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Browns sick after sick loss in Detroit
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No. 1 Akron to play Stanford next
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Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
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Post-game defensive quotes
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Kent State defeats Rochester College, 63-44
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OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
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Four area football teams play tonight
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The Onion, By Any Other Name…
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Will Health Care Reform Pass?
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Health Care Financing Reform: (70) Savings in Medicare Advantage
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TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
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Faye Dunaway to be Evicted?
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Monique asks how to get tickets for the Polar Express.
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Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – You are All Wrong About Jobs, or the Lack of Jobs, Being the Reason People Do Not Live in NEO
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By David Lee Morgan Jr.
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 06:34 p.m. EST, Nov 04, 2009
For the Highland community, football means nothing right now. At the same time, it means everything.
The people who live, work, play and socialize in the four-township area that make up the district have been praying for a miracle.
They and so many others around the area — and around the country for that matter — have been praying for Kory Wiita, a senior defensive back who fractured three vertebrae in his neck (cervical 4, 5 and 6) while making a tackle Friday night on the second-half kickoff in a 7-0 loss to Cloverleaf.
Highland (6-4) made the Division II, Region 5 state playoffs and will be playing at Warren Howland (9-1) in the first round Friday.
''One of the things that Kory is about is finishing the play and finishing the game the right way,'' said Highland athletic booster officer Ginny Schneider, who has known Kory and his parents, Dan and Mariann, and the Wiita family for a long time. ''He is always about teamwork, and that's what the whole Highland community is all about. We are a small community and when there's adversity, we all come together.''
The Highland district encompasses 87 square miles.
The townships are Hinckley, Granger, Sharon Center and Montville.
There are few commercial businesses in the district. One of the places where kids congregate is the Sheetz at state Routes 18 and 94.
The kids go there to get a fountain drink, order food from the grill and mingle for a bit before they head on their way.
Kory is no different.
I saw how special the Highland football community was a few weeks ago.
I was covering the Hornets' game against Wadsworth and turned into the parking lot of the stadium. It was cold that night and I realized I had forgotten gloves and a hat. So I asked a man at the stadium where the nearest Walmart was so I could buy some gloves and a hat and the gentleman at the stadium chuckled.
He said, ''your best bet is to go up the road and go to Sheetz.''
I looked at him kind of funny, then he smiled and said, ''Trust me.''
So I did. And when I pulled into the parking lot at Sheetz, it was packed with cars. Inside, there were people walking in and out, saying hello to each other. You could tell it was a meeting place — a friendly meeting place.
I ordered food (chicken strips and fries), grabbed a fountain drink, bought a hat and some gloves, and said ''hello'' to a group of young kids walking in while I was walking out.
They all gave a friendly smile and said ''hello'' back.
''There aren't a lot of places to hang out here, so Friday night football games are what this community is about,'' Schneider said. ''We don't have our one town, our one gazebo in the square or our one rec center. Football is our Friday night out.
''During our first home game, the booster club sponsored a pig roast, and we were out of food 20 minutes before the game started. That's what people do. People come to the games to eat dinner and they say, 'By the way, there's a game.' Our home games are such a center of the community.''
It's game time
Despite the adversity the Highland community is facing, there is a football game to be played. Coach Tom Lombardo has been trying to keep his team focused on the task at hand, which is preparing for a talented Warren Howland team.
''They are big and physical,'' Lombardo said. ''They like to run the ball, and the closest team I can compare them to is Wadsworth. They aren't as diverse on offense as Wadsworth, but they like to play smash-mouth football. But our defense has stepped up the last four weeks, even in the loss to Cloverleaf.''
Lombardo has been pleased with the play of the defense, led by Tyler Phillips, Aaron Maslowski, Anthony Petrilla, Chris Justik, Jake Rininger, Zack Blessing, Trey Edwards and Jerrod Serafin, who had played well before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
''We've had some success the last few years and made the playoffs, but our kids are very humble kids,'' Lombardo said. ''We've always taken things one game at a time. They know we are in it together, and they really have a brotherhood. It's how they were raised and the community they were raised in.''
Keeping hope
There is a Web site called Caringbridge.org that supporters can visit if they want to leave words of encouragement and support for Kory. It's http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/korywiita.
There is a message from the Wiita family on the Web site that reads: ''Thank you for keeping him and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Please give us time to get this website updated as new information develops about him. God Bless. 'With GOD all things are possible.' Matthew 19:26.''
