Parental issues in high school sports are reaching disturbing and potentially catastrophic levels. So, I wrote a letter hoping some eyes will open before it is too late. We shall see.
Now that the OHSAA has given the thumbs up to start winter sports, next thing to do is to modify this contact tracing debacle. Forcing kids to quarantine for 14 days because they sat in the same classroom while both were wearing masks is just crazy.
So Ohio State and Michigan played during the Spanish Flu, Great Depression, two World Wars and countless other global events, but not during a pandemic with a 99% survival rate? 2020, you don't make any sense to me.
BREAKING: After 36 seasons, Ontario boys basketball coach Joe Balogh will step down from his position. Balogh leaves with a 598-227 record with 21 league championships, 21 sectional titles, eight district championships and one regional title (1995). Thanks for everything, Joe B!
OHSAA Member Schools will vote to allow high school athletes to sign Name, Imagine and Like was endorsement deals as long as they don’t use their teams, schools and/or OHSAA logos.
We could be entering a new age in HS sports if this passes.
BREAKING: Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted announce nothing regarding sports. Absolutely nothing. Zip. Zero. Nada. An absolute freaking joke. They want to wait until closer to the date when contact sports are scheduled to start to make a decision. 🤦🏻
Working on possibly the most important series of stories I've ever done. I've talked with four high school athletes about the mental challenges of being a high school athlete today. Never have I believed more than now that high school athletics need to be played!
Cubs force a TO on downs!!! Ladies and gentlemen!! Your Lucas Cubs are playing for a Division VII State Title!!!!! Final score: Lucas 15, Harvest Prep 12!!
Last night's announcement was stunning. The OHSAA voted out
@Jerry_Snodgrass
, and here is why I think that is not only a loss for the OHSAA, but a loss for all of high school sports! My column:
Incredibly thankful to all the people who allowed me to tell their stories in 2018! If it weren’t for you all, I wouldn’t love my job as much as I do!
#njhss
Just a side note: If you get kicked out of a high school sporting event as a fan in the stands, you should need to take an anger management class before you are allowed to attend another event. No excuse.
A super huge congrats to
@taylorrhufff
for having her No. 13 jersey number retired this evening! An incredible high school career and very much deserved! Proud to have been a small part of it!
These guys right here are our 42nd annual
@MansfieldNJ
All-Star Classic class of 2020. Due to the pandemic, they will not get the chance to play one final game in front of their family and friends for charity. They deserve to be honored!
@notthefakeSVP
please help!
#SeniorNight
2020, man.
Prayers up for
@RileyGossom12
. Praying for a speedy recovery. May you come back even stronger, buddy! You need anything, ever, you have my number!
The only thing that matters is giving these kids a season. Athletic Directors will happily do the stressful, tough work. Coaches will give everything they have. The ONLY thing that matters is providing these kids with an opportunity to play. 6 games, 100 games. It doesn’t matter.
Sooooo, the fate of high school sports in Ohio remains in the air. This lack of leadership is incredible. Seriously, I just want to know a decision so I know if I need to find another job or not.
Apparently, being a softball player is not feminine. On the contrary, in my opinion, being a softball player is one of the ultimate form of feminism! What better way to show your power as a female than to blow a pitch by a batter and leave them looking silly?! People are morons.
My advice: ADs, have Senior night as soon as possible. Who knows if you will get another chance. Parents of those seniors, be happy your Senior will have a Senior night no matter when it is. Cherish the moment because there will be some across the state that won’t have one.
They are doing something right in Madison. Last night,
@taylorrhufff
made a play she thought was a foul. No call by the ref, but Huff believed it was a foul on her part so she made things right. Love what I am seeing!!
@madramladysocr
@Jerry_Snodgrass
@OHSAASports
Here is a challenge to all you parents and fans who are forcing officials and coaches to give up something they love by being over barring and insane: It is time to be better.
