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This Week with Roger Metzger
By Roger Metzger 26 Mar, 2024
In every organization there is a support system that makes life easier for those in charge. The Ohio State men’s basketball team is no different and much of its support comes from their student managers, who devote countless hours and effort to helping reduce the stress players and coaches endure throughout a rigorous, five-month season. Dover native and 2023 Crimson Tornado graduate Ben Hamm is one of those student managers. Hamm, a standout player for Dover High School boys basketball coach Bob Von Kaenel, is in his first year as a student manager. “This is my first year doing this at Ohio State,” said Hamm, a son of Matt and Heather Hamm. “Luckily, Coach Von Kaenel has a lot of connections, so that’s how I got introduced to the job.” “I, along with the other managers, attend every practice setting things up and doing whatever the coaches need from us to keep the practices running smooth,” said Hamm. The student manager also works every game performing various tasks to assist in any way they can. “Specifically, for me, I was in charge of mopping up the court when the players fell or the court got slick on game days,” said Hamm. “As a first-year student manager, I was also able to go on one road trip to Minnesota and Michigan State.” “I was extremely fortunate for this trip because I got to witness the buzzer beater that silenced the crowd at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.” Hamm, who is majoring in Health Sciences, said the position is a permanent gig for as long as he wants to be a student manager. “Overall, this has been a phenomenal experience for me getting to meet new people and stay involved with high-level athletics,” said Hamm. Ohio State is on to the quarterfinals in the National Invitation Tournament. The No. 2 seeded Buckeyes defeated No. 3 Virginia Tech 81-73 in the second round of the NIT last Saturday, extending their season another game. Ohio State will play Georgia in the Elite Eight tonight in Columbus.
By Roger Metzger 18 Mar, 2024
Lauryn Contini is ready to play Division I college soccer. After an outstanding career as a New Philadelphia High School girls’ soccer standout, Contini is poised to play women’s college soccer for the University of Louisville. The 5-foot-5 freshman midfielder and the rest of her University of Louisville teammates will take the pitch this Saturday against rival Kentucky at Lexington as the Cardinals abbreviated spring schedule gets underway. “I’ve had a great time so far and my teammates have made it much easier,” said Contini of her transition from high school to college soccer. “I’m really happy.” The Cardinals fall season is set to begin in the middle of August. Her new head coach is happy to have Contini on board. “Lauryn is going to provide an immediate attacking presence for us,” said Louisville head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes on the UL website. “She is capable of scoring goals with both feet in and around the box. She strikes the ball exceptionally well and is also an excellent final passer who will be able to set up her teammates. She can play as a forward or attacking midfielder with her great offensive instincts.” Contini’s high school coach, A.J. Wahlie, had nothing but positive things to say about his former standout player. “What makes Lauryn so special is her work ethic,” said Wahlie. “We were doing two a days as a team and she was doing three a days. She’s electric. She has it.” Contini, a daughter of Ryan and Lisa Contini of New Philadelphia, is majoring in Sports Administration with a minor in Business. She graduated early from New Philadelphia last December and started college classes at the University of Louisville shortly thereafter. “For me it was the opportunity to play in the spring season and I felt it would be good for my development,” explained Contini, who went to Louisville with 40 credit hours under her belt. “Academics are taken very seriously there.” She trains during the morning hours and attends classes in the afternoon. Contini had an outstanding junior soccer season for the Quakers. Contini scored a state-high 55 goals with eight assists as she and her New Philadelphia teammates advanced to a Division II regional championship match in 2022, losing to Marietta 1-0 and just missing the final four. For her efforts, she was named first-team All-Ohio in 2022. Contini led area players selected to the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association All-Ohio team. She was also named first team All-Ohio Cardinal Conference and Eastern District Player of the Year and was also nominated for All-American status by the United Soccer Coaches Association. Contini, who scored both goals in a 2-0 win over archrival Dover in the regional semifinal, led the Quakers to a 15-4-2 record and a berth in the regional championship before falling. “That was an amazing game,” Contini recalled. “I’ll never forget it.” Contini elected not to play high school soccer her senior season. “I just felt the risk (of getting injured) was not worth the reward,” said Contini. “It was definitely different not playing, but I felt I made the right decision.” Michigan State, Ohio State and Purdue were among the other top suitors for Contini, but she eventually decided upon the University of Louisville where she fit right in. “It’s a great place,” said Contini. “I’m very comfortable there.” Contini was also a member of the Cleveland Force Soccer Club. She was selected to the ECNL National Training Camp in 2022 and the ECNL Selection Game in Florida. She was also an ECNL Ohio Valley All-Conference Team honoree in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. Like many Tuscarawas County boys and girls, she began playing soccer at age 3 at the Tuscarawas County YMCA in Dover. Her parents took her to a Columbus Crew professional soccer match when she was 5. Contini met one of the pros and really fell in love with the sport. And she hasn’t looked back.
