By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Waterloo Athletic Booster Club President Todd Wise recently announced that he is stepping down from his position.

Todd Wise (left) stands with Lee Horning at a recent Waterloo Athletic Booster Club event. Wise is stepping down as the organization’s president after 15 years.

Wise has held the position for 16 years, but has been a member of the booster club for 25 years total, including five years as the vice president and four years as a board member.

Wise is no stranger to community involvement with the Vikings.

The 1985 Waterloo graduate has been affiliated with the boys basketball program for 40 years as either a coach, scorekeeper, volunteer or player.

He coached the Vikings’ girls basketball program for nine years, spending three years as an assistant coach to Bob Hamilton and then six years as a head coach, accumulating 120 wins in only six years.

Wise served as the district’s Public Address announcer at football and girls soccer games for 15 years, is the 4-H officer for the Beef Committee and his leadership of the booster club ascended fundraising and organization to some of its highest and best levels, respectively.

RUSS SWARTZ RESIGNS

Mogadore boys basketball’s Russ Swartz announced his resignation from coaching the Wildcats on Wednesday.

Swartz ends his career with 510 career wins, which is second-most in Portage County history (Marty Hill, Windham, 694).

Here is the story on how Russ Swartz became Coach Swartz.

G-MEN SELECT MATT HILL

New Garfield boys basketball coach Matt Hill.

Matt Hill has been selected to be the new boys basketball coach of the Garfield G-Men. He takes over for Andrew Olesky, who recently resigned after 14 years leading the program.

Hill was part of Olesky’s staff and served as the team’s JV coach and top varsity assistant.

Hill is the son of legendary retired Windham boys basketball head coach Marty Hill.

SCHOOL RECORDS

A number of school records have been set over the last week in what has turned into a special spring season across Portage County for many programs.

Here is a look at some of the newest school-record holders:

     • Gabe Marshall, Kent Roosevelt lacrosse: The Rough Riders’ goaltender made 264 saves this fall. The total not only set a new single-season school record, but also placed him sixth all-time in Ohio High School Athletic Association history.

     • Kent Roosevelt girls 4×200 relay: The quartet of Mahlia Friedman, Lindsay Wills, Audrey Gregg and Kaidyn Harris raced around the track for a time of 1:45.90, which broke the previous school record (1:46.88) by almost a full second.

     • Robert Melzer, Ravenna track and field: The senior set a new discus record at the Division II regional meet with a throw of 164 feet, 8 inches. The throw also placed him third overall at the regional meet, which punched his ticket to the state championships.

     • Julie Tompkins, Mogadore track and field: The senior standout broke the school record in the 200 meters at tonight’s North Royalton Division III regional meet. Tompkins’ new program-record time was set at 26.37.

    • Aidan Hill, Garfield baseball: The senior right-hander set two new school records this spring. He now is No. 1 in career strikeouts with 235 and single-season strikeouts with 139.

COLLEGE SIGNINGS

     • Cole Walton, Aurora wrestling, Bellarmine University (Louisville, Ky.)

     • Luke Green, Aurora wrestling, University of Mount Olive (Mount Olive, N.C.)

     • Johnny Green, Aurora wrestling, United States Military Academy West Point

     • Kailyn Gressman, Field softball, University of Mount Union

     • Xion Cunningham, Field football, West Virginia Wesleyan

MOGADORE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

With the breakup of the Portage Trail Conference, the Mogadore football team will play as an independent for the 2025 season.

Here is a first look at the Wildcats’ football schedule, with a Week 1 rivalry matchup with the Field Falcons noticeably absent.

• Week 1: Friday, Aug. 22, at Crestwood
• Week 2: Friday, Aug. 29, vs. Canton Central Catholic
• Week 3: Friday, Sept. 5, at Dalton
• Week 4: Friday, Sept. 12, at Malvern
• Week 5: Friday, Sept. 19, vs. Ellet
• Week 6: Friday, Sept. 26, vs. Cleveland Central Catholic
• Week 7: Friday, Oct. 3, at Pymatuning Valley
• Week 8: Friday, Oct. 10, vs. Collinwood
• Week 9: Friday, Oct. 17, vs. St. Thomas Aquinas
• Week 10: Friday, Oct. 24, vs. Richmond Heights

ALL-DISTRICT SOFTBALL

The Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association announced its Division IV All-District teams for the spring 2025 season. Here is a list of Portage County recipients of the prestigious honor:

FIRST TEAM

     • Amy Rein, Streetsboro, pitcher

     • Kayleigh Helm, Crestwood, catcher

     • Maddie Burge, Field, pitcher

SECOND TEAM

     • Hailey Miller, Streetsboro, infield

     • Abby Harlin, Field, outfield

     • Grace Harper, Crestwood, outfield

     • Olivia Knepper, Streetsboro, outfield

IN SEARCH OF COACHES

Garfield and Ravenna are seeking qualified candidates for the following coaching vacancies:

GARFIELD

   • High school boys and girls cross country

RAVENNA

   • High school girls soccer

   • High school boys and girls cross country

   • Middle school boys and girls cross country

   • High school girls basketball