Mentor Basketball 2000's All-Stars

Updated this post following the completion of the 2020-21 season

Over the past 20 years, Mentor has proven to be one of the very best programs in the state. With 14 district titles, three regional titles, and one state championship - the 2000's have been filled with many amazing teams and players. Coach Krizancic, 679 career wins and counting, and his staff have built up a fantastic program featuring some of the best players in the area. 

My rankings below represent the best of the best to have played for Krizancic over the past 20 years. Please note that the rankings here are made by me, a fan and follower of the program that has watched at least 200 of their games since 2000. My rankings do not represent the views of the coaches, school, or media. After making my list, I did reach out to Coach K for some thoughts on each player. Please note that the players for each tier appear in alphabetical order. 

First Team

Luke Chicone

One of the most fun and exciting Mentor players to watch over the last 20 years, Chicone was one of the most successful players in program history. As a sophomore, Chicone was a key part of Mentor's record-setting 2018-19 season as he contributed 15 points and 6 assists a game. Chicone continued to turn heads with his incredible skills during a junior season where he earned Second Team All-Ohio honors while averaging 19.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.8 rebounds. His season was highlighted by a trio of unforgettable performances against Medina, a district champion and one of the top teams in the area. The first game against Medina was a loss, but Chicone scored 33 points that included six three-pointers. The following month, Mentor found themselves down by eight with roughly 40 seconds to play. Chicone scored the last 9 points of the game, including a long-range triple to win the game at the buzzer. His biggest game came in the 2020  regional semifinal rubber match with Medina. With his backcourt mate (Luke Floriea) fouling out early in the 4th quarter, Chicone put the team on his back with 39 points in a 76-72 double-overtime victory. As a senior, Chicone guided the team to an unprecedented 19-0 regular season. That was followed up by a memorable tournament run that included a district title, regional title, and the program's third Final Four appearance. He earned Northeast Lake District Player of the Year honors and was a Mr. Basketball finalist. Chicone, a Youngstown State recruit, finished his career as the third all-time leading scorer in program history. 

Coach K Says: “He does everything well. Really solid defensively and has developed into a great shooter. An underrated part of his game is as a rebounder. The best handles I have ever coached. He is the whole package."

Jaron Crowe

I remember reading Coach Krizancic say that if he were picking a team from all of his past players, his first choice would be Jaron. He could score (as evidenced by joining the 1,000-point career club), but it was his skill as a pure point guard that separated him from every other player. Crowe played the position better than any Mentor player has before or since. His ability to run the offense, limit turnovers, get to the lane, and hit shots was second to none. Playing alongside all-time leading scorer Cole Krizancic and future Mr Basketball Justin Fritts gave Mentor quite an advantage over the opposition when it came to guard play. Crowe was a three-year starter that was a part of 61 wins. After being a double-digit scorer as a sophomore, he took more ownership of the team as a junior with scoring 15.7 ppg and earning All-District honors. In the 2009 district final, Crowe scored a team-high 23 points in a 59-50 win over Brush as he outdueled area legend Nate Tait. He followed that up by scoring 26 points in the district final win against Brush the following season. Crowe was instrumental in helping guide Mentor to three district titles, which included the program's first trip to the Final Four in 2010. In his final game, Crowe hit a state semifinal record seven three-pointers en route to a game-high 28 points in an overtime loss to Cincinnati Moeller. Crowe was named the Plain Dealer's MVP of the 2009-10 season as he averaged 19 points, 7 assists, and 4.7 rebounds a game.

Coach K Says: “His basketball IQ was off the charts. Just as smart on defense as offense. He was the floor general. Jaron's last three seasons (three district titles) were part of a great run."

Justin Fritts

After earning some playing time as a freshman, Fritts jumped into a starting role as a sophomore on the 2009-10 team that was the first at Mentor to make a state Final Four. Playing alongside Cole Krizancic and Jaron Crowe, the trio was as good as any the state has seen. Fritts was Second Team All-Ohio as a junior as he led the regional runners-up in scoring. As a junior, the 2010-11 Mentor team (also featuring Krizancic and Collin Barth) was the highest scoring offense in program history. The following season, Fritts transitioned from being one part of a talented trio to becoming the lead man. As a senior, Fritts set Mentor's single-season scoring mark with 28.1 ppg to go along with leading the team in steals as well as being one of the top rebounders. His biggest regular season game was a 44-point performance in a win over basketball power Garfield Heights, a team that Mentor would share the conference title with that season. During the district final win against Brush, Fritts led the team with 24 points as he outdueled Brush's Pharaoh Brown (future Cleveland Browns TE). Fritts earned the state's most prestigious award in 2011-12: Mr. Basketball. Quite simply, it was the most dominant single season in program history. Fritts is second on the all-time scoring mark at Mentor with 1,697 points. During his three years as a starter, the Cards advanced to regionals all three years and the team won 15 tournament games.

Coach K Says: “He went to the hole as well as anybody, getting to the free throw line a ton. Justin made so many huge plays for us. He hated to lose and it helped him turn into a great basketball player."

Cole Krizancic 

The oldest son of legendary Coach Bob Krizancic had a lot to live up to. A starter since he was a freshman, Cole made quite an impact in the program. A strong sophomore season (15 ppg) helped Mentor win back-to-back district titles as Cole took on more of the scoring. He was a starting guard for 19 tournament victories over his career. None were bigger than the 2010 regional final win over heavily favored St Edward. Krizancic, a junior at the time, scored a game-high 21 points in helping send Mentor to their first trip to the state Final Four. That was part of a season that saw Cole average 27 ppg and earn First Team All-Ohio honors. A shifty and versatile offensive genius, Krizancic is still the all-time leading scorer (1,763 points) at Mentor. With an ability to score inside and out, Cole is in the state record book with 252 career three-pointers. With that much scoring, he had a lot of memorable games. One that stands out is a 41-point performance in a 76-67 win over Brush in the 2011 district final. That was one point short of Cole's career-high 42-point masterpiece against Warren Harding at the Wolstein Center the season before. He is forever a celebrity in Bristol, TN for entertaining thousands of hoops junkies in earning MVP of the Arby's Classic in 2010. A winner in every sense of the word, he is the standard to which all elite Mentor basketball players are measured. 

Coach K Says: “Growing up, he went to all kinds of camps that helped him develop a high IQ. Cole used his body as well as anybody. He shot the three really well. He scored a ton of points in the paint. Cole always came up big in big time games. His junior year, including that game against Warren Harding, was amazing."

 

Adam May

At 6'8 with the skills of a guard, May was a matchup nightmare. He could shoot from three, score inside, and was a master at getting to the free-throw line and converting. May has the program single-game scoring record with 49 points to open his senior season against North. He was the first Division I basketball recruit for the program as May would sign and play with Holy Cross after graduating in 2006. May came onto the scene as a sophomore and was the second-leading scorer on the team behind All-Ohio guard Tony Martucci. During his junior and senior seasons, May was the focal point of the offense. He averaged 23.3 ppg in his junior season and earned Second Team All-Ohio. One thing that had escaped May during his first two years in the starting lineup was winning a district title. As a senior, May helped lead Mentor over Glenville in an unforgettable 68-67 district final victory. He had memorable battles with Lake Catholic's Ricky Stanzi (future NFL QB) and Solon's Dallas Lauderdale (future OSU basketball starter). His 32 points were enough to get Mentor the big rivalry win against Stanzi's Cougars during May's senior season. In May's final game, he had 32 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists in a loss to Lauderdale's Solon team at the Akron regional semifinal. He earned First Team All-Ohio as a senior with 23 ppg. May's 1,480 points are 3rd all-time for the program. 

