The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 23

The Deacon Journal Friday, November 12, 1093, Pcuje D7 Soccer coach just like a proud papa Zdravko Popovic of the Internationals, club has watched Its youth soccer programs Keep growing through the years Popovic is pleased with growth of International team and its players BY BOB NOLD Beacon Journal stitf writer Zdravko Popovic's chest swelled with pride like a new father's, and the words poured from him with added excitement. The memory of last summer's Olympic Sports Festival was as bright as yesterday's. Not because he coached in it, but because three of his girls from the Internationals Soccer Club played in it. They were: Nancy Kramarz of Chesterland, center-forward Maria Schuerman of Broadview Heights and midfielder Karen Winslow of Bay Village. "The point is," Popovic said, "from the entire country, of the 72 best players in the country at the Olympic Sports Festival, we had three." What better proof of how far the Internationals have come since Popovic organized his first team in the area 15 years ago? The successes are all around him actually.

Recently he went to an Ohio State-Dayton women's game and watched eight of his former players with special pride. Popovic, a native of Yugoslavia who played midfield for the University of Akron from 1971-75, wants his players to go on to the best schools and he's proud to point out that Schuerman is working on her doctor's degree at the University of North Carolina. "One game is one game," he said. "One tournament is one tournament A lifetime is forever." He expects his players to reach for the best in themselves both on and off the field and he too has also grown in stature. He was first named coach of the Ohio Select women's team and then coach of the North Regional team that includes Ohio and 17 other states.

Popovic will be taking the regional team to Fort Lauderdale, Thanksgiving weekend and on it this time will be one of this area's finest players, Keri Sarver, a senior center-forward at Jackson High who already has attracted national attention. The first Internationals team, in 78, interestingly enough had nothing to do with women. Popovic put together a men's open team with players from all over the world who had found their way to the University of Akron. "That's why I called them the Internationals," he said. He subsequently began coaching women's teams and had both through '83.

In the last seven years, in the Tournament of Champions, one of the two biggest open-level competitions in the United States, the Internationals women's open team has won four championships and was runner-up three times. The Tournament of Champions format is like the World Cup. You can retire a trophy by winning it three times. The Internationals are the only team to do so. One of the big turning points for the organization came in '88 when George and Louie Nanchoff joined Popovic in the operation.

The Nanchoffs were stars at Cen- tral-Hower High, at the University of Akron and played professionally. The club has grown a lot since then. There are now boys teams for each age 10-19, and five girls teams under-12, under-14, under-16, under-19 and open. Twice the Internationals boys teams have won national indoor championships the under-14s in '91 in Chicago and the under-16s this year in Atlanta. The under-16s were fourth in '91, and the under-14s fourth this year.

Outdoors, the Internationals entered 10 teams in the State Cup this year. Nine reached the state title game and four won. Popovic gets about 16-to-18 players for each team through open tryouts. The Internationals also run a major outdoor tournament every fall at the Diamond fields in North Canton and an indoor tournament. "Our girls teams were in 39 events last year and finished in the first three places in 36 of them," Popovic said.

That includes 22 championships, 12 seconds and two thirds. a -h' Soccer in 9-10 novice kata, second in 9-10 novice spamng; Adam Armstrong, first in 6-and-under kata, second 6-and-under spamng, third in youth ntermediale self defense; Matt Green, second in both men's black belt kata and spamng; violet Park, second both women's advanced kata and spamng; Becky Herjert, second women's intermediate kata; Nick Armstrong, second in both boys 7-8 intermediate kata and spamng; Jerry Wnght, third in youth advanced self defense, fourth in both boys 9-10 advanced spamng and kata; Andy Baker, third in both 6-and-under spamng and kata, fourth youth novice self defense; Alex Baker, fourth in 6-and-under kata. Rugby Akron, lost its first game in the national tournament, 9-6 to Washington. But it then beat North Carolina 11-7, tied Knoxville, 9-9 in 11 innings, and then beat Puerto Rico 10-0 and the Chicago Phillies 13-6 before beating the Cardinals. The tie game was called on a 3Vi-hour time limit.

