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Kent Roosevelt's volleyball team has the second-best record in the 16-team Portage Trail Conference behind Waterloo. The Rough Riders' only losses have come against Hudson and league rival Field.
The consistent problem for high school coaches is how do you replace talented players? The nature of the beast is coaches only have a few years to nurture and develop an athlete before he graduates and moves on.
When you have an especially talented player – a Division I college quarterback let’s say – that has led your team to a league championship and two playoff appearances, how does a coach find a player to plug in after he graduates?
For Kent Roosevelt football coach John Nemec the answer this time around is to replace him with a player completely new to the team.
Evan Shimensky was the Rough Riders starting quarterback for the last three seasons, compiling almost 7,500 yards of offense and 87 touchdowns for teams that went 24-8 and won the Portage Trail Conference Metro Division.
Shimensky is now at Kent State University as a freshman quarterback for the Golden Flashes.
Enter junior quarterback TraVon Chapman, who moved to Kent from Pickerington, Ohio (Central High School) after last football season.
In just three games, Chapman has compiled 913 yards of offense (495 passing) and eight touchdowns (five rushing), while completing 57-percent of his passes and gaining 6.5 yards per carry on the ground.
“Evan was here for three years and Tra moved here from Pickerington last school year,” Nemec said. “We are very fortunate to have (Tra move in). It’s a lot easier when you have a quarterback that can make plays.”
The dual-threat quarterback certainly can make plays, and considering Chapman's bloodlines, maybe that shouldn’t be a surprise.
Chapman’s father is Thad Jemison, who was named Kent State University’s wide receivers coach in January. Jemison played for Ohio State in the early 1980’s, where he caught 52 passes for 902 yards before being drafted by the Tampa Bay Bucaneers in the 12th round of the 1984 NFL draft.
Although Chapman’s career as a high school quarterback is just starting, it’s hard to argue that he isn’t on track to have a special run for the Rough Riders. Following a 42-21 loss to Canfield in his first start, Chapman has guided his offense to 105 points the last two week.
“I’m really fortunate to stand on that sideline (and coach players like Shimensky and Chapman),” Nemec said. “The good lord makes quarterbacks, not John Nemec.”
Kent Roosevelt (2-1) and Chapman will look to continue their season in the search of a PTC Metro Division title and second straight playoff appearance, when they open conference play against the quick starting Coventry Comets (3-0) this Friday night.
More football: Metro Division play gets underway
The Rough Riders-Comets matchup at Roosevelt Stadium looks like the highlight of the Metro Division this weekend. Coventry is 3-0 for the first time since 2006 – the last time it made the playoffs – behind a strong running game, led by junior Dillon Headrick. The star running back has gained 437 yards in three games.
Adding intrigue to this game is the fact that the Comets have moved up to Division II, Region 5 and will compete with Kent Roosevelt directly for a playoff spot , making this game huge when it comes to computer points.
The second game of the weekend welcomes Streetsboro to the Metro Division against the team that has finished second in the PTC’s big school division the last four years – Field. The Rockets (2-1) and junior running back Dorian Williams could be undefeated if not for a blocked extra point and two failed conversions on 2-point tries in a 20-18 loss. Williams scored all 18 points for the Rockets in the defeat, bringing his total to seven touchdowns in 2011.
Despite still having senior all-world back Pat Boggs (2,300 yards last season), the Falcons (0-3) have gotten out of the gate slowly with losses to Minerva (made playoffs in 2010), Southeast and Chagrin Falls (reigning Division IV state runner up). Field is familiar with rebounding after struggling early. The Falcons went 1-2 last season before winning six of their final seven to make the playoffs
The last two matchups of the weekend include reigning Metro Division Champion Ravenna (2-1) taking on Crestwood, with the Red Devils still in search of their first victory. Crestwood has a tall order in stopping a Ravens offense that has scored 93 points behind seniors D.J. Jones and Brandon Holt. The Red Devils have allowed 97 points in their first three games.
Finally, Springfield (0-3) and Norton (1-2) meet in a Summit County clash of two teams in need of a victory.
Cross Country: Metro teams will see a lot of each other
Over the next few days PTC cross country teams will see a lot of each other, starting Tuesday night at the PTC Metro Super Duals and then finishing Saturday at the Boardman Spartan XC Invitational, where seven of the eight teams will run.
The girls race in the Metro Division should be quite interesting. Last season Crestwood was the winner at the Super Duals, but Kent Roosevelt eventually won the league at the PTC championships. Both teams, along with Field, should once again bring strong teams that will challenge each other for the Metro title. The Red Devils are led by senior Karlie Lieberth, who took second last season behind 2011 graduate Sammi Vaughan. The combination of Destiny Cosentino and Kaitlyn Stayer will pace the Falcons, while Sarah McClure and Katie Welles will lead the Rough Riders.
On the boys side, the defending champion Falcons will have their hands full with senior Mike Robinson and junior Kole Williams leading Field into a crowded field that will feature contenders Crestwood, Norton and Kent Roosevelt. Steve Green and Cody Roberts will lead a Red Devil squad that may be the deepest heading into this week’s events.
Volleyball: Champs still have that golden touch
Last season the Kent Roosevelt Rough Riders volleyball team had six seniors lead the team to its first volleyball league championship. Two weeks into the 2011 season and coach Kasey Adelman’s squad shows no signs of letting up.
Kent Roosevelt (7-0, 4-0) has yet to drop a match and has only lost two of 20 games to start the season. The Rough Riders also added a trophy from the Barberton Volleyball Classic last Saturday.
It was also a good weekend for another league contender as Field won its weekend tournament in Chardon last weekend. The Falcons have started the season 2-2 after losing to Kent Roosevelt and Crestwood early on.