Coach K Says: “Being 6'8, he had great guard skills. Adam had a great basketball IQ being the son of a coach. A play that stands out was at the end of the 2006 district final against Glenville (pass to Joey Meyer to win at the buzzer). Not many times will your best player give up the ball and make the right pass in that situation."

 

Second Team

Luke Floriea

Floriea lettered as a freshman on a district championship squad in 2017. He emerged as a starter as a sophomore before making a huge leap his junior season. Floriea became the heart and soul of two of the best teams in Krizancic's era at Mentor. The small and speedy point guard used his inside/outside game to help guide Mentor to back-to-back district titles. In 2018-19, Floriea was the team's leading scorer (19.2 ppg) in a season where they set program records for regular-season wins (20) and winning percentage (.909). Floriea earned Second Team All-Ohio as a junior. His dominant regular season performance against Euclid boasted career highs for points (39) and three-pointers (eight). But the biggest game of his career came in a highly competitive district final win in 2019 against a very talented Brush squad littered with DI college talent. Generously listed at 5'10, Floriea was the best player on the floor as he scored 30 points in a 77-73 comeback victory for the Cardinals. During his senior season, Floriea demonstrated his determination and skill in a 26-point winning effort at Shaker Heights that helped Mentor win a share of the GCC. Floriea had another big-time performance (20 points) in the district final against Brush. He finished his career as one of the rare 1,000-point scorers in program history. A Kent State recruit at wide receiver, Floriea earned All-Ohio status in football and basketball during both his junior and senior seasons.

Coach K says "Fiercest competitor, just hated to lose. He made that jump from sophomore to junior year and wanted it to be his team as a junior, and we went 20-2 in the regular season. Won three districts in his four years. He came to play in the big games. His competitiveness really rubbed off on the rest of the players." 

Jeff Foreman

How does a team that graduated a Mr. Basketball winner (Fritts), the starting point guard (Danny Wallack), and a third starter (Mr. Football winner Mitch Trubisky) win a state title the following season? There are many reasons, but the play of Jeff Foreman is at the top of the list. A rotation player as a sophomore, Foreman always showed glimpses of his potential to be the next great Mentor guard. After a steady season as a junior in the starting lineup for the 2012 district champs, Foreman was expected to carry a big part of the load in running the offense as a senior. With Fritts/Wallack gone, Foreman was the most experienced and most capable ball handler. His regular-season numbers (14 ppg) were modest compared to gauging stats from some other players. That was by design as that state championship team was incredibly balanced. Nobody, including Foreman, had to put the team on their back and score 30 a night. In fact, it was pretty rare for a player on that team to score even 20 in a game. Instead, the entire starting lineup averaged 10-15 points a game. Foreman earned his reputation as an all-timer with his impressive tournament run. Beginning with the district final, Foreman led the team in scoring (17.6 ppg over the final five games) and assists. His 20 points in the state semifinal were key to upsetting unbeaten and top-ranked Columbus Northland. The next day in the state final, Foreman hit two early three-pointers and scored the first 8 points to help Mentor settle into a high pressure moment. The team would get the 76-67 victory over Toledo Rogers that included 19 points from their senior point guard. Foreman was the unequivocal leader and motivator for the best team ever to play at Mentor. 

Coach K says "Something clicked and he became the best player in the state in March. Jeff did everything for us. He was our best defensive player, but we had to save him on offense. He became a great leader during that stretch run for the state championship." 

Joey Meyer

He burst onto the scene as the area's premier shooter as a sophomore during Mentor's 2006 district title run. Starting alongside a group of seniors, Meyer played a key role in helping the Adam May-led squad cut down the nets at Euclid. Down two points in the closing seconds, it was Meyer who hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give Mentor a 68-67 win over Glenville in the district final. His shot and reputation were so highly coveted that the News-Herald brought in the young sophomore as a "ringer" to square off with the top senior at the NH Classic's shooting competition. Meyer would be the team's leading scorer as a junior and a senior. As a senior, he guided Mentor to a 20-5 record despite sharing a backcourt with a freshman and sophomore. During his senior season, Meyer earned First Team All-Ohio honors as he scored 21.5 ppg for the 2008 district championship team. Aside from his memorable game-winning moment as a sophomore, the biggest game of Meyer's career was a 42 point outburst in a road win at Cleveland Heights. He was a 1,000-point career scorer and was considered by Coach Krizanic to be "the best shooter I have ever seen." That is high praise considering the talent that has come into his gym. 

Coach K says "One of the hardest workers and purest shooters we ever had. Started three years and won two district titles. Close to 90 percent free throw shooter and 40 percent at three, he was a luxury to have."

Eddie Zienkowski

Zienkowski emerged during his sophomore season as a super sub on the 2000-01 senior-laden team that won 17 regular season games and a district title. Filling in as a starter after injury, he was a key part of the 2001 district champs. Eddie was an elite scorer and one of the best shooters to play for Mentor. Zienkowski was the team leader during his junior and senior seasons as he guided the Cardinals to three straight district titles (2001-2003). During his junior season, Zienkowski poured in 31 huge points in a regional semifinal win over Barberton. The unexpected run to the Elite Eight in 2002 was the program's first appearance. Eddie's senior class of 2003 (featuring Nick Meyer, Kyle Binns, Mark Martucci, etc.) was one of the very best at Mentor. This class was good enough for Krizancic to schedule LeBron's James' SVSM team during the 2002-03 season. Zienkowski scored a team-high 20 points, but LeBron and company routed the Cardinals as expected. As a senior, Eddie was Third Team All-Ohio in averaging 25.4 ppg. His best game came in the 2003 district final. In a memorable performance against Brush, Zienkowski scored 37 points as he outdueled a red hot Raymond Mosby in guiding Mentor to an 81-72 win at Euclid. At the time of his graduation, Zienkowski was the all-time leading scorer for the program. His 1,299 career points were eventually passed by Adam May in 2006.  

Coach K says, "He stepped up as a sophomore when injury hit Brad Gerard. He might've shot more free throws than anyone else I coached. He used his body so well. What he lacked in athleticism and quickness, he made up for it in other ways. Eddie used every single ounce of ability."

Third Team

Scott Branchick

Branchick was a three-year starter and one of the more consistent inside scorers to play for Krizancic. His teams won two district titles (2008 and 2009). Branchick emerged with a strong junior season, averaging 13.5 ppg. As a senior, his numbers were not necessarily eye-popping (13 ppg in the regular season) due to sharing a backcourt with the likes of Jaron Crowe and Cole Krizancic. But Branchick's reputation was earned by what he did in the tournament over his junior and senior seasons. Playing his best in the biggest games, Branchick scored 82 points over a three-game stretch in his junior season at the Euclid district tournament. That included 20 second-half points in a 57-50 district final against Glenville to help Mentor erase a 4th quarter deficit and cut down the nets at Euclid. That was the first of what would be six straight district titles for the program. As a senior, he continued his big play in the tournament by scoring 41 points in a sectional win against Shaw and a team-high 20 points in the district semifinal win against Madison. In Branchick's final game, he accounted for more than half of the team's total points in scoring 27 in a 50-43 regional semifinal loss to North Ridgeville. 

Coach K says, "Scott was a great slasher that could get to the hole as well as anyone. A three year starter that was on two district championship teams. He was our leading scorer his senior year. Became a good three-point shooter, a really nice high school player."

Jason Bratten

Bratten was the leader for one of the most talented classes of Mentor basketball players in the last 20 years. They went 33-7 in the regular season over Bratten's junior/senior years. They won the extremely competitive Lake Erie League in both of those seasons. The class of 2001 included starters Rick Martucci, Brad Gerard, Jason Crowe, and Kevin Boyle. As a junior, Bratten's season was highlighted by hitting a buzzer-beating shot to defeat LEL rival Euclid. He also came up big in a program-defining regular season win over St Ignatius. Bratten was the best all-around player on one of the highest scoring teams ever at Mentor. The talented 6'3 guard was also the starting QB on the football team. Bratten finished with 17 points and 9 rebounds in a highly competitive 83-82 overtime win against Glenville in the district final. He averaged 17 ppg as a senior and earned First Team All-District honors. 

