Though the defeat left a gloomy mark heading into the playoffs, head coach Mitch Wagner knows the team can recover and understands what it will take to succeed in the playoffs.

“As our first postseason game approaches, it is important that we pull together as a team, and continue to work on the small details of execution that make the difference between winning and losing close games,” Wagner said.

Close wins and close losses have followed the team all year, but these tight games against state contending teams should provide great experience for playoff games that will likely be tight.

The squad’s next game is the sectional final tonight against Richfield Revere at 4:30 P.M. on the Hoban softball field.

The boys volleyball team has worked tremendously hard this season, earning them the right-of-way to be potential leaders in playoffs
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For the past two years the team has been top competitors in the state championship run and they aren’t settling for anything less.
As for the next four games in the regular season, the boys are taking one game at a time.

“Hours before every game we go to the ‘men’s den’ where we talk about what’s going on within the team, the team we’re playing, and anything else that’s happening in life,” senior R.C. Kunig said. “It helps everyone focus but at the same time relax.”

In the next week the squad is focused on its goal.

“The only thing that will be able to get us there is playing every game like it is the state finals,” senior Adam Weaver said. “We have been playing down to other team’s levels and if we continue to do that we only make the road to the finals harder on ourselves.”

Defense and teamwork will also play a huge role.

“On serve receive, we need to side out really quick and get the ball back on our side to have the advantage,” junior Mikey Sokol said.

“Working together to be the best we can will give us the success that we are looking to achieve,” junior Sean Semruau said.

For the seniors, it will be the last chance to go for the title. However, if they make it to states they have graduation on the same day, but the goal remains the same.

“We receive no love but we play-on unrecognized, not for ourselves but for our teammates,” senior Matt Romero said. “We have one common goal: to prove that we are the best in the state and to represent our school with pride and honor.”

David Bott has lettered in lacrosse since his freshman year and is a second-year captain. Other ‘bro’ captains are seniors Dom Anders, Zach Gutshall and Jake Dawes. David leads the Knight defense and has had many epic moments.

“My best moment was one I defended a D-1 recruit from Kent Roosevelt late in the game when we needed the ball and I got it,” Bott said.

The Knights have had a rough start to the season, but Bott still feels the team has had success.

“We honestly have had a really tough schedule and we have new players getting experience,” Bott said. “Record-wise, we may not be successful up to this point, but Hoban lax is all about having fun.”

David competes with his younger brother Jimmy, a sophomore attack, who feels his is superior.

“Jimmy is smart, small and fast but has yet to beat me,” Bott said.
J
immy has led the offensive attack this season for the Knights and enjoys competing with his big brother.

“He is bigger and more experienced and how could you forget the brother factor,” Jimmy Bott said. “But in the end he knows who the better Bott is.”

The squad still has a considerable amount of games remaining and the lax bros look to finish the season with a final strong push towards a .500 record and have fun along the way.

“To finish strong we need to have a strong showing from seniors and juniors,” senior captain Jake Dawes said. “This game is all about flow, the lax brotherhood and of course the ladies.”

First-year head coach Drew Spears believes the experience of tough games will pay dividends.

“We have had a tough road with Green, Hoover, Kent Roosevelt and Walsh. These tough challenges will make us better as we move forward,” Spears said. “We play hard and we are very athletic.

Coaches tell me all the time how unbelievably fast we are but we need to execute.”

The bros will battle Gilmour Academy on Thursday, May 13 on Dowed Field at 7:00 PM

The 2010 FIFA World Cup will have 32 countries compete in South Africa this summer to capture the coveted FIFA trophy.

With only 35 days remaining until the opening match on June 12, fans around the world are deciding what country to follow throughout the tournament. Tournament favorites include the defending Italian champions, Benny’s Argentinian homeboys, world famous Brazil, the Spanish Matadors, France, Portugal and England. Although these top notch teams tempt to steal the heart, the United States also compels many to root for the home team.

The United States is in Group C of the tournament with England, Algeria and Slovenia. The U.S. will face England on Saturday, June 12, in Rustenburg’s Royal Bafokeng Stadium, in what could be considered one of the most highly anticipated soccer openers in U.S. history.

This opening match against England, the ninth ranked team in the world, will be the most crucial. The U.S. has never advanced to the second round after losing an opening match at the World Cup and they have only beaten England once. Sixty years ago at the 1950 World Cup, the United States upset England 1-0. This match is still considered to be the greatest upset in football history. The upcoming battle between the “Redcoats” and the “Bluecoats” will be a rematch watched by millions.

