Man Project.

To honor Cox’s connection to the Tuskegee Airman, which were known as the Red Tails, Jim Collver planted a red maple tree at the University of Akron last summer.

Furthermore, Collver began displaying a 7-foot retractable banner to honor the Tuskegee Airmen at numerous locations that displays the history of the Airmen, along with their names, ranks and hometowns of the 69 Ohio Tuskegee Airmen pilots.

The Collvers took the banner to Kent State last week to get a photo of John Collver in front of the M.A.C. Center alongside Kent State President Todd Deacon and members of the Kent State Air Force ROTC.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL DISTRICT FINAL

The Kent Roosevelt boys volleyball team captured a district championship last week, advancing to Wednesday’s regional semifinal against St. Vincent-St. Mary.

The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. at a location yet to be determined by the OHSAA.

To get there, the Rough Riders swept Akron North, 25-17, 25-17, 25-14.

In additional news for the program, three players were recognized on the Division II, Region 6 All-Region team, including Ryan Slocum (First Team), Jacob Noble (Second Team) and Michael Shannon (Honorable Mention).

WHAT A TIME FOR FIELD SOFTBALL

There has been a lot going on for the Field softball program, which is typically the case, as one of the county’s most consistent winners regardless of the sport or gender.

Consider that just in the last 10 days:

     • The Falcons captured the Metro Athletic Conference championship for the second consecutive season and for the fifth time in six years. The Falcons finished with a 13-1 MAC record this season and were 52-4 in league play over the previous four seasons.

     • The Falcons celebrated another shiny league record, too. With the team’s win at Coventry on May 12, the senior class completed an undefeated career on the road. Call them the road warriors. Twenty eight games. Twenty eight victories.

“We have played some great away games over the last four years,” Field head coach Beth Dyer said. “I’m really proud of the way the team has not let being on the road affect how they play the game.

“We didn’t even know it was a streak,” Dyer added. “We were always just focused on winning the game and before you know it, four years have gone by.”

     • Senior Maddie Burge collected the 150th hit of her career.

HOW ABOUT FIELD BASEBALL

The baseball diamond has had similar success for the Falcons.

The baseball program celebrated a share of the MAC title with an 11-2 victory over Streetsboro. The Falcons share the crown with Norton this season.

Overall, though, it is the program’s second straight league championship.

It was a week of some individual standout play, as well.

Senior Grady Eader collected the 100th hit of his career, then in his next game blasted a grand slam. It was one of two grand slams in the same game, with junior Sam Confer also blasting one.

MOGADORE DIAMOND SUCCESS

With its 7-5 win over Rootstown last week, Mogadore softball captured their second straight Portage Trail Conference championship.

It was also the Wildcats’ fifth title in the last six seasons, including the final championship in the history of the PTC, which will disband at the conclusion of the spring season.

For baseball, Mogadore celebrated the unveiling of its new turf field at Lions Park with a victory over St. Thomas Aquinas.

Senior Cole Reese did it in style, throwing a five-inning no-hitter in which he struck out seven and threw only 17 balls for the entire outing.

DOUBLES TITLE FOR AURORA

The Aurora Greenmen Second Doubles partners of Tommy Cogley and Connor Emrick achieved perfection this spring.

The duo went a perfect 18-0 and lost only three sets overall the entire season on their way to a Suburban League championship.

It is the program’s first doubles title since 2021.

RUNNING DOWN RECORDS

School records are not safe in track and field this season. Here is a look at some more records that were set over the last seven days:

     • Aurora’s Sydney Langell, 800 meters, 2:20.24

     • Aurora’s 4×400 relay (Gianna Previte, Olivia Leon, Isabelle Leindecker, Isabella Cicero), 4:01.42

     • Mogadore’s Emma Quillen, 3,200 meters, 11:43.89

     • Ravenna’s Bobby Melzer, shot put, 57 feet, 8 inches

• Ravenna’s Bryant Thompson, 200 meters, 22.17

• Ravenna’s Bryant Thompson, 400 meters, 49.48

TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Over the last week, a number of track and field champions have been crowned.

     • Aurora girls, Suburban League American Division

     • Garfield boys, Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Gray Division

     • Garfield girls, Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Gray Division

     • Mogadore boys, Portage Trail Conference

     • Mogadore girls, Portage Trail Conference

GOING, GOING, GONE (x3)

Waterloo’s Kristlyn Kehrer had a night to remember on May 14. She belted three home runs in the Vikings’ 13-0 victory over Campbell Memorial. She added a single and totaled five RBI.

The ball had pop for the Vikes, with Jolean Hampton also belting a home run in the game — her seventh of the season.

Hampton also recently collected the 100th strikeout of her season.

A PERFECT START

The Aurora softball team opened its tournament with a decisive 16-0 win over Max Hayes.

Junior Lailah Bohanan delivered a masterpiece, with a five inning Perfect Game.

Bohanan struck out 14 of the 15 batters she faced in the sectional tournament matchup.

BOB MERRITT AND A TITLE

Retired Crestwood baseball head coach Bob Merritt, who ranks second in Portage County history with 352 wins, threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Wednesday’s home baseball game.

Adding to the special day was that the Red Devils won the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division championship outright with a 6-0 victory over Painesville Harvey.

It was the program’s first league title since the 2010 season.