HEY, TIM!

Tim Warsinskey tackles your high school sports questions

Q: Hey, Tim: Hockey, hockey, hockey! Who do you see as the top teams in Northeast Ohio this year? Do the mighty Mentor Cardinals have a chance at repeating last year's run? -- Diana Ficarra, Hinckley

A: Hey, Diana: Thank you, thank you, thank you! Finally, a hockey question. Did you know I actually had to answer a cheerleading question this fall? In the name of Bob Whidden, thank goodness the real athletes are about to strap on the leather and knock one another around.

The top teams this year will be the usual suspects: Defending state champion St. Edward, St. Ignatius, Padua, University School and Gilmour. Mentor captured lightning in a bottle last year with goalie Nick Lyon, who graduated, so don't look for a repeat. But what Mentor taught us is good teams with a hot goalie can go far. It's difficult to predict, but fun to anticipate.

Q: Hey, Tim: What are your picks for the Division III state semifinals? Don't count Big Walnut out. They thrive as underdogs and have a great coach. Our boys were state champs last year, and I don't think we have been a favorite in any playoff game. "Big what? BIG NUT." -- Steve Chucta, Sunbury

A: Hey, Steve: How can anyone take Big Walnut lightly? It has had another amazing playoff run, especially considering its backfield was on the JV team in August. But with what Aurora brings in talent, execution and discipline, I'm picking the Greenmen. "Hey, what? HEY, TIM."

-- Tim

Q: Hey, Tim: I don't understand why an excellent student and tremendous running back is not being recruited by Division I universities. Please help me understand what recruiters are looking for. -- Tony Paul, Tallmadge

A: Hey, Tony: I assume you're talking about Tallmadge's Tyler Fortner, who is being recruited by Army and has had some interest from Akron and Kent State. High school success isn't everything when it comes to projecting how an 18-year-old will perform at a Division I college when he's 21. Size and speed are big factors, and at 6-1, 180, recruiters apparently are not wowed by an otherwise extraordinary high school athlete.

It's a crime that both Hoban and Walsh got in the playoffs. Hoban plays in a mostly Parma Catholic league and Walsh beat no one special. It just seems if those teams got in that their divisions are weak and there should be changes, or SVSM should be in the playoffs. - Mike Dangel, Copley Continue reading "Hey, Tim! Do Hoban and Walsh deserve playoff spots?" »

Hey, Tim: In an Ohio high school football game, Team A punts to Team B. The ball travels forward in the air only to bounce backward. It continues to bounce backward without either team touching it until the ball is behind the original line of scrimmage. Team A (punting team) picks up the ball and proceeds to run forward beyond the first-down marker. Can Team A do that and get a first down? -- Pat Leber, Mentor

Q: Hey, Tim: Why don't you include cheerleading on the cleveland.com high school sports page? We are not officially recognized as a sport in this state, but several teams have exemplary athletes that deserve recognition. Many cheer teams participate in competitions at local, state, regional and national levels. Listing their standings at these events would do a lot to support this type of school involvement, commitment and athleticism. -- Heather Ambrus, Mentor

A: Hey, Heather: For the vast majority of schools in Ohio, cheerleading is considered an extracurricular activity, not a sport.

There are a few schools that take cheerleading very seriously and their squads attend competitions, where the participants need to be disciplined and athletic to succeed. Does that make it a sport? Heck, Sports Illustrated has covered chess matches like they were the World Series, and they give Olympic gold medals to curlers, so why not cheerleading? If there's a winner and a loser, some sweat and maybe a few tears shed along the way, I'm all in.

It beats watching golf.

Q: Hey, Tim: Is Cuyahoga Heights going to go 9-1 and not make the playoffs again? Their coach made some odd comment a couple of weeks ago about the league not knowing how to schedule, but is Cuyahoga Heights the one with the bad schedule that can't get it into the playoffs? -- Jay Tichendorf, Kent

A: Hey, Jay: It could happen. The Redskins (7-1) are 11th in Division V, Region 17. To earn one of the eight playoff berths, they have to win their last two games against Division V foes Richmond Heights (6-2) and Independence (3-5). They probably will need No. 8 Lutheran West, No. 9 Smithville or No. 10 Trinity to split their last two games. Trinity is the key because it plays Elyria Catholic (4-4) and VASJ (3-5), a pair of Division IV teams.

The scheduling issue Cuyahoga Heights coach Al Martin complained about was that its Chagrin Valley Conference Metro Division rivals were a combined 6-12 in nonleague games, which hurts the Redskins' second-level points. Cuyahoga Heights went 3-0 in nonleague games, but is hurt by the fact those three teams are a combined 4-20, including Division I Rhodes and Division II East Tech.

So, yes, Cuyahoga Heights could go 9-1 and miss the playoffs for the second straight year, but it can't lay all the blame on the CVC.

