Copley High School senior Riley Grant is staying local for college.
Grant has committed to continue his academic and soccer careers at the University of Akron.
“Akron is one of the best programs, if not the best program, in the country,” Grant said. “They play attractive soccer that people like to play. I like Jared [Embick], the coach, and the rest of the coaching staff. I also wanted to stay closer to home.”
Grant, 18, played this past season with the International Academy in Northeast Ohio. He played the previous three seasons on the varsity soccer team at Copley.
Grant is a 6-foot-1, 160-pound forward. He has a 3.1 grade-point average, and said he is “looking into business, but still undecided” on a major.
Colleges such as Cincinnati, Ohio State, High Point, Cleveland State also recruited Grant.
Panthers top 1,000 points
The Norton basketball teams have each had a senior player surpass 1,000 career points this season in a home game.
Tyler Sherman went over 1,000 points in a 52-49 boys basketball win over Springfield on Jan. 25 and Cara Cook eclipsed 1,000 points in a 60-39 win over Field on Jan. 30.
Perfect shot
Archbishop Hoban senior Meghan Donohue made 13-of-13 shots from the field Saturday and scored a career-high 29 points to lead the host Knights to a 78-34 victory over Chardon Notre Dame- Cathedral Latin.
Harris nabs offer
Buffalo has offered Norwayne junior football player Kaleb Harris a scholarship, according to Scout.com.
Harris, who is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound wide receiver, said he was pleasantly surprised at the Mid-American Conference offer.
“Buffalo offered me,” Harris told the website. “I called the coach and he said: ‘We want to offer you a scholarship.’ I was at a loss of words. I figured I’d get one hopefully soon, but when it actually happens, it blows your mind.”
Jackson raises funds
Jackson Rotary, the JHS Interact Club (the high school version of Rotary) and the Polar Bear Hockey Club will again join forces to raise funds for breast cancer.
The team will, for the second year, wear pink jerseys during their game against the Fremont Hockey Club on Saturday. Only 500 tickets will be sold for the event to be held at Center Ice Complex.
Proceeds will benefit the Northeast Ohio District Unit of the American Cancer Society. Patrons may bid on the players’ game-worn jerseys. The silent auction of the 22 pink jerseys has begun online at www.pinktherink.info. Patrons can also make bids at the game and continue bidding online until the last day of February.
Auction winners will receive a cleaned jersey with their loved one’s name printed on the back.
“Interact Club officers and the Jackson Hockey Club were enthusiastic about sponsoring the event again this year because they learned so much last year and saw the positive effect it had on the participants,” Jackson Rotary liaison Mark Clendenin said.
Tickets are $5 per person and can be obtained from any Jackson High School Interact Club member or send an email to info@pinktherink.info.
Dapper Dan honors
Erik E. Jones of the Dapper Dan Club of Akron said the nonprofit organization will have its annual banquet on Feb. 17 to honor area athletes.
This year’s keynote speaker will be University of Akron football coach Terry Bowden. The banquet will be held at Tangier restaurant, 532 W. Market St., Akron. The social hour begins at 4 p.m. with dinner served at 5 p.m. and the awards program beginning at 6 p.m.
Tickets to attend are $40. If you would like to be an event sponsor or purchase tickets, please contact either Paul H. Gahres at 330-714-6097 or Bill Alford at 330-697-0579.
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the high school blog at http://www.ohio.com/preps. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MBeavenABJ and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/sports.abj.