There were 29 teams from across the country vying for honors at the spring training facilities of the Boston Red Sox ands Minnesota Twins. Walt Siegel (Cleveland Heights) pitched a 1-hitter for Homke against Puerto Rico and 46-year-old player-manager Joe Majl, an ex-Cleveland Indians farmhand from Maple Heights, hurled a complete game and struck out five in the victory over the Cardinals. The only hit off Siegel came with one out in the last inning. Left-hander Bob Cosgrove, a former University of Akron pitcher and Cleveland Indians' farmhand, was the winning pitcher in the North Carolina game, striking out nine in six innings and at one stretch whiffing five in a row. Right fielder Ed Schuette (Bedford) led the team in hitting with a .722 average and scored eight runs and left fielder Craig Thompson, a former Los Angeles Dodgers farmhand from Cleveland, hit .363 and drove in 11 runs.

Second baseman Cart Neroni (Lakewood) hit .455 with five RBI and first baseman Bob Chase (Garfield Heights) hit .450 with two triples and six RBI. division and Megan McKinley (Cuyahoga Falls) was first in the 7s. Kendall put together a 33.3 all-around with firsts on vault (8.4) and beam (8.7), and a second on floor (8.5). Schuitz scored 33.1 with firsts on beam (8.9) and floor (9.0), and a second on bars (8.0); and Willing scored 29.8 with firsts on vault (7.2), bars (7.4) and beam (7.3), and a third on floor (7.9). Griffin compiled a 35.55 all-around as she swept firsts in everything vault (7.8), bars (9.3), beam (9.2) and floor (9.25).

McKinley posted a 34.7 with firsts on vault (8.0), bars (9.35) and floor (9.05), and a second on beam (8.3). Kent took 15 gymnasts to Hudson and compiled a team score of 101.8. It took only five to Youngstown with all of them having a hand in the winning score of 105.9. Others on the team who placed: Tetstar Tumblers: 12s All Keiyan (Tallmadge), first on bars (7.9), third on floor (8.1); 10s Hadley Eblen (Tallmadgel, second all-around (32.8), first on bars (8.3) second on beam 18.5) and floor (8.5); Kim Zartman (Cuyahoga Falls), first on floor (8.6), second on vault (8.0); 9s Jackie Sitko (Cuyahoga Falls), second all-around (32.6), tie for first on vault (8.2), second on beam (8.4); Sarah Marotto (Cuyahoga Falls), third all-around (32.4), tie for first on vault (8.2), second on floor (8.8), third on beam 18.0); Bizabetti Milter (Hudson), first on bars (8.1); Nicole Knapp (Stow), third on floor 18.7); Gina Jiamboi (Tallmadge), third on vault (8.0); Kim Bradshaw (Stow), third on bars (8.0). Olympic Dream Invitational: 9s Unsey Sitz (Cuyahoga Falls), third around (32.95), first on beam (9.05) and floor (9.0), third on vault (8.15); 7s Haley Smith (Stow), second all-around (34.4), first on beam (9.0), second on bars (8.55) and floor (8.95), third on vault (7.9); Ashley Bauman (Stow), third all-around (32.0), second on vault (8.0), third on bars (8.0) and floor (8.75).

Dockus leads Level 6s Amanda Dockus (Mogadore) took first place all-around in the 11-year-old division as the YWCA Athletic Center in Kent took second place in Level 6 (103.6) at the Olympic Dreams Invitational in Youngstown. Dockus put together a 32.1 all-around with a first on vault (8.7), and seconds on bars (7.85) and floor (8.45). Others on the team who placed: 10s Amanda Podges (Stow), second all-around (33.95), second on bars (8.9); Melissa Graves (Cuyahoga Falls), second on vault (8.4) third on beam (8.45); Ashley Deartove (Stow), third on floor (9.0); 9s Lindsay Motz (Ravenna), second all-around (33.45), second on vault (8.25) and beam (8.55), third on bars (7.85) and floor (8.8); Aimee Ryan (Stow), third all-around (32.7), second on floor (9.0), third on beam Ashley Mastroine (Stow), first on vault (8.35), second on bars (8.55); 8s Katrina Vanags (Kent), second on beam (9.05); Megan Graves (Cuyahoga Falls), second on vault (8.25). Rag football Hometown ties for title Akron's Hometown Lumber came through on the last two plays of the game to beat AccordinoButch 34-27 last weekend and tie for the championship with The Club in the Twinsburg Rag Football League. The victory also clinched a berth for Hometown in the state championship tournament Nov.

20-21 in Zanesville. With the score tied and two plays remaining, Hometown quarterback Ray Kent found himself under pressure and "dumped the ball" off to brother Bill who threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to a diving Steve Farkas. Accordino Butch quarterback Brian McClure, the former Rootstown and Bowling Green star, then launched a Hail Mary pass deep downfield. He completed it but Farkas, Tim Probst and John Adams downed the receiver before he could score. Ray Kent hit center Bill Kent with a 3-yard pass to cap a 53-yard drive for Hometown's first TO.

