By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Streetsboro High School graduate Emma Flick (Class of 2022), who is a former standout All-Big East performer for Xavier, and her HB Køga (Denmark) team recently qualified for the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

EMMA FLICK

During her career with the Musketeers, Flick scored 18 goals and had 21 assists in 87 games played (68 starts).

She was named to the All-Big East Second Team.

During her career at Streetsboro, Flick scored 143 career goals and had 27 assists, earning First Team All-Ohio honors and Metro Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

DAVID AND JANET DIX TO BE HONORED

I am proud and excited to see David and Janet Dix will be honored at the 12th annual Celebrate Portage! banquet in September, when they will receive the organization’s highest honor in the “Great Achievement Award.”

The honor is awarded to people who have been “a beacon to the community.”

They definitely have always been a beacon to me.

Mr. Dix hired me at the Record-Courier and supported every idea I ever brought to him throughout my journalism career at the newspaper. He always had so much trust in me and built my confidence that my vision for coverage was one that could resound with our readers. So much of what I learned during those years is what I apply toward Portage Sports now.

And every single time I saw Mrs. Dix, she has never missed an opportunity to provide genuine support for my work. It has always been the kind of assurance that has helped encourage me and my career path.

Thank you and congratulations to David and Janet!

HAT TRICK FOR KNAPP

Kent Roosevelt’s Callaghan Knapp was named All-Ohio last year as a sophomore and now he is back at it again this fall.

Knapp, who recently posted a hat trick in the Rough Riders’ 4-2 victory over St. Vincent-St. Mary, has seven goals and seven assists this year to lead the team with 21 points.

Kent Roosevelt is 4-2 on the season overall and host Cloverleaf tonight in a Metro Athletic Conference matchup, then travels to face Field on Thursday.

PORTAGE COUNTY GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

On Tuesday, every Portage County varsity golf team, including 11 boys teams and seven girls teams, will tee off in a shotgun start at 8 a.m. at Raccoon Hill Golf Club in Kent.

The inaugural Portage County High School Golf Championship will include five golfers on each team — 90 golfers in all — competing on the 18-hole fairways of the golf course in Kent.

Organized by Kent Roosevelt girls golf coach Bryan Harvey, and myself, the tournament is supported by title sponsor Fairways at Twin Lakes, along with sponsors Portage Sports and Raccoon Hill.

Many of the athletic departments in Portage County were united in the Portage County League and then in the Portage Trail Conference before teams started splitting, leaving the teams to compete in five different conferences.

But with several of the athletic departments and fans already looking forward to joining back together in 2027 as members of the Greater Portage Athletic Conference, excitement is building to enjoy local competition again.

That spotlight will be seen on Tuesday.

The teams participating include boys teams from Mogadore, Ravenna, Waterloo and Windham, and boys and girls teams from Aurora, Field, Garfield, Kent Roosevelt, Rootstown, Southeast and Streetsboro.

The teams are each bringing five golfers and scores will count for the top-four golfers for team scores.

Spectators are welcome, but must remain one-half hole ahead or behind the golfer they are watching.

At the end, the winning teams for both the boys and girls as well as individuals will be recognized for their outstanding golf.

Both Harvey and myself are excited to welcome the teams and watch the competition among the outstanding golfers in Portage County.

Raccoon Hill Golf Club is located at 485 Judson Road in Kent.

Looking forward to seeing all teams, coaches and spectators on Tuesday for the shotgun start at 8 a.m.

For additional information, email golffam2@gmail.com or text 330-206-9083.

MOGADORE’S GASAWAY NAMED COACH AT WALSH

Mogadore High School graduate Cory Gasaway (Class of 2021) was recently named the Interim Head Coach for the men’s golf team at Walsh University.

Gasaway played for the Cavaliers during his college career after being a four-time All-Portage Trail Conference and state-championship qualifier for the Wildcats in high school.