Molly Bartkiewicz soared to new heights when she took home the 2006 state pole vault title. It earned her the top slot in West Life’s the best of 2006.

The Westshore's Best of 2006
By Matt Pawlikowski
Sports
Published Jan. 3, 2007

Molly Bartkiewicz- Westlake Track
1.) After placing third in the pole vault in 2005, the Demons’ Molly Bartkiewicz set a goal to win it in 2006. Not only did Bartkiewicz, who now competes for Austin Peay University on a scholarship, take home the title, but she also just missed the state record.

At the last event of the OSHAA state finals, the wait can be intense. Couple that with the fact the defending state champion, Carrie Kayes of Green, was also in the field, it can be excruciating. Kayes had just set the state record in regional action the week before at 12 foot 9.

But there’s an old saying that to be the best, you have to compete against the best, and Bartkiewicz was more than up to the task.

With just four competitors left in the event, including Kayes, the bar was raised to 12 feet. Again, she had to wait. The first girl missed, as did the second girl, and then the third.

Now it was up to the senior. Even though there are three attempts at each height, Bartkiewicz didn’t waste time. On her first attempt, she cleared the bar with ease.

The jump tied the state meet record. But it wasn’t over yet, although the pressure was off her back. All three would miss to hand the standout the 2006 title.

“When I first got it, I was overwhelmed, but I had to concentrate because I still had to jump again,’’ said Bartkiewicz. “I wanted to scream, but I couldn’t because that would be embarrassing.”

Bartkiewicz could have stopped there, but decided to go for the state mark of 12-9. They set the bar at 12 feet 9 and one-quarter inch. She missed her first attempt, but on her second, appeared to have the mark. At the last second, the bar bounced and fell.

Still, the day was hers. Her dream came through, and the crowd at a capacity filled Jesse Owens Stadium saluted her.

They were not the only ones to offer congrats. She also got congratulations from Tim Mack, a Westlake native who is the defending Olympic Champion in the event.

Rocky River football’s thrilling run.
2.) The ending wasn’t a fairy tale, but...wow, what a ride it was! Not only did Ron Lewis’ Pirates captivate a city, reviving a sport that had gone to the pasture over the years, but it also brought hope for the future.

River ended the year with a 9-2 record and a loss to Lake Catholic in the OSHAA playoffs, but what a year it was as Rocky River’s berth in the playoffs as a third seed was the first ever for the school in football.

After scoring 48 points in the opener and then coming back after a last minute defeat to Trinity in week 2, to down Westlake in Week 3, and then beat both Avon and Midview impressively the following weeks, fans and the team began to believe that they were for real.

But the key to the post season and the West Shore Conference crown was the win over North Ridgeville in week nine.

It was the game of the year, perhaps of the decade for the Pirates, as they headed into North Ridgeville to take on the defending WSC champs for at least a share of the conference title. In the end, a relentless defense fended off the Rangers, who made it to the four-yard line. With seconds remaining, there would be no repeat of the Trinity game. Zach Youseff batted down Shane Friend’s pass in the end zone to seal the win.

“We really thought it would come down to the second half,’’ said Lewis. “Our kids made the plays when they needed to. This was a huge win for our program.”

After North Ridgeville scored with 3:39 left in the opening quarter, the Pirates came right back when Breidigim found Pauly Ferguson in the end zone. North Ridgeville had a chance to go on top entering the lockeroom at half, but River’s defense, which was led by Casey Clark’s 17 tackles, was up for the task, as they held on a fourth and two play.

Although the Rangers would go up 10-7 late in the third quarter, the ghost of the past was erased as Gipson’s score with 3:37 left secured the win.

Pauly Ferguson looked like Randy Moss, taking in eight passes, for 131yards and a touchdown. Breidigim was nearly perfect, hitting 12 of 19 passes for 167 yards, while Gipson had a touchdown and 70 yards on the ground. Steve Custenborder was also stellar on defense with 15 tackles, including two for a loss. Youseff finished the night with 13 tackles, in addition to the pass breakup.