Tight end Bob Pfeiffer and wide receiver Denny Bechter made several clutch catches on fourth-down plays the first half and Bill Kent scored again on the last play of the half to make it 13-13. The teams traded touchdowns on the first four offensive series of the second half with Ray Kent and Jim Gabbert scoring for Hometown Lumber. Skiing Akron Winless The Akron Rugby Football Club lost 27-0 to the Pittsburgh RFC in its final game of the season to finish without a victory. It was 0-8 overall, 0-7 in the Ohio Rugby Union. The side wrapped up a highly successful season, beating Pittsburgh 24-10 to finish with a 6-2 record.

One of the new players, wing Paul Kobus, led Akron's scoring with two tiys. Billiards Knowles 'First Sunday' winner Glen Knowles (Alliance) beat Dave Myers (Akron) 5-2 in the final to win the First Sunday of the Month 9-ball tournament last weekend at Starcher's Billiards. Mike Vera and Jason Eshetman (both Akron) were third and fourth respectively. Karamas, George win tourneys Louie Karamas (Barberton) won the Wednesday night 9-ball tournament at Starcher's and Chris George (Akron) won the Thursday night 9-. ball tourney for class players.

Jack Thomas (Warren) won the Wednesday night 8-ball tourney. Billy Watkins (Akron) was'the runner-up to Thomas with Rocco Moecia (Canton) taking third. Mike Martin (Warren) and Clyde Davey (Rittman) were second and third respectively behind Karamas; and Kevin Brumbalough (Akron) was second in CD with Patrick Wehriin and Sean Wines (both akron) third and fourth. Tourney to help kids starcher's will host the 15th annual Motorcyclists for Kids tournament at noon Nov. 21.

The entry fee is $5 with all proceeds to be used for needy youngsters during the holiday season. Trophies and T-shirts will be awarded as prizes. The entry deadline is next Thursday. Players can sign up at several other places besides Starcher's. That includes the Brown Street Beer Sports Garden, 1090 Brown Glory Days, 998 S.

Main Delights Inn, 1358 Waterloo Park Cafe, 328 W. Miller Park Place Bar Grill, 1307 Grant K.C.'s Pub, 1305 E. Archwood; and The Suburb Inn, 1890 S. Arlington St. For more information, call Starcher's at 724-9962.

Seniors gathering set Diamond Billiards will hold a koffee Watch for seniors 55-and-over Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Call 745-5100 for details. Here are the league leaders at Diamond: Monday Night 8-ball Doubles Rick RiceDavid Brownlee 400, Don Berube JryDon Berube Sr. 395; Tuesday Night 9-bal Doubles Bill Van LieuSam Bndenthal 400, Steve GrebensteinJames Breen 385; Wednesday (after school) Coventry-SpringfieM-Bartierton C.J.

Oswald 350, Scott Wood 346; Thursday (after school) Kenmore Doubles Gary MitcheUBnan Saunders 350, Chance BohnvBen McCume1 349; Thursday Night Classic Gary Robertson, Jason Eshelman, Jess Lee tie for first at 300; Sunday League Dean Craft 300, Dans Bennett 285, Lacy Meadows 283. Darts Three hit 180s in ACDC Bill Lewis and Tom Wunderie tossed 180s in the Tungsten League and John Deieriing threw a perfect game in the Nickel League to highlight week 8 in the Akron Canton Dart Club's fall season. Other high darts: Tungsten Dan Hendershot 160 in, 140x2; Will Dark 160, 118 out: Dave Feldpusch 140x2; Greg Kindel 140x2; Dave Dutton 140, 111 out, 9-dart 301; Nickel Jim Ross 162; Don Lambert 140x2; Howard Lorah 140, 131; Greg Kirby 140, 125; Penny Kinney 125 in: Brass Bob Gump 140; Mike Woffarth 140; Jeff Mohr 140 in; Fred Offenberger 133; David Whiteleather 133. B-104S take Off The B-104s (38-7) broke out of a tie for first place with a 9-0 sweep over Underground Pub (15-, 30) in the Thursday Night Fun League. Brew Crew (35-10) had a little tougher time in beating No Name Yet (24-21) 6-3.