Coach K says "One of the best athletes ever in the program. His class set the tempo and started the great run for us in tournament play. Defensively and offensively, his athleticism was off the charts. We played a brutal schedule and still went 17-3 as a senior."

 

Conner Krizancic

The younger son of Coach K was known more for his football accomplishments, but Conner was a four-year letter-winner in basketball and a central part of the 2013 state championship team. After coming off the bench as a sophomore on the 2011 district champs, Krizancic earned a starting role as a junior. Conner proved to be one of the team's top shooters and defenders. He averaged 13 ppg on the state championship team, but increased his scoring when it mattered most. In the regional final win against Shaker Heights, Krizancic led the team in scoring with 17 points. Conner played nearly every second of the two state tournament games and scored a total of 33 points, which was second only to Jeff Foreman. His four triples in the state final helped give Mentor a 76-67 win as well as the school's only basketball state championship. With half of the championship core gone, Krizancic took on more of the scoring his senior year in averaging 16.1 ppg and earning Second Team All-District honors. He finished just short (979 career points) of joining his big brother in the 1,000-point club. When push came to shove, Krizancic had the talent, leadership, and toughness to help both the football and basketball programs reach incredible heights. He is quite possibly the most accomplished multi-sport athlete in Mentor history. 

Coach K says, "He was solid on both ends of the floor. Conner was so tough to guard due to his size and strength. Extremely flexible on both ends of the floor. He was so consistent. One of the smartest athletes I have ever coached." 

Caleb Potter

The oldest member of the most athletic family in Mentor history, Caleb was a standout in baseball (West Virginia commit) and basketball. As part of a talented class of basketball players and athletes that included Brandon Fritts, Conner Krizancic, and Kade McClure (all earning DI college scholarships) - Caleb was as versatile and talented as any. As a sophomore, he was a key bench player on the 2012 district champs. Potter demonstrated his potential with 14 points in a regional semifinal loss to WGH. He moved into the starting lineup as a junior and averaged a team-high 15 ppg for the state championship team. Potter showed his grit most in a roller coaster 24-hour period in between the state semifinal and final. After a frustrating scoreless semifinal that saw him on the bench most of the second half, Potter bounced back and had the hot hand in the championship game. He led the team in scoring with 24 points as the program won their first state title. As a senior, Potter opened the season with a couple of 30-point games. He missed a handful of games due to an injury or he would've been another member of the 1,000-point club. Even still, Potter's senior season saw him average a team-high 19.4 ppg in leading Mentor to their seventh straight district final. 

Coach K says "A really good athlete, one of the best shooters we had. Had a great state championship game. Became very good defensively too. Baseball was number one, but he had a really great basketball career."  

Micah Potter

In terms of pure ability and potential, there has not been a bigger talent (both figuratively and literally) than the 6'10 Potter. Micah is the biggest Potter brother, sandwiched in between Caleb (all-time Mentor great basketball player and West Virginia baseball recruit) and Noah (Mentor's All-Ohio defensive end currently playing football for OSU). Potter committed to the Buckeyes for basketball shortly after his junior season at Mentor. A couple months later, Micah would leave Mentor and Ohio as he transferred to a prep school in Florida for his senior season. Without having the full potential of his entire career at Mentor, it is hard to rank him against players that did. But still, Potter's final season in Mentor was one of the more dominant single seasons in program history. As a sophomore, Potter played alongside Caleb and a few other core members of the state championship team. During the second half of the season, Micah put together a string of double-double performances that showed his potential as Mentor advanced to the district final. During his junior season, Potter was the focal point of the offense. He used his size and skills to dominate the opposition. He scored a career-high 37 points in a regular season win against Strongsville. He averaged 20 and 9 as a junior, earning Third Team All-Ohio honors. Potter's final game for Mentor was a triple double that included ten blocks. Had Potter stayed for his senior season, he would have finished higher on this list. After an impressive end to his college career at Wisconsin, Potter is playing in the G-League in hopes of making an NBA roster. 

Coach K says, "Micah had a great work ethic. He slimmed down a bit in between his sophomore and junior year. You can look at him now and see that he has made himself into being one of the most skilled big men in college." 

Chad Rogers 

A Penn State recruit for baseball, the strong and agile Rogers (6'5, 230) put together two of the most impressive offensive seasons in recent memory. He finished just short of 1,000 points in his career despite missing his sophomore season due to Tommy John surgery. Rogers was one of the best post players that Krizancic has coached at Mentor. His ability to score inside and outside helped make Mentor one of the best offensive teams in the state during his junior and senior seasons. Rogers was 2nd team All-District as a junior while averaging 16 and 8 in helping Mentor win a district title in 2019. As a senior, he was part of the most talented Mentor trio (along with Luke Floriea and Luke Chicone) since the 2010 run. Rogers led the team in scoring as a senior with 21.5 ppg to go along with averaging 8.5 rebounds. A consistent scorer, Rogers showed off his ability to take over a game with 39 points against Elyria that included a 17-point outburst in the 2nd quarter. He scored 21 points in the 2020 district final win while going up against a national top 100 player in John Hugley, a 6'10 Pitt recruit, from Brush. This came a year after Rogers scored 18 points in the district final win the season before against Hugley and Brush. Mentor won 43 games in the two seasons with Rogers in the lineup. 

Coach K says, "He came out his junior year and shocked everyone after being injured as a sophomore. He developed into a really great player, just 16 points short of 1,000 points. He had two of the best years, especially coming off Tommy John surgery. One of the best shooting bigs. I loved coaching Chad." 

Honorable Mention

Rick Martucci and Brad Gerard: Martucci and Gerard were key parts of a talented senior class that helped take the program to the next level. Martucci was one of the leading scorers (15 ppg) and rebounders on Mentor's district title team in 2000-01. The team finished with a 21-4 record with Gerard playing point guard and averaging a team-high 19 ppg. Both players were all-district selections as seniors. Martucci led the team with 23 points in the huge district final win over Glenville. This senior class began a stretch of three straight district titles, and 10 district titles over 13 seasons. 

Nick Meyer: The 2nd leading scorer (behind Zienkowski) and an All-District guard on Mentor's back-to-back district championship teams in 2002 and 2003. Meyer's biggest game of his career came in a district semifinal game against Collinwood in which Zienkowski played sparingly and eventually fouled out. Meyer put the team on his back and helped guide the Cardinals to a 62-61 win. Meyer scored 24 points, including the go-ahead free throw with 5 seconds left in the game. 

Brandon Fritts: While football was his best sport, don't sell Fritts short on the hardwood. A three-year varsity player, Fritts was a key rotation player as a sophomore on the 2012 district champs led by older brother Justin. He was one of the team's best rebounders and a key part of the full-court defensive pressure that made Mentor so dangerous. Fritts missed the first month of his junior season due to a football injury, but still averaged 12 and 8 as a starter on the 2013 state championship team. Fritts, the most accomplished receiver in Mentor football history, didn't play basketball his senior year due to graduating early to enroll for spring ball at UNC. Had he stayed and played, Fritts' basketball career would've been even more special.

Brody Nelson, Michael Gallagher, Kade McClure: These were three key members of the 2013 state championship team. Nelson, part of the starting five, was the team's defensive stopper and a double-digit scorer. His 17 points against previously undefeated Columbus Northland in the state semifinal was instrumental in the championship run. Gallagher was an infectious energy player that came off the bench to provide defense and timely shooting. McClure, a mismatch as a 6'7 athlete with the skills of a guard, is now pitching for the White Sox organization. McClure provided incredible depth off the bench as a junior before averaging 14.5 ppg as a senior starter in the 2013-14 season.

