By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Mason Williams has the eyes of the country on him.

After being named a FWAA Freshman All-American in 2024, the Mogadore High School graduate, who is now playing tight end for Ohio University, was named to the John Mackey Award Watch List last week.

The award has been presented annually since 2000 to college football’s best tight end.

RECORD-SETTING ROVERS

Only three matches into the season, the Rootstown Rovers’ girls golf team is already off to a fantastic start.

Actually, a historic start.

In their third straight win to open the season, the Rovers fired a 176 in their win over Lake Center Christian.

The score set a new nine-hole record for the program.

The Rovers got there by medalist efforts from Morgan Giebel and Ava Miller, who both shot 42s. Ella Derr and Camryn Lappe both added 46s.

With so much of the season still in front of Rootstown, we will have to watch weekly to see what new heights they set for themselves.

RAVENNA WELCOMES NEW XC COACH

Ravenna High School has named Molly Middleton as its new boys and girls cross country head coach.

Middleton takes over the Ravens after 28 years coaching cross country and track and field at Marlington, including 12 years as the girls XC head coach.

RAVENNA’S MCPHERSON COMPETES AT NATIONAL EVENT

Ravenna’s Jacob McPherson competed at the Motocross Nationals this weekend at Loretta Lynn’s. He placed 18th in the competitive 450B Class and 21st in the 250B Class.

HOLE IN ONE FOR HAMRICK

Congratulations to Jordan Hamrick (Waterloo HS graduate and owner of Hamrick Packaging Systems) on hitting his first-ever hole in one this morning. He used a 6 iron on the 189-yard Hole 6 at Silver Lake Country Club.

READING IN ROOTSTOWN

Rootstown High School cheerleaders debuted “Read with a Rover” today. It is a community outreach reading series program, which allows the Rovers to read short stories and color with children from the community.

The program will continue on Aug. 14 and Aug. 21 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Rootstown Town Hall.

The flyer for the community outreach events includes:

“Rootstown cheerleaders love to show their support in many ways, both on and off the field. Since our cheerleaders are students first, stop by to see them share what being a student-athlete is all about. Let’s build confidence in academics and athletics together.”

The Rovers are coached by Toccara Ball.

NEW SIGN AT FIELD

Portage Sports was honored to donate a steel Falcons “F” logo to the Field Local School District this summer! 

The sign was just hung this afternoon!

It is located just to the right of the main entrance to Field High School.

A special shoutout to my father, Tom “Portage Sports Senior” Nader, who helped me along the way with the project from design, to cutting, to powder coat painting and all the small details in between. It is definitely special to know that we worked on it together.

SASHA NICHOLS COLLEGE SIGNING

Rootstown High School’s Sasha Nichols recently announced that she will continue her academic and basketball careers at Muskingum University.

Congratulations and good luck!

ROOSEVELT GRAD CELEBRATES NEW POSITION

Kent Roosevelt High School graduate Sarah Bush (Class of 2018) recently was named the Assistant Athletic Director of Creative Services at Rice University (Houston, Tx.).

Bush earned her Broadcast Journalism and Sport Management degree from the University of Missouri, then previously worked at Stanford University in the athletic department’s creative and digital media department.