“The reason we got this far was because we worked real hard; we were fired up,’’ said Lewis. “They have worked really hard for this and took great pride in what they accomplished.”

Lewis also added the fact that the Pirates’ run was the culmination of years of struggles finally coming to fruition.

“You know, after that Lake Catholic game, the kids took it hard,’’ said Lewis. “Maybe they got caught up in the game. Perhaps it was jitters, but they played their hearts out as they did all year, and accomplished something special just by being there. It’s tough to end your season at home with a loss, but I think it finally sunk in at our banquet what they did, when they finally got to hold the WSC championship trophy.”

St. Edward wrestling
3.) What more can be said of what the Eagles accomplished last year at the state wrestling tournament than “wow?”

Not only did the Eagles capture their 10th consecutive state title, but it was also the school’s 22nd since 1978, and the most points ever scored in state grappling action with 216 points.

Four St. Ed’s wrestlers took home golds, with Keith Sultzer (112), Lance Palmer (140), Sean NeMec (145) and Colin Palmer (103), who is just a freshman.

Also faring well for the Eagles were two local grapplers, as Westlake resident Dan Gonsor was second at 140 pounds, while Fairview Park native Shawn Harris was fifth at 135 pounds.

“It’s amazing,” said St. Ed’s coach Greg Urbas about his team’s accomplishments. “It is the kids; it is the coaching staff, the administration, and the parents. It’s not just one thing. Everything came together.”

Mags Gymnastics
4.) For the 18th consecutive year, the Blue Streaks went to state and placed in the top three, this time taking home third.  While some may say it is expected, this year was unique for Mags, as most of the team was young. Kayla Kmiecik, who was first on the bars, and fourth in the all-around, led the Blue Streaks.

“Kayla had an outstanding meet,” Gura said. “She won the state title for the bars and she did it with the hardest routine. Her 9.4 helped her beat the defending champion on the bars (and All-Around champion) Emilie Rymer, who had a 9.3. She was also fourth on the floor and actually had the fourth best score on beam, but she didn’t get on the podium because she fell at districts and didn’t qualify for it as an individual. She was the highest scoring sophomore in every single event.”

No, Fairview senior Stacie Dorian is not deliriously punching out a rival. Instead she is celebrating with her teammates the school’s fourth straight and most unlikely trip to Columbus in the 4x400 meter relay.Dorian has been on all four teams. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

Fairview’s 4x400 relay team
5.) It is one of the most grueling races a runner can compete in. During dual meet action, the meet can come down to who wins. In post season action, a slip, or drop of the baton, and the year is over. Talk about pressure.

Vickie Diedrichs, Tory Johnson, Katie Begany and Stacie Dorian. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

For a group of young girls from Fairview, this time Vickie Deidrichs, Tory Johnson, Katie Begany, and Stacy Dorian, it marked the fourth consecutive year that that a 1600 meter relay team from the district qualified for state.

But getting there was no easy task. After taking the SWC title for three consecutive years, Rocky River took home the inaugural West Shore Conference title and seeded just seventh in regional action; it appeared the streak was over.

But a determined group of girls not only wanted the state bid badly, even more so they wanted to keep rival Rocky River from stealing their glory.

Down when she got the baton in regional action, Dorian passed Rocky River’s anchor and held off a strong charging Beloit West Branch team to finish third and book her fourth trip to Columbus, The team’s time of 4:03.12 was even several seconds faster than their seed time

Dorian, who is now at Ohio State University, ended her illustrious career with four consecutive trips to state with the unit, which is something her coach says never has been done before in school history by a girl.

“I didn’t doubt they could do it, but with the heat we were concerned,” said Fairview coach Rich Freil. “This year was a crazy year since we did not have a lot meets this year that had sun. With no one qualifying before the 4x4, they all knew it was their last shot, especially our senior. Stacy is now a four-time state qualifier and I don’t think any other girl in school history has done that.”

Fairview ran a 4:10.85 and placed eighth at the state meet.

