DON McCORMACK
Paying another visit to the variety store...
Much deserved
One of the many really neat aspects to Brian Cross is his demeanor.
Whether his team won or lost, through good times and bad, during his time here in Ashtabula County and beyond, he was always pleasant, honest and downright enjoyable to talk with.
So there were smiles on our faces here on the Star Beacon sports desk when word came down the pipe that the former head football coach at Pymatuning Valley High School was named Ohio Division II co-Coach of the Year by the Associated Press on Monday.
Cross, who coached at Pymatuning Valley from 1982 through 1984, coached Lewis Center Olentangy Orange High School to an 8-2 regular season and a first-round playoff victory in only the second season of having a football program.
He shares the prestigious honor with Dick Cromwell of Toledo St. Francis.
After leaving PV, where he left the cupboard overflowing for his second-in-command during his three-year tenure, Ken Parise (who led the Lakers to the only unbeaten season in school history the following season of 1985), Cross went first to Columbus Eastmoor, then to Grove City and then to Canton McKinley.
He took over as coach of the Pioneers at Olentangy Orange two years ago and was the front man in getting the program off the ground.
In only two years, he has built the Pioneers into a playoff-caliber program... a winner — just like him.
Still rolling
Speaking of former Ashtabula County head coaches, while former PV great Mike Bell’s Lake Catholic Cougars were eliminated by Maple Heights in a Division II state semifinal last weekend, another former county bench boss still has his team alive and well in the postseason.
Only it’s in West Virginia.
Tom Bruney, who led the Lakeside Dragons to a 5-5 record in his only season at the helm in 2005, has his Brooke High School charges preparing to play for a state championship this weekend.
Bruney and his Bruins are 13-0 and the top seed in the Class AAA (big-school) playoffs and will play the division’s second seed, South Charleston, at Wheeling Island Stadium on Saturday at noon for the state championship.
Brooke reached the championship contest with a 32-15 triumph against Morgantown University last Saturday in a state semifinal.
On a related note, another school familiar to area fans — Weirton Madonna — will play for the West Virginia Class A state championship Saturday night against Man High School (how cool is that name for a football team?).
The Blue Dons (13-0) have been an opponent on the gridiron of SS. John and Paul many times, the most recent being 2004, when Madonna proved a rude guest of the Heralds by topping them, 27-7, on Saturday night Sept. 3 of that year in Week 3.
West Virginia’s catch phrase for its three state championship games is “Super Six.”
Best wishes
Our thoughts and prayers go out to a true nice guy, Dave Tallbacka, as he continues his courageous fight against cancer.
Dave is best known for being the husband of Tina and the father of former Harbor High School basketball greats Tim and Tonya, but is also known for his love of sports, class, sense of humor and compassion for others.
If you get a chance, when hit your knees today, please say a word for Dave and his family as he continues to fight the good fight.
McCormack is the sports editor of the Star Beacon. Reach him at donmac@suite224.net.
