Sidelines: Findlay coach plans to make run for State House

11/3/2005

Findlay coach Cliff Hite knows plenty about the X s and O s of football.

But after spending 10 years as the Trojans coach, Hite hopes to serve in the future as a political leader for Hancock, Hardin and Auglaize counties.

Hite, who teaches history and government, is running in 2006 for the Ohio House of Representatives seat that represents the three counties.

Teaching gov-ernment/history for the past 29 years has been close enough to politics, but not quite, Hite said. I ve always been interested in politics since college. I ve always wanted to do this.

Hite, who has a 67-39 record as Findlay coach, said the fact that Mike Gilb is leaving the Ohio House to run for the Ohio Senate presented him with the opportunity.

I didn t want to retire from teaching and coaching and just relax, he said. I want to still serve and give back to the community.

He hasn t officially announced plans to retire from coaching. The Trojans (9-1), who won the Greater Buckeye Conference, will host Northview in the playoffs Saturday.

If the primary doesn t go the way I want it to go next spring I m not going to quit my day job, Hite said.

Three days after guiding his alma mater to its first City League football championship in 23 years, Central Catholic coach Greg Dempsey got an even greater gift as his wife, Katie, gave birth to the couple s first child.

Daughter Lauren Elizabeth arrived Tuesday at Toledo Hospital, weighing in at 6 pounds, 7 ounces.

The Fighting Irish (9-1) will try to win their opening-round playoff game for Lauren s dad tomorrow night against TiffinColumbian at Waite.

Bowling Green freshman quarterback Aaron Mershman threw four touchdown passes in the Bobcats 45-26 loss Friday to Northview. Mershman completed two TD passes to Moe Al-Jilboury and two to Thomas Rodriguez.

Genoa boys soccer coach Dave Bertz allowed his team to celebrate after its 5-3 victory over Fort Jennings Tuesday, but he quickly reminded his players that their journey was far from over.

We ve got three more games to win, Bertz told his team, which faces Kidron Central Christian in a Division III regional final on Saturday.

The Comets (19-1-1) got two goals from standout senior Cory Hornyak and two from freshman Cody Katschke.

Hornyak also had two assists against the Musketeers and has score more goals (44) than any other player in Ohio in Division III. Katschke is ranked second on the team with 30 goals.

Hornyak has set school records for goals in a season and career (94).

Kidron Central Christian (16-4) won 2-1 in overtime against Riverdale, a team which tied Genoa 3-3 this season.

Maumee improved to 17-2-2 with a 2-1 Division II regional semifinal win over Elida in a double shootout.

Pete Richard scored the lone Panther goal in regulation.

Maumee goalkeeper Chad Graven registered four saves.

Maumee will play Bay Village Bay in the regional final on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Lexington.

Courtney Durbin and Sami Francis scored the goals for St. Ursula in the Arrows 2-0 victory over Northview in the girls Division I soccer district championship game on Saturday. Also, Marie Fudacz plays for St. Ursula.