Hey everyone! This is my column that’s running in the Akron Beacon Journal Friday, but it’s posted on Ohio.com now, as you can see. Thanks to everyone who submitted votes for their favorite high school nicknames. If there are other crazy nicknames from out of state, post them so we can all get some laughs. Thanks again!

Colby Busson will attempt to lead host Chippewa to a win over Wayne County Athletic League foe Norwayne (4-3, 2-2) tonight.

Busson guided the Chipps to a 22-6 win over host Rittman this past Friday with two rushing touchdowns in the first quarter. Busson also successfully rushed for a pair of two-point conversions.

The St. Vincent-St. Mary girls soccer team suffered their first loss of the season last week to rival Archbishop Hoban 4-0, and lost bragging rights for the year.

But maybe that was a good thing.

The Irish (8-1-3) rebounded to beat Chippewa, which was 9-1 at the time, 3-1, then beat Our Lady of the Elms 4-0. St. V-M was ranked No. 6 in last week’s Division II state poll and should remain in the top 10 in this week’s poll.

St. V-M is a young team but the Irish keep improving every week. They are led by seniors Erica Hutson and Nora Wisor, the only two starting seniors. Junior Kelly Fulkerson was a starter last year and junior Becca Bridenthal add experience depth this year to coach Rob Young’s squad.

There are five sophomores who have made strong contributions this year including center midfielder, Miranda Yeaton, Rachel Hutson and Sam Daugherty.

Chippewa senior Colby Busson had a phenomenal game last Friday in a 62-56 loss to host Keystone.

Busson lines up at quarterback and is a dual threat. He rushed for three touchdowns and 179 yards on 18 carries, passed for 196 yards and three touchdowns and also returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.

Chipps junior receiver Andrew Schickler had all three touchdown receptions.

Busson also passed for two 2-point conversions and ran for two 2-point conversions when Chippewa defeated host Norton in overtime in Week 1. Busson threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Schickler for the game-winner. Busson finished the game with 209 yards rushing on 24 carries and a touchdown in that game.

Chippewa enters Week 2 of the football season following a thrilling overtime victory over host Norton this past Friday/Saturday.

Chipps senior quarterback Colby Busson threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Andrew Schickler in overtime to win the game after the Panthers converted a field goal to start the extra session.

Busson finished the game with 209 yards rushing on 24 carries and a touchdown. Mark Bramley scored Chippewa’s other touchdown.

Chippewa travels to Keystone for a Week 2 Friday night game

Chippewa returns four starters on offense and two on defense.

Chipps coach Brian Hessey said the Chipps should benefit from a “big offensive line” that features junior Tyler Hensley, senior Curtiss Bartlett and senior Justin Schafrath. That trio will block for senior Colby Busson, juniors Andrew Schickler, D.J. Saeger and Mark Bramley.

“I think we have the best athlete in the league in Colby,” Hessey said of Busson. “He rushed for about 1,200 yards and threw for about 800 last year. He’s a year older and about 15 to 20 pounds heavier and stronger.”

Busson and Bartlett are co-captains. Hessey expects Busson and Schickler to lead the defense along with junior Tyler Hance.

Check Thursday’s Akron Beacon Journal for a special section in the newspaper that previews the 2009 season.]ep

When it comes to track, it’s always about who ran the fastest, jumped the highest or threw the shot or the discus the farthest. But sometimes there are stories, GREAT, INSPRATIONAL STORIES, that don’t have to do with who won.

For instance, I remember watching the local news in the fall, I think it was, and there was an amazing story about a young lady (she may have been from the Youngstown area), who was competing in the state high school cross country meet and was almost near the finish line. Then came a gruesome sight. She broke her leg on the course and fell to the ground.

But this young lady had the courage and fortitude to crawl and limp her way to the finish line, despite being in obvious pain.

It was a story of incredible self-will. This young lady needed medical help, but she didn’t want it. She was withering with pain but she wanted to finish that race, and if you watched the video, you couldn’t help but get a little emotional, knowing she was in a world of pain. But watching her will her way to that finish line, regardless of the pain she was experiencing, was breathtaking and moving.

The yound lady gave a great television interview a few days later and it was great to see she was doing well and was in good spirts. I think she even joked that all she was thinking about, when she went down, was that she wasn’t going to be able to dance at her sister’s wedding later that night.

I witnessed another incredible story, but it didn’t involve injury. A few years ago I was covering a regional track meet at Ravenna and the Copley girls were favored in this particular relay event. As the race began, Copley was right there, as expected. But during one of the exchanges, the baton was dropped and the team was out of the race.

