BEES IN TWO-A-DAYS
By Dom DiPasqua/Staff Writer
Sunday morning, August 3, 2014
BROADVIEW HEIGHTS – It was 9:20 am yesterday morning. Country music was playing on the stereo that was set up next to the band bleachers. The sun was above the Cuyahoga Valley and a nice cross breeze blew. It was a pleasant morning.
Brecksville-Broadview Heights was going through its paces on the second day of double-sessions here on the rubber pelleted green carpet of Community Stadium. The only outsiders were a handful of motivated early Saturday morning joggers, who circled the asphalt track in varying stages of runners bliss.
Senior Ryan Lambert was peddling as if in the Tour de France on a stationary bike outside the locker room. One fan sat high in the upper right corner of the home stands, shading his eyes with his hand while checking out the drills.
On the field the pace was quick. The “skill position” players were at the north end of the Bee Hive, the linemen at the other. You could hear whistles, shouts of encouragement and the coaching chatter that goes hand-in-hand with the customary early camp focus on attention to detail. This is where technique, footwork and fundamentals of each position are taught with disciplined repetition.
A familiar voice was heard from behind. He was addressing the scribe in Italian. It was Trainer Tom Iannetta. Trainer Tom is in his 24th year as an athletic trainer. He has been up at the high school at 6:30 every morning. It is his job, but it is also a labor of love for Iannnetta, a former college player.
“It never gets old. I really enjoy it. It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun,” Iannetta said from the shade that his modified golf cart.
Bees head coach Jason Black was involved with the linemen. He was hands-on and the atmosphere at Saturday’s first session was one of all business.
The offense lined up against the defense. Yellow blocking pads were used at the line of scrimmage. They will have to suffice until full contact goes live later this week.
Offensive coordinator Tom Tupa was ordering formation packages. Danny Shirilla (a junior) and Luke Strnad (a sophomore) alternated at quarterback. Some plays looked fairly crisp. Others required coaching moments.
Defensive coaches John Shirilla (coordinator) and Mike Czack (linebackers) were fired up. Brecksville made it to the second round of the playoffs last year and a big reason why was that the Bees held opponents to less than ten points a game in the regular season.
A few times Coach Shirilla took his hat off. That’s when you know a correction has to be made. On another occasion Czack called for one player to replace another.
Observing play, three thoughts came to mind: Brecksville has decent size this year as compared to last season. The numbers are good. And there is a good feel to things. They were thoughts worth scribbling on the steno pad.
Best of all, it was good to be back on the field.
BEE HIVE BUZZ:
The Region: Brecksville is once again in Division II, Region 3. The 27-school region encompasses schools with similar male enrollments in the counties of: Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Portage, Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning. In other words the very northeastern part of Ohio.
BBHHS is the fifth largest school in the region with a male enrollment in grades 9-11 of 572. The largest school is Cleveland Rhodes (591). The smallest is Cleveland East Tech (408). The four schools with larger enrollments are; Rhodes, Eastlake North, Willoughby South and Parma.
Painseville Riverside (566) comes in right behind Brecksville. The Bees and the Beavers, who faced each other in the opening round of the playoffs last November, will tangle again in a scrimmage right here on August 22nd.
A New Home: After 24 years of holding the state championship games in Canton (Fawcett Stadium) and in Massillon (Paul Brown Tiger Stadium) the finals return to Ohio Stadium in Columbus this December.
They championship games in all seven divisions will take place; Thursday, Friday and Saturday; December 4, 5 and 6 at the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
In last years Division II state title tilt Loveland took advantage of seven Glenville turnovers to knock off the Tarblooders, 41-23.
Housekeeping: This evening at 6 in the high school auditorium the annual preseason Meet The Bees meeting will take place. It includes all fall sports. At least one parent must accompany their student-athlete.
Name Game: The high school nickname of the day is the: Sheldon (IA) Orabs.
See You At The Bee Hive!
To contact: Ddipa67834@aol.com.
Follow the Lady Bees volleyball team on-line at: beesvolleyball.com.
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