Photos by Nina Harris
Track team’s expectations grow as new season sprouts
The captains for the girls track team are sprinters, Sam Shaver and Tiffany Pryce, thrower Abbey Dunn and distance runner Caitlin Helfeldt.
The captains for the boys track team this year are sprinters, Ryan Bogucki, Schuyler Morris and Tj Lawson and distance runners Ian Mcvey and Alex Young.
“I think the boys are going to do great this year, and we have hurdlers who are going to do damage,” junior Logan Morris said.
Last year’s boys track team went to NOC’s but did not win due of lack of points. The girls on the other hand won NOC’s
The boys Nationals winners for 2014 were TJ Lawson, Nate Moore and Aaron Bogucki. The girls National winners were Kelsey Fobean, Emily Watts, Ashley Pryce, Jessie Stout, Sam Shaver, Tiffany Pryce and Kayla Thompson.
“Nationals were great even though I did not come in first, to be able to experience Nationals and represent my team was great,” Moore said.
“This year is going to be a great season. I have some very talented runners who are dedicated to their event, coach Aaron Morris said.
Last year, the girls won NOC’s, but the boys lost due to lack of players.
“This year is my first year doing track but hopefully it goes well. The events I will be a part of are discus and shot-put,” junior Cynthia Johnson-Smith said.
Besides the freshmen, there are a lot of stars in the junior class like Jason Gobble, Damon Jones, Cynthia Johnson-Smith and senior Shelby Brown.
“I think the boys are going to do well this year because we have a lot of fast sprinters and great hurdles,” Morris said.
Last year, the boys only had four hurdlers, and this year they have eight.
“I think track is going to go well this year because of all the talent,” junior Ashley Tubergan said.
The girls are looking this year to finish out the last year of the conference with their last and sixth NOC title.
The boys are looking to win a title this year: they have not won NOC’s for three years and would like to win one since it is their last year in the North Eastern Ohio Conference.
This year will be the last year for Stow being a part of NOC. Next year they will join the Suburban League.
Baseball team looks forward to spring season
Boy’s Baseball is swinging right into their 2015 season. The Bulldog’s have an entirely new coaching staff this year.
“Our new coach was a great choice; he really brings great ideas where we need it. The sky’s the limit,” senior Parker Henderson said.
Aaron Debord is the head Varsity coach. He is a 2005 graduate of Woodridge High School and a varsity letterman in baseball and cross country. He went to The University of Akron and majored in Political Science and Criminal Justice. Debord was previously the head varsity coach of Akron-Firestone High School.
The boys kicked off the season on Feb. 23 with tryout week and will continue practicing until their first home game against Field High School on March 19.
“I am looking forward to a great season. I really think we are going to surprise some people this year. Our new coach has brought an intense, hard working attitude that everyone is accepting and buying into,” junior Owen Fankhauser said.
This season, the Bulldogs hope to start rebuilding the tradition of winning through their hard work and attention to small detail.
The Bulldogs have nine seniors this year. They are Parker Henderson, Gino DeMarino, Tyler Hallam, Randy Smith, Andrew Groves, Brian Soldierson, Jake Lapchynski, Justin George and Nathan Allen.
“We have a great group of kids that we expect to push each other on a daily basis,” coach Debord said.
Two members of the senior class will continue their baseball careers at the NCAA level. Gino DeMarino and Parker Henderson have already signed letters of intent to their universities.
DeMarino will be attending Cleary University in Howell, Michigan and Henderson will attend Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. Both seniors, who look to have a big season for the Bulldogs this spring, feel they will receive a great education and have an opportunity to compete for playing time this fall.
“Our number one goal this season is to win the NOC with it being our last year in it,” coach Debord said.
The Bulldog’s have a very tough schedule this season. They take on the defending D1 state champions, Jackson High School, on April 3, along with many other talented teams. In mid-April, the boys take on their rivals, Cuyahoga Falls and Hudson.
“I am looking forward to playing our toughest rivals because I feel like we are going to give them a good game this year,” senior Tyler Hallam said.
As the boys continue to push each other, they grow and get better everyday.
“We are focused on working hard and playing to the best of our abilities. If on a day to day basis we can outwork our opponents and continue to believe in our process, then the wins will take care of themselves,” coach Debord said.
Debord is extremely excited for what this season will bring the team.
Coach Debord said, “The kids have shown an incredible willingness to learn and work hard. We can tell they want to get better and are preparing to win like they never have before.”
Sports teams take on the mulch
The cold of winter breaks, snow begins to melt and spring creeps in. The temperature will rise, and soon enough everyone will be back outside landscaping their yards from sun-up to sun-down, breaking their backs in hope of a lawn appearance up-to-par with the rest.
There is no easier way to have the best looking yard in the neighborhood than by having it mulched by the local sport teams through Booster Club’s Mulch Mania.
For the eighth year, Booster Club will be holding Mulch Mania to raise money for the middle school and high school sport teams.
Athletes will participate in the spreading of mulch for every yard, teaching kids the importance of hard work and learning to use tools and proper equipment for landscaping.
For $28 per yard, double-shredded brown hardwood mulch can be purchased, and delivered to the buyer’s house. Proceeds for the purchases of mulch will go to Booster Club.
For an additional $15 per yard, members of a high school or middle school sports team will personally spread the mulch around the customer’s yard with diligence. All proceeds for the spreading of the mulch will go completely to whichever team that completed the work.
Mulch Mania provides athletes with the chance to experience working hard for a cause and allows customers to save some cash, time and back pains, all while supporting the local student athletes.
For contact information, visit http://www.smfboosters.com.
SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING--Anyone can call the tip line: 1-844-723-3764 or email safehs@smfschools.org 