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Skilliter, Miller head into sophomore seasons at Mt. Union
The University of Mount Union football team returns only nine starters and 31 letter winners, but Coach Larry Kehres probably is approaching his 25th season as head coach much like the last 24, which is good if you are a fan of the Purple Raiders.
Kehres has two players from Genoa to help him determine who will get a chance to win a letter in 2010. Fiive-foot-8, 180 pound Blair Skilliter is a sophomore running back, and 5-10, 220 pound Tyler Miller, who lives in Genoa but attended St. Francis de Sales, is a sophomore defensive lineman.
As a freshman, Skilliter played in six games, rushing for 101 yards on 20 carries and returning three kicks for 44 yards. He had five rushes for 41 yards against Albright (Pa) on Dec. 5. He was an All-Ohio selection for Coach Mike Vicars at Genoa. Miller was a three year letter winner in football, All-City selection and Academic First Team for coach Dick Cromwell at St. Francis
Replacing players at key positions and reloading a roster will be the charge of Kehres and his staff who look to continue a run of 18 consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference Championships (1992-2009) while contending for a record 11th NCAA Division III National Championship.
Gutilla’s final season
Cardinal Stritch High School and Kateri Catholic Academy have announced leadership changes within their athletic department.
Chad Rutkowski, assistant athletic director, will assume the role of athletic director at the end of this year’s football season. Rutkowski is an alumnus of Cardinal Stritch High School and has a master’s degree in Sports Administration from Bowling Green State University.
Current athletic director and head football coach Joe Gutilla announced that he would be leaving the schools at the end of football season. He said his decision was based purely on personal reasons related to a job opportunity out of state for his wife.
“I firmly believe in family first and the utmost importance of marriage. Joe has absolutely made the right decision to support the great opportunity that was presented to his wife,” said Fr. Eric Schild, president of the Kateri Catholic School System.
Fr. Schild added, “Joe has demonstrated a strong commitment to our athletic program, our schools and, most importantly, to our students. As such, Joe will remain in his role until the conclusion of football season.”
At the end of this year’s football season, leaders at Cardinal Stritch High School will begin a formal search process for a head football coach.
Perfect Mayor
Let’s hand it to the Mayor of Oregon. Rarely, since soothsayer picks began in 2001, is a Press gridiron soothsayer perfect in his weekly picks. It is even rarer during the first week when prognosticators are, for the most part, without knowledge.
Because of deadlines, the first week of choices was delivered to eight celebrity soothsayers on August 16 — long before any preview was published and even before teams had completed their second scrimmage.
Mayor Mike Seferian was a perfect 12-0 in his first week. How he did it we don’t really know, but we do know that he is not a “homer” because he accurately selected Fremont St. Joseph to defeat Cardinal Stritch. In week two, he did not pick Clay or Stritch to win, and only the reader will know for sure how accurate he was.
Most soothsayers are hesitant to not pick their own alma mater for the sake of retribution, let alone take a chance on what voters might think if they did not select the hometown team.
Finally, a politician who tells it like it is and proves he is right in doing so. Just kidding, folks. This is no social commentary on Seferian’s performance as mayor, only as a soothsayer. Congratulations, Mayor.
Sports Announcements
Oak Harbor Athletic Senior Citizen Passes are available in the high school main office everyday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Any Oak Harbor resident that is age 62 or older can get a permanent pass to all Oak high school and junior high athletic contests.
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The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is holding tryouts for a 13-and-under baseball team at Oregon Recreation on Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. with a rain date on Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. Call Coach Matt Smithers at 419-260-3207.
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The Genoa Little League will be holding tryouts for their travel baseball teams for the 2011 season. Ages 10-and-under tryouts are Sept. 25 at 10:30 and Sept. 26 at 9 a.m. at Lou Thomas Field. 12-andunder tryouts are Sept. 25-26 at 10 a.m. at Diamond No. 2 both days. 14-and-under tryouts are Sept. 25-26 at 9 a.m at Padge Field both days. Players must be enrolled in Genoa Schools or reside in the Genoa School District. Visit www.leaguelineup.com/genoa or contact Lee Nissen at 419-351-2398.
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