Third-place Taz (28-17) also won 6-3 over Dazed and Confused (21-24). Dan Page threw a 180 for high darts. Terri Battle hit a 140 and a -121x3; Mike Battle and Gino Vicono also had 140s; and Roy Hughes posted a 135. Complied by Bob NoM St. Sebastian girls win was an aii-st.

Sebastian-St. Hilary party last weekend with their teams playing for both the girls and boys championships in the CYO Varsity AA Division for seventh and eighth graders. The St. Sebastian girls, second in the regular season, broke away from a scoreless tie at the half to beat St. Hilary, the regular-season champion, 3-0.

The two boys teams, which tied 2-2 in the regular season, battled to another 2-2 tie through 60 minutes, stayed tied through a scoreless 10-minute overtime, and were declared co-champions. These two games were among three championship games played last Sunday at the St. Vincent-St Mary High School field. Four other championship games were played that day at Hoban High School's Dowed Field. St.

Sebastian (7-1-2) broke through in the girls game on a goal by center forward Mary Warbel off a comer kick by center fullback Maureen Downing. Downing then scored the second goal with a 22-yard shot into the upper left comer, and right wing Beth Yanko scored off a crossing pass from forward Mari Freed. But the biggest play of the game may have been an unsuccessful penalty kick by St. Hilary (7-2-1). St.

Sebastian was leading only 1-0 when a tnp was called in the penalty box. St. Sebastian goalie Deena KiiH was equal to the challenge, though, and stopped the kick. Fullbacks Kim Wiandt, Stephanie Castner, Katie Vogt and Downing helped the team record its fourth shutout. The defense gave up only eight goals all season.

The championship was the third for St. Sebastian's girls in the last four years. They were runners-up last year. St. Sebastian beat third-place SS.

Peter and Paul (6-4) 2-0 to reach the final, and St. Hilary advanced with a 5-1 victory over fourth-place IHM (5-4-1). SS. Peter and Paul won the sportsmanship trophy. In the boys AA division, St.

Sebastian Green finished 10-0-2, St. Hilary Red 11-0-2. The latter had to play one additional playoff game because St. Sebastian got the top seed on the basis of having allowed three fewer goals during the 10-game regular season. St.

Sebastian enjoyed a 1-0 halftime lead on a long, arching shot by left wing Sean Annan. But St. Hilary, a team of all seventh graders, came back to take the lead 2-1 on goals by left wing Chris Rentier and left halfback Jeff Zarycki. It was the first goal ever for Zarycki. St.

Sebastian tied the score with eight minutes remaining on a penalty kick by halfback Eric Schmidlin. He drilled the shot into the lower left corner after a handball was called in front of the goal. St. Sebastian Green reached the finals with a 4-0 victory over fourth-place St. Sebastian Gold (4-7-1) and St.

Hilary Red won its semifinal game 2-0 over third-place St. Hilary Blue (6-4-2). The sportsmanship winner was St. Francis DeSales. In the other championship games: Girls Varsity A (seventh graders) Regular-season champion IHM Green (9-0-1) beat third-place SS.

Peter and Paul (8-3) 1-0 on a goal by forward Jamie lad. SS. Peter and Paul toppled second-place St Vincent (7-2-1) to reach the finals. Sportsmanship winner IHM Gold. Girls Junior Varsity (fifthsixth graders) Regular-season champion St.

Hilary White (9-0-1) edged second-place St. Vincent (8-2-1) 1-0 on a first-half goal by nght halfback Christina Slangen. The two teams had tied earlier in the year. Wing Kati Hood scored both goals as St. Hilary topped fourth-place St.

Barnabas (5-5) 2-0 in the semifinals, and St. Vincent edged third-place St Sebastian Gold (7-3) 2-1 in the other semi. Sportsmanship winner: IHM Green. Boys Junior Varsity AA (fifthsixth graders)- Underdog St. Hilary Blue (6-2-2) battled reguiar-season champion St Barnabas to a 1-1 tie and the two teams were declared co-champions.

Left wing Kevin Flatmery scored for St Hilary with center forward Patrick Kurent getting the goal for St. Barnabas. St. Hilary beat third-place St Sebastian Green (5-3-2) 6-0 to reach the finals and St. Barnabas topped fourth-place St Sebastian Gold (4-5-1) 1-0 in overtime.

