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!

Field football coach Patrick Youel confirmed that standout senior running back Jay Lugo has left Field High School and is now a student at Streetsboro.

Youel said Lugo is “moving to Streetsboro due to certain circumstances” and that “it’s a private matter.”

“His family is moving out of the district and moving to Streetsboro,” Youel said. “Obviously it was shocking news for all of us. He is such a great kid. It’s such an unfortunate circumstance for him.”

Lugo, 5-foot-6 and 165 pounds, rushed for 168 yards and four touchdowns this past Friday to help host Field defeat Crestwood 48-14. The Falcons have a 4-1 overall record and are 2-0 in the Portage Trail Conference Metro Division.

Lugo is not eligible to play football at Streetsboro, according to Ohio High School Athletic Association rules. He can play basketball, a sport he also excels in, for the Rockets.

Youel said the Falcons players found out Lugo would be leaving prior to playing and defeating Kent Roosevelt 31-13.

“We will miss him, but as a team it’s 11 men, not 1,” Youel said. “That is what I told our guys. We can’t control things. As good of a player he is and as much of a brother he is, we can’t control things. We are going to be a little bit less of a team, but we have four or five other running backs that can play and will have to step it up. We are confident in their ability and it’s their time to shine. Our offensive line is really a key too.”

Youel said junior running back Chuck Snyder has been very productive this season alongside Lugo and will see his role increased.

“It was definitely upsetting news and we dealt with it in house,” Youel said. “Friday was Jay’s going away party. He had an incredible performance and got almost 300 all-purpose yards. Our fans did a tremendous job when he came out of the game in the third quarter. They gave him a two minute standing ovation and after the game the team presented a game ball to him.”

Lugo attended Windham High School his freshman and sophomore years, and then went to Field as a junior. He played in the state playoffs for both schools.

“He said he will stay in touch,” Youel said. “It was a decision that was out of his control. It was emotional for our guys and for Jay. I had senior parents throw a going away party for him. We have to keep going though. There are 50 guys on this team. We will miss him and we love him, but we have to keep going.”

Field plays at Springfield (4-1, 2-0) at 7 p.m. Friday.

Here is a list of 2009 Football Recruiting Classes for the University of Akron, Kent State, Ohio State and other local high school players that signed with other schools.

NOTE: This information was obtained from high schools and colleges in person or via e-mail, fax, mail, etc. There will be additional local players that will sign at a later date.

UA, KSU & OSU 2009 FOOTBALL CLASSES:

AKRON (24) — Bill Alexander, 5-10, 165, DB, Whigham, Ga.; Broderick Alexander, 6-2, 215, RB, Covington, Ga.; David Anderson, 6-2, 220, LB, Cincinnati; Jake Brandt, 6-6, 255, OL, Bexley, Ohio; Josh Couch, 6-3, 220, P, Carlisle, Ohio; Jake Delmonico, 5-11, 175, DB, Beaver Falls, Pa.; Jerrod Dillard, 6-5, 190, WR, Adrian, Mich.; Blake Fraley, 6-1, 225, LB, Hilliard, Ohio; Dee Friesen, 5-9, 165, WR, Jacksonville, Fla.; Randy Greenwood, 5-11, 180, WR, Fairport Harbor, Ohio; Chris Henderson, 6-2, 325, DL, Harrisburg, Pa.; Abdullah Homayed, 6-4, 235, DL, Dearborn, Mich.; Jordan Houser, 5-11, 180, DB, Fairborn, Ohio; Jeremy LaFrance (Jr.), 6-1, 200, WR, New Orleans; Anthony Meriwether, 6-2, 190, WR, Cleveland; Patrick Nicely, 6-4, 220, QB, Willoughby; Joe Petrides, 6-6, 255, OL, Baltimore; Nolan Procter, 5-9, 170, WR, Southfield, Mich.; Jon Root, 6-6, 225, TE, Fairview, Pa.; Adam Steiner, 6-2, 215, LS, Canton (GlenOak); Phil Tonga (Jr.), 6-4, 275, DL, Torrance, Calif.; Joe Vidovic, 6-6, 265, OL, Willoughby; Diamond Weaver (Jr.), 5-10, 180, DB, Mobile, Ala.; Grant Williams, 6-5, 220, TE, Louisville, Ky.

