TAMPA — Linsly School has an OVAC swimming tradition second to none.

The Cadets have pocketed more than 70 conference team titles in the pool. Some sixty of those championship banners were courtesy of the Cadet boys’ squads.

That said, the Wheeling-based school has been graced by countless standout mermen over the years. Kevin Rosepapa is one of the best of the best.

The Bellaire native was graduated from Linsly in 1990. He played an integral role in the Cadets capturing four successive OVAC championships for OVAC Hall of Fame Coach Bill Brubaker.

Moreover, Rosepapa established an Independent-Parochial School League record in the 100 freestyle, a mark that still remarkably stands today. His dominant prep exploits earned him All-American honors.

After enjoying collegiate swimming success at Indian River Community College and So. Illinois and gaining his teaching degree in history, Rosepapa immediately immersed himself into coaching.

Rosepapa is in his 20th year as head swimming and diving coach for Tampa-based Berkeley Preparatory School and the Berkeley Barracudas (a club team.) It has been two noteworthy decades of winning for both programs.

“I was 25 when I started the Berkeley Prep program. It was tough,” Rosepapa said. “Tampa is an old city. It took a while to get things up and running. We would have only one or two quality swimmers. But I just put my head down and kept working at it.

“Our kids always got better and others took notice. That improvement began attracting more and more quality swimmers to Berkeley. Now we are turning it over every year with top-flight swimmers,” he added. “It also helps that Berkeley is one of the premier academic schools in the nation. It is ranked No. 57 overall in private education nationally and No. 2 in Florida. We average about 100-120 students in each graduating class.”

The prep swimming season in the Sunshine State is contested in the fall. The 2016 campaign was the best yet for Rosepapa.

His boys’ team finished as state runnerup in Class 1A, the toughest division in Florida. The previous two seasons, the Berkeley boys took home fourth place. They also have won eight district and eight regional titles in succession.

Rosepapa’s girls’ teams have not taken a backseat to their male counterparts. The Berkeley ladies have three top 10 state finishes on their resume to go with eight district crowns, three regional championships and two top 15 national designations.

“Our goal is to win the state championship. That is a goal that is not that far off, possibly coming to fruition next year,” Rosepapa said.

Swimming has enveloped Rosepapa’s life since his early years in the All-American Town.

“I started swimming at the Bellaire pool when I was 9-years-old. It was a great place. We would stay there all day long. That fall, I went to the YMCA and began swimming for Bru (Brubaker). My second year I made the regional meet,” Rosepapa said. “I’ve never worked a day in my life. I don’t

consider what I do as work.

“Swimming never stops. During the high school season we practice at 5 a.m. five days a week. Then we have more sessions from 3:30-7 p.m. each day. We started our club season Tuesday. The Barracudas have 90 swimmers,” he added. “In the summer we practice from 6-8 a.m. and then again from 4:30-6:30 in the afternoon. Everyday is different and everyday is fun.”

His fanatical dedication to coaching has paid huge dividends for his teams and individual swimmers.

Rosepapa has tutored six state champions and 11 All-Americans. His girls and boys have won eight Academic State championships.

Moreover, his proteges have earned scholarships to such prestigious programs as Stanford, Clemson, Florida and Northwestern.

Rosepapa’s passionate work has been followed closely by Brubaker, drawing praise from a man who has won more OVAC championships than any other coach in conference history, regardless of sport.

“Kevin puts a tremendous amount of effort into getting the best from his swimmers. He provides an atmosphere where success is expected, but not guaranteed,” Brubaker said. “He gives his swimmers the tools to be successful, and after that it is up to them to use them well.

“I have followed his success at Berkeley and am proud of his achievements,” he continued. “Kevin has made his program a perennial contender in the Florida state swimming championships. To do that takes a tremendous amount of dedication on the coach.”

Berkeley’s water prosperity has also brought about individual plaudits for Rosepapa. He has been named the Tampa Bay Area Coach of the Year on four occasions.