Jake's Take | Challenge issued: It is time to be better as fans and as people
Just finished up my dad’s Christmas present! A homemade dice baseball game with the Yankees (his favorite team) against the Indians (my favorite team).
My best wishes are with
@Jerry_Snodgrass
and his family. I know for a fact this was not a voluntary event. OHSAA will stand with a big black eye for a very long time with this decision.
BALLGAME!! Your Ontario Warriors are headed to the state championship game with a 2-1 win over Washington Court House! They will play Kenston at 4 pm tomorrow for the title!
Today, heaven gained an amazing angel. My mother-in-law Terry (Carnahan) Schwab passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She fought until she couldn’t fight and then fought some more teaching many lessons along the way. She will forever be missed.
And there it is!!
@griffin_shaver
drills a 3 to give the Warriors a 41-39 lead for his 1,000th career point! Just the fifth Warrior in program history!
If you need photo proof as to how much
@Jerry_Snodgrass
devoted his time and energy to high school student-athletes, I got you covered. What a huge L for high school sports thanks to the OHSAA Board of Directors.
BREAKING: Former Ashland and Ontario football coach Scott Valentine has been named the next football coach at Madison. Christmas has come early for the Rams!!
via
@MansfieldNJ
Keep talking while I keep working hard to promote young athletes and telling their stories providing them a positive light in a dark world. That’s what I, as a writer at the Mansfield News Journal, offer to the community.
GOAL!!!!!!!! Ashley Bechtel wins it for Madison!!! Wow!!! Lady Rams to the state final!!!! Bechtel scores with 10:47 left in the game! Incredible!
@madramladysocr
1st come/1st serve ~ starting tomorrow we will have 60 pre-sale tickets available for this Friday's Boys basketball game vs Huron (2/12) & Saturday's Girls game vs Hilliard Darby (2/13) for SENIOR STUDENTS ONLY. Balcony seating - $6 each! See Mrs. Daub to get your ticket ⚡️🏀⚡️
Here are the renderings for the new Shelby Athletic Facility that will go up for a vote next month. Go Google Earth search Skiles Field and tell me this isn't worth a 'yes' vote. With the money that was saved on the new Pre-K-8 building's interest rate, this is basically free.
Congrats to
@TimHenige
on his 400th career win as the junior varsity coach of the Ontario Warriors. While 400 is amazing, what is most impressive is his dedication to the program! Great coach and a great person with an even better family! Congrats!
@SchoolsOntario
@ont_athletics
Seriously so tired of all the parents complaining about the MNJ Player of the Week polls. If their kid isn’t winning, then it is unfair even though they have the same opportunities to vote as everyone else. The kids being nominated is an honor in itself. Considering dropping it.
I gotta say, kudos to the MOAC for bringing Lucas in. Cubs were in a difficult position as an independent and the MOAC and its coaches and admins really helped provide what will be an exciting season! Class all the way!
BREAKING: Doug Geiser was introduced today as the 15th head football coach in Ashland University program history. He takes over for Lee Owens and was on Owens's staff since 2004.
Photo via Tom Puskar/Ashland Times Gazette.
The press box at Copeland Field at Niss Stadium will forever be known as The Eric Grove Press Box in honor of the Voice of the Warriors and my late good friend, Eric Grove! What a tremendous honor. Grover would be proud!
Photo via
@TimHenige
.
BREAKING: The OHSAA has communicated to member schools about the remainder of the basketball season. Teams can play two games in one day (no more than 8 quarters per player) and can play regular season games through the end of the tournament (3/13 for girls, 3/20 for boys).
Every single ounce of my prayers and thoughts are with the family of Chuck Ridenour. I’m so sorry for your loss. The sports journalism world, and the world in general, is never going to be the same. Rest easy my friend.
Congrats to the
@colonelcrawford
Eagles and
@CoachSheldon_CC
on an amazing Elite 8 run! History was made this season! Thank you all for a wonderful ride!