On the Web site, Dan Wiita has been updating Kory's condition.
At 12:10 a.m. Wednesday, Dan wrote:
''KORY sleeping restlessly at midnight says: 'I think I'm too smart to think this is real. This can't be real. If you can't just wake me up, take me to heaven with you now. Please Dad, goodnight.' Then he wakes up and asks, 'What is the point of this, where are we going with this?' ''
Imagine reading those words as a parent.
At 3:44 a.m. Wednesday, Dan wrote:
''The Emergency Update!!
Kory had the breathing tube out for about 8 or 10 hours and all was happy. (GOOD) Evidentally, his diaphragm isn't strong enough to cough out any extra fluid from his lungs. They started filling up. (BAD) They quickly woke up all the doctors (GOOD) and drugged him up (GOOD) and put the breathing tube back in, no fun at all, very miserable. (NOT GOOD) (NOT GOOD) Definitely a step in the wrong direction. Now they are checking for Pnmonia (I can't spell at 4am) and that would be a bad setback also. Plus he has a fever (BAD). Pray Harder!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (GOOD) Looks like the GOODs and the BADs are going into overtime, this game sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dan.''
Then, at 11:31 a.m. Wednesday, Kory relayed: ''Thank you everybody, I love you all. Remember, smiles are contagious :)
So when you think of Kory, don't be sad.
Pray.
Pray some more.
Then smile, because, like Kory says, ''smiles are contagious.''
David Lee Morgan Jr. can be reachedat dlmorgan@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Varsity Letters high school blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/varsity_letters/. Also on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ABJ_Preps.
For the Highland community, football means nothing right now. At the same time, it means everything.
The people who live, work, play and socialize in the four-township area that make up the district have been praying for a miracle.
They and so many others around the area — and around the country for that matter — have been praying for Kory Wiita, a senior defensive back who fractured three vertebrae in his neck (cervical 4, 5 and 6) while making a tackle Friday night on the second-half kickoff in a 7-0 loss to Cloverleaf.
Highland (6-4) made the Division II, Region 5 state playoffs and will be playing at Warren Howland (9-1) in the first round Friday.
''One of the things that Kory is about is finishing the play and finishing the game the right way,'' said Highland athletic booster officer Ginny Schneider, who has known Kory and his parents, Dan and Mariann, and the Wiita family for a long time. ''He is always about teamwork, and that's what the whole Highland community is all about. We are a small community and when there's adversity, we all come together.''
The Highland district encompasses 87 square miles.
The townships are Hinckley, Granger, Sharon Center and Montville.
There are few commercial businesses in the district. One of the places where kids congregate is the Sheetz at state Routes 18 and 94.
The kids go there to get a fountain drink, order food from the grill and mingle for a bit before they head on their way.
Kory is no different.
I saw how special the Highland football community was a few weeks ago.
I was covering the Hornets' game against Wadsworth and turned into the parking lot of the stadium. It was cold that night and I realized I had forgotten gloves and a hat. So I asked a man at the stadium where the nearest Walmart was so I could buy some gloves and a hat and the gentleman at the stadium chuckled.
He said, ''your best bet is to go up the road and go to Sheetz.''
I looked at him kind of funny, then he smiled and said, ''Trust me.''
So I did. And when I pulled into the parking lot at Sheetz, it was packed with cars. Inside, there were people walking in and out, saying hello to each other. You could tell it was a meeting place — a friendly meeting place.
I ordered food (chicken strips and fries), grabbed a fountain drink, bought a hat and some gloves, and said ''hello'' to a group of young kids walking in while I was walking out.
They all gave a friendly smile and said ''hello'' back.
''There aren't a lot of places to hang out here, so Friday night football games are what this community is about,'' Schneider said. ''We don't have our one town, our one gazebo in the square or our one rec center. Football is our Friday night out.
''During our first home game, the booster club sponsored a pig roast, and we were out of food 20 minutes before the game started. That's what people do. People come to the games to eat dinner and they say, 'By the way, there's a game.' Our home games are such a center of the community.''
It's game time
Despite the adversity the Highland community is facing, there is a football game to be played. Coach Tom Lombardo has been trying to keep his team focused on the task at hand, which is preparing for a talented Warren Howland team.
