Front: Ben Steele, Alex Kearney, Ben Stumpf. Top row: Joe Roeder, Alex Yoskovich, Kevin Bus, Brad Sinko, Coach Harvey Schrager.

Eagles allow coach to retire in style
By Zachary Dzurick
Sports
Published May 3, 2006

Click here for an archive of West Life Sports Editor Zachary Dzurick's "Red Right 88" weekly columns.

Harvey Schrager has been the coach of the North Olmsted tennis team for a quarter century. He began this season with the knowledge his varsity line-up was intact and this would be his final season as coach as he was retiring after 35 years as a teacher at the school. What better way to go out than as a SWC champion?

That promised was fulfilled as the Eagles edged out Westlake with 31 points at the SWC tennis tournament at Oberlin College. The Demons had 30 points and two champions. Avon Lake finished third with 25 points, Brecksville was a distant fourth with 13.

"My boys were stellar in this tournament," Schrager said. "Everyone did what they had to do. We won four really key matches against Avon Lake."

In fact, after cruising for most of the season, the Eagles suffered their first SWC loss to Avon Lake on Thursday. The pivotal court in that match was first singles. North Olmsted sophomore Kevin Bus was trying to avenge an earlier loss to Avon Lake's Alex Triziak. He was leading 3-0 in the third set when he suffered an ankle injury. He soldiered on but lost 6-3.

"That loss was a heart-breaker," Bus said. "I was worried if I would be healthy for the tournament. Being up 3-0 when I got hurt really motivated me to play well against him in the tournament.

The two faced off again in the semi-finals. This time Bus lost the first set, won the second in a tie-breaker and then won the third set handily. He advanced to the first singles finals against two-time defending champion Brad Noel of Westlake. Noel won handily 6-1, 6-0, but it was key that Bus took the point from Avon Lake.

"I am glad we got the point from Avon Lake," Bus said. "But I hate to lose. I don't take it well at all. I left everything I had on the court against Brad. You hit a good shot against him and he just will hit a better shot. But I am glad to win a conference championship for coach and the seniors."

Bus' win over Triziak motivated his teammates.

"Kevin was outstanding," captain Brad Sinko said. "We were a little worried with his injury. It was crucial that he be able to play. Even with the bad ankle, he played amazing and it was the best he has played all season."

Sinko also came up huge as he won the second singles title, including a win over Avon Lake's  Adam Wilkerson and then Westlake's Tim King 6-1, 6-0 in the finals.

Teammate Alex Kearney remained undefeated at third singles and won the title with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Westlake's Mike Cook.

"Brad controlled the match right from the beginning," Schrager said. "And Alex has just been consistent all season. He doesn't hit it hard but he just plays steady."

Avon Lake's Kevin Paul and Scott Stuckey won the first doubles title, but Joe Roeder and Alex Yoskovich picked up a big point for the Eagles by defeating Westlake in the semi-finals. The Eagles' second doubles team of Ben Stumpf and Ben Steele finished third at second doubles, but again won a key point by defeating Avon Lake 6-3, 7-5 in the match for third place.

"We needed each match to edge out Westlake for the tournament championship," Schrager said. "This is our first SWC championship since 1990. We are proud of all the boys for this great effort this year. We won four of five from Avon Lake and defeated Westlake in two of the three finals. If we had lost any of those matches, we would not have won the title."

With Avon Lake finishing third, North Olmsted's tournament win guarantees a co-championship. For the Eagles to share the title, they would have to lose two of their final four SWC matches while the Shoremen would have to win all four of their matches.

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