Q: Hey, Tim: Why do you always have Aurora as the underdogs? -- Ted Barlins, Aurora

A: Hey, Ted: I guess you're referring to the fact we picked Chagrin Falls to beat the Greenmen last week, a game Aurora won, 49-27. Trust me, we're not as smart as we look. It's better to be the underdog than the favorite, anyway. My only concern is that you continue to serve me the area's best Friday night grilled hamburgers the next time I cover a game there.

A: Hey, Gary: Coming off last week's loss to Tallmadge, it doesn't get any easier for the Grizzlies (5-2) tonight against Highland (7-0) or next week at Cloverleaf (6-1) before finishing against Copley, all of which are Division II teams. Wadsworth is seventh in Division I, Region 2 this week and has to win at least two more games to have a shot. Keep in mind Wadsworth has defeated some good teams, including Wooster and Revere.

Q: Hey, Tim: So now that Jeff Rotsky has my alma mater, Cleveland Heights, rolling along, isn't it about time The PD gives the Tigers some love with an appearance in the Top 25? -- Steve Feinberg, Solon

A: Hey, Steve: Your e-mail was written before the Tigers lost to Maple Heights and Euclid, but it's not too late to note that Rotsky, to the surprise of no one, has Cleveland Heights (4-3) headed in the right direction in his second season. The next two games at Bedford tonight and at Shaker Heights will tell how far the still-unranked Tigers have come and how far they have to go.

Q: Hey, Tim: Now that my favorite team, Shaw, is showing everyone that coach Rodney Brown is a good coach, can Shaw get the respect it deserves? -- Marques Coleman, Cleveland Heights

A: Hey, Marques: I don't think anyone is disrespecting or taking this team lightly. At least not anyone who is paying attention. If there are any doubters, it would be wise to take note the 6-0 Cardinals are No. 1 in the Division II, Region 5 playoff rankings -- one spot ahead of Mayfield. Shaw also is moving up in the polls. It is eighth in the Associated Press state poll, and The Plain Dealer Top 25 has the Cardinals ranked 16th.

-- Tim

Q: Hey, Tim: Do you think John Adams has a good chance of going to the Division I football playoffs if its record is 8-2? -- Carlos Russell, Cleveland

A: Hey, Carlos: I just don't see it happening. The Rebels have come a long way but are too far behind (13th) in Division I, with too few second-level points to be earned from a schedule that includes three teams that are 0-6. They also are hurt by having one win thus far against a team with a winning record (Division V Gilmour, 5-1).

Q: Hey, Tim: I was wondering if you thought Glenville is deserving of the No. 1 spot in The Plain Dealer's Top 25 football poll? I mean, come on, they have the weakest regular-season schedule in Division I. -- Joel Turner, Parma

A: Hey, Joel: Poll logic can seem weird at times, but I think Glenville deserves to be No. 1. The bottom line is Glenville was No. 2 in the preseason poll and moved up to No. 1 after beating preseason No. 1 St. Ignatius, 20-17, in the opener. The Tarblooders also beat a couple of decent teams in Gahanna Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson from Pennsylvania and are now rolling in their Senate schedule.

If No. 3 St. Edward wins out and beats No. 2 St. Ignatius convincingly, or if St. Ignatius wins out, one can argue either team could leapfrog into the top spot. That's a hard sell. Even though Glenville's schedule does not compare to either Catholic school, let's not forget the Tarblooders are an outstanding football team.

Q: Hey, Tim: I almost choked on my Froot Loops when I saw John Adams was ahead of Mentor in the playoff standings. Is that team for real? What about Midpark? Could Mentor and Euclid both miss the playoffs? -- Dave DeNoma, Westlake

A: Hey, Dave: You want to talk playoffs? After four weeks? Really?

I can't wrap my brain around playoff projections just yet, but you bring up a good point about some unexpected developments in Division I, Region 1. The jury is out on Mentor and Euclid, who play each other in a big game next week. Midpark has talent, and Jamaine Cook might be the best tailback in the area, but the Meteors haven't proven anything with three wins against Division II and III teams. We'll know more after the Brecksville game tonight.

John Adams (3-1) has had a nice start and it cannot be overstated how far that program has come. But even if it upsets Glenville next week, it probably won't have enough second-level points to make the playoffs because its schedule is too weak.

Q: Hey, Tim: Why don't you ever talk about Shaker Heights? The Raiders are a force in the Lake Erie League this year! Watch out! -- Max Strong, Shaker Heights

A: Hey, Max: A 2-2 record with wins against Bedford and Collinwood and a loss to Chardon doesn't exactly make the Raiders a hot topic. Let's talk after the Mentor and Euclid games in October.