Sportsmanship winner St. Hilary Blue. Girts Junior Varsity A (thirdfourth graders) Regular-season champion SS. Peter and Paul (10-0-1) beat second-place St. Vincent (8-2-1) 4-1 with nght wing Kim Sanders sconng two goals and center forward Cheyame Boyan and left center forward Jenny Nichols making one each.

Midfielder Jackie Biyant scored for St Vincent. SS. Peter and Paul beat fourth-place St. Hilary White (5-3-2) 2-0 and St. Vincent beat third-place St Sebastian (6-3-1) 2-1 in the semifinals.

Sportsmanship winner: St Hilary White. Boys Junior Varsity A (thirdfourth graders) St Sebastjan Gold, second in the regular season, won the Mle by finally stopping the tournament's Cinderella team, Immaculate Conception of Ravenna, 6-3. IC (5-4-2) knocked off the fourth-place St Hilary Sabres (4-4-1) 2-1 and then upset regular-season champion St. Barnabas (8-1) 3-0 to reach the final. St.

Sebastian Gold (8-2-1) reached the final with a 2-0 victory over third-place St. Sebastian Green (6-4). Center forward PJ. Branch led St Sebstian Gold in the championship game with three goals, nght wing Geoff Hamad tallied two and halfback Colin Hughes scored the other one on a penalty kick. Forwards Brian Walton, Jayson Allison and Jeremy Mothersbaugh got one apiece for IC.

The runners-up were feisty to the last. St. Sebastian jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first 10 minutes but IC battled back with two goals before the champions blew it open. Sportsmanship winner: St. Sebastian Green.

Emerald wins tourney The Emerald Soccer Club's under-11 boys team overcame four inches of snow to outscore their opponents 12-1 and win the Liederkranz A. Schueler Tournament in Mansfield. Emerald opened with a 5-0 victory over the Lexington Lazers, beat Liederkranz 4-0 and Brunswick 2-1 to reach the final, and then edged the Internationals 1-0 on a penalty shot by Alex Ison. Brett Bond scored eight of the team's goals in the tournament, Ison scored two and Drew Slane and Scott Stasen made one apiece. Fullbacks Matt Adkins, David Stones-treet, Jared Wilson and Eric Mandle did a fine job of helping the goalkeeper, Stasen, stifle enemy scoring.

Youth football Gal ranked first again Engeibert Gal a 14-year-old freshman at Green High School, has taken first place in the state again in Coca-Cola Junior's NASTAR rankings for 13-15-year-old skiers. The rankings are based on last season's competition. Gal posted a handicap of 8 while skiing at Marquette Mountain, Mich. The score means he was just 8 percent behind NASTAR national pacesetter Erik Schtopy of the U.S. Ski Team.

NASTAR racing, now in its 25th season, is open to the public and is available all season long at 180 resorts. Last season, nearly 300,000 skiers raced at NASTAR courses across the country. For more information, call 1-303-925-7864. Bicycling Manchester finishes with win Rob Adamson threw touchdown passes to four different receivers as the Manchester Middle School eighth grade team ended its season with a 31-16 victory over Sandy Valley. Adamson hit J.W.

Robinson, Curt Rouser, Matt Harr and Steve Krertz on his scoring tosses. He was 30 of 54 for the season as he passed for 491 yards and seven touchdowns. Brian Burnett also scored against Sandy Valley on a 40-yard run and John Holland rushed for 92 yards. Manchester wound up with a 3-3 record. Wheelchair basketball Rollers sweep pair The Rubber City Rollers walloped the University of Edinboro Rolling Scots 66-27 and 50-15 last weekend at Edwin Shaw Hospital to push their record in the Keystone Conference to 6-0.

Pat Wilson was the high scorer the first game with 13 points, Marc Fugarino tallied 12 and Alan Burgess hit 10. Dave Reed led the Rollers in the second game with 14 and Dave Vaughn added eight. The Rollers (7-3 overall) will play a road double-header Saturday against the Youngstown Hot Wheels. The first game at the Youngstown YMCA will begin at 2:30 p.m. Tetzel fourth In trials Toby Tetzel of the Summit FreewheelersEddy's mountain bike team turned in another strong showing last weekend, finishing fourth expert-modified and fourth expert-stock at the Candytown Observed Trials (the Pennsylvania point series finals) in Hershey, Pa.