The young lady who dropped the baton was devasted. I mean, I had never seen an athlete more distraught. What I found out later was that the young lady was only a sophomore and there were two seniors on that relay team. The sophomore felt she had blown it for the seniors because it was their last chance to make it to state.

She was on the infield of the track, as the race was still going, slumped over an emotional ball.

She just shuddered and shook as she cried.

Then, former Copley standout Carrie Dyer, who was a senior and on that relay team, ran to the young runner to comfort her.

Then the rest of the realy team followed.

To me, that was one of the most inspirational stories I had ever witnessed.

The sophomore was heartbroken. But she was heartbroken because she cared about her teammates and wanted to perform at her best so that it would help the seniors.

It didn’t happen. But when it didn’t happen, the seniors weren’t mad, bitter or upset. They showed support for their younger teammate because they loved her. And in the end, winning didn’t matter.

So, with that, I’m asking readers to post any inspirational stories you witnessed, in track or any other sport, that didn’t involve someone winning.

A story where someone overcame odds to get where they are. Or a story about teammates helping one another.

Those are the most compelling stories.

Kenny Frease of Perry and Brittany Orban of North Canton Hoover are among the standouts who who showcase their talents at this year’s Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association annual Boys and Girls All Star Games.

Four games will be played April 20 at Capital University in suburban Columbus, beginning with Division III-IV girls at noon. Caitlin Sharp of East Canton and Chelsea Fazekas of Chippewa are on the North roster.

Orban, a Northwestern University recruit, will be on the North squad for the Division I-II game at 1:45.

Division III-IV boys will play at 3:45. Canton Central Catholic’s Nick Foster is on the North roster. Frease, who has signed with Xavier University, will play on the Division I-II North team at 5:30.

GlenOak’s Jackie Greynolds is part of the Division I-II North coaching staff.

On April 19, the OHSBCA will hold its hall of fame induction at the Columbus Airport Marriott hotel.

Honorees are coaches Dave Hoover (Canton McKinley), Dave Krauss (Patrick Henry), Dave Sweet (Ottawa-Glandorf) and Frank Phillips (ChagrinFalls) and honorary inductee, Clair Muscaro, a former commissioner of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
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Here is a preseason look at Wayne County Athletic League football for the 2007 season. In this post, you will find players (and any all-star recognition they received in the league last season) to watch from each team and my predictions for the upcoming season.

NORTHWESTERN (10-1 overall, 7-0 in the WCAL last season; WCAL champs)

Top players: Senior RB-LB Travis Morris (second-team WCAL), senior RB-LB Matt Redick (second-team), senior OL-DL Jake Ewing (second-team).

SMITHVILLE (9-2, 6-1)

Top player: Senior RB-LB Bryce Indermuhle (second-team WCAL).

NORWAYNE (8-2, 5-2)

Top players: Senior OL Jeremy Oller (first-team WCAL, second-team All-Ohio and first-team all-district in Division V), junior OL Zach Murray (second-team), junior LB-RB Tyler Robinson (second-team).

WAYNEDALE (7-3, 4-3)

Top players: Senior LB-RB Jared Neff (first-team), senior WR-DB Ross Shoup (second-team), junior RB-DL Sean Rutt (second-team).

DALTON (4-6, 3-4)

Top players: Senior RB-LB Derek Troyer, senior WR-RB Josh Neuenschwander, junior RB-LB Travis Moyer.

HILLSDALE (4-6, 2-5)

Top players: Senior DB-RB Clay Nelson (first-team), senior LB-RB Trent Kimball (second-team).

CHIPPEWA (2-8, 1-6)

Top player: Senior WR-DB Jed Busson (second-team).

RITTMAN (1-9, 1-7)

Top player:Nick Jones LB-RB.

Here is my predicted finish for the WCAL:

1. Norwayne

2. Northwestern

3. Smithville

4. Waynedale

5. Dalton

6. Hillsdale

7. Chippewa

8. Rittman

Here is an explanation for my predicitons: I think tradition will take a back seat to a rising team this season in the WCAL. Northwestern is the defending champion, and Smithville is the perennial powerhouse. But Norwayne has the momentum. The Bobcats tied a school record for wins last season by going 8-2 and finishing third in the WCAL. The Bobcats return nine starters on offense and nine starters on defense. They also have five-of-six starters, inlcuding standout tackle Jeremy Oller, returning to the offensive line. Those same lineman paved the way for an offense that rushed for more than 3,000 yards last season. It won’t be easy, but I think this is Norwayne’s year. Norwayne played Smithville close last year (the Smithies won 35-24 after trailing in the third quarter). But Northwestern destroyed Norwayne 35-0 last year. However, Northwestern lost an amazing senior class to graduation, and I think it will show this season. No matter what happens, the WCAL should be interesting and highly competitve.

What do you think of these predictions?