HARWELLPHOTO.COM
Teammate Larry Nance is headed to Wyoming, and DJ Bettinger (above), a four-year starting point guard for the Revere boys basketball team, will play for NAIA power Indiana Wesleyan.
This week in the Suburban League, we have a cluster of information covering many teams and schools.
We'll start at Green, where, pending Green Board Of Education approval, Ed Cybak will be the new head football coach.
“When I first heard that I was the new football coach, I was very excited and very proud to be able to represent the community and Green school system” Cybak said.
Cybak had been an assistant at Green the previous three seasons under Tom Stacy, including two years as defensive coordinator. Stacy resigned at the end of last season to join the staff of an old friend, Lee Owens at Ashland University. The Bulldogs were 12-18 in those three years under Stacy, including 5-5 last season.
This will be Cybak's second stint as a head coach. Previous to his coming to Green in 2008, Cybak guided Navarre Fairless of the Principals Athletic Conference.
Cybak is a 1986 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School and then went to Kent State University and Ashland University. He returned to Fitch to coach and has also coached in Ohio at Morral Ridgedale and St. Mary's Memorial.
“I bring a lot of experience to the team, but I can't say enough about being part of Green and now involved in the whole education system here,” said Cybak, also a teacher at Green High.
“I met with the team yesterday (Wednesday) and they seem ready to go, which we will do right after the end of the spring sports season.
It's been a big week in the Green school district. Voters approved a crucial levy on Tuesday, then Cybak was recommended for the coaching job on Wednesday morning.
"Our community passing that levy tells you that they love what we are doing at this school, and now it is up to us,” Cybak said.
ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER WINNER: Staying at Green, coach Brian Tharp’s softball team has a winning record again at 12-8 overall. That's not surprising, for he has built one of the most consistent programs in the league.
“We are getting better" said Tharp, whose team is 5-5 in the SL. "We've lost three games by one run."
The Bulldogs offense is paced by Marisa Tharp (.427), the coach's daughter, and Hannah Reese (.407). Morgan Jackson leads the team with 14 runs batted in and also has 22 hits.
RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY: The Tallmadge baseball team is 9-4 overall and 6-2 in the SL but, like every other team in the area, getting on the field has been a major challenge.
“Just give me some sunshine," Blue Devils coach Kenny Linn said.
GETTING BETTER: Also in baseball, Barberton is starting to dig its way out of a large role. After starting 0-8 overall, the Magics have gone 3-5, beating Firestone, Green and Wadsworth, to improve to 3-13. They are 3-8 in the SL
Barberton stopped Firestone 6-3 on Tuesday as senior Andy Kefalos smacked a home run and two singles and fellow senior Brian Britenstine had a diouble and a single.
“We have been able to swing the bats well as of late,” Magics coach Ryan Hartzell said.
Kefalos, committed to Lourdes College, is red-hot right now with two homers and four doubles in the past four games, lifting his average to .432. Britenstine (.363) has been a big contributor since moving into the starting line-up.
On the pitching side, junior right-handers J.D. Cuckler and Sean Connor have been very consistent of late, getting deep into games, while senior Greg Barnes has been throwing strikes out of the bullpen.
Senior Josh North has also done well out of the pen while providing punch at the plate, getting three doubles in a game last week. The Youngstown State signee moved to second base this year from shortstop and has been flawless defensively.
“We are not good enough to give teams extra opportunities," Hartzell said. "The mental mistakes are very tough for us to overcome.
"We have a long way to go, but I am pleased with the way we have been able to put things together of late."
GO WEST, YOUNG MAN: Revere's standout boys basketball player, senior Larry Nance Jr. signed with the University of Wyoming out of the Mountain West Conference.
Nance averaged 18 points a game this past season, along with 10 rebounds and two assists, on his way to being a second-team All-Ohio selection in Division I.
“We are very proud of Larry," Minutemen coach Dean Rahas said. "He will work hard to excel at the next level.”
MORE ON THE MINUTEMEN: Also with the Revere basketball team, four-year starting point guard DJ Bettinger has also picked his college, signing with Indiana Wesleyan, an NAIA power.
The honorable nention All-Ohioan, who averaged 14 points and 5 assists this year, set a school recxord for wins in his career with 65.
Revere teammate Connor Edel will play at Case Western Reserve.
TWO AT WADSWORTH MAKE COLLEGE CHOICES: All-Ohio shot putter Hannah Gospodinsky will be signing with the University of South Florida, and boys cross country star Russell McCune is headed to Kent State.
AND FINALLY...: Hats off to the Copley boys tennis team for capturing the SL title this week.