Jack Korsok: After showing some scoring potential as a junior, Korsok stepped it up and put together an incredible senior season. He averaged 21.3 points and 5.7 rebounds a game and was named to Third Team All-Ohio. His regular season was highlighted by a record-setting 10 three-pointers in a 44-point game against Euclid and then later a memorable showdown with NEO legend Michael Bothwell. Bothwell, a DI recruit at Furman, was a three-time All-Ohio guard at Cornerstone Christian Academy (2016 DIV state champs). Korsok matched him shot for shot in scoring a team-high 35 points to help give Mentor a dramatic 92-90 victory to close the regular season. His 37 points in the district semifinal against Glenville and then 18 points in an 84-61 win over Solon in the district final helped give Mentor their first district title in four years.

Jonah Waag and Steven Key: These two guards transferred into Mentor for their senior seasons in 2020-21. They worked alongside Luke Chicone to form one of the most talented trios in the state. Waag and Key were instrumental parts of Mentor's record-setting 19-0 perfect regular season and Final Four appearance. The Cards finished #1 in the final AP poll, a first in program history. Waag was Second Team All-District and Key was Third Team. While they didn't have the lengthy career impact that the others did, they will forever be integral parts of the special 2021 run. 

**Thanks to media outlets such as the News-Herald, Cleveland.com, and the OHSAA for providing the additional research I needed to complete the details/stats of each caption. 

Opponent Preview: Elyria (Week 10)

Week 10

Who: Elyria Pioneers

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Jerome T. Osborne Stadium

When: October 30th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Devlin Culliver (2nd season at Elyria, )

History: Mentor and Elyria were in the LEL together in the late 90's and early 2000's. After a 13 year absence of playing, the two met up as GCC members in 2015. Elyria beat Mentor at home (27-24) that season. The Cards won the past four games against the Pioneers, averaging almost 60 points per game. 

Looking Back...
Nearly five years removed from one of the biggest wins in program history, Elyria has been on a down spiral ever since. After making the playoffs in three consecutive seasons from 2013-2015, Elyria has fallen on hard times. The Pioneers are just 5-36 since that Week 10 win over Mentor in 2015. Last season's game at the beautiful new Ely Stadium was over by the end of the 1st quarter. Mentor jumped out a 35-0 lead after 12 minutes before eventually winning 73-0. It was legendary coach Steve Trivisonno's 200th career win. Elyria ended a 15-game losing streak with last season's win was against Bedford, but it was their only win of the season. They surrendered 55+ points in five consecutive games during the middle of a eight-game losing streak. The last thing Elyria wants to do is look back at 2019. 

Schedule...
The Pioneers begin the season with Midview (5-5 in 2019), Bedford (5-5), and Lorain (6-4). This is the identical non-conference schedule they had last season. Last season Elyria beat Bedford, 7-6. With Shaker leaving the GCC for the LEL, Elyria filled that open date with Avon Lake. The Shoremen were one of the better teams in DII last season, making it to the regional final. The GCC is as good of a league as there is in Division I, so expect Elyria to have their hands full once again. Last season's closest GCC game was a 20 point loss to the now-departed Shaker Heights. The Pioneers have finished at the bottom of the league the past four seasons. The most likely opportunity for a win will be in the first two games of the season. 

2020 Elyria Outlook...
Elyria averaged just 9 points per game in the first half of the schedule before averaging 26.2 points over the final five. This included a 50-point explosion in a Week 7 loss to Shaker. Did the offense find something late season that could translate to 2020? The good news is that a lot of experienced players on offense do return. QB Daylan Sharlow, now a senior, began getting some starts as a sophomore in 2018. Receivers Jesse Stevens and Andrew Palos return. Jaheim Atkinson is a talented back that had several 100+ yard rushing games a season ago. Like Sharlow and Stephens, he will be entering his third season as a starter. Up front, four offensive lineman return after starting in 2019. Simon France (6'3, 265) is a big left tackle that is getting some college looks. Offensively, Elyria should see a lot of improvement. Atkinson is the player to watch out for, but overall this should be a group capable of scoring a lot more than they did last season. 

Defensively, the team has a lot of room for improvement after giving up an average of 45.3 ppg in 2019. Their top defensive player (1st team All-District LB Ben Doehr) has graduated. This team might be able to score, but they will need to improve a lot on defense if they are to be competitive with this schedule. Culliver is only in his second year as coach of Elyria after a few stints at area schools like Shaw, Harvey, and Maple Heights. This will be the last year that Elyria is in the GCC as they are moving to the Southwestern Conference in the fall of 2021. 

Opponent Preview: Euclid (Week 9)

Week 9

Who: Euclid Panthers

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Euclid Community Stadium

When: October 23rd at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Jeff Rotsky (6th season at Euclid, 44-16 record)

History: Mentor and Euclid have been on each other's schedules for many years whether it was in conference or out of conference. The Cardinals have a 26-17 record in the overall series. Since the two joined the GCC together in 2015, Mentor has won four of five. 

Looking Back...
The Panthers finished 8-2 in the regular season, including three wins over eventual playoff teams (Glenville, Canton McKinley, and Medina). Mentor shutout Euclid in Week 9 last season, 45-0. After a home playoff win in Week 11 against Jackson, Euclid lost to St Edward in the regional semifinal. Rotsky has brought the program back into relevance with five playoff wins since 2015. The continued thorn in their side would be St Ignatius and St Edward. The Panthers are 0-7 against those two since 2015, including losing all five playoff games. Key graduated starters from last season include QB Dion Valentine, lineman John Brown, and 1st team All-District RB Jaabir Mujihad. 

Schedule...
Euclid has a schedule with few holes as only one opponent had a losing record in 2019. Seven teams on their schedule made the playoffs last season. The non-conference portion is highlighted by state juggernaut St Edward, the team that knocked Euclid out of the playoffs four of the past five seasons. Playoff teams Cleveland Heights, Glenville, and Benedictine make up the rest of the non-conference schedule. The league will be crowded at the top with four returning playoff teams that bring back many key players. Solon, Medina, and Mentor will all be huge games for Euclid. Since the formation of the GCC in 2015, Euclid has beaten either Mentor or Solon in all but one year. Winning at least one of those games puts the Panthers in great playoff positioning as well as giving themselves a chance to win at least a share of the league title. Euclid is 19-1 against the rest of the league (Strongsville, Medina, Elyria, and Brunswick) over the past five seasons. From top to bottom, this is one of the most difficult schedules in Ohio. 

2020 Euclid Outlook...
On offense, Euclid brings back plenty of punch. Nobody in the league will have the kind of talent they do at the skill positions. Primarily a running team, Euclid's backs rushed for well over 2,000 yards a season ago. While the now-graduated Mujihad was the lead back, Atiba Fitz (Air Force commit) and Savion Jones combined for over 1,000 rushing yards in 2019. Fitz/Jones will likely be sharing carries as Euclid looks to control the clock. The Panthers will have one of the top receiving duos in the state. Senior receiver Armond Scott (6'3, 200) is ranked as high as the #16 prospect in the state. He committed to Kentucky this summer after a season in which he posted 40 catches for over 700 yards and 15 TD's. Junior Claishon Ivory made a big impact last season as he earned 2nd Team All-District honors with 37 catches for 684 yards and 9 TD's. Ivory has also been offered by Kentucky. Lineman Herman Taylor (6'4, 280) returns after earning 2nd Team All-District last season as well. One glaring hole for the Panthers will be at QB as they look to replace two-year starter Dion Valentine. His replacement does have the luxury of a variety of talented weapons. 

