Trending
Harrison Central's football program struggled in its infancy. There's no two ways about it.
They went through several coaches and several winless seasons and just three years ago the Harrison Hills Board of Education hired a bright-eyed young coach to take over the Huskies program.
And since the time Justin Kropka left Dave Bruney's Martins Ferry staff to nurture his own program, the Huskies have been on a steady rise to respectability and have also just narrowly missed a playoff berth.
Well, the work Kropka's done hasn't gone unnoticed by his coaching peers. The Martins Ferry and Ohio University graduate was chosen to serve on the South coaching staff for the upcoming Ohio North-South All-Star Football Game in June.
"I am extremely honored to have been chosen," Kropka said during a recent phone interview. "But, anytime you are elected to do something like this by your peers, it matters even a little more."
It was just two years ago that the Huskies had Willie Walker participate in the game and when Kropka reports for camp at Otterbein College later this year, he'll have Walker's quarterback, Robbie Davia, with him for the game.
Davia was chosen to serve on the South roster as one of the team's quarterbacks.
"Obviously, any coach would be excited to have that kind of roster at his disposal, but when you can take one of your own players, it's even more special," Kropka said. "He's been here since our first year and a kid who's started 30 games for me."
The game is slated for June 14th and the location has been changed from year's past. It's formerly been held at Columbus Crew Stadium, but this year, the game will be held at Ohio Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University.
"Talk about a dream come true with the game moving to 'The Shoe'," Kropka said. "Most coaches would give their arm to coach in that stadium. I grew up loving OSU, so I might have to go out and do a dance or something on the Block O on the 50 yard line."
Kropka looks at his choosing as a representation of the entire program, coaching staff, school and county.
"I think this shows how far our program has come," Kropka said. "In three years, we sent two players and now a coach to the game. By no means are we the greatest program ever, but we are making progress, and I couldn't be prouder of what our coaches and kids have accomplished."
Opportunities for Huskie players and now their coach to take part in the state's biggest stage is something that Kropka hopes youngsters in the Harrison Hills School District take note of as they continue their ascent toward high school football.
"Hopefully, there are six or seven year olds walking about Harrison County seeing what you can do," Kropka noted. "We haven't a lot to be proud of in football, but to be in the paper for something positive is great for these kids."
For both Kropka and Davia, the opportunity to play in the additional game is like playing the 10th game of their season, which was cancelled due to the strike within the Harrison Hills School District last fall where the Buckeye 8 game against Buckeye Local was lost.
"We kind of get that game back now," Kropka said. "I just hope Robbie enjoys the experience and makes the most of the opportunity."
Coaching and playing in the North-South game will experience both Kropka and Davia to football players that will be calling the likes of Ohio State, Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Michigan and countless others home for the next four years.
"Coaching that level of a player is probably going to be somewhat surreal," Kropka said. "They will be playing on Saturday at a major level and for a week, they'll be listening to me."
As for Davia, his selection to the game is a fitting cap to a brilliant prep career in which he captivated the Ohio Valley his sophomore season, throwing for more than 2,000 yards. While his numbers never reached that level again, it did nothing to take away from his accomplishments according to his head coach.
"As a sophomore, we had so many people for Robbie to throw the ball to," Kropka said. "We were pass first and run second. The last two years, he was more of a game manager. He's a mature quarterback who didn't turn the ball over, and he was able to do different things that the team needs him to do."
Davia's unselfishness is evident by the fact that he threw for 2,000 yards as a sophomore and then threw for 2,200 the next two years combined. For his career, Davia finished with 4,729 passing yards and 43 touchdowns, and in the process he established every Harrison Central passing record.
Along with Davia, Steubenville's Andrew Radakovich and Zanesville' Bryan Gaiters will also take part for the South squad to represent the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference.
LOCAL HOOPS
MANY PEOPLE thought back in November that this wasn't going to be a strong year in basketball for either the boys or the girls in the immediate area. Thus far through the tournament trail that idea seems quite accurate.
In just two days of boys tournament action, the area has watched eight teams finish their seasons. In girls' hoops' two weeks of sectional play, only the Barnesville girls are left standing.
It's just hard to fathom that this area has only one team in the district tournament for girls. But, here's the thing to keep in mind, only four teams in the entire state will end their season with a victory.
And accomplishments such as the OVAC, PVC or Buckeye 8 titles are something that in due time, kids will look back on and be proud of despite the pain that might be felt at the immediate impact of knowing the season that began in late October is over.
But, there's plenty of action left to be had on the tournament trail even if there aren't many locals left to experience it.
SPRING SPORTS
As basketball teams dwindle and wrestling prepares to move into its second week of post-season competition, the thoughts of spring and more importantly, spring sports inches closer. The OVAC holds its mandatory coaches' meeting for baseball today at Linsly and pitchers and catchers for both baseball and softball report a week from Monday to begin preparations for the upcoming season. Track and field practice begins on Monday, March 3.
Along with the start of those sports, The Times Leader will once again feature team-by-team previews on the three sports in a special supplement, which will be available on March 26. In lieu of that, we're asking that local athletic directors submit their schedules for track, baseball and softball seasons.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
In last Sunday's edition, we published a letter to the editor from Shadyside resident Doug Campbell about the OVAC Sports Museum. We couldn't agree more with what Campbell wrote. It's absolutely embarrassing that every school's case isn't filled yet. Everyone has stuff probably piled up in their basement that would fit in with that museum. This valley has such a rich athletic tradition and while population is dwindling as folks in my age bracket depart for more metropolitan areas, the history of the OVAC and the schools can be kept up with if people take part in the OVAC Museum. And getting items into the museum is simple. Just contact Tom Rataiczak at tom@ovac.org and he'll be happy to steer you in the right direction. It's a real shame that so many cases are empty. Hopefully, within a couple of weeks all of the cases are filled. Remember, this project is for the schools and the people of the Ohio Valley. Take advantage of the opportunity.
SETH'S SCOOPS
• ALONG WITH the ending of the winter sports seasons comes all-star teams. The Samuel A. Mumley OVAC All-Star Basketball Classic rosters as well as the Pepsi District 12 all-star rosters will be formulated today a pair of meetings. Area hoop coaches will meet at Bellaire High School at 2 p.m. The District 12 Coaches Meeting is slated for the evening in Cambridge.
• THE TIMES Leader is also proud to announce that it will be announcing its first-ever all-Times Leader Swimming Team shortly after the completion of the season . The T-L Sports Department publishes all-star teams for sports of football, cross country, golf, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, track and field, baseball and softball. As more and more swimmers are being successful on a district and state level it's definitely a needed team.
• HARRISON CENTRAL softball standout Sara Pelegreen recently took part in the 15th annual Queen of the Diamonds Showcase North at Kent State University. It's the largest college showcase for high-school aged players and it drew more than 2,500 applicants from 33 states and Canada.
• FOOTBALL SCHEDULES continue to be completed as the area's most beloved time of the years continues to get closer. It was announced this week that Steubenville Big Red will take part in the Kirk Herbstreit Challenge at Massillon High School against an opponent to be announced.
Staskey can be reached at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com