June 2, 2016 at 5:38 p.m.
Culture evolving for the Indians
Line Drives
The culture is changing in Fort Recovery.
For years, it was a rare occurrence for the Indians to be represented at the state level.
It’s almost becoming a routine now.
This weekend, 10 members of the state championship-winning Fort Recovery football team will be competing in track and baseball state finals in Columbus.
Playing for one state championship is hard enough as it is. Reaching the state finals in two sports in the same school year?
It’s an opportunity many don’t get. At Fort Recovery, it hasn’t happened in decades. The Tribe girls sandwiched a volleyball state championship in 1990 between back-to-back basketball state titles.
But these boys are relishing the moment.
“This year has been a whirlwind with what we had done in December and what we are doing again in baseball,” said senior Kyle Schroer. “It’s all gone by so fast. I really just want another year to try and do it again, but I guess if this is the year I’ll end my high school career on I can’t complain.”
So how did it change?
It started with the seniors.
Wes Wenning, who is part of the 4x200-meter relay and caught a touchdown pass in the state championship game in December, said he and his classmates were sick of losing.
So they hit the weight room. They did extra reps to increase their strength. They ran extra sprints to get faster and more explosive.
With each passing year, they laid the groundwork to get to this point, a time when playing for championships is almost expected rather than dreamed about.
“It’s very amazing knowing that we seniors have raised the bar for expectations for the future,” said Ross Homan, who will play in the baseball state finals at Huntington Park along with five of his football teammates. “It’s neat to see how hard kids are willing to work when these kids know and feel what success is.”
The dedication to success in one sport leads to a change in work ethic in the others.
“We did it in football and we know what it takes,” said Caleb Martin, the football team’s starting quarterback and the third leg of the 4x200. “We know the competition level and where our effort needs to be.
“We know if we have the same effort, fire and drive that we had during football season we can come out on top in this and go to the state finals Saturday.”
As the work ethic changed, so too have the expectations.
Sure, the baseball team is heading back to the state final — it plays at 4 p.m. Friday against Newark Catholic, the defending state champion and team that ended the Indians’ run last year — but the feeling is different.
Both Will Homan and Kyle Schroer said the Indians were just happy to make the final four a year ago. This year, anything short of Columbus would have been a failure.
“This year we expect two wins there and nothing less,” Schroer said.
“We’ve all been on the big stage before so now it’s just having fun with a good group of friends,” Homan said.
Getting to the state finals with friends is one thing. Playing for and winning state championships with family is another.
As a freshman, Will Homan saw a spot role on the diamond during the run last season, often coming off the bench as a pinch runner in key situations.
Later in the fall he played a crucial role for the football team as a sophomore, taking over for the injured Schroer to run around and through opposing defense while racking up rushing yards and touchdowns.
In the state championship game he picked off two passes, the first of which set up the Tribe’s opening score and they never looked back.
On the diamond, Will anchors the outfield, is dangerous once again with his speed and isn’t shy about chirping from the dugout.
Ross is the baseball team’s utility man, shifting from one position to another as needed. At times, he shares the outfield with little brother.
“Playing alongside your big brother and his friends is what I’ve grown up dreaming of,” Will said. “Now here I am getting ready to play for another chance to play in a state championship. It’s just dreamlike.”
And as the culture in Fort Recovery continues to evolve, kids like Will Homan and younger generations don’t have to dream of state titles any more.
They can live them.
For years, it was a rare occurrence for the Indians to be represented at the state level.
It’s almost becoming a routine now.
This weekend, 10 members of the state championship-winning Fort Recovery football team will be competing in track and baseball state finals in Columbus.
Playing for one state championship is hard enough as it is. Reaching the state finals in two sports in the same school year?
It’s an opportunity many don’t get. At Fort Recovery, it hasn’t happened in decades. The Tribe girls sandwiched a volleyball state championship in 1990 between back-to-back basketball state titles.
But these boys are relishing the moment.
“This year has been a whirlwind with what we had done in December and what we are doing again in baseball,” said senior Kyle Schroer. “It’s all gone by so fast. I really just want another year to try and do it again, but I guess if this is the year I’ll end my high school career on I can’t complain.”
So how did it change?
It started with the seniors.
Wes Wenning, who is part of the 4x200-meter relay and caught a touchdown pass in the state championship game in December, said he and his classmates were sick of losing.
So they hit the weight room. They did extra reps to increase their strength. They ran extra sprints to get faster and more explosive.
With each passing year, they laid the groundwork to get to this point, a time when playing for championships is almost expected rather than dreamed about.
“It’s very amazing knowing that we seniors have raised the bar for expectations for the future,” said Ross Homan, who will play in the baseball state finals at Huntington Park along with five of his football teammates. “It’s neat to see how hard kids are willing to work when these kids know and feel what success is.”
The dedication to success in one sport leads to a change in work ethic in the others.
“We did it in football and we know what it takes,” said Caleb Martin, the football team’s starting quarterback and the third leg of the 4x200. “We know the competition level and where our effort needs to be.
“We know if we have the same effort, fire and drive that we had during football season we can come out on top in this and go to the state finals Saturday.”
As the work ethic changed, so too have the expectations.
Sure, the baseball team is heading back to the state final — it plays at 4 p.m. Friday against Newark Catholic, the defending state champion and team that ended the Indians’ run last year — but the feeling is different.
Both Will Homan and Kyle Schroer said the Indians were just happy to make the final four a year ago. This year, anything short of Columbus would have been a failure.
“This year we expect two wins there and nothing less,” Schroer said.
“We’ve all been on the big stage before so now it’s just having fun with a good group of friends,” Homan said.
Getting to the state finals with friends is one thing. Playing for and winning state championships with family is another.
As a freshman, Will Homan saw a spot role on the diamond during the run last season, often coming off the bench as a pinch runner in key situations.
Later in the fall he played a crucial role for the football team as a sophomore, taking over for the injured Schroer to run around and through opposing defense while racking up rushing yards and touchdowns.
In the state championship game he picked off two passes, the first of which set up the Tribe’s opening score and they never looked back.
On the diamond, Will anchors the outfield, is dangerous once again with his speed and isn’t shy about chirping from the dugout.
Ross is the baseball team’s utility man, shifting from one position to another as needed. At times, he shares the outfield with little brother.
“Playing alongside your big brother and his friends is what I’ve grown up dreaming of,” Will said. “Now here I am getting ready to play for another chance to play in a state championship. It’s just dreamlike.”
And as the culture in Fort Recovery continues to evolve, kids like Will Homan and younger generations don’t have to dream of state titles any more.
They can live them.
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