Defensively, the Panthers gave up 45 and 47 points in losses to Mentor and St Edward. That side of the ball will have to improve if they want to make some noise in the region. Alex Reese (6'4, 280) is a big returning defensive lineman that should be a major impact player for the Panthers. Reese committed to Akron this summer. LB Andre Tillman is a three-year starter and will be one of the defensive leaders. Fitz/Jones started on defense last year in addition to their offensive production. Senior DB Cam Smith (Eastern Michigan commit) is a top returning talent in the secondary. Senior safety Michael Gravely Jr. (Michigan State commit) transferred from Glenville recently and is sure to make a big impact for the Panthers on defense. 

Before Rotsky came, Euclid hadn't won a playoff game since 1993. Since his arrival, he has guided the Panthers to five playoff wins as they have made the postseason every year. Euclid has done very well in the league and there is no reason for that to change in 2020. If they can overcome a grueling schedule with at least 6 or 7 wins, this will be a battle-tested team come playoff time. Expect a 6th straight playoff appearance as Euclid looks to compete for the top of the league and Region 1. 

Next Preview: Elyria (Week 10)

Opponent Preview: Brunswick (Week 7)

Week 7

Who: Brunswick Blue Devils (6-4 in 2019)

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Brunswick Auto Mart Stadium

When: October 9th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Mark Pinzone (4th season at Brunswick, 12-18 record)

History: Mentor has won ten in a row (including a playoff win in 2014) over Brunswick since the two joined the same league in 2010. One of the biggest games in the history of both programs was a state semifinal matchup in 2007. Mentor defeated Brunswick, 39-14, and went on to their second straight DI state championship game. 

Looking Back...

From 1995-2009, Brunswick had 12 playoff appearances under legendary coach Rich Nowak that included multiple league championships and two regional titles. The last decade was a step back with only two playoff appearances (and zero playoff wins) in the past ten seasons. However, Pinzone helped guide the Blue Devils to a surprisingly winning season in 2019. After starting the season 3-0 in non-conference, the Blue Devils went 3-4 in GCC play. Their two best wins of the season were against Lorain and Strongsville. The Blue Devils showed a competitive punch even in losses to playoff teams like Solon (33-29) and Medina. With a playoff berth on the line, Brunswick came up short 45-35 against Medina in Week 10. Lineman Eddie Sevastos and Mike Grzybowski are among the graduated seniors that helped the Blue Devils achieve their 2019 success. In last year's game at Mentor, Brunswick was shutout 45-0. 

Schedule...

In non-conference, Brunswick brings back two of their opponents from 2019 and adds two new opponents. Returning on the schedule are Lorain (6-4 in 2019) and North Royalton (4-6). Brunswick beat both of those teams last season. New to the schedule are Highland (4-6 in 2019) and Olmsted Falls, a 7-3 playoff team a season ago. At a minimum, Brunswick will need at least three non-league wins to put themselves in contention for a winning record again. The top of the league (Mentor, Solon, and Euclid) remains a daunting challenge for the Blue Devils. Since 2013, Brunswick is just 1-19 against the Big Three of the GCC. The games against Strongsville and Elyria are must-win games if they are to continue to build on 2019's winning season. The Week 10 showdown with county rival Medina could end up being another season-defining game.

2020 Brunswick Outlook...

Brunswick had three all-league players a season ago. All three are coming back to lead the 2020 charge. Twins Jake and Kyle Scherette and lineman Tomas Rimac are sure to be three of the better players in the GCC once more. Jake, a QB, is entering his third season running the offense. In his two previous years, Jake has been used as a runner even more than a passer. The Blue Devils like to run the ball, and they also bring back last year's starting RB Nick Vadini. The offensive line returns a few starters, led by Rimac. The 6'6, 280-pound senior chose West Virginia over several other college offers. With talent and experience running behind a line keyed by Rimac, the running game should be one of the strengths for the Blue Devils. 

Defensively, the Blue Devils are led by some two-way players like DE Tomas Rimac and LB Kyle Scherette. Rimac is being recruited for his offensive game, but he is a difference-maker on defense too. Scherette was 1st team All-District on defense in 2019. He is joined in the middle by returning starting LB's Kyle Haber and Quintyn McKinely. Expect linebacker to be a position of strength. Brunswick has a strong and deep senior class that should put the team in a lot of competitive and winnable games. If their experience can guide them to a strong start out of the gate, expect the Blue Devils to once again be in the mix to return to the playoffs. Unfortunately for them, the league is incredibly deep and they will need to get a win against one of the top teams in order to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2014. 


Next Preview: Berea (Week 8)

Opponent Preview: Strongsville (Week 6)

Week 6

Who: Strongsville Mustangs (5-5 in 2019)

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Jerome T. Osborne Stadium

When: October 2nd at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Lou Cirino (4th year at Strongsville, 64-41 overall coaching record)

History: These two have played every season since 2006. During that time, Mentor leads the series 13-2. Strongsville won both meetings in 2008 (including a playoff rematch). Mentor beat the Mustangs last season, 56-21. 

Looking Back…

After surrendering a total of 21 points in their previous six league games, Strongsville matched that number in Week 10 against the Cardinals. Still, Mentor did score 8 touchdowns in a comfortable victory. The Mustangs started the season 4-0 before dropping five of their final six games to finish the season at 5-5. They had two big wins in non-conference play against Hudson and Brecksville. Both of those teams made the playoffs in Division II. Back to back one score losses to Brunswick and Euclid in Weeks 5 and 6 proved to be the difference between making the playoffs or not in a very deep Region 1 field. Under Cirino, the Mustangs haven't had a losing season. All-District graduates include RB Garret Clark, DE Andrew Keating, and DT Ryan Seefeldt. 

Schedule…

The Mustangs' nonleague schedule kept all three opponents they had last season (Berea-Midpark, Hudson, and Brecksville). To fill for the departed Shaker Heights, they added Midview. Strongsville went 3-0 in non-conference games last season. Berea-Midpark (4-6 in 2019) is a team Strongsville has beaten the past few seasons. Hudson and Brecksville are coming off playoff seasons, so those games should present a challenge. After a strong run of making the playoffs five times in six seasons from 2012-2017, the Middies (5-5 in 2019) have failed to make the postseason since. This is a manageable non-conference schedule for the Mustangs that includes three DII teams. If they want to contend for a playoff spot, it is critical to win all of those games. In the league, Strongsville has been about a .500 team in GCC play (10-11 record) since Cirino took over. Most of those losses came at the hands of Mentor, Euclid, and Solon. Since 2009, the Mustangs are 0-30 against the Big Three of the GCC. Until Strongsville can find a way to win at least one of those games, there is incredibly small margin for error to make the playoffs. The games that will make or break their season are their longtime conference foes, Medina and Brunswick. 

2020 Strongsville Outlook…

If you see Strongsville this season, the first player that will stand out will be junior OL Blake Miller (6'6, 300). The tackle has offers from Ohio State, Clemson, Michigan, Florida, and many others. Despite bringing back one of their most coveted recruits in years, the Mustangs graduated most of their starters on offense. Senior Ryan Kahn will be given the opportunity to be the starting back after gaining some experience last year behind 1st team All-District RB Garret Clark. QB Maddux Beard got some starts last season as a sophomore, so expect his growth to be an important part of the team's success. Beard is a dual threat QB that showed a lot of ability to run the football last season. 

Defensively, the secondary looks to be a strength with a few returning starters that include corners Shane Slokar and Kyle Patrick. Kahn played safety last season, so it is possible to see him play on both sides of the ball. LB Jack Stephenson and DT Garrett Manney return on defense after strong 2019 seasons. Miller played some defensive line in the past, but it remains to be seen if he will be utilized on defense this season. Look for this team's success to be built on defense and the running game. If they can get out of the gate with a few wins like they did in 2019, that will go a long way as they hope to keep moving forward toward building a consistently winning program. 