By Roger Metzger 11 Mar, 2024
March Madness begins today for the Kent State Tuscarawas men’s basketball team. No. 4 seed KSU Tuscarawas will begin tournament play in a United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Basketball Championship Division II small college quarterfinal game at 2 p.m. against No. 5 seed Penn State Greater Allegheny in Petersburg, Va. The Golden Eagles have assured themselves of a third straight tournament appearance. Kent State Tuscarawas’ solid 88-79 win over Miami Hamilton on March 2 not only assured them of a USCAA National Basketball Championship bid, but it also locked them into the No. 4 seed in the tournament -- their highest seed since joining the USCAA. The two teams were supposed to have met during the regular season, but the Lions cancelled the game which was never rescheduled. The Golden Eagles and PSU GA will take to the court at Virginia State University in Petersburg with identical 21-9 records. Kent State Tuscarawas acquitted themselves very well in a regular season ending victory against a team that had won 10 of its last 11 games while the Golden Eagles also put the finishing touches on an unbeaten season at home going 13-0. Kyle Shockley led the Golden Eagles with 28 points and nine assists and brother Kameron added 26 points and hauled down 10 rebounds. Ethan Bower had 12 points and Javier Ward 10 for the winners. Kameron, a senior forward, was recently selected as a First Team USCAA All-American to become the second Golden Eagles hooper to earn that award. Shockley ranked first in the USCAA with defensive rebounds (224), was third in total rebounds (279), fourth in blocked shots (54), sixth in rebounds per game (10.3), 11 th in steals (65), 12 th in assists (109), 19 th in points per game (18.8), 20 th in field goal percentage (54%) and recorded 16 double-doubles on the season. He achieved Honorable Mention All-American status in 2023 and was named USCAA D2 National Player of the Week twice (2021 & 2024). Kyle, a junior, received a Second Team USCAA All-American award to raise the number of Golden Eagles basketball All-American honorees to nine. Kyle earned USCAA D2 National Player of the Week recognition twice in the period of a month this season. Kyle is the Navy and Gold's leading scorer averaging 20.4 points per game which ranks seventh overall in the USCAA. He has scored 592 points on the year, which is second overall, is fourth in field goals making 211 of 403 attempts, ranks 14 th in assists with 108, 13 th in steals (61) and is in the top 25 in field goal percentage converting on 52.4% of his shot attempts. A semifinal round game is in the offing for the victor on Tuesday at 2 p.m. and the opponent could very well be No. 1 ranked and top seeded Cincinnati Clermont -- a team the Golden Eagles split with during the regular season. KSU Tuscarawas also finished with the No. 1 schedule in the power rankings, while UCC ranked No. 2, Hamilton No. 3 and Greater Allegheny No. 4. All four teams are in the same bracket at the championships. Pay-per-view access will also be available for live game streaming via the uscaasportsnetwork.com . Single game access is $8.54 per individual game, or an All-Access pass can be purchased for $40 that will give fans access to all 17 women's tournament games and all 21 men's tournament broadcasts.
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Big Time Sports is committed to delivering top-notch coverage of high school sports to over 4 million households across Ohio. We produce two weekly sports talk shows featuring interviews with high school coaches and players. Tune in to our "Southern Network" every Wednesday at 7 pm and Friday at 10 pm, or catch our "Northern Network" show on Thursdays at 7:30 pm and Saturday mornings at 8:30 am. To watch the show, tune in to cable channels MCT 128 & Spectrum 989 (Stark - Wayne Counties) and Spectrum 15 (Tuscarawas - Carroll - Holmes Counties). Off-Air Views North 29.1 and South 39.1. Don't miss any of the action—watch wherever you are at wivmtv.com!

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