The Freewheelers, a developmental racing club, will hold their first offseason meeting Sunday. Anyone interested in the club's activities should contact Phil Whitworth at 633-8539 from 6-9 p.m. Martial arts Dickson, Hood double winners Brad Dickson (Hartville) and Tom Hood (Green) of Dale McCutcheon's Martial Arts Academy in Hartville won two events apiece in the Eastern Ohio Karate Championships in Lisbon. Dickson took first in both men's black belt kata and sparring and Hood was first in boys 15-16 advanced kata and advanced sparring. Others from the academy who placed: Jane Harper, first in women's intermediate sparring, third in women's inteimediate kata; Heather Robson, first in girls 15-16 advanced kata, second in girls 15-16 advanced spamng; Aaron Park, first in boys 13-14 advanced sparring, second in boys 13-14 advanced kata; Jason Nichols, first in boys 9-10 advanced spamng, third in boys 9-10 advanced kata; Michael Medal, first in boys 9-10 advanced kata, third in boys 9-10 advanced spamng; Bobby McCutcheon, first Other basketball IBiiSiBiBliig Hockey Humphrey sparks leaders Roy Humphrey turned in another big game last week, scoring 38 points to lead Main Attraction to a 94-80 victory over Royal and keep it unbeaten (5-0) atop the Canal Square YMCA Basketball League.

Jackie GreynoWs was the only other player to score in the 30s, hitting 33 to lead House-of-Pain (4-1) to an 83-67 victory over Slo-Motion. Here are last week's results and leading scorers: MAIN ATTRACTION 94, ROYAL BO MA: Roy Humphrey 38, Jerry Puryear 19, Jimmy Gooden 13, Levi Johnson 11, Scott Decker 21, Mitchell Oytlund 18, Rick Glass 13, Bob Alexander 10. AFASSCO 104, KPMG 39 AF: Mark School 24, Matt School 23, Tom Hood 18, Sean Daugherty 11. KP: John Craig 10. BLUE SPARKS 78, TOMMY-BOY 77 BS: Mike Dowling 15, Randy Lowe 11.

TB: Ron vargo 21, Mark Carroll 18, Paul Williams 13, Milt Rankins 13, Mark Unaitis 10. HOUSE-OF-PAIN 83, SLO-MOTION 67 HOP: Jackie Greynolds 33, Mike Soyars 17, Ray Hubbard 11. SM: Ryan Sodagnn 19, Dean Beddow 18. Standings: Mam Attraction 5-0, House-of-Pain 4-1, AFASSCO 3-2, Blue Sparks 3-2, Royal 3-2, Slo-Motion 1-4, Tommy-Boy 1-4, KPMG 0-5. Wrestling Swimming League.

Cincinnati 1 pummeled Tri-C 13-1 and Cincinnati 2 edged the Rames 4-3 Saturday at the Cluller Ice Rink near Columbus, and Bowling Green toppled the Rames 7-4 Sunday. Smiles scored the team's only goal in the first game on an assist from Mike Lupori (Suffield) and made three goals in each of the next two games. Lupori and Erick Knowles (Tallmadge) made two assists each in the second game and Bill Lukosavich (Cuvahoga Falls) made one. Naveed Durrani (Uniontown) scored the other goal against Bowling. -Green with Lupori contributing two more assists and Jason Krecek (Hiram) and Brian Nelson (Ravenna) making one each.

Peewee AA'S fall twice Dustin Leek (Suffield) scored six goals for the Tri-County Rames peewee AA team in three Cleveland Suburban Hockey League games last weekend but couldn't keep Tri-C from suffering its first two losses in the league. Winterhurst took a 3-0 lead Friday and held on to win 3-2 at the Kent State Ice Arena. Bill Yates (Akron) and Leek scored for the Rames with Peter Murphy (Akron) and Chris Ericson (Kent) making assists. Leek put together a big game Saturday, scoring four times to spark a 7-3 triumph over Elyria at Kent. Jeff Koemer (Kent), Yates and Jason Rae (Stow) added one goal apiece.

Murphy and Brett Gambol (Cuyahoga Falls) made two assists each and Andreas Sievert (Stow) made one. Leek got the team's only goal Sunday as 1 the Columbus Capitals scored on a power play with 3:16 remaining to win 2-1 at the Columbus Fairgrounds. Rae made the assist for Leek. Goalie April Stojak made 65 saves during the weekend 25 against Winterhurst, 21 against Elyria and 19 against Columbus. Tri- is now 3-2 in the league.