While swimming is his never-waning passion, the 45-year-old does have some outlets away from the sport. He loves to take in Formula 1 car racing as well as amusements parks. The second of which he does with his daughter Emily, 10. She currently lives in Virginia with her mother but will be coming to swim at Berkeley in the near future.

“All I know is that I love coaching swimming. I love working with kids. I do it now for the kids. Seeing their faces makes it worthwhile,” Rosepapa said. “We are coming off one of our best high school seasons ever. There is no end in sight. Our best years are ahead of us.”

Rosepapa said he plans on returning to the Ohio Valley and put on a camp at Linsly.

WHEELING CENTRAL FOOTBALL

THE 2017 Wheeling Central football schedule has been finalized.

Coach Mike Young’s charges will open Aug. 24, hosting Steubenville Catholic. After an open week, the Maroon Knights travel to East Hardy on Sept. 8 followed by a pair of home games with Williamstown (Sept. 15) and Magnolia (Sept. 22), the latter will serve as Central’s homecoming game.

The Maroon Knights visit Linsly for a matinee affair on Sept. 30 before they host Shadyside (Oct. 6). Central travels to Martins Ferry on Oct. 13 before hosting Obama on Oct. 21 in conjunction with Hall of Fame activities.

Young’s troops close out the regular season at Madonna before hosting Oak Glen on Nov. 3. Game 10 will also be Senior Night.

CHAZ ROE

AN OHIO Valley native has made the opening day roster for the Atlanta Braves.

Chaz Roe is one of the bullpen mainstays for the team. He was acquired from the Orioles late last season and finished the campaign in sharp fashion. In 30 games with the Braves, he went 2-0 with a 3.4 ERA. The hard-throwing right-hander fanned 37 in 29 innings of work.

Roe was a prep pitching phenom at Lafayette High School in Lexington, Ky. He was drafted in the first round of the 2005 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies.

Roe was born in Steubenville. His parents, Don and Kelly (Hoover) Roe, are both Buckeye North High graduates. Don was a Huskies’ football great, earning a scholarship to the University of Kentucky, starring at linebacker for the Wildcats.

Chaz’s great-uncle is Pittsburgh Pirate legend Bill Mazeroski. His uncle, Jim Hoover, is a teacher-coach at Martins Ferry High. The Roe family moved to Kentucky when Chaz was 2-years-old.

Roe has also seen MLB tours of duty with the Diamondbacks and Yankees.

BUBBA’S BITS

CROSS WILKINSON has received his third D-I football scholarship offer. The Wheeling Park quarterbacking star was recently extended an offer from Ohio University. The 6-2, 200-pound senior-to-be already has offers from Marshall and Toledo. Wilkinson help guide the Patriots to their lone state grid championship as a sophomore. He is taking part in the Nike Elite 11 camp in Cleveland today and the Under Armor All-American Camp in Baltimore in June.

THE INAUGURAL WV Elite Hoop Tri-State Challenge will be held April 20-23 at Linsly School. Age groups are: Grades 2-3; 4,5,6,7,8 and 9. It is hoped to have eight teams in each boys and girls division. All teams are guaranteed three games and awards will be presented to champions in each division. Entry fee is $150. For more information, call 740-340-7078.

TONY ROMO made the prudent decision to retire Tuesday. With his myriad of injuries and television broadcasting options looming, there was no need to elongate his career in Houston or Denver. Romo’s hiring sacks former NY Giants quarterback Phil Simms as the No. 1 color announcer for CBS.

BILL MAZEROSKI’S Pittsburgh Pirates’ bat and uniform from the 1960 World Series have been donated to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. The bat is the one Maz used to clout his Series-ending home run.

THE ANNUAL Martins Ferry Soap Box Derby is set for Sunday, June 11. Drivers must be between the ages of 8-15. To register or for more information, call the chamber office at 1-740-633-2565.

THE MARSHALL County Board of Education is pondering whether to install turf at John Marshall’s Monarch Stadium. It would be a much-needed upgrade to the facility. The stadium plays host to more than 50 games a season. JM features some of the nicest athletic facilities in the OVAC, adding turf would prove a prudent enhancement. Board members also talked about the possible relocation of the football stadium. I see no need for that.