SHARON —
APPROXIMATELY 11 YEARS ago The Herald published a column endorsing Mike Donato to succeed Jim Wildman as Sharon High’s head football coach.
About a week ago a similar column included comments from Marlin Jackson endorsing Wildman to return from retirement for Take II with the Tigers.
That particular column was not The Herald’s endorsement of Wildman — nor was it not endorsing him. While Wildman would welcome support, his coaching resumé is beyond reproach, with or without the newpaper’s support.
However Jackson, the former Sharon standout, was interviewed at the annual Mercer County Hall of Fame induction banquet. Included among various topics covered was the vacant coaching position and Wildman’s interest. Certainly, no one’s better versed to weigh in with his opinion on Sharon High football than Jackson.
The essence of the most recent column was to compare and contrast a pair of men — Wildman and Hickory High boys head basketball coach Nick Cannone — who share some personal similarities, including their love of coaching. Cannone recently expressed his intention to continue coaching for several more seasons, while Wildman, after a lengthy hiatus, seems eager to return.
Human nature being what it is, some people read into that column to align it with their own opinion of who should serve as Sharon’s next football coach.
The Herald respects both men’s coaching capabilities. Both are in the county’s Hall of Fame. They are approximately the same age. Both are Sharon High products, and played football for the Tigers. Both built Sharon into one of the PIAA’s premiere programs. Both would love to return to their alma mater and rekindle the glory days.
However here’s the crux of the situation: Unfortunately, Sharon City Schools board of directors — not unlike a teen-aged boy trying to choose between two pretty girls as his prom date — are faced with a difficult dilemma, because they cannot have it both ways. They have to decide. It’s one reason why they were elected: To make decisions that are in the best interests of the school district. Similarly — respectfully — it’s one reason why schools Superintendent John Sarandrea is paid well. He has to make daily decisions that affect students and their families. He, too, must do what he feels is best for the school.
When Wildman announced his resignation/retirment almost exactly 11 years ago following his 25-year coaching career, Donato — a devoted (2-plus decades) defensive coordinator — applied, but was not chosen; instead, it was Bo Reichart.
Reichart was — and remains today — a sweetheart of a guy. He actually took the Tigers to 7 triumphs and a District 10 title tilt appearance in his initial season at the helm. Through no fault of his own, some said it was because he was coaching “Wildman’s team.” Reichart remained only 2 seasons because — according to the the whisperers — he wasn’t a “Sharon guy.”
Succeeding Reichart was a Sharon guy who quarterbacked for Wildman — Bob Fromm. During his 9-year tenure Fromm took the Tigers to consecutive 10-, 10- and 11-win seasons from 2008-10, highlighed by a D-10 championship game win over arch-rival Hickory and a subsequent PIAA playoff berth. But the Tigers tumbled to 3 total triumphs during the last 2 seasons, and the whisperers became disenchanted, claiming — owing to his young and growing family — Fromm could not devote the unlimited hours demanded now in coaching high school football.
Which brings this full-circle. Now Wildman and Donato — Sharon guys from Sharon’s successful past — both want the same prize, which will be decided tonight. One man will be happy; the other will feel somewhat like a jilted lover. Reports are that the board vote is divided, with some 11th-hour wavering.
Perhaps it’s romantic, but in the movie “Remember the Titans,” didn’t co-head coaches help lead a rural, consolidated (previously segregated) South Carolina high school to a state football championship? But that was fiction, and couldn’t possibly happen in reality, right?
This is an interesting dynamic: Sharon’s faithful football fan-base grew spoiled with Wildman and Donato, who — in the midst of winning more than 100 games during the decade of the 1990’s — helped take the Tigers to back-to-back PIAA championship games (bowing to Berwick on both occasions). Subsequently, Sharon fans weren’t happy with Reichart or completely satisfied with Fromm.
Owing to lost manufacturing industries, there are dwindling demographics in Mercer County and specifically Sharon (as with numerous other local municipalities), and school districts are suffering from a declining populations. Relating to rebuilding a high school football program, that means Sharon’s once-vast talent pool is not what it once was.