Q: Hey, Tim: Is Anthony Schrock of Wadsworth for real? He got a full-ride football offer from Akron and now he is all over the Bucknuts.com page. -- Jeff Santmyer, Doylestown

A: Hey, Jeff: He's for real, and the wide receiver was spotted on the Ohio State sidelines during a recruiting visit last week. But is he a future Buckeye? That remains to be seen. Akron wisely became the first school to offer a scholarship to Schrock, a 6-3, 180-pound junior, and more Mid-American Conference schools will follow. OSU has not made an offer.

What I like about Schrock is he's a standout basketball player and hurdler, so he's athletic and a strong runner, not just a speed guy. He can add another 20 pounds in a couple of years, so he could be a formidable college receiver. He has a 3.6 grade-point average and is a captain as a junior, which says plenty about him off the field. Schrock has eight catches for 128 yards with two touchdowns, including a kick return, despite limited duty in weeks 2 and 3 after taking a helmet to a knee.

Q: Hey, Tim: What's up with Willoughby South quarterback Patrick Nicely? I saw he hurt his ankle last week. -- Tim Korbel, Eastlake

A: Hey, Tim: Nicely, a Bowling Green recruit, has a sprained ankle and will miss this week's game against University School, and then he's day to day. Also of major concern is the combined impact of injuries to center/defensive end Kyle Augustitis (back) and cornerback/wideout Ryan Fenner (ankle). South has talent, but not much depth, and the cumulative effect of those injuries is significant.

-- Tim

-- Tom Ririe, Corpus Christi, Texas

A: Hey, Tom: This is a very good year for the North Coast League. Most of the top talent will face off in the Mid-American Conference in years to come. Slack, a powerful tight end at Hoban, has orally committed to Miami of Ohio. He is surprisingly agile and just crushes defensive backs. Molls, a Padua linebacker/running back who had a huge game against North Olmsted last week, is headed to Ohio University. His teammate, running back DePiero, is getting several Division I looks, but has not made a commitment.

Greenwood, Lake Catholic's all-purpose back, committed to Akron days before breaking his leg and ankle last month, a season-ending injury. He is expected to recover and Akron will honor the scholarship offer. The Zips told Greenwood he will be a wideout.

Q: Hey, Tim: Is Will Stotter from Shaker Heights, who was mentioned in your high school football preview, related to Rich Stotter, who played for the Houston Oilers?

-- George Kubach, Simi Valley, Calif.

A: Hey, George: Good call. They are related. Shaker Heights grad Rich Stotter appeared in three games with the Houston Oilers of the old American Football League. His second cousin, Will Stotter, is a 6-0, 270-pound senior center who is a second-year starter for Shaker Heights.

-- Tim

Do you have a question about high school sports? Ask Plain Dealer reporter Tim Warsinskey at cleveland.com/heytim. Tim will answer questions every Friday in The Locker Room.

Do you have a question about high school sports? Ask Plain Dealer reporter Tim Warsinskey at cleveland.com/heytim. Tim will answer questions every Friday in The Locker Room. All of Tim's answers are archived online.

Q: Hey Tim: Can you tell me how many St. Edward wrestlers have been NCAA champions? Also, is Andy Hrovat the only St. Ed grad to make it to the Olympics? -- Scott Jowers, Bedford

A: Hey, Scott: Three wrestlers have won four NCAA Division I championships at St. Edward: Iowa's Jim Heffernan was the 150-pound champion in 1986; Oklahoma State's Alan Fried won at 142 pounds in 1994, and Michigan's Ryan Bertin won at 157 pounds in 2003 and 2005. Bertin was third in 2004.

Fried, who was the best high school wrestler I've seen, had the most interesting college career. He lost to Tom Brands in the championship bout as a freshman and sophomore, and Oklahoma State was barred from the tournament his junior year because of NCAA violations.

Andy Hrovat, who lost in the first round at the Summer Olympics in Beijing, is the Eagles' first Olympian. Greg Elinsky was an alternate in 1992.

Q: Hey, Tim: Which teams from Northeastern Ohio do you see as favorites for the boys soccer state championships this year? -- Dave Petro, Bay Village

A: Hey, Dave: I'm going along with my colleague, Pat Galbincea, who wrote recently that we could see a Northeast Ohio sweep in boys soccer. St. Ignatius is young but a strong contender in Division I. Strongsville, Sylvania Northview, Beavercreek and Cincinnati Elder are others to watch in Division I. Bay, Walsh Jesuit and defending champion Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy are the main contenders in Division II, and 2007 state runner-up Hawken, as usual, is the team to beat in Division III.

It's also worth noting that the best soccer in Northeast Ohio this fall will be played by girls, especially Strongsville, Walsh Jesuit and Hathaway Brown. That's not to say they would beat the boys powers, but they could give several boys teams a run for their money.