The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Merger doesn't prevent new high school from sports success

Millions spent, hopes remain for more jobs
New 9 min. ago
Bishops: New birth control rule ‘a first step’
2/11/12
Police headlines for Feb. 11
2/11/12
Local Focus: Clark County for Feb. 11
2/11/12
Local Focus: Champaign County for Feb. 11
2/11/12
> More headlines

By Brian Plasters, Staff Writer Updated 9:09 PM Saturday, June 6, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — By now, the moment is logged in the memory of everyone at Evans Stadium that night: Springfield 7, Centerville 0.

But prior to the football game on Sept. 26, 2008, about the only people who thought the Springfield High School football team could beat the Elks were the Wildcats’ players and coaches.

Everyone else was shocked when the Wildcats beat a Centerville program used to destroying the old North and South football teams, showing the Springfield community and the Greater Western Ohio Conference what could be.

“Everyone will remember the Centerville game,” Springfield Athletic Director Mark Stoll said. “I felt the community really come together that night. I really, sincerely felt the North-South walls come down. I felt like, ‘This is Springfield. This is a big building block right here for Springfield High School.’ ”

A touchdown pass from freshman George Walker to senior Zack Burks in the second quarter was the game’s only score. A final stop by the Wildcats’ defense with 31 seconds left ended the game. It was Centerville’s first GWOC Central Division loss in three years.

“When we stopped them, it was the whole crowd, and it was about Springfield,” Stoll said. “We said, ‘We’ve done this.’ It wasn’t the reason why we merged, but we benefited from it.”

The win was great, but the bigger picture shows more work to do.

The only varsity team to finish with a winning record was volleyball (18-5), which won two postseason games and finished tied for third in the GWOC Central.

Other successes included swimmer Andrew Keriazes, a senior, who advanced to the Division I state swimming meet (100 breaststroke; 200 individual medley). Wrestler Jason Wray, a junior, was a Division I state alternate (145 pounds).

Three members of the boys track team advanced to the state tournament: juniors James Moore (100-meter dash) and Alex Gaskins (110-meter hurdles) and sophomore Josh Bass (long jump).

The merger was mostly a positive experience for combining two former programs into one. Issues over playing time and competition between former rivals were minor, Stoll said.

“The kids have adapted well. That’s the main thing and that’s what it’s all about. The kids have not been an issue at all. They have set a great example for the adults.”

Getting enough numbers to field a team was a problem for some programs. Only three had to cut down rosters — volleyball, softball and boys basketball.

Early hopes that the merger would create an instant athletic powerhouse never materialized.

Mostly, teams took their lumps against more-experienced opponents.

“We definitely want to improve on that,” Stoll said. “That comes with the territory. We’ve gotta pay our dues and we’ve gotta get better.”

Associate Athletic Director Greg Newland said 370 different students, about 1 in 4, participated in athletics during the school year.

“To me, that’s very encouraging. That’s a very high percentage,” Newland said, adding they hope to build on that number next year.

The school fielded a reserve softball team and reserve boys and girls tennis teams.

Neither North nor South could field those teams in recent years. Numbers are up among other programs, too.

The athletic department also wants to see improvements to its facilities. The school does not have a home tennis court, and the soccer teams practiced off-campus.

The fall of 2009 will bring stability in at least one area — the 2008 fall sports had practices and games at South High School while construction on Springfield’s new building was completed.

The athletes and coaches will be able to practice and play at Springfield right away this fall.

ontact this reporter at (937) 328-0366 or bplasters@coxohio.com.

Share this article