Squirt AA'S split The Tri-County Rames squirt AA team split a pair of Cleveland Suburban Hockey League games last weekend, losing 10-0 on the road Saturday to Mt. Lebanon, and beating Euclid 7-3 Sunday at the Kent State Ice Arena. Tri-C led 6-0 before Euclid could break through. David Huth (Suffield) scored twice for the Rames with A.J. Catalano (Kent), Nick Sandstrom (Kent), Mike Hagan (Hudson), Austin Pike (Stow) and Steven Vyn (Hudson) getting one each.

Sandstrom, Bane Kingston (Stow), Jeff Long (Hudson) and Scott Lee (Hudson) made one assist apiece. Goalie Sarah Pike (Stow) made 18 saves in each game. Mite A'S tie Tri-County's Mite A team (1-0-1) played to a 1-1 tie with Brooklyn at the Kent State Ice Arena. Tom Yanigtos (Kent) scored for Tri-C with assists from Dominic Poe (Tallmadge) and Tim Begtey (Stow). Goalie Ross Stahrey (Kent) made 27 saves.

Metz torrid for Mite Tyler Metz scored six goals as the Tri-County Mite team (1-1) blitzed Brooklyn 8-1 last Sunday at the Kent State Ice Arena but North Olmsted beat Tri-C 5- 2 Monday at North Olmsted. Ben Williams scored Tri-C's other two goals against Brooklyn with Kyle Closen, Daniel Murphy and Jay Gupte contributing assists. Metz and Stephen Scott scored the goals against North Olmsted with Scott, Williams and Gupte making assists. Compiled by Bob Nold Midget girls do well The Ohio Women's names Midget team got off to a good start against the Bantam boys teams in a pair of Cleveland Suburban Hockey League exhibition games last weekend. The Midgets toppled Tri-County 6-2 last Friday at the Kent State Ice Arena with Kerstin Matthews (Loveland) sscoring the hat trick, and they tied Garfield Heights 2-2 Saturday night at the Mentor Civic Ice Arena.

In addition to Matthews' three goals the first game, Tonya BeN (Elyria), Daniele Poiovich (Avon) and Dawn Novak (Parma) scored one apiece. Poiovich and Dianna Bell (Elyria) made two assists each and Laura Hays (Meadville, Pa.) made one. Jaime Hall (Cleveland Heights) and Dianna Bell scored the goals in the second game with Tonya Bell and Lisa Heifer (Uniontown) assisting on the first goal and Heifer making her second assist on the last one. Goalie April Stojak (Kent) stopped four of six shots the first game with Heather Coulis (Brunswick Hills) stopping all 16 against her. Melissa Norris (North Olmstead) saved 15 of 16 shots against Garfield Heights and Stojak saved eight of nine.

The Ohio Women's Flames Peewee girls lost their exhibition game with the Cleveland Skating Club peewee boys 5-0 Saturday at the Obertin University Ice Arena. The Flames trailed only 1-0 after two periods. Norris turned away all 25 shots she faced that game and Sarah Pike (Stow) made 13 saves on 18 shots. May posts Shutout Goalie Steven May (Hudson) stopped 20 shots Sunday as the Cleveland Americans squirt minor team beat the Hint (Mich.) Icelanders 6-0 in a Michigan National Hockey League game at the Rocky River Ice Rink. It was May's second shutout of the season and gave the Americans (7-4 in league play) a split of the weekend series.

Flint won Saturday's game 3-2. Midget I's potent TheTri-County Rames Midget I team scored seven goals in each of two outings last week as it won a pair of Cleveland Suburban Hockey League games. It topped North Olmstead 7-3 and stifled Cleveland Heights 7-0. Scott Yuhnke (Medina) scored two goals in the first game and made four for a hat trick, plus one in the second game. The other goals against North Olmsted were scored by Ian Drake (Boardman), Brad Ferguson (Wadsworth), Ryan Mitchell (Bath), Joe Oliver (Mantua) and Ken Hammer (Massillon).

Hammer scored two more goals against Cleveland Heights and Drake tallied the other one. Ryan Swank (Canton) recorded a playmaker with three assists in the second game; Brian Yuhnke, Oliver and Larry Knittte (Boardman) each added a pair; and Ferguson and Jon Skuktt (Stow) made one each. Sig Rydquist (Hudson) was in goal the first game, making 19 saves; and Mark Sanrtra (Stow) posted the shutout with eight saves. Smiles hot in losing cause uaren Smiles (North Canton) scored the hat trick twice and made seven goals overall but the Tri-County Barnes Midget 2 team lost all three of its games anyway last weekend in the Cleveland Suburban Hockey Six from AFYAC place Six members of the Akron Firestone Aquatics Club placed last weekend in the Hudson Alltel Trophy Meet with four of them taking first in one or more events. Steve Ekechuku was a double winner in the boys 8-9-year-old division, winning the 50-meter breaststroke and 100-meter freestyle, and he also took third place in the 50 butterfly.