Rocky River boys hoops
6.) After losing four games to end the 2005/06 season, not many thought the Pirates would enjoy the run they had through the post season. But as all good teams do, they not only showed poise, sweeping through district action, but nearly upset one of the top teams in the state in SVSM in regional action.

If there was a defining moment in the 2005/06 season for the Pirate boys, it came in a win over the Tyler Sparks — led Olmsted Falls Bulldogs during the district semifinals. The last time a team from Rocky River had accomplished the feat was back in 1998.

Joe Caruso, the MVP of the West Shore Conference, would make sure it would not be another eight years until the feat occurred. Although Sparks and his Falls team, as SWC champs proved worthy foes, Caruso’s feats in the fourth quarter enabled his team to squeak out a 66-55 win.

With 5:46 left in the game, and the game 50-46 in favor of Falls, Caruso went to work. First the junior forward hit a three-point shot, then another. By the end of the period he had dished in 17 of his game high 37 points, including hitting on five of six free throws to propel his team into the district finals against Padua.

“I wanted to extend the seniors’ careers,’’ said Caruso after the game. “Those seniors are tremendous players. I am friends with all of them. I just wanted to play with them at least one more game and I wanted to prove we were worthy of winning this district.”

He did just that, as not only did River beat Olmsted Falls, but also downed Padua 55-45 to win the title and send the team into regional action for the first time since 1994.

Bay soccer
7.) No one expected the Rockets to win the West Shore Conference title, let alone go deep into the playoffs. No one, that is, except for themselves.

And while Bay’s Cinderella run ended with a 3-0 loss to eventual state champion Walsh Jesuit, it was truly a season to remember as the team finished 20-2.

“I knew we would get better as the season went along,” said coach Bob Dougherty. “And by the time we got to the playoffs, the boys believed they could win. The fun part about this is a lot of people count us out ever year after we graduate 10 to 14 kids, but I knew we were going to be OK, because the JV team went 15-1. To finish where we did, it was a great season for the kids.”

Bill McGrain - hall of famer
8.) He is one of the best coaches in the area, and year in and out gets the best from the talent he has. For his efforts, last March, Olmsted Falls head wrestling coach Bill McGrain was inducted into the Ohio Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Zastudil signs with the Browns
9.) After starting with high expectations it’s been a horrific season for the Browns, one that will go down in annuals as one of the worst in the 60 years of the franchise.

From injuries, to bickering, to poor play on the field, watching the team has not been fun.  One of the few exceptions, former Bay standout Dave Zastudil, should be the team MVP.

Signed in March by Phil Savage, all Zastudil has done is average nearly 45 yards per punt, while placing 25 punts inside the 20 yard line, with seven touchbacks.

“I grew up a Cleveland Browns fan and it’s really exciting for me to be able to play for the team I grew up watching and rooting for,’’ said Zastudil.

Now if only Savage can sign 10 more players with Zastudil’s heart, then maybe, just maybe, the team might be playing for something more than high draft pick.

Rocky River girls cross country
10.) First came the West Shore Conference title, but that wasn’t enough. They wanted more. So next Rocky River (38 points) led by freshman Brittany Towner’s first place finish (20:39.54), crushed Bay (77) to take home the district crown on a course that was nothing but slop.

But the crowning achievement this year, was not those two titles, instead it was the one that they garnered at the Tiffin Regional.

“The weather could not have been any worse, but that did not stop the team from running as they usually do in rain, mud and wind,’’ said coach Laura Brabant. “Brittney Towner led the team finishing third, followed by Jade Braden finishing sixth and Paige Nagy finishing 14th, all qualifying for State as individuals. The team places were 2,3,7,14,19,33 and 41 totaling 45 points for the win. River edged out defending regional champs Wauseon by 10 points.

“I could not be happier for the girls. Since the last weekend in September they have been running in mud, they came ready to compete and nothing got in their way.”

Duplicating the feat at state would be no easy task, but the young Pirates, led by Jade Braden who crossed the line in 19:24 to place 19th overall, went on to place fourth as a team, something that had Brabant extremely pleased.