Wow. What a punch in the gut. Just learned
@egrove_004
passed away today. Grover was one of the absolute best people you could ever know. Always a joy to talk to and loved everything Ontario athletics. The voice of the Warriors. Rest easy my friend. Man. This one hurts.
This is some sort of joke right? How does the 5th leading scorer, leading 3-point shooter (doubled No. 2), 4th in steals, 8th in BLKS in the league not get 1st team?! Undefeated League champs, No. 1 team in the state, 1st team All-District, yet 2nd team. Embarrassing for MOAC.
I am not sure I have ever felt so happy for the high school athletes as I do right now. All signs point to these kids at least having a season. Limited spectators and restrictions, but hey, take what you can get. It is all about these kids anyway!
Ontario finishes the season 17-15 and the Division II state runners up. If that doesn’t tell you how much heart these boys have, I don’t know what will. Congrats on one hell of a season Warriors! You made all of Richland County proud!
Not all heroes wear capes. but one wears a No. 61
@CFColtsFB
Jersey! Shout out to Zac Clark who saved a man's life by lifting a car off his chest which had falled off the jack stands! Awesome job!!
@HSCFVLS
@SouthBrennan
@aj3blubaugh
I swear, if politics comes up at Thanksgiving, I’m moving to the kids table and talking to my nephew about which monkey fell off the bed and bumped his head. Seems like a more intelligent conversation anyway.
Lexington Board of Education has approved the hiring of 2020 Lex grad Gabby Stover to be the next head girls basketball coach. Stover led Lex to the 2019-20 Ohio Cardinal Conference championship as a player winning league POY honors. She is the fourth HC in four years for Lex.
So let’s say the fall season for contact sports has to be completely overhauled. Let’s just have Richland County schools play each other, multiple times if need be, just so we give these kids a season. Short travel, less exposure, less spread, competition for all. Win win.
Beyond humbled and proud to be mentioned alongside
@McMotorsport
who has been my mentor throughout my entire career and someone I look up to and will continue to look up to as long as I am in this business!
In my latest column, I have a message for parents of high school athletes as well as what one coach went through this season.
Jake's Take: Stop bashing kids' coaches on social media via
@mansfieldNJ
The
@S_C_Athletics
Trojans were so gracious in their loss to Lucas that it deserved its own story.
@brettseidel3
is doing things right over there in Greenwich and every Trojan fan should be proud! Here is my story!
via
@mansfieldNJ
The
@PrideBigRed
are determined to never let their teammate be forgotten. This season, the Big Red are using a heavy heart to put up a successful season. Here is the story!
A Season for Patty: Big Red honoring fallen teammate
One year ago today, I joined the
@MansfieldNJ
as a sports reporter. It had always been my dream job since I was a kid and I’m proud to be a part of a great group of reporters and proud to write about the great athletes in the area! Here’s to many more years!!
Four years ago today, I started at the News Journal. The countless athletes and coaches I have built relationships with are ones I will cherish for the rest of my life! Cannot wait for the next 40!
BREAKING: Clear Fork head softball coach Jeff Gottfried announced he will be stepping down. Gottfried steps away after 21 years where he went 448-139 with 11 league, 19 sectional, five district and three regional championships. One heck of a career, Gotti! It was an honor!
It was the most shocking news I've heard in a long time. My buddy Eric Grove passed away over the weekend. Here is my tribute to one of the greatest human beings of our lifetime.
BREAKING:
@TYger_Football
's
@GroseAngelo
is the 2019 Division III Northwest District Defensive Player of the Year and the district's nominee for the 2019 Ohio Mr. Football Award!
Sitting at Progressive field and a bag of popcorn blew off of a concession stand. Workers didn’t see it. Lady picked it up and walked off with it. Seconds later, another blew off. Again, workers didn’t see. A child picks it up and puts it back. Faith in humanity restored.