Next: Brunswick (Week 7)

Opponent Preview: Medina (Week 5)

Week 5

Who: Medina Bees (7-4 in 2019)

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Ken Dukes Stadium (Medina)

When: September 25th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Larry Laird (5th season at Medina, 25-18 record)

History: Mentor has played Medina seven times in league play since 2011, winning all seven. Last season, the Cardinals had one of their most dominant performances of 2019 with a 63-7 home victory over the Bees.

Looking Back...

Medina had a strong bounce-back year in 2019 as they finished 7-3 in the regular season and returned to the playoffs. With five playoff teams on their schedule, Medina had big wins against Cleveland Heights and Wadsworth. They also beat county rival Brunswick, which gave the Bees three wins over teams with winning records. This propelled them back into the playoffs after a three-year absence. Switching over to sophomore QB Drew Allar in Week 7 seemed to light a spark in the offense. The Bees had a tough draw with St Edward in Week 11, but the offense scored 38 points on one of the best defenses in Ohio. Their season ended in Week 11 with a 73-38 loss. Departed seniors include District Defensive POY Noah Nunn, WR Jake Nanonsky, lineman AJ Coltz, DB Kaedin Andrasik, and LB Seth DiCola. 

Schedule...

The non-conference schedule includes a couple of 2019 DII playoff teams (Warren Harding and Wadsworth) that should provide strong tests and an opportunity for big computer points. The Bees beat Wadsworth last season after losing two straight to their county neighbors. Warren Harding is a new addition to the schedule in the aftermath of Shaker Heights leaving the GCC. Highland (4-6 in 2019) has struggled to meet the heights they reached before their former coach (Tom Lombardo) left for St Edward in 2015. GlenOak, a team Mentor beat in the 2014 and 2015 playoffs, is a new addition to Medina's schedule. The Eagles (1-9 in 2019) made the playoffs eight out of ten seasons from 2007-2016, but they have struggled in the Federal League the past few seasons. Overall, this is a very manageable non-conference schedule that could see Medina be the favorite in all four games. Medina has struggled against the top three teams of the GCC (Mentor, Euclid, and Solon) with a 3-12 record against that group since 2015. Those three accounted for all of Medina's regular season losses in 2019. If Medina wants to be assured of the playoffs and avoid playing on the road in Week 11, they need to win at least one of those. Games against longtime conference foes Brunswick and Strongsville feel like must-win games. Medina is 5-0 against Elyria since the two joined the GCC in 2015. Medina's schedule shapes up as one that is challenging, but also one that could see at least 7 wins for the second straight season.

2020 Medina Outlook...

Offensively, Medina brings back junior QB Drew Allar. He is quickly becoming one of the most coveted Ohio recruits in his class. Allar went from backup to starter late in the season as he replaced Ryan Gillepsie, who also returns for the Bees. Allar (6'5, 210) has offers from Pitt, Akron, Central Michigan, and Toledo. Senior receiver Luke Hensley is a three-year starter who was 1st team All-District in 2019. The Allar/Hensley connection is one of the best in the area. Look for another big year from Hensley. WR/RB Matt Spatny is another talented offensive player for the Bees. Over the past couple of seasons, Coach Laird has utilized a lot of empty backfield looks with 5 wideouts. This pass-frenzy offense scored five touchdowns against St Edward in last year's playoff game. Up front, the Bees bring back a few starters on the offensive line including Otto Weight (6'4, 290), and Kyle Shultz (6'4, 280). With Allar getting the reigns from the start, expect this offense to be as good as any on Mentor's schedule. 

Defensively, they have several starters to replace including the Northeast Inland District Defensive Player of the Year, Noah Nunn. LB Nathan Spatny and DB Jajuan Jackson are a couple of talented returning starters that should lead the defense.  The defensive line is young and huge with defensive ends Ryan Farrell (6'3, 240) and Mason Pogue (6'5, 240) leading the way. Keeping opponents off the scoreboard was a concern last season. In their four losses (including the playoff loss to St Edward), the Bees gave up an average of 52.5 points per game. This group will need significant improvement on the defensive side of the ball in order to compete with the best teams on their schedule. On special teams, all-district kicker Ryan Miller is back. 

Coach Larry Laird has two playoff wins in his career with Medina. Those are the only two playoff wins in the history of the program. This is a strong and deep junior class. Over the next couple of seasons, don't be surprised to see the Bees add to that number as they look to challenge Mentor, Euclid, and Solon for league supremacy. 

Next Preview: Strongsville (Week 6)

Pre-Season All GCC Team

Offense

QB Ian Kipp, Mentor - This 2019 DI Co-Offensive POY (4,000 total yards and 42 TD's) has five career playoff wins and a 5-1 overall record against St Ignatius/St Edward

RB Khalil Eichelberger, Solon - The talented senior has been the workhorse for the Comets the past two seasons with close to 2,000 rushing yards and 23 TD's

RB Jaheim Atkinson, Elyria - His junior season saw a number of 100+ yard games, including a season-high of 187 yards against Shaker

WR Luke Hensley, Medina - A three-year starter, Hensley was 1st team All-District in 2019 and will be the top target in a high powered Medina passing offense

WR Claishon Ivory, Euclid - Became an impact player (37 catches for 684 yards and 9 TD's) as a sophomore last season and earned 2nd team All-District

WR Armond Scott, Euclid - At 6'3 and 200-pounds, Scott is a big and talented receiver (40 catches, 700 yards, 15 TD's) that chose Kentucky over a number of other college offers

OL Blake Miller Strongsville - The 6'6, 300-pound junior has the attention of every top program with offers that include Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan, and Clemson.

OL Hunter Colao, Mentor - A three-year starter, Colao (6'0, 260) earned 1st Team All-District honors in blocking for an offense that rushed for nearly 4,000 yards

OL Tomas Rimac, Brunswick - The 6'6, 280-pound senior recently committed to West Virginia over a dozen other offers to play at the next level, including multiple Big Ten teams

OL Herman Taylor, Euclid - After earning 2nd team All-District honors last season, Taylor (6'4, 285) is sure to get some college looks

OL Harkamal Sohi, Solon - This big senior tackle (6'6, 295) has college offers from FCS schools like Youngstown State and Indiana State

Defense

DE Najee Story, Solon - One of the most sought after defensive recruits in the Midwest defense, the three-year starter (6'4, 235) has committed to Northwestern

DL Alex Reese, Euclid - A standout two-way lineman (and Akron commit) that has the size (6'4, 280) and talent to make a big impact on both sides of the ball

DT Preston Cardina, Mentor - Now a senior, the experienced Cardina (6'1, 285) will be a key part of Mentor's big and talented defensive front

DE Brenan Vernon, Mentor - Started as a freshman last season, Vernon (6'5, 245) has compiled an impressive offer sheet including Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Michigan State

LB Evan Boyd, Mentor - In 2019, Boyd forced/recovered key turnovers that were instrumental in wins over St Ignatius, Clarkson, and Solon

LB Kyle Scherette, Brunswick - The senior was one of the leading tacklers for the Blue Devils last season as he earned 2nd Team All-Ohio

LB Markell Green, Solon - Starting as a sophomore, Green was one of Solon's top defensive players as he collected 74 tackles and 3 interceptions in 2019

DB Cameron Smith, Euclid - The 6'2, 180-pound Eastern Michigan commit was 2nd Team All-Ohio in a season that was highlighted by his game-winning play against Canton McKinley

DB Noah Gladish, Mentor - Displayed big-play potential (including two pick-sixes in a playoff game) as a sophomore in 2018, Gladish missed the entire 2019 season due to ACL injury

DB Jajuan Jackson, Medina - Was named Honorable Mention on the All-District team after having a big impact in the secondary and on special teams as a sophomore in 2019.