''They are big and physical,'' Lombardo said. ''They like to run the ball, and the closest team I can compare them to is Wadsworth. They aren't as diverse on offense as Wadsworth, but they like to play smash-mouth football. But our defense has stepped up the last four weeks, even in the loss to Cloverleaf.''
Lombardo has been pleased with the play of the defense, led by Tyler Phillips, Aaron Maslowski, Anthony Petrilla, Chris Justik, Jake Rininger, Zack Blessing, Trey Edwards and Jerrod Serafin, who had played well before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
''We've had some success the last few years and made the playoffs, but our kids are very humble kids,'' Lombardo said. ''We've always taken things one game at a time. They know we are in it together, and they really have a brotherhood. It's how they were raised and the community they were raised in.''
Keeping hope
There is a Web site called Caringbridge.org that supporters can visit if they want to leave words of encouragement and support for Kory. It's http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/korywiita.
There is a message from the Wiita family on the Web site that reads: ''Thank you for keeping him and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Please give us time to get this website updated as new information develops about him. God Bless. 'With GOD all things are possible.' Matthew 19:26.''
On the Web site, Dan Wiita has been updating Kory's condition.
At 12:10 a.m. Wednesday, Dan wrote:
''KORY sleeping restlessly at midnight says: 'I think I'm too smart to think this is real. This can't be real. If you can't just wake me up, take me to heaven with you now. Please Dad, goodnight.' Then he wakes up and asks, 'What is the point of this, where are we going with this?' ''
Imagine reading those words as a parent.
At 3:44 a.m. Wednesday, Dan wrote:
''The Emergency Update!!
Kory had the breathing tube out for about 8 or 10 hours and all was happy. (GOOD) Evidentally, his diaphragm isn't strong enough to cough out any extra fluid from his lungs. They started filling up. (BAD) They quickly woke up all the doctors (GOOD) and drugged him up (GOOD) and put the breathing tube back in, no fun at all, very miserable. (NOT GOOD) (NOT GOOD) Definitely a step in the wrong direction. Now they are checking for Pnmonia (I can't spell at 4am) and that would be a bad setback also. Plus he has a fever (BAD). Pray Harder!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (GOOD) Looks like the GOODs and the BADs are going into overtime, this game sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dan.''
Then, at 11:31 a.m. Wednesday, Kory relayed: ''Thank you everybody, I love you all. Remember, smiles are contagious :)
So when you think of Kory, don't be sad.
Pray.
Pray some more.
Then smile, because, like Kory says, ''smiles are contagious.''
David Lee Morgan Jr. can be reachedat dlmorgan@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Varsity Letters high school blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/varsity_letters/. Also on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ABJ_Preps.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 08:17 AM, 11/05/2009
Way to hijack the story...
ANYWAY...regarding the Story..many are responding in their best ways for a good recovery and I join them. The online journal is a great thing.
Posted 09:38 AM, 11/05/2009
I have worked at the Beacon for 15 years and I have never commented on comments but I just had to say, ``Wow!'' How in the world could politics come into play regarding this story. To me, it's simple, ``let's hope and pray this young man recovers.'' That's it. Plain and simple. Can't it ever be that simple?
Canton, OH
Posted 11:08 AM, 11/05/2009
My prayers go out to Kory and family and friends. I encourage people to go to caringbridge and leave words of encouragement and support - that goes a long way. Kory and his family needs those comments a lot more than the thoughtless posts some people make here.
David - thanks for a great article - you know i love all your stuff but this brought tears to my eyes.
I will be rooting for Highland and for Kory.
Wadsworth, OH
Posted 12:38 PM, 11/05/2009
My family and the entire Highland Community is praying for Kory and his family. There is so much support and camaraderie in our community that you have to see it to believe it. Checking Kory's website is the first thing many of us do when we get up in the morning. I am confident with everyones support and PRAYERS, he will pull through. Thanks to his father for keeping everyone updated on his condition.
David - your article was spot on about Kory and our community. Thank you for that.
Wadsworth, OH
Posted 01:23 PM, 11/05/2009
@ Noodles ~ who told you that God doesn't love democrats? Silliness. Truly.
My son plays football for Wadsworth and I can tell you that Kory's injury stings around the whole region. We are praying for a miraculous healing and for comfort for the family as they walk this painful and fretful journey.
Paradise, Oh
Posted 03:14 PM, 11/05/2009
SL...lower your expectations without lowering your personal standards.
Great way to relieve stress.
