By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

How about a little bit of baseball to pull the community together in a unique way?

That is what happened at Waterloo High School last week when an idea from a conversation turned into an afternoon of smiles on the diamond.

Waterloo School Resource Officer, Deputy Donald Cutting, who is the Vikings’ JV baseball coach, threw an idea out there to his team to have his ball players match up against Portage County deputies.

“They were all for it,” Cutting said.

Cutting took the lead from there and set up the arrangements for the game to become a reality after receiving approval from high school principal Tyler Vallinger and Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski.

“The JV players had a blast, and so did the deputies,” said Cutting. “Community policing is a great opportunity for everyone to get together.”

Waterloo athletic director Mike Devies, who retired at the conclusion of the 2024-25 school year, applauded the event.

“It was an absolutely phenomenal event, and I cannot say enough good things about our sheriff department and how they treated our kids,” Devies said.

Waterloo JV baseball players pose for a group picture with a group of deputies from the Portage County Sheriff’s Department after the two groups played a game against each other last week.

A FOR AURORA

Throughout the entire 2024-25 athletic school year, the Aurora Greenmen celebrated successes across many different sports.

The success was not limited to the playing fields and courts, though.

In the classroom, the Greenmen dominated.

Athletic director Paul Powers shared this week that Aurora athletics posted a 3.65 “All Teams” grade-point average.

That includes 1,247 student-athletes that made up 54 teams amongst 25 sports offered at the high school.

That is an incredibly impressive GPA and I applaud the student-athletes for their commitment to excellence in the classroom.

MORE FROM AURORA: TOM WYMER

Aurora’s strength and conditioning coordinator, Tom Wymer, recently was recognized by the Ohio High School Athletic Association with its prestigious Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity award.

STILL MORE FROM AURORA: MIKAYLA JONES

Aurora graduate Mikayla Jones (Class of 2021) recently completed her college running career, but not before achieving some lofty accomplishments.

MIKAYLA JONES

Jones, running for Elon University (N.C.), set new school records in the 5,000 and 3,000 meters, with times of 16:01.59 and 9:37.32, respectively.

She qualified for the Division I NCAA East preliminary after being crowned the Colonial Athletic Association champion in the 5,000 meters in her program-record-setting time of 16:01.59, which seeded her 41st at nationals.

She would finish 43rd at the NCAA East First Round, running a 16:32.82 in the race hosted in Jacksonville, Fla.

Jones helped the Phoenix win the CAA league championship this spring.

Jones was a graduate transfer to Elon after competing for Division II Catawba (N.C.), where she set four school records and was named the Division II Southeast Regional Runner of the Year.

KENT ROOSEVELT’S NEW GOLF COACHES

Chris Nauer and Jesse Michel were recently named the new boys golf coaches at Kent Roosevelt High School.

Nauer has 15 years of coaching experience and is currently a guidance counselor at Roosevelt.

Michel is a Roosevelt graduate (Class of 2004) and has been part of the Riders’ coaching staff in bowling and baseball since 2007.

CAR WASH IN GARRETTSVILLE

Everyone is busy and it can be difficult to find time to wash your car.

If that sounds familiar, set aside some time on June 21 between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. to visit Sarchione Chevy of Garrettsville, where the Garfield G-Men volleyball team will be washing cars as part of a fundraiser for their upcoming 2025 season.

STREETSBORO BASEBALL RECORDS

Three different baseball records were set by the Rockets this spring.

   • Jack Batten with 59 career RBI

   • Scott Wilson with 58 career stolen bases

   • Braden Craft struck out 19 in a victory over Western Reserve Academy on April 12

COLLEGE SIGNINGS

   • Arthur Scott III, Streetsboro football, University of Wisconsin

   • Alex Hrkach, Southeast girls lacrosse, Point Park University (Pa.)

   • Reid Acomb, Aurora football, Washington & Jefferson College

   • Tyler Hanus, Aurora football, John Carroll University

   • Brody Markle, Aurora football, Geneva College

   • Tommy Tartabini, Aurora football, John Carroll University

   • Michael Wise, Aurora football, Hiram College

   • Carson Smith, Aurora baseball, Westminster College

   • Aydan Carlson, Aurora baseball, Hiram College

   • Brady Carlson, Aurora baseball, Hiram College

   • Alex Brooker, Aurora baseball, Thiel College

   • Tommy Hach, Aurora baseball, Ohio Northern University

   • Jack Lang, Aurora baseball, Norwich University

   • Jack Radvansky, Aurora baseball, Otterbein University

   • Marla Edgcomb, Aurora majorette, North Carolina State University