DB Atiba Fitz, Euclid - Dangerous on offense, defense, and special teams - Fitz is a three-year starter and an Air Force commit

Opponent Preview: St Edward (Week 3)

This is the third of my previews for Mentor's 2020 opponents. See the Week 2 opponent preview on St Ignatius here

Week 3

Who: St Edward Eagles

What: Non-conference

Where: Jerome T Osborne Sr Stadium

When: September 11th at 7:00pm 

Opposing Coach: Tom Lombardo (6th season at St Edward, 55-11 record, 144-49 overall coaching record with three state titles)

History: Mentor and St Edward split a regular season series in 2009 and 2010. With a series renewal in 2017, Mentor has won the past two regular season games. The two have split eight playoff meetings since 2003. The winner of that respective playoff game went on to win the region all eight times and advance to the state final in six of those those eight years. The Cardinals and Eagles have played 12 times (regular season and playoffs) since 2003, with Mentor having a 7-5 advantage.

Looking Back...

The Eagles finished with an 11-2 record (9-1 regular season) in 2019. Their only losses were handed to them in late game heroics by the Cardinals. The season opened with a 29-28 loss to Mentor. But the Eagles won their next 11 games and proved to be as talented as any team in the state last year. After convincing playoff wins over Medina and Euclid, a 36-35 (OT) regional final loss at the hands of Mentor ended Lombardo's hope for a 4th state title as a head coach. The Eagles' regular season was highlighted with wins over Cincinnati Elder (the eventual state runners-up) and rival St Ignatius. Mentor was the thorn in what was otherwise a very successful season. The regional final saw Mentor come back from a 21-7 halftime deficit to eventually tie the game, force overtime, and win on a two point conversion. RB Joey Formani (Bowling Green), WR Montorie Foster (Michigan State), OL Brian Kilbane (Bowling Green), OL Ronan Chambers (Akron), DE Jeff Pietrowski (Michigan State), DB's Logan/Lawson Nash (Penn), and DE Alex Colangelo (Robert Morris) are graduated seniors that will earned scholarships to play DI football. QB Connor O'Malley and WR Mackenzie Wainwright (chose baseball over football offers) are also talented graduates from a loaded 2019 offense. Last year's Eagles were as good of a team that Mentor has ever beaten.

Schedule...

The schedule is once again filled with some of the very best programs in Ohio (St Ignatius, Hoban, Elder, and Moeller) along with a mix of out of state teams. Those four Ohio programs have combined for 24 state championships. Moeller (2-8 in 2019) did struggle last season, but they shouldn't be down long. The Eagles have to make two trips to Cincinnati, always a difficult challenge. Elder, the runners-up in Division I last season to Pickerington Central, is back on the Eagles' schedule. Euclid is one of the best teams in NEO and they will be looking to avenge their Week 12 loss to the Eagles. Benedictine returns to the schedule. HD Woodson (D.C.), Canada's Football North, and Landover Royalty Institute (MD) round out the 2020 schedule. This schedule is filled with a healthy mix of very tough games as well as some very winnable games. The schedule will prepare the Eagles a November run, but it isn't too daunting as to be a road block for making the playoffs. 

2020 St Edward Outlook...

Over the last ten years, the Eagles have been the dominant big school program in Ohio. Their four state championships (2010, 2014, 2015, 2018) were tops in Division I. If not for Mentor knocking off incredibly talented Eagles' squads (2012, 2013, 2017, and 2019), they might have had five or six state championships last decade. As for 2020, look for St Eds to reload and become one of the top teams in the state. Offensively, the Eagles have to replace nearly every key position. Junior Christian Ramos is the favorite to replace O'Malley at QB. Replacing 1st Team All-Ohio back Joey Formani will be senior Malachi Watkins, who got some varsity carries last season. Watkins rushed for over 200 yards last season as the backup. At receiver, the player that returns with the most varsity experience is Joel Castleberry, who had 7 catches for 90 yards and two TD's as a sophomore last season. Lineman Chris Moran and Thomas Aden are returning starters on the offensive line. A lot of the pressure on offense will be put on the arm and legs of the highly touted Ramos. If the first year QB can establish himself as a consistent dual threat weapon, that will go a long way toward the Eagles' offensive success. 

While the Eagles are a little green (no pun intended) in some key spots on offense, they should be sharp as always on defense. Senior LB CJ Hankins is the leader of the defense as a three-year starter that played a key role on a state championship defense in 2018. Hankins is an athletic inside linebacker with offers to play at Akron and Kent. Junior DE Trey Bixby (6'5, 245) was one of the leading tacklers on the team as he was a part of a big and talented defensive front that included All-Ohio end Pietrowski. Bixby is one of the top Ohio recruits in the 2022 class with offers that include Michigan State, Minnesota, and Cincinnati. Cade Castro (6'2, 250) had 34 tackles a season ago as a rotational interior lineman. Senior corner Jaylen Castelberry is the lone returning starter from a very talented 2019 secondary. Led by a super duo of Hankins/Bixby, expect the Eagles to be one of the top defensive teams in the state. 

Region 1 has gone through the Eagles for most of the past decade. Expect 2020 to be no different. A lot of talented players at key positions have graduated, but St Edward has plenty of talent and depth to reload. This will be a state championship caliber defense that will be big and talented up front. If the offense can successfully plug in some youth/inexperience, this is the team to watch out for come November.


Next Preview: Solon (Week 4)

Opponent Preview: St Ignatius (Week 2)

This is the second of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2021 season.  See the Week 1 preview here.

Week 2

Who: St Ignatius Wildcats

What: Non-league game

Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When: August 27th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Chuck Kyle (39th season, 360-99-1 overall record, 11 state titles)

History: Mentor and St Ignatius paused their 15 year consecutive run due to complications with scheduling in a COVID season in 2020. Mentor has an 8-7 edge in the regular season series that started up in 2005. The Cardinals have won four of the last five playoff matchups with the Wildcats that included memorable wins in 2003, 2012, 2013, and 2017. This has shaped up to be one of the most entertaining rivalries over the past 20 years. 

Looking Back...
During an unprecedented 2020 campaign, St Ignatius had a later start to the season than most teams. With just three regular season games against OHSAA opponents, St Ignatius scheduled three of the very best (St Edward, DII state runner-up Massillon, and DI state champion St Xavier). The Wildcats went 0-3 in those games, but still made a strong impression in the playoffs. St Ignatius knocked off Mentor's GCC rivals (Solon and Euclid) in consecutive playoff wins. Facing a third GCC team (Medina), the Wildcats' season ended with a 33-26 regional semifinal loss. Among the 2020 graduate standouts are First Team All-District players like DE Bennet Adler (Akron), LB Aidan Hubbard (Northwestern), and OL Gus Salopek. Safety Emmett Hanna (Boston College) and LB Aidan Conway were also key starters on defense that have graduated. 

Schedule...
St Ignatius routinely has one of the most grueling schedules in Ohio, and this season is no exception. Home games against two Ohio state champions (St Xavier and Hoban) from 2020 highlight the biggest challenges on the schedule. St Edward, Moeller, Springfield, Euclid, and Mentor round out the daunting part of the Wildcats schedule that includes some of the best teams from the state. St Edward, a program with four state titles since 2010, is once again on the short list of being a state championship contender. Springfield has won Region 2 and advanced to the state semifinals each of the past two seasons. Maryland powerhouse Mount St Joseph (2019 state champs), River Rouge (Michigan), and Canada's Football North are also on the schedule. River Rouge was a runner-up in DIII in Michigan last season after winning a state title in 2019. Football North, also an opponent on Mentor's schedule, has some of the best football players in all of Canada. Needless to say, Chuck Kyle's squad will be battle tested once they enter the playoffs. 