Although it will be a monumental match, a loss to England in the opening game will not seal a U.S. fate. Algeria and Slovenia are both teams that the Americans are predicted to beat. The U.S. is ranked 14th in the world while Algeria is ranked 28th and Slovenia 33rd.

The United States will play Slovenia on Friday, June 18, then face Algeria on Wednesday, June 23.

Leading the way for the United States is goalkeeper Tim Howard, forward Jozy Altidore, defender Carlos Bocanegra and midfielders Clint Dempsey, DaMarcus Beasley and Landon Donovan.

U.S. team captain Carlos Bocanegra and his supporting cast will be battling English stars Wayne Rooney, John Terry, and Steven Gerrard. With David Beckham out of the tournament due to a ruptured Achilles tendon while playing for A.C. Milan, the English squad is no longer as formidable an enemy.

While intense rivalries will flare and competitiveness will erupt, the FIFA tournament in South Africa is looking to bring countries closer together under one similar cause, the love of the game of soccer.

The Prebis Memorial Tournament featured talented teams such as defending Division I champion Elyria. The Knights squared off against the Pioneers and teams such as Poland and Springfield out of Toledo. Though the team lost all three games, losing to both Elyria and Springfield 4-2 proved that the squad could compete with the best.

Head coach Mitch Wagner knew the competition at the tournament would be strong but feels the tournament still greatly benefitted the team.

“We have to keep the tough competition in perspective,” Wagner said. “We can’t get too caught up in results.”

So far, the squad has compiled a respectable 12-10 record. These victories have landed the Knights into the mix for a first place tie atop the North Coast League standings. The team will play their last two games against NCL opponents to decide the league champion.

“We are younger and less experienced than most teams but we are growing together on and off the field,” junior catcher Emily Orsini said.

The inexperience has been visible this season but junior first baseman Elizabeth Denholm has noticed vast improvement over the regular season.

“We really are getting so much better as the season goes on compared to the beginning of the season,” Denholm said.

Monday, May 10 marks the last regular season game and the last home game for seniors such as standout pitcher Lauren McNeil. The Knights will play against Notre Dame Cathedral Latin before preparations begin for the OHSAA playoffs which begin May 26.

The Knights next game is tonight at 5:00 PM at the Hoban softball field against Lake Catholic.

After making their first appearance at states this past fall in cross country seniors Chris Alto, Jake Frego, Jason Green, Ryan Spear and Jake Craine have their eyes on another successful running season and yet another state appearance.

“Going to states for cross country gave us confidence in our selves that we can compete at states in track,” Green said. “It showed us that we belong there.”

Many of the distance runners competed in indoor track this past winter to gain an extra edge over competitors. Alto along Green qualified for the indoor state two mile, while the 4×800 consisting of the duo along with Craine and Spear placed 6th place at the meet.

“We ran this indoor season to run against experienced good runners,” Spear said. “I believe running indoor helped this year because we were more mentally and physically prepared for the outdoor season.”

Their motivation and attitude carried over into the outdoor season. Knowing that they have the potential to get to states again the boys have been putting a lot of miles during the week, often reaching up to 40 miles.

“The practices have been a lot more intense and competitive this season,” Alto said. “We are all pushing each other to reach our goal.”

Besides reaching states the group also wants to help the track team win their fourth North Coast League title and have a winning dual record.

“We want to get to states and to win the North Coast League,” Frego said. “Our main goal though is to just run the best of our ability.”

The boys track team will compete today at the North Coast League Meet Finals at 4:00 PM at Padua Franciscan High School.

“We want to continue our legacy of winning the NCL title for what may be the fifth year in a row,” head coach Joe Lutz said. “Winning the league will give us great momentum going into the state tournament.”

While today’s NCL meet marks the halfway point for the season, it is only the beginning of the long road ahead. The girls still have to qualify at district and regional meets to compete in the state tournament.

“We’re still trying to work out our relay team combos and complete our team aspect,” Lutz said regarding the team’s preparation for post-season play. “As for our presence at the state meet, Julianna Libertin, Krissy Sokol and Taylor Williams all have a solid shot at making it far in the tournament.”

Sokol is enthusiastic about her ranking as this year may be her first playoff run.