No matter who is chosen tonight, if he doesn’t return the Tigers to the lofty heights previously enjoyed, will the second-guessers start questioning why the other applicant wasn’t hired?
Wildman or Donato? On the surface, it appears to be a win-win situation; however, school directors and Sarandrea must be careful in their decision or it could become a no-win situation. Hopefully, that won’t translate to the new turf that reportedly will be installed at Tiger Stadium in time for the 2013 season.
Sports
SCHOLASTIC NOTEBOOK: Choosing Sharon football coach no easy task
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Hickory boys edge WM for D-10 Class AA Track team title
HARBORCREEK — Hickory High co-head coach Mark Slezak referenced the term “exponential” in explaining the four-fold heart-felt feeling of having a relay team qualify for the PIAA Championships.
That sentiment seemed to summarize Mercer County’s performance during Saturday’s annual District 10 Class AA Track & Field Championships. -
5 area teams qualify for D-10 baseball playoffs
Five area baseball teams have qualified for the District 10 playoffs — Grove City, Kennedy Catholic, Sharpsville, West Middlesex and Wilmington.
In the Class A semifinals, Kennedy Catholic faces Cochranton at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Northwestern High School. Rocky Grove faces Eisenhower in the other semifinal game. -
Hickory, WM boys to collide at D-10 AA Track & Field Championships
For the 2nd time this week, a District 10 track & field team title could be decided by a pair of Mercer County contingents.
Just as Hickory and Grove City girls contested the Class AAA crown Wednesday night, so, too, are the Hickory and West Middlesex boys anticipating vying for Saturday’s AA title. -
Roundup: Reynolds baseball tops GC; Sharpsville, Wilmington softball teams win
ä Reynolds 4, Grove City 1 — At Transfer, Neal Engstrom fired a complete-game 3-hitter with 8 strikeouts and 3 walks in lifting the Raiders (9-8) past the Eagles (14-6).
Ryan Grace was tagged with the loss for Grove City. He struck out 6 batters, issued no walks and gave up 7 hits in going the distance. -
GC girls 3-peat at District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
HARBORCREEK— Some athletes seeded 1st in four events would feel pressure. For Grove City High senior Daniel Jaskowak, it’s an opportunity for name recognition.
“I kind’ve like it. It’s cool, because people know who you are,” related Jaskowak, who won 3 events during Wednesday’s District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships. -
Hickory, GC girls collide at D-10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Cliché though that is, it will be borne out today at the annual District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships.
Hickory High girls — the defending PIAA Class AA titlists — will test the best from the biggest. And the Lady Hornets hope to give as good as they get from the 6-county competition. -
Local tune up for districts at Mercer County Invite
There’s a difference between a warm-up and a warning.
If Saturday’s annual track & field invitational is any indication, Mercer County’s contingent issued a warning for the remainder of District 10: This could be a big year in area annals. -
Roundup: Grace, GC beat Sharon, 4-0, in 5 innings
With an impending storm blowing in above Johnny Pepe Field time was limited, so Ryan Grace greedily gobbled up putouts.
Grove City High’s Grace gave up only 3 base hits, and the visiting Eagles eased to an abbreviated 4-0, 5-inning win over Sharon Friday afternoon. -
HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUP: County track meet set Saturday at Hickory
The annual Mercer County Track & Field Invitational will be held at Hickory High’s Hornet Stadium Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.
Competing are all Mercer County teams, Class AAA and AA, as well as Slippery Rock. The meet serves as a warm-up to the District 10 championships set next week at Harbor Creek High. -
Roundup: Sharon baseball squad edges Sharpsville, 5-4
It was a tense Tuesday in Tiger-town.
Twenty-four hours removed from a 1-run Region 2-AA loss at New Wilmington, Sharon High’s baseball team could not afford another setback, otherwise its postseason aspirations were alleviated.
Conversely, region pacesetting Sharpsville could have secured the crown with a win, and the Blue Devils dashed to an early 3-0 lead. - More Sports Headlines
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