Nagy regional runner-up; joins four others at state
Every year since 1985, thousands have converged at Scioto Downs Race Track in Columbus on a fall Saturday for the OHSAA State Cross Country Championships.

The 2010 edition, where 889 runners took off last Saturday, was no different. Six teams (three boys and three girls) and six individuals (three boys and three girls) were crowned as state champions. 

Competing for state championships were five local athletes — Lacy Nagy of Woodmore (Division III), Gibsonburg senior Samantha Hoffman (D-III), Oak Harbor senior Kia Frank from Oak Harbor (D-II), and Clay senior Megan Csehi and freshman Erin Gyurke (D-I).

Csehi and Gyurke competed at the Pickerington D-I regional, with Csehi placing sixth in 19:17.2 and Gyurke 15th in 19:37.

Nagy was second at the D-III Tiffin regional in 19:13.6 and Hoffman was 12th in 19:54.75. Frank was 15th at the D-II Tiffin Regional in 19:31.99.

Genoa football starts tradition
Building on last year’s wearing of pink athletic tape to promote Breast Cancer awareness, the Genoa football team again wore pink tape on their wrists, ankles etc for their final home game against Otsego.

When asked about how it came about, Coach Mike Vicars said, “You need to talk to the boys, they are the ones that put this together, we had nothing to do with it.”

While players Garrett Scott and Derek Allgier were leaders in organizing the tribute, they were quick to point out that all of the seniors and several underclassmen worked hard to carry it through.  When asked if anyone was apprehensive about wearing the pink tape they said no, not a single person. They admitted that while they needed to be tough on the field, they wanted to be known in the community for more than just football and show their gentle side by helping draw attention to a disease that touches one in four. 

Even though the seniors had been planning this for a while, the underclassmen were pushing them to be sure they did something in October, Nation Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The field had several pink ribbons painted on it, and the cheerleaders wore pink as well as did many students and fans. It looks as though the football team may have a tradition going.

Ding Dong Bell
The Maumee-Perrysburg football rivalry for the Ding Dong Bell is about more than a football game played for an historic ornament. Of course, it is now known that the Ding Dong Bell is not so historic, but what was historic was the tornado that hit Lake Schools June 5.

As part of the weekly festivities leading to the Maumee-Perrysburg game on Oct. 29, both schools hold an annual fundraiser called the Rivalry Run five kilometer race and they choose a beneficiary. This year, they chose to donate the money raised to Lake Schools to help replace projectors lost in the tornado.

“This was our second annual run. It is a joint project of the Maumee High School and Perrysburg High School student councils in an effort to kick off our spirit weeks before the big football game and come together to raise funds for worthy local causes,” wrote Maumee advisor Allison Mackin in an e-mail to The Press.

The fundraiser raised $3,254 as 174 people, 103 from Maumee and 71 from Perrysburg, participated. Attending the pre-game ceremony was nearly a dozen Lake students. Last year Hospice of Northwest Ohio received the race proceeds.

Sutter Soothsayer champ
Genoa Banking Company President Marty Sutter won the 2010 Press Soothsayer competition with a two-game victory over Oregon Mayor Mike Seferian. Sutter finished at 115-29 (79.9 percent), while Seferian, who was perfect in his first two weeks of picking high school, college, and pro football games, finished at 113-31.

Marty Sutter

“Wow! I am very surprised that I came in first place,” wrote Sutter in an e-mail to The Press. “The competition was very good. All Soothsayers were extremely knowledgeable, and all of the individuals had some great picks over the last few weeks. 

“My guess is that many people would say that I am a sports fanatic. I do especially like high schools sports. I think high school sports teach young adults the necessary characteristics to compete in an ever-changing business world.  Competition is a key element in the business world, and sports especially at the high school age teach individuals that in order to compete they need to work hard if they want to be successful,” Sutter continued. 

“Life is also full of ups and downs. High school sports also has ups and downs. Learning at a young age to deal with those challenges is a key life lesson…I follow all of our area sporting contests closely.  My family especially my boys were very helpful in assisting me with my picks.

“Another sign of good leadership is the ability to delegate. My son, (Genoa football player)Luke, was very good with the college picks, my son, Ben, was extremely good on the high school picks, and my son, Sam, was very good on the pro picks. But most importantly my daughter, Anna, was very good at just keeping me busy so I didn’t have time to change the boys’ picks.”

Sutter came two percentage points short of breaking the all-time record, set last by WRSCradio.com broadcaster Mark Reeves (81.1 percent).

Following Sutter and Seferian were Oregon jeweler Alan Miller (110-34), Press contributing writer Mark Griffin (104-40), defending Soothsayer champion Reeves (102-42), Oregon businessman and former NCAA Division I and professional football player Tim Williams (100-44), contributing writer and Voice on the Street Deb Wallace (98-46), and contributing writer and worldwide ketchup drinking champion Nick Huenefeld (95-49).

Sports Announcements
The Oak Harbor girls’ basketball coaches will be conducting a bus trip fundraiser to Motor City Casino Nov. 13. The bus will depart from the high school at 1:45 p.m., and then depart Motor City Casino at 8:30 p.m. for the return trip. Donation is $30, and the casino will give back $20 upon arrival. Contact Andy Ramsey at 419-704-3686 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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