Ilse Ekechuku won the girls 12-13 100 freestyle, Aaron Levenson won the boys 12-13 100 free, and Mart Gangloff won the boys 10-11 100 breaststroke. Ilse Ekechuku also was second in both the 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle; Levenson was second in the 200 and 50 freestyles and third in the 100 breaststroke; and Gangloff was second in the 50 backstroke and third in both the 50 butterfly and 50 freestyle. Julie Madden took second place In both the 50 and 100 breaststrokes in girls 10-11, and Abby Parker was third in the 100 free in girls 12-13. The club also competed in the Lorain YMCA Torpedo Invitational last Sunday with six of its swimmers placing there too and three of them becoming triple winners. Barbara Blue won the 50, 100 and 200-yard freestyles in 11-12 girls; Vickie Ryan won the 50 and 100 frees and the 100 individual medley in 9-10 girls; and Laura Blue won the 100, 200 and 500 frees in 13-14 girls.

Barbara Blue also was second in the 50 backstroke and Laura Blue was third in the 100 backstroke. Chris Ryan won the 200 freestyle in 13-14 boys. Craig Ryan was second in the 50 backstroke and third in the 100 IM in boys 9-10, and Grant Rowe was third in the 200 free in boys 13-14. Longwood wins three titles Damien Billow (Hudson) and twins Louie and Gino lacoboni (Northfield) of the Longwood YMCA Wrestling Club of Twinsburg, all former Grand National freestyle champions, started off the new season strong. Billow took first place in the 100-pound class and Louie and Gino took firsts at 110 and 115 respectively, all in the 12-13-year-old division at the Perry-Massillon Wrestling Classic.

Billow won his first two matches on pins and won the final 10-2. Louie lacoboni pinned all three of his opponents. The lacobonis met each other at 112 pounds in the 13-14 division with Gino winning. Three others from Longwood were runners-up Ryan Lange (Northfield) at 95 pounds in 12-13; Paul DeMarco (Hudson), a 2-time Grand National champion, at 100 in 9-11; and Frank Paparone (Auburn), who won a Grand National freestyle championship last spring, at 65 in 8-and-under. Lange lost 4-2 in overtime in the final and Paparone lost to a wrestler roughly 10 pounds heavier in his final.

Brandon Hayes (Ravenna) placed fourth at 75 in 12-13, losing 2-0 in overtime in the battle for third; and Ryan Lang (North Royalton) was fourth at 65 in 9-11. CVCA trio places Three wrestlers from Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy placed in Division IV at the North Canton Championship Wrestling Tournament. Junior Damien Lester (145) and sophomore Douglas Jenison (152) were runners-up and senior Mark Curry (145) took third place. Baseball Homke ousted on tiebreaker John Homke, who sponsors and DH's for the Hudson-based Homke Painting team, needed more than a bullet to bite last weekend. His team, which played in the Greater Cleveland Baseball League, was eliminated from the Roys Hobbs World Series by the thinnest of threads last weekend in Fort Myers, Fla.

Homke, which was in the over-30 division, made the 8-team playoffs but was eliminated in a 3-inning mini-game on a tiebreaker. The Hudson team and Chicago Cardinals were tied 1-1 but the tiebreaker was who had advanced its (other) runners the farthest. The Cardinals had gotten a man to second. Homke got a man on first the last inning but he was picked off. His team had just beaten the Cardinals 11-2 the day before in the final game of pool play and the Cardinals flew in a left-hander to counter Homke's predominantly left-handed-hitting lineup.

Homke, which won the Roy Hobbs Mideast championship in Gymnastics Kent teams win twice The ywca Athletic Center in Kent won two Level 5 meets last weekend, the Telstar Tumblers Meet in Hudson and the Olympic Dreams Invitational in Youngstown. Three of its gymnasts took first place all-around in their respective divisions at Hudson Amber Kendall (Streetsboro) in 10-year-olds; Stephanie Schuitz (Stow) in 9s; and' Jessica Willing (Stow) in 8s. At Youngstown, Rachelle Griffin (Cuyahoga Falls) took first place all-around in the 10-year-old CLV-tK- Ak-4.