“I’ve been working really hard these past four years but I’ve come up short of states,” Sokol said. “This is what I’ve been waiting for and I’m ready to seize the opportunity. I’m really excited to compete and I hope I can make a deep run in the tournament.”

Libertin will be defending the title she earned last year in Division II, while Williams will also be making her last appearance in tournaments. All three seniors are looking to make the most of their last year and are eager to represent their school in Columbus.

Notre Dame Cathedral Latin expects to challenge the Knights along with all other North Coast League schools at 4:00 PM today at Padua Franciscan High School.

Now thousands of years later, the Boston Marathon is held worldwide as one of the most prestigious marathon races. It is held annually in Boston, Massachusetts on Patriots’ Day (the third Monday in April) and is the world’s oldest annual marathon. Over 23,000 athletes began the quest on April 19 and among them were Andrea Hoffman, third-year distance coach of the boys track and field team and the cross country team, and Amy Hovan, fourth-year head boys and girls swimming coach. They finished with times of 3:35 and 4:05 respectively. The two coaches sat down with the Visor to remark on their journey through Boston.

Amy Hovan
What motivated you to train for this marathon?
I ran the Boston Marathon last year and I wanted to come back stronger this year. Although the end result was not what I had hoped, it was an amazing experience.

What gave you the idea to run?
I ran a 3:22 in my first marathon a year and a half ago in Columbus and that’s how I qualified for Boston. Everyone said, “You have to go to Boston” and they were definitely right.

What was one memory that you will never forget?
Being able to finish after spending 20 minutes in a medical tent at mile 22 with a painful right hip. I never gave up and I was going to get to the finish line and get my medal no matter what. When you finish the Boston Marathon and you feel that medal around your neck you think, “If I can do this, I can do anything.”

When will you compete again?
I am always competing but it will be a LONG time before another marathon.

What did you do before and after the race?
Before: Andrea and I were in the same corral so we calmed each other’s nerves.
After: I ate all the food that I possibly could.

Andrea Pollack Hoffman
What motivated you to train for this marathon?
It has been my dream since I was 14 years old and last October my father died, and he had always followed my running at every meet. We had talked about Boston together, and we began planning the trip just before he got sick. I ran for my dad, for all he did for me.

What was one memory that you will never forget?
When there were tons of people cheering the runners over Heartbreak Hill.

What other competitions do you plan on completing before you die?
I’d like to do a triathalon but I’m not a strong swimmer so maybe not. I want to do the New York Marathon sometime.

What was the first thing you did after the race?
After the race I laid down on some grass: I was exhausted. I called my family, who were waiting for me and told them I couldn’t move—they had to come and find me.

With this win, the Knights are 20-1 with one more game left in the regular season.

But it wasn’t just a win to celebrate, it was also senior night. All eight seniors, Weaver, Kunig, Veverka, Eric Antonucci, Kyle McNicholas, Matt Romero and Sam Ferrari, were recognized.

“Senior night was very well done,” McNicholas said. “But it was sad because the seniors are tight.”

After May 13, the boys will be preparing for their tournament run.

“If we keep playing like it’s our last, than we’ll go far,” McNicholas said.

The Knights finish off their regular season on Thursday, May 13 at Hudson with the varsity starting at 7:30 PM.

“We have been building up to this for three years. We had won the Blue Division title the previous three years, but Trinity had won the overall title three straight years,” head coach Dave Arbogast told reporters. “We finally got them this year. I feel good for those guys. They worked really hard.”

The Knights took over the meet by winning four events and racking up 129.5 points, which was 37 more points than the runner-up, Lake Catholic. The team was led by the league’s MVP senior Dan Solomon who won both the 100 and 200 meters while also running in the winning 400- and 800- meter relays.

”I have been working on this since I was a freshman,” Solomon said. “To get this my senior year is major for us.”

Also leading the Knights to victory was senior Lawrence Wynn and junior Evan Luse who were both part of the winning 800- meter relay which set a meet record of 1:30:.58. Joining them in the relay was senior Ryan Ross who also placed first in long-jump with a 21 ½ foot jump. Wynn also won the high jump with a 6’ 1” jump.

”I’d be lying if I didn’t say we were expecting to do this. Winning the NCL was our goal the past three years. This year, we knew we could beat Trinity,” Ross said. ”We were confident and we know what we could do.”

With the overall North Coast League title, the boys will prepare for the OHSSA district meet in Orville on May 21-23.