2021 St Ignatius Outlook...
Offensively, there are key returnees that should give the Wildcat faithful some optimism. During the tenure of legendary coach Chuck Kyle, the QB position has been a position of strength in building the dynasty. Senior QB Joe Pfaff is coming off a shortened season that saw him experiencing success as a starter. Pfaff (6'5, 190) is a big and talented QB that has college football in his future. Senior WR Steven Bodamer is one of the returning targets for Pfaff. Another returning starter that finished with a strong 2020 is RB Marty Lenehan. He earned Second Team All-District as he became a workhorse for the St Ignatius offense. Lenehan proved his value in a couple of big playoff wins against Solon (19 carries for 171 yards and 3 TD's) and Euclid (233 total yards and 2 TD's). Being able to return players at those the key positions of quarterback and running back should be a great boost for the offense. Up front, the line is led by returning starter Ashton Montgomery (6'3, 300). Behind Pfaff and Lenehan, look for a balanced offense to be the strength of the team to start the season. 

On defense, St Ignatius was especially senior-heavy last season. Most of their key defensive stars have now graduated, but the Wildcats often reload well on that side of the ball. Safeties Griffin Taliak and Braeden Lair are returning impact players in the Wildcats five-man secondary. Expect the safety position to be a position of strength. Up front, nose tackle Tommy Wasinski returns to bring some size and stability to the defensive line after the graduation of Adler. The defense lacks experience, but will likely be one of the better defenses Mentor will see all season. 

As usual, expect this to be one of the toughest games on Mentor's schedule. St Ignatius is not entering the season as the Region 1 favorite, but they are still one of the most accomplished high school programs in the country. 

Next Preview: St Edward (Week 3)

CSU Regional Basketball Preview

Cleveland State Regional Preview

Wednesday, March 11 at the Wolstein Center

6:15 - Canton McKinley (21-4) vs Shaker Heights (20-5)

8:00 - Medina (20-5) vs Mentor (19-6)

Canton McKinley (10-2 in Federal League, 18-4 in regular season, 21-4 overall)

The Pups have by far the longest and best basketball tradition of the four teams. They are in the Ohio big school Sweet 16 for the 49th time, about twice as much as the other programs combined. This is McKinley's first district title since 2016. In order to get there, they had to defeat their rival Massillon (55-51) in the sectional final. That was followed by the knocking off the #7 ranked team in the final AP poll, Boardman. A district final win over Green, the #6 ranked team in the state, capped off an impressive 10 days in Canton. The Pups outed last year's CSU regional runners-up by a score of 55-42. 

McKinley is led by appropriately named Kobe Johnson. The talented 6'3 junior guard, who has a handful of scholarship offers from the MAC and similar mid-majors, scored 20 points in the district final win. Johnson was one of Stark County's leading scorers this season. He has incredible shooting splits for a high school player: 48.8% FG, 36.6% 3FG, and 78.6% FT. 6'6 junior forward Brent Walker is a talented double-double machine that can dominate on both ends of the floor. Besides a great shooter like Johnson, McKinely has scoring guards like seniors Antwan Williams (second behind Johnson on the team in 3FG) and CJ Hall. As a team, McKinley has hit over 200 three-pointers this season.

Coach Andy Vlajkovich is in his 2nd year as McKinely coach after a successful stint for six seasons with WGH, that included a 2016 district title. 

Biggest regular season wins: Green, Lima Senior, GlenOak, Massillon, Wooster, and Hoover (twice)

Regular season losses: Green, GlenOak, St Ignatius, SVSM

Mentor (12-2 in the GCC, 16-6 in regular season, 19-6 overall)

Mentor won their 13th district title at Euclid since 2001. The 2013 state champions are making their third trip to CSU in the last four seasons. During the season, Mentor went 3-1 against Medina/Shaker to capture a share of the GCC title. Their path to the district crown included a comfortable win over Mayfield followed by a shaky game against University School (71-58) in the district semifinals. In the final, Mentor made a late game comeback and gutted out a 71-69 win over a talented Brush team led by a top 100 national player in 6'10 center John Hugley. 

Mentor has a terrific trio in a group of experienced All-District players: junior guard Luke Chicone (committed to YSU for basketball), senior guard Luke Floriea (committed to Kent for football), and senior forward Chad Rogers (committed to Penn State for baseball). They were the top scorers on last year's team that set the program record for regular season wins and winning percentage. Dangerous offensive players, these three are capable of scoring inside and out. They all scored 20+ points in the district final win over Brush. Mentor's role players (Caleb Piks, Kyle Culler, and Andrew Witte) are confident shooters and strong defenders. 

Coach Bob Krizancic has over 600+ wins in his career that are highlighted by his state championships (1995 with Girard and 2013 with Mentor). 

Biggest regular season wins: Medina, Shaker (twice), Solon, and VASJ

Regular season losses: Medina, Lakota East, Lake Catholic, Solon, North Mecklinburg (NC), Concord First Assembly (NC)

Shaker Heights (11-3 in the GCC, 17-5 in regular season, 20-5 overall)

The Red Raiders won their district for the 2nd time in the last three seasons. A season in which they finished in 3rd place in the competitive Greater Cleveland Conference (behind fellow CSU regional semifinalists Mentor/Medina), they got through the Twinsburg district unscathed. After a surprisingly close sectional final with Stow (51-48), Shaker cruised through the district rounds with big wins over Warren Harding (77-39) and Solon (66-48). 

Shaker brought back their top three scorers from a 2019 district finalist team. Senior Dakota Cochran, also a starter on Shaker's 2018 district championship squad, leads the way with 16.5 ppg. Cochran is a gifted and physical athlete that is committed to Central Michigan for a football scholarship. Senior Shamnah Scott is an explosive guard that was second on the team in scoring. Sophomore guard Danny Young Jr. already has DI scholarship offers. He is the son of head coach Danny Young Sr. and is one of the top players in his class in Ohio. Eric Mudd is a 6'7 post that occupies the middle of Shaker's defense. None of the four teams have more all-around size and athleticism than the Raiders. 

Coach Danny Young Sr. was hired in 2009 and has helped reestablish Shaker as a power program in NEO. He has won six district titles since 2012. 

Biggest regular season wins: Lutheran East, Cleveland Heights, Medina, Solon (twice), Walsh Jesuit

Regular season losses: Mentor (twice), Medina, SVSM, and Huron (Michigan)

Medina (12-2 in the GCC, 17-5 in regular season, 20-5 overall)

Medina has established themselves as one of NEO's top teams all season. Splitting their four games with Mentor/Shaker this season, the Bees were co-champions of the league. In the tournament, Medina handled their business well with three easy victories over Highland (81-51), Barberton (63-44), and in the district final against Walsh Jesuit (53-36). The Bees are back in the regional tournament after last winning their district in 2017. 

The Bees are led by Kyle Szumski. The 6'3 senior guard has a smooth all around game and was awarded the GCC Player of the Year in a very crowded field of talented players. There is every reason to believe that Szumski is as good as anyone in this tournament. His teammate, junior Corey Tripp, is a talented 6'3 guard that is getting scholarship offers from the MAC. Playing with Szumski, there might not be a better duo at CSU. Senior guards Spencer Aylward and Doug Sartain were all-league players that provide experience and scoring. Senior Christian Howard-Caffey is an active 6'4 forward capable of a double-double as evidence by his 20 and 9 performance in the district semifinal against Barberton. 

Coach Chris Hassinger shared the Coach of the Year honors in the league with Krizancic. Hassinger has three district titles in his six seasons with the Bees. 

Biggest regular season wins: Mentor, Shaker, GlenOak, Solon (twice)

Regular season losses: Cincinnati Moeller, SPIRE, Mentor, Shaker, Lakewood