KENT STATE (22) — Dri Archer, 5-7, 155, RB, Laurel, Fla.; Tyler Arend, 6-5, 295, OL, Paulding, Ohio; Luke Batton, 6-0, 200, LB, Macedonia (Nordonia); Anthony Bowman, 5-10, 168, ATH/RB, Detroit, Mich.; Dana Brown, 6-1, 265, DL, McKeesport, Pa.; Ed Cazenave, 6-2, 180, WR, Dallas, Ga.; Freddy Cortez, 6-0, 200, PK, Fort Meade, Fla.; Mike Daniels, 6-0, 195, DB, Greenville, N.C.; Jake Dooley, 6-2, 215, LB, Mason, Ohio; Zack Gonosz, 5-10, 185, S, Dallas, Ga.; Tyshon Goode, 6-1, 185, WR, Syracuse, N.Y.; Danny Gress, 6-1, 220, LB, Englewood, Ohio; DeVonte’ Helms, 6-3, 260, DL, Waldorf, Md.; Garrick Piggott, 6-1, 200, DB, Williamsburg, Va.; Max Plunkett, 6-8, 305, OL, Dayton; Darius Polk, 6-0, 180, DB, Lynchburg, Va.; Fabrice Pratt, 6-2, 180, DB, Miami; C.J. Steward, 6-1, 215, LB, Jacksonville, Fla.; Bryan Wagner, 6-5, 290, TE, Mantua (Crestwood); Jeff Walker, 6-5, 200, WR, Akron (Coventry); Kent Walker, 6-2, 235, LB, Kittanning, Pa.; Brian Winters, 6-5, 320, OL, Hudson (Hudson).

OHIO STATE (25) — C.J. Barnett, 6-1, 180, DB, Clayton, Ohio; Dorian Bell, 6-2, 220, LB, Monroeville, Pa.; Adam Bellamy, 6-4, 275, OL, Aurora (Aurora); Jaamal Berry, 5-10, 185, RB, Miami; Zach Boren, 6-1, 245, LB, Pickerington, Ohio; Corey Brown, 6-1, 190, ATH, Monroeville, Pa.; Duron Carter, 6-3, 185, WR, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Dominic Clarke, 5-10, 170, DB, Frederick, Md.; Melvin Fellows, 6-5, 255, DT, Garfield Heights; Chris Fields, 6-1, 180, WR, Painesville; Reid Fragel, 6-8, 258, TE, Grosse Pte., Mich.; Kenny Guiton, 6-2, 182, QB, Aldine, Texas; Jordan Hall, 5-11, 190, RB, Jeannette, Pa.; Marcus Hall, 6-6, 300, OL, Cleveland; Adam Homan, 6-2, 230, LB, Coldwater, Ohio; Carlos Hyde, 6-1, 235, RB, Naples, Fla.; James Jackson, 6-0, 175, WR, Grand Ledge, Mich.; Storm Klein, 6-2, 225, LB, Newark, Ohio; Corey Linsley, 6-4, 285, OL, Youngstown; Sam Longo, 6-5, 270, OL, Bellbrook, Ohio; Jack Mewhort, 6-6, 285, OL, Toledo; Jonathan Newsome, 6-3, 230, LB, Cleveland; John Simon, 6-3, 265, DT, Youngstown; Jordan Whiting, 6-1, 230, LB, Louisville, Ky.; Jamie Wood, 6-2, 185, ATH, Pickerington.

OTHER LOCAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS THAT SIGNED:

ASHLAND — Anthony Capasso, 5-11, 197, Soph. WR, Lakewood, (Kent State transfer); Cooper Ivan, 5-8, 171, DB, Massillon (Washington); Keith Dingler, 6-3, 260, OL, Massillon (Washington); David Lee, 5-7, 165, DB, Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary); Matt Rose, 6-2, 250, DL, Canton (Massillon Washington); Ethan Scott, 5-9, 185, DB, Akron (Archbishop Hoban); Andrew Volcheck, 5-10, 210, LB/DB, Tallmadge (Archbishop Hoban).

BALL STATE — Armand Dehaney, 5-9, 178, WR/DB, Maple Heights (Walsh Jesuit).

BOWLING GREEN — John Pettigrew, 5-10, 185, RB, Maple Heights (Cuyahoga Valley Christian
Academy); Alex Thomas, 6-2, 218, LB, Stow (Stow-Munroe Falls).

FINDLAY — Monterae Williams, 5-9, 185, RB, Canton (McKinley).

