A Don McCormack column: Parker one of USA’s best

DON McCORMACK

Paying another visit to the variety store...



Quite an honor

Former Geneva star Sarah Parker certainly put a holiday bow on her volleyball career with a tremendous senior season at Mount Union College.

Parker, along with Mount Union teammate Melissa Mahnke of North Royalton, were both named honorable mention All-America by the American Volleyball Coaches Association last week.

The two Purple Raiders were named All-Ohio Athletic Conference selections two weeks ago.

Parker, who was a standout for coach Annah Haeseler during her days at Geneva, led Mount Union with a .368 spiking percentage and also led the way in blocks with 86.

Parker, Mahnke and their teammates led Mount Union to a 23-7 record in the 2009 season and the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth. The Purple Raiders won their first-round match against Lebanon Valley (Pa.).



The Final Four

Former Pymatuning Valley great Mike Bell will be at the helm of the Lake Catholic Cougars as they take on Maple Heights in a Division II state semifinal tonight at Bearcat Stadium in Bedford (7:30 kickoff).

The Cougars (12-1), champions of Region 5, and the Mustangs (11-2), champions of Region 6, will be playing for the right to advance to the D-II state championship game. The winner of tonight’s semifinal will play the winner of the other D-II semifinal between Region 7 champion Columbus Marion-Franklin (11-2) and Region 8 champion Cincinnati Winton Woods (11-2).

With a win tonight, Lake Catholic, which was the top-seeded team in Region 5, would make its fourth appearance in a state championship game since 2001. On the other hand, Maple Heights, a sixth seed in Region 6, is very much an underdog of Rocky-like proportions.

The Mustangs have defeated three higher-seeded teams — Toledo Rogers, Toledo Central Catholic and Toledo St. Francis — to reach tonight’s game.

Bell, a 1986 Pymatuning Valley graduate, is a member of the Ashtabula County Football Hall of Fame.

“Mike Bell makes us all proud in Andover,” Lakers coach Jason Root said.



Another tie

Speaking of Root, he has first-hand knowledge of one team that will be playing for right to advance to one of the Buckeye State’s six state championship games this weekend.

His Lakers journeyed south to tangle with Grove City Christian in a Week 9 clash on Saturday, Oct. 24 and came home licking their wounds after a 61-14 loss.

The Eagles (12-1) will challenge undefeated Norwalk St. Paul (13-0) in a Division VI semifinal Saturday night at 7 at Community Stadium in Ashland.

GCC benefited greatly when several South-Western City Schools in the Columbus area — Grove City, Central Crossing, Franklin Heights and Westland) — eliminated fall sports because of money woes and many players transferred to Grove City Christian.

“It is nice to see that an opponent has done so well in the playoffs,” Root said. “GCC has a very well-rounded team. They have tremendous size up front on both sides of the ball. These big kids are also very athletic. Their pistol offense is very effective, with speedy backs and a good passing game.”

Root said that the 61-14 defeat that his Lakers suffered at the hands of the Eagles should be qualified because of the caliber of their opponent that night.

“The thing that makes us somewhat proud is that it is one of the better games we played this year,” he said. “We actually outgained them in total offensive yards. Kurtis Marsh had almost 200 yards rushing against them.”

What helped grease the skids greatly to PV’s demise that night were turnovers — specifically, interceptions.

“We threw three interceptions for touchdowns,” he said.

Then, there are the players who transferred in, lifting what had been a Division VI-level team to a much higher level.

“They definitely benefitted from Grove City High School not having sports this fall,” Root said. “ Actually, on ESPN’s Outside the Lines last week had a full segment on the four schools in Columbus that didn’t have fall sports and how players transferred out, and also about how their levy did pass in November.”

And Root pointed out, the guys who transferred weren’t the average player.

“Somewhere between 7 to 10 of Grove City’s 2008 starters played for GCC this season,” he said.

Root believes the Eagles stand a solid chance against unbeaten Norwalk St. Paul tomorrow night.

“I don’t know anything about Norwalk St Paul, but considering their talent that GCC has, I’m sure their chances are very good,” he said.



McCormack is the sports editor of the Star Beacon. Reach him at donmac@suite224.net.

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