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Kent Roosevelt offensive lineman Ryan Anderson was named the "Fan Favorite" for this year's Rudy Awards for athletes who inspire their teammates and communities. Anderson, who lost a promising football career after being diagnosed with cancer, received a $1,500 scholarship.
KENT, Ohio – Instead of driving to Brunswick High School this year, Revere boys soccer coach Sandor Jakab drove to Kent Roosevelt on Sunday afternoon for his annual tournament seed and bracket meeting.
It did not matter where he was assigned. Jakab's undefeated, second-ranked Minutemen (10-0-3) were going to be a No. 1 seed in Division II.
“Twenty to 25 percent of the district is changed, but with that said, we need to do what we need to do,” Jakab said.
At least his brother’s team (Jozsab Jakab) – Crestwood – is at the opposite end of the bracket and the holidays should be pleasant.
A year ago, Jakab guided his team to the state final – a 3-2 loss to Dayton Carroll -- at Columbus Crew Stadium. That memorable tournament run included a gutsy decision to go to No. 1 seed Highland in the district semifinal. The Minutemen rallied from a 2-0 deficit and overtook the Hornets 4-3 before stopping St. Vincent-St. Mary 1-0 in the district final at Pappano Stadium.
This year’s meeting was tame by comparison.
“It seemed like everything logically fell into place,” Jakab said.
The Minutemen are at the top of the bracket and could host three straight matches through district play. Revere will welcome the Norton-Akron North winner on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m.
Archbishop Hoban, the No. 4 seed, will entertain the Field-Streetsboro survivor also on Oct. 20.
The lower half of the bracket will have No. 2 seed St. Vincent-St. Mary hosting either Buckeye or Woodridge in a sectional final on Oct. 20.
The Irish (8-2-4) are ranked seventh in last week’s state poll.
No. 3 seed Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, a Division III state champion in 2010, is set to welcome either Crestwood or Tallmadge for a second round game on Oct. 20.
“It is our responsibility as coaches to kind of make sure we understand the level of the teams that are in the room,” third-year CVCA coach Jon Taylor said. “So, it’s a bit of preparation and homework, making sure that we can go and see some teams play that we don’t play.
“Today went great because coaches were prepared.”
Taylor said his team’s new district assignment will likely affect CVCA's scheduling.
“I think it’s always good to play teams that are in the room,” he said. “I think it’s a good thing for the meeting.”
As for the sectional final the Royals are set to host on Oct. 20, Taylor is unsure where it will be played as CVCA’s home stadium is unfit from the combination of rain and use in recent weeks. The game may be contested on the JV competition field, which at the moment is in better shape than the stadium, according to Taylor.
There was no debate when the Kent Division II girls coaches convened following the boys teams.
Defending national and state champion Walsh Jesuit (13-0-2) is riding a 30-match unbeaten streak and garnered a unanimous No. 1 seed. The Warriors entertain either Ravenna or Crestwood on Saturday, Oct. 22, in a sectional final.
The No. 2 seed was pretty clear cut as well. Revere (9-2-2), coming off a 1-0 win over Wadsworth, is opposite Walsh in the lower half of the bracket.
“We knew straight away we were in the same district as Walsh Jesuit,” first-year Revere coach David Howson said. “But there are other teams as well we can’t discount.
“We can’t say we’re going to play Walsh in the district final because you have to earn the right to get there.”
Howson, a long-term substitute teacher at the moment, has done an admirable job at Revere, after the Minutemen advanced to a Division I district final last year, falling to Hudson.
After taking back-to-back losses to Copley and North Canton Hoover, Revere is 6-0-2 and has Hoban, Green and Kent Roosevelt yet to play.
The Minutemen open tourney play on Oct. 22 at home against Streetsboro.
As expected, teams tried to stay away from Walsh Jesuit. But one of these three teams – No. 4 seed Aurora (8-4-2), No. 8 Orange or No. 9 Woodridge – will meet Walsh in a district semifinal.
Orange, 13-4-3 and a district runner-up a year ago, is 0-12 as of Sunday and was required to forfeit earlier wins. Oddly enough, No. 9 Woodridge captured a bye.
The section of the bracket below Revere finds three quality teams. No. 5 seed CVCA (9-4-0) will host No. 6 Chagrin Falls on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. The winner gets a date at Green Street Stadium against No. 3 seed St. Vincent-St. Mary (4-8-2).
The Irish were rewarded for playing a rigorous schedule. Coach Rob Young said his team should be completely healthy when it plays its first tourney game on Oct. 22.
CVCA is a defending district champion. Falls is 3-9-0, but don’t be fooled. A year ago, the Tigers had three wins heading into the tournament and ran off five straight victories before losing to Hathaway Brown in a shootout in the regional final to finish 8-11-3.