INDIANA — Pat McShane, 6-5, 290, OL/DT, Stow (Walsh Jesuit).

INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA — Cory Lanterman, 6-1, 180, WR, (Streetsboro).

MIAMI (OHIO) — Brian Slack, 6-5, 228, TE-DL, Akron (Archbishop Hoban).

MICHIGAN — Justin “J.T.” Turner, 6-2, 185, CB-RB, Massillon (Washington).

MICHIGAN STATE — Nate Klatt, 6-4, 280, C, Canal Fulton (Northwest).

MILFORD ACADEMY — Mikey Bickley, 6-0, 170, WR, Akron (East); Jackie Adams, 6-1, 195 RB/LB, Akron (East).

NORTHWESTERN — Brian Smith, 6-8, 295, OL/DT, Medina (Walsh Jesuit).

OHIO DOMINICAN — Jon Haught, 5-11, 220, LB/RB, Cuyahoga Falls (Walsh Jesuit); Garrett Wilcox, 6-3, 225, LB, Streetsboro (St. Vincent-St. Mary).

ROBERT MORRIS — Matt Gavin, 5-10, 160 CB, Akron (East).

WALSH — Jesse Mason, 6-2, 190, QB, (Green); Dominic Williams, 5-9, 186, DB/RB, Akron (Archbishop Hoban).

WEST VIRGINIA — Chris Snook, 6-2, 220, FB-LB, Medina (Highland).

YOUNGSTOWN STATE — Theo Barnes, 6-3, 240, DL, Akron (Archbishop Hoban); Conner Seeman, 6-4, 250, TE, (Copley).

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.

Here is a preseason look at Portage Trail Conference County Division 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.

MOGADORE (11-3 overall, 6-1 in the PTC County last season; PTC County co-champs)

Top players: Senior RB-LB Cody Destro (first-team PTC County offense, second-team All-Ohio and first-team all-district in Division VI), senior Sean Holland (second-team defense).

GARRETTSVILLE (7-3, 6-1; PTC County co-champs)

Top players: Senior OL-LB Chris Taylor (first-team offense), junior OL-WR-K Caleb Schwan (first-team special teams), senior WR-DB Kenny Vanek (second-team offense), senior WR-OL Kyle Hartman (second-team offense), junior John Hartman (second-team defense), senior RB-LB Brad Mast (second-team defense).

WINDHAM (7-4, 5-2)

Top players: Sophomore RB-WR-DB Jay Lugo (honorable-mention PTC), junior Kyle Cooper (honorable-mention PTC).

STREETSBORO (5-5, 5-2)

Top players: Junior RB-WR-DB Cory Lanterman (first-team offense), junior DB-WR Mike Edwards (first-team defense), senior John Cushman (second-team offense), senior Doug Tackett (second-team defense).

WOODRIDGE (3-7, 3-4)

Top players: Senior DL-OL Andy Jenkins (first-team defense), senior QB-DB Dave Krusinski (second-team offense), senior WR-DB Josh Jones (second-team offense).

ROOTSTOWN (2-8, 2-5)

Top players: Senior RB Corey Devitt (first-team offense), senior DL-OL Joe Farrah (second-team defense).

EAST CANTON (1-9, 1-6)

Top player: Senior RB Mike Wheeler (second-team offense).

WATERLOO (0-10, 0-7)

Top player: Senior Joe Adelman (honorable-mention PTC).

Here are my 2007 preseason predictions for the PTC County Division.

1. Mogadore

2. Garrettsville

3. Windham

4. Woodridge

5. Streetsboro

6. Rootstown

7. East Canton

8. Waterloo

Here is my explanation for my picks: I expect the top three teams from last season to finish in the same order again. I think defending co-champs Mogadore and Garrettsville could easily tie for first again. But if I had to pick one over the other, I give the slight edge to Mogadore because it’s running back Cody Destro’s senior season, and I think Wildcats coach Matt Adorni will get the most out of Destro in his last high school season. I also think the bottom three teams from last season will finish in the bottom three again. The only difference I’m predicting from last year, is Woodridge’s improvement. I think the Bulldogs will finish fourth and have an outside chance of sneaking into third. There is a lot of buzz around the league about Woodridge senior quarterback Dave Krusinski and the Bulldogs senior class.

Let me know what you think. How do you think the teams will finish in the PTC County Division?