Moving on, right at home

I am no longer the sports editor of The Commercial Review.
There was a time when I thought I would have written those words long ago, and then a time when I thought I never would.
Let me explain.
Moving 200 miles away from home for my first full-time job, I assumed my stay at The Commercial Review would be a relatively short one.
I’d be in Jay County for a few years and then move on, either to a larger publication or back near my hometown, or both.
But I soon grew to love the job, the area, and most importantly, the people. What I liked most about the job was the ability to have a personal connection, to get to know the athletes and coaches as people instead of just names and numbers. Local sports became my passion.
I decided I wasn’t interested in hopping all over the country in an effort to work my way up to the “big time” of a major daily newspaper, Sports Illustrated or ESPN.
My career options were simple: stay with The Commercial Review or move back home.
With the announcement in Saturday’s newspaper that I will be taking over for the departing Mike Snyder as managing editor, I am committed to being with The CR for the long haul. (I’m not saying I would never leave to move back to the Cleveland area, but it’s not in the plans.)
As I make the transition into the new job, I won’t be leaving sports completely behind me. I never could. Sports will always be my passion. My hope is to still cover at least one game a week, either to expand our sports coverage or to give a day off to new sports editor Chris Schanz. (You’ll meet Chris when he debuts his column Thursday.) And I’ll definitely help him out by serving as a photographer when he needs one. I’ll continue to write this column every week as well.
I’ve had a lot of fun moments in my time as sports editor, watching sectional and regional championship teams and seeing a lot of individual state medalists.
Of course the tournament run that stands out the most is still that of the 2006 Jay County High School boys basketball team. A group that went 14-6 during the regular season turned in an incredible tournament run, winning twice in overtime before falling to New Castle in the state championship game.
I’ve never worked as many hours during a two-week span, nor have I ever had as much fun.
I still hope to witness a state championship. One for each of the schools in The CR’s coverage area would be nice.
But as I type that, I’m reminded that it’s not the state championship loss I remember most about that 2006 JCHS squad. Rather, it’s the journey — the strong start, the midseason slump, the overtime sectional semifinal win over Tipton, the tremendous foul shooting during a rocking regional at Blackford and Corey Comer’s game-winning shot in the final seconds of overtime for a semi-state win over Plymouth. Those moments, and all the excitement and anticipation in between, made that year special.
I’ve certainly enjoyed my journey as sports editor of The Commercial Review — from the very first high school game I covered here (a regional semifinal win by the Fort Recovery girls basketball team in 2001) to the last (the boys golf sectional tournament last month). There have been ups and downs, but many more ups thanks to all of the athletes I’ve had the pleasure work with over the years.
I care deeply about my work at The Commercial Review, and I hope I’ve been able to supply you with the kind of sports coverage you want and deserve over the last 12-plus years.
The 22-year-old guy who moved here for his first full-time job would not have envisioned the career path that has unfolded in front of him. But I’m glad things have worked out the way they have.
There is some sadness as I leave behind the moniker of sports editor. But I’m also thrilled that my new title will continue to include three words that have become